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'8!

" Likeness of Heaven !— Agent of Power!
Man is thy victim!— Shipwreck thy dower!
Spices and jewels, from valley and sea.
Armies and banners are buried in thee! "

■• u

"^^SS^^T*''"" J t • -'

:r "i'

►i^iaUiiiMifeJa***^.* ■ '*i» -.iii*..*u.A'^»>..*>,.

LIFE AND DEATH

ON THE

D © 1 ^ ffiO

a
a

A ooixsonuN or

EXTRAORDINARY ADVENTURES,

IN TBB POBM OP

PERSONAL NARRATIVES;

illustrating lifk on board op merchant vessels and of ships of

war; combined with thrilling relations of

kzpxribnces and of suffering.

IILVSTBATED WITH SLEaAHT TINTED ENOBAVINOS. FBOM DSUONS
BT DABUET, K'LENAN, HAMILTON, ETC.

"Ikn tlMt go down to^ n* in Rhipi, that do buslneM hi great waters, then Nt the workf
or toa Lord and bis wonders in the deep."— Aotot evil, ii3-24.

BY HENRY HOWE,

A«ni<m or " BisroEtOAL ooixiotions or tiboinia," " ohio," and " tbb ouat

" TKATBIS AND ADTBNTUU8 OF CUBBBATBD TKATZUI8," r«J.

CINCINNATI:
PUBLISHED BY HENRY HOWB.

Ill MAIN STREET.

1865.

nTT- -n -11 f ninrrfiV"T-''Ttftiiir

Entered, according to Act of Congross, in the year 1865, by

HENRY HOWE,

In the Clerk's Office of the District Court, for the Southern District of Ohio.

MORGAN &

SONS.

SinEOTTPEBS,

FBINTKBS,

AND

BINDKBS,

111

Main »trf.

.;t.

^, .^^^,^,0^^

^.-fcAj^****.- 1W..kS»^=^."..- — «>toh* l-.ife«*k:lJ

865, by
District of OJdo.

PREFACE.

MuLTTTDDEs of books bave been published upon life on the sea.
These almost invariably are collections of only one of its many
phases — its disasters. A few narratives of this kind are undonbt-
edly attractive; yet he who attempts to read a series of only such,
will discover, as he progresses, that his interest gradually weakens,
until thoroughly palled, he casts the book from him, half unread,
in disgust at its absence of variety.

In these pages we have endeavored to present all that goes
to form the life of the mariner, and in the natural connection to
give descriptions of the hardships and perils, even unto death,
in its most appalling forms, to which that life is peculiarly exposed.
These are combined with personal narratives, the most attractive
of all compositions, for they reveal to us not only the events them-
selves in the minutest particulars, but excite intense sympathy by
the disclosures of the thoughts and emotions which influence the
minds and ihe hearts of the narrators.

To most of us who have never been " fr «. sea," the revelations
of those whose lives have been passed upo, . ue deep, are invested
with a peculiar interest, from their novelty, and from their instruc-
tion in human conduct, under circumstances so foreign to our own
experience. The ^eat truth illustrated by this is, that man is the
same everywhere ; and, furthermore, we possess in these incidents
in the Uvea of our fellow-men, and the action of the same upon
their characters, that which enlarges our own range of thought,
and better prepares us for the performance of those duties which
fall within our own peculiar sphere.

( iii )

" ^ '*'""_."'"' "" 1!'' ■

;a.^'

If PRKFAOE.

In preparing this work, wo have had constantly in view the hcayy
responflibility which all incur who issue books, lest scntimentfl
ehould bo a<lvanced and revelations unfolded of an evil tendency.
While wo have endeavored to excite, it has only been by the
legitimate exercise of the varied emotions to which our common
humanity is susceptible, and this is rarely otherwise than beneficial
to our nature.

\
\

'jiffnientw ir-w'"*''^^^

ow tho heavy
>t Bcntimcnts
vil tendency,
been by the
our common
lan beaeficial

CONTENTS.

Tm Perilous Voyage of CapUin Norwood, an Officer of the Army of Ohulea
the First, and the sufTeringH endured by bimeelf and Companions, on a
Desert Island, on the Coast of Virginia 9

Seren Years of a Sailor's Life, among the Savages of the Caroline Islands . . 35

Successful Resistance of Three Sailors against sereral thousand Savages .... 58

Paddock's Narrative of Bondage among the Arabs, detailing the Sufferings
of the Master and Crew of the Ship Oswego, upon the Coast of South
Barbary 5,

The Abandonment of Alexander Selkirk, a Scottish Sailor, on the Island of
.Inan Fernandez, where he dwelt in solitude for several years 113

Ethan Allen's Narrative of his Captivity on board of British Vessels, in the
Revolutionary War .,»

Incidents in the War with Tripoli I49

The Chase of the United Stetes Frigate Constitution by a British Squadron. . 161

Description, by an English Sailor Boy, of the Battle between the American
Frigate United States, and the British Frigate Macedonian, together with
his subsequent Adventures in the American Naval Service during the War. 166

-The Extraordinary Sufferings of Donald Campbell, who, being shipwrecked,
fell into the hands of the cruel Hyder Ali igi

The Captivity of Thomas Andros, since Pastor of the Church at Berkeley,
Mass., on board the Old Jersey Prison-Ship jg^

A Sailor's Story of what he saw and suflbred in the Naval Service of the

CTnited SUtes, in the War of the Revolution jjn

(T)

-■■ itm si i aii HMp^ p ^uMftj ^immtti^im

liJBllilJLill

J CONTKNTS.

The Nnrmtivn .,f tlic Mutiny of tho nounty. with the eMap« of Captain
Bligli, an.l liiH TfriloiH Voyngo of near four ll...u»and milen. in an open
boat, to iho iHlBi.d ..f Ti.nor, loK.al.cr with tho f«t« of Fletcher Ohriitian.
the U-nAcT of thu Mulinepn., and the final Settlement of tho latt«r at
Pitcaim I»l«n<l, in th.- Piicific Ocean *^

How they Live on board of an America.. Mauof-War; being the Experiences
of a Sailor in the United States Navy ^^

Narrative of nn Old English Sailor, yet living, related by hiraaelf, in a Style
of amuiinif Simplicity, which Khowa vividly tho many viciaaitudea which
form Life Expt-riencea on the Ocean *

Deatrnction of the Ocan Steamer Arctic, by collision with the Vesta, a French
Propeller, on tho Banks of Newfoundland, on Wednesday, tho 27th of
September, 1851. by which disaster more than three hundred persons
perished

The Lost Russian Sailors, who were abandoned on the Desert Island of East
Spitahergen : to which is added the Narrative of the Misfortunes of the
Crew of the Russian Ship St. Peter ^'

Experienc-s of a Naval Officer, as given by Captain Basil Hall, of the Royal

„ 357

Navy

Narrative of a Sailor among Savages, being the Adventures of John R.
Jewett, Survivor of the Crew of the Ship Boston, during a Captivity of
newly Three Fears, among the Savages of Nootka Sound, by whom his

367
Gomrades were massacred

Adventures of Philip Ashton. of Massachusetta, who was taken by Pirat«s,
escaped from them, and dwelt for sixteen months in solitude on a Desolate

■.•••••••■••••••••* 419

Island

Shipwreck of the French Frigate Medusa; as related by Mademoiselle Picard ;
tdded to which is the Narrative of two of the Officers, who shared the
unspeakable miseries of a raft fnll of her Sullun. and Passengers, who were
reduced to the necessity of feeding upon the Corpses of their Companions. 433

The Story of Robert Drury. a Sailor Boy. who was Shipwrecked, Captured,
and held in Slavery for fifteen years, by the Savages of Madagascar 469

Incidenta in the Life of a Yankee Sailor, as detailed by William Newns, in

493
bis Forty Years at Sea

AdTcntarcs of a Slave-Trader, who was engaged, for many yem, in the
AfHoan Slave-Trade ^^

]« of Captain
R, in an op«n
;her Oliriilian,
the latter at
833

lie Eiperionces
961

lelf, in a Style
iRitudea which
aP5

Vo«ta, a French
ly, the 27lh of
jndred perauns
323

, Island of East
sfortunes of the
341

kll, of the Royal
357

res of John R.
> a Captivity of
id, by whom his
387

«ken by Pirates,
de on a Desolate
419

emoiselle Pieard ;
who shared the
lengers, who were
heir Companions. 433

recked, Captured,
[adagascar 469

lUiam Nevens, in
493

any yean, in the
S91

COXTENTS. v{{

Convict Liff in Aii«tr«liri. How tlipr i»Pt tliorp, nnd whnt thov uri n-hrii there,
togpthnr with n Vmniiivfl «if Convict Lift- in Vnifnlk KUnd, the place for
thu«c t4)o biiil for Ilol.iitiy Day 5S1

The Horrors of a Fire .it Sc.i, as sliown by the uciummiI of the Diirninp; of the
Prince, a Frcncli VohhuI, Related by LlHulmiaiit Fonda, one of hur Offli-er*. 571

A Sailor's Life and Duties 577

Scenes on a Manof- War in a Hurricane 581

A Man Overboard 5gg

Narrative of the Mutiny on the Soraors, a brijf-ofwar in the American Naval
Service— Alexander filidell Markensie, commander— and of the Execution
of Spencer, Cromwell and Small 591

Abstract of American Nautical Laws 606

Men and Thin),'s in the Nuvy of the United States, as described by the Rev.
Charles Rockwell, late Chaplain iu the American Naval Service 609

1,1

Tit

( 11

II I

THE PERILOUS VOYAGE

CAPTAIN NORWOOD.

AirO THB RAUSBIPS BITDUUD BT BmSBLT AND OOHTAiflOin OK A DISBkT nLAMD ON 1

COAST OP VIRGINIA.

The month of August, A. D. 1649, being the time I engaged to meet
my two comrades, Major Francis Morrison, and Major Richard Fox, at
London, m order to a full accomplishment of our purpose, to seek our
fortunes m Virginia, pursuant to our agreement, the year before, in Hol-
tand, all parties very punctually appeared at the time and place
assigned ; and were all still in the same mind, fully bent to put in prac-
tice what we had so solemnly agreed upon. It fell out to be about the
first day of September, A. D. 1649, that we grew acquainted, on the
Koyal Exchange, with Captain John Locker, whose bills upon the posts
made us know he was master of a good ship, (untruly so called,) the
Virginia Merchant, burden 300 tons, of force thirty guns or more. We
wore not long in treaty with the captain, but agreed with him for our-
selves and servants, at six pounds a head, to be transported into James
river: our goods to be paid for at the current price.

About the fifteenth day, we were ordered to meet the ship at Graves-
end, where the captain was to clear with his merchants, and we to make
our several payments; which, when we had performed, we staid not for
the ship, but took -sost for the Downs, where, with some impatience, we
expected her coming there. About the sixteenth, we could see the
whole fleet under sail, with a south-west wind ; which, having brought
them to that road, kept them there at anchor, until our money was almost
spent at Deal. September 23d, the wind veered to the east, and we
were summoned, by signs and guns, to repair on board. We had a fresh,
heavy gale for three days, which cleared us of the channel, and put us
out of soundings. With this propitious beginning, we pursued our
course for about twenty days, desiring to make the Western Islands ; at
which time the cooper began to complain that our water-cask was almost
empty ; alleging, that there was not enough in hold for our great family,
(about three hundred and thirty souls,) to serve a month. We were
now, by all accounts, near the Western Islands; Fyal was that we were
likely first to see, and our captains resolved to touch there to supply this
defect, as the most commodious port for our purpose.

The day-break of October 14th, showed us the peak of that island.
As soon as we had saluted the castle, and returned, for being civilly
answered, Captain John Tatam, our countryman, did the same from
a^ard his goodly ship, the St. John. The English merchants, from the
m town, came on board our ship, and gave us ? very civil welcome. Of
I them, one Mr. Andrews, invited me, with my two comrades, to refresh
I (9)

■ i»rtiiMi)i<'

10 PERILOUS VOYAGE OP CAPTAIN NORWOOD.

tL a double shae: Tlittle before the time of dinner, Cap am Tatam

3 he would look out to see what change there was in the water. JNo

^oner we"e his feet upon the deck, but with stamps and noise he calls

up Jhe searSen, crying L, « All hands aloft! breaches on both sides! all

'"rte'^tamen were soon on deck with this dismal alarm, and saw the

o«««« thereof iTut instead of applying their hands for their preservation,

roue? a nenera d^ pendency, they fell on their knees, commending
througa a general i~ j, j ^^ ^^^ ^^ ^^^ ^^^^^ ^^

SfPwtt wt'tis? ff seel^^ ho^S the case stood, his courese
faitd Mate Putts, a stout seaman, took heart agam, and cried, « Is
there no cood fellow that will stand to the helm, or loose a sail? ' Bu
there no gooa le now fore-mastmen that would

rZied toS) y c^mmS; v!z: Thomas Reaisin and John S-ith
P®""*°™ ~ " ' u for their good resolution, on that and divers

■.■>Vv«^':,->T'-'

OD.

produced. Our
1 Tatam, who, in
his ship the next
which I took, at
, Captain Tatam
raa well for us he
the night before,
of new wine, by
and down, dead
ir long-boat, as it
»le to the owners,
ces and perils, in
van into Tatam's
r arrival, we were
ind aspect in the
linner, and, at our
was a handsome
ish the Portuguese
I manner on ship-
luchery, with very
lo tedious in itself,
a contests of ours
me days stay upon
I found the ship in
shore. For if we
enough to balance
t in.

.ve of our landlord
meat, and I carried
rly wind, a top-sail
Lvored us at fifty or
the height of Ber-
he 8th; then we
, we had thirty-five
ivant of all things
eak of day, weary
i; and would have
unless I could give
ear break of day,
J in the water. No
is and noise he calls
3S on both sides! all

alarm, and saw the
IT their preservation,
knees, commending

out at the noise to

stood, his coureje
rain, and cried, " Is

loose a sail?" But
mastmen that would
isin and John Smith,
in, on that and divers
, deserve to have their

STORM OFF CAPE HATTERAa

names kept in lasting rcmembrancr. One of them got up and loosened the
fore-topsail, to put the ship, if possible, in steerage way, and under com-
mand ; the other stood to the helm, and he shifted it in a nick of time ;
for the ship was at the point of dashing on the starboard breach: and,
although in the rest of the voyage, she was wont to be blamed for the ill
quality of not feeling the helm, she did, in this important instance,
redeem her credit, and fell round off for our rescue from that danger.
But the joy of this escape lasted but a moment, for no sooner was she
fallen from that breach, but another on the larboard bow was ready to
receive her.

The ship's crew, by this time, reproached by the courage of Reaisin
and Smith, were all at work ; and the helm shifting opportunely, she fell
off again as before. The light of the day, which now broke forth,
discovered our condition to be altogether as perilous as possible ; for we
now saw ourselves surrounded with breaches. Scarce any water, like a
channel, appeared for a way to shun them. In this sad condition, the
ship struck ground, and raised such a war of water and sand together,
which fell on the main chains, that now all hopes of safety were laid
aside ; but the ship being still afloat, and the seamen, all of them now
under command, nothing was omitted for our preservation that was in
their power.

Tom Reaisin, seeing the ship go ahead, in the likeliest water for a
channel, and ordering the helm accordingly, heaved the lead ; and after
a little further advance in that new channel, wholly against his hopes, he
had a good deal of water more than the ship drew, which soon mended
upon us ; the next cast of the lead, affording eighteen or twenty feet.
We stood to this channel, and the light of morning enabling the quarter-
masters to con the ship, we were, by this miraculous mercy of God, soon
clear of the breaches at Cape Plattcras, and got out to sea. No sooner
was the ship freed of this danger, and got a little into the offing, but the
seamen, like so many spirits, surveyed each other, as if they doubted the
reality of the thing, and shock hands like strangers, or men risen from
the other world ; and did scarce believe they were what they seemed to
be — men of flesh and blood. As they recovered force, they made what
sail they could, to stand to leeward.

The gale came fresh at north-west, and this fresh gale did soon grow
up to a violent storm, which increased to so great a rigor, separating us
from the land at the rate of eight leagues a watch, merely witli our fore-
courses; insomuch that the master thought it necessary to stop that
career ; and, in order thereunto, he did advise with his officers, to bring
the ship about, to furl up sails, and to try with the mizzen. The moun-
tainous, towering, north-west seas that this storm made, were so unruly,
that the seamen knew not how to work the ship about. We were already
at a great distance from land, and something must be done to hinder our
running off at that excessive tdte. The first thing they did, was to
lower the mainyard, to give some ease to that mast, by laying it on the
ship's waste. Our great difficulty was how to deal so with the foresails,
that the ship might work about with safety, or, at least, with as little
hazard as possible. All hands were too little to haul the sheet close, in
order to bring the ship about. Many great seas were shipped, as she
came to work through the trough of the sea; among the rest, one
chanced to break upon the poop, where we were quartered, and that with
so sad a weight, that we guessed a ton of water, at least, did enter the
tarpaulin, and aex us all on float who were in the round-house. The

bi^ ttjat ;...

12 PERILOUS VOYAGE 0? CAPTAIN NORWOOD.

noise it made by discharging itself in that manner, was like the report
;? a gre" gun, and puf us all in a horrible frght, which we could
not 8<Sn shake off. This shock being past, the ship about, and our fore-
sail hauled, we now lay trying with our mizzen.

I cannot forget the prodigious number of porpoises that did that
eveniijappear about the^hip, to the astonishment of the oldest sea. nan
fn her They seemed to cover the surface of the sea, as far as our eyes
could discern; insomuch that a musket-bullet, shot at random, cou d
Eardly 5to do execution on some of them. This tho seamen would
Supoi as of bad portent, predicting ill weather; but m our case, who
w^reiS present possession of a storm, they appeared too late to gam tl.o
Credit of foretelling what should come upon us in that kmd. The seas
thus en aged and%ll in foam, the gale still increasing upon us; the
officers cJithe watch made frequent visits to the round-house, to prepare
Uie capt^n for some evil encounter, which this mighty tempest must
brig fori^: and their fears proved reasonable; for, about the hour of
ten or eleven, our new disasters did begin with a crash from aloft. All
hands v^ere summoned up with loud cries that the for«-topmast was
cJme by the board; not alone, but with the fore-masthead broken short
offTust under the cap. This was a sore business, and put all to their
& eUto recover to any competent condition. Mate Putts was then
onihe watch, and did not want his apprehensions of what dul soon ensue
which,ln al likelihood, was to end in utter perdition; for, about the
hours of twelve or one at night, we heard and felt a mighty sea break on
our fo?eship, which made such an inundation on the deck, where the
Tte was wa kTng, that he retired back with all diligence up to his knees
S wat^J!with s£rt ejaculations of prayer in his mouth, supposing the
ihip was foundering, Ld at the last gasp. This looked like a stroke of
Sh in every seaman's opinion. The ship stood stock still, with her
head under water, seeming to bore her way into the sea. My two com-
Ssrd myself lay on our platform, sharing liberally m the consterna
ion We tobk a short leave of each other, men, women Mid children
aU assauUed with the fresh terror of death, made a most dolorous out-
cry ZughouT the ship; while Mate Putts, perceiving the deck almost
freed of water, called out aloud for hands to pump. This we thought a
StaiiW before death; but gave me occasion, as having the bestsea-
LVs tXok out, and learn the subject of this astonishing alarm ; which
proved to arise from no less cause than the loss of our forecastle, vir.th
frimns and our anchors, (all but one that was fastened to our cable,)
TgeCw^ L two coo'k^, whereof one was recovered by a strange

P'ThtTeat gap, made by want of our forecastle, did open a passage
intlthe^hoS, fo?'o"her seL that should break Jiere, before a remedy
wa^ found out to carry them off; and this made our danger a most
msuirable But it fell out, propitiously, that there were divers land-
^rSer oassengcrs, who were very helpful in this distress; and, in a
StirSe,TsS platform of deal was Lked to the timbers, to carry
off an ordinary sea; in the present strait we were in, every momentof
Jhis crowing tempert, cutting out new work to employ all hands to labor
TheTowspH ToS h;avy in itself, having lost all stays and r.ggmg that
should keep il steady, swayed to and fro, with such bangs on the bows,
?hat at no less rate than the cutting it close off, could the ship subsist.
AU thincs were i^ miserable disorder, and it was evident our danger
fncrSup^n us. The stays of all the masts were gone, the shrouds

that

promis

.-.■ ng g X i j'ia -^-ff^'!-^'

■Sf0f-J.

like tho report
liich we could
t, and our fore-

I that did that
I oldest sea. nan
far as our eyes
random, could
seamen would
t our case, who
late to gain tlio
ind. The seas
[ upon us; tho
(Use, to prepare
f tempest must
9Ut the hour of
from aloft. All
►re-topmast was
id broken short
put all to their
Putts was then
did soon ensue,
; for, about the
ity sea break on
leek, where the
, up to his knees
li, supposing the
like a stroke of
:k still, with her
,. My two corn-
in the consterna-
in and children;
St dolorous out-
the deck almost
his we thought a
ng the best sea-
ng alarm ; which
r forecastle, with
led to our cable,)
red by a strange

1 open a passage

before a remedy

r danger almost

rere divers land-

istresa; and, in a

timbers, to carry

every moment of

ill hands to labor

and rigging that

uigs on the bows,

I the ship subsist.

'ident our danger

gone, the shrouds.

A FRIEND IN NEED.

that remained, were loose and useless, and it was easy to foretell, our
main-topmast would soon come by the board. Tom Reaisin, who was
always ready to expose himself, with an ax in his hand, ran up with
speed to prevent that evil; hoping thereby to ease tho mainmast, and
preserve it: but the danger of his person in the enterprise was so mani-
fest, that he was called down again; and no sooner was his foot upon the
deck, but what was feared came to pass with a witness. Bpth main and
topmast all came down together, and, in one shock, fell all to the wind-
ward clear into the sea, without hurt to any man's person.

Our mainmast thus fallen to the broadside, was like to incommode us
more in the sea than in her proper station ; for the shrouds and rigging,
not losing the hold they had of the ship, every surge did so check the
mast, whose butt-end lay charged to fall perpendicular on the ship's side,
that it became a ram to batter and force the plank ; and was domg the
last execution upon us, if not prevented in time by edge-tools, which
freed the ship from that expected assault and battery. Abandoned, in
this manner, to the fury of the raging sea ; tossed up and down without
any one regarding the loss of another ; every man expecting the same
fate, though in a different manner. The ceilings of this hulk, for it was
no better, were, for the same cause, so uneasy, that, in many tumbles,
the deck would touch the sea, and there stand still, as if she would
never make another. Our raizzenmast only remained, by which we
hoped to bring the ship about in proper season, which now lay stemming
to the east. In this posture we passed the lOtii and 11th days of
November. The 12th, in the morning, we saw an Englisli merchant,
who showed his ensign, but would not speak with us, though the storm
was abated, and the season more fit for communication. We imagined
the reason was, because he would not be compelled to be civil to us.
He thought our condition desperate, and wc had more guns than he could
resist, which might enable us to take what he would not sell or give.
He shot a gun to leeward, stood his course, and turned his hoof upon us.
Before we attempted to bring the ship about, it was necessary to refresh
the seamen, who were almost worn out with toil and want of rest, having
had no leisure of eating set moals for many days. The passengers,
overcharged with excessive fears, had no appetite to eat ; and, which
was worst of all, both seamen and passengers were in a deplorable state
as to the remaining victuals, all like to fall under extreme want; for the
storm, by taking away the forecastle, having thrown much water into the
hold, our stock of bread was greatly damaged ; and there remained no
way to dress our meat, now that the cook was gone: the incessant
tumbling of the ship, as has been observed, made all such cookery
wholly impracticable. The only expedient to make fire between decks,
was by sawing a cask in the middle, and filling it with ballast; which
made a hearth to parch peas, and boil salt be-jf. Nor could this be done,
but with great attendance, which was many times frustrated by being
thrown topsy-turvy, in spite of all circumspection, to the great defeat of
empty stomachs. The seas were much appeased the 17th day, and
divers ships saw, and were seen by us, but would not speak with us ;
only one, who kept the pump always going, for having tasted too liberally
of the storm, he was so kind as to accost us. He lay by till our wherry,
the only surviving boat that was left us, made him a visit. The master
showed our men his leaks, and proposed, that ours would spare him
hands to pump, in lieu of anything he could spare for our relief. He
promised, however, to keep us company, and give us a tow to help to

..!H>.,.t^-.^.-,#

r
i

T H' ""■' ' -

••«j.!.'-*v-i-*"

PERILOUS VOYAGE OF CAPTAIN NORWOOD.

weather the Cape, if occasion ofTored. But this was only a copy of his
countenance ; for in the night we lost each other, and we never heard
more of him, though he was bound to our port.

November 13th. The weather now invited us to get the ship about
with our mizzen ; and having done so, the next consideration was how
to make sail. Tiie foremast, all this while, as much as was of it, stood
its ground ; and as it was without dispute, that a yard must, in the first
place, he fixed to it, so was it a matter of no small difficulty how to
advance to the top of that greasy, slippery stump ; since he tliat would
attempt it could take no hold himself, nor receive any help for his rise
by other hands. This was a case that put all the ship's crew to a non-
plus. But Tom Reaisin, a constant friend at need, that would not be
baffled by any difficulty, showed, by his countenance, he had a mind to
try his skill to bring us out of this unhappy crisis. To encourage him
the more, all passengers promised and subscribed to reward his service,
in Virginia, by tobacco, when God should enable us so to do. The
manner of Tom Reaisin's ascent, was thus: among the scattered parcels
of the ship^s stores, he had the luck to find about half a dozen iron
spikes fit for his purpose, tlis first onset was to drive one of them into
the mast, almost to the head, as high as he could reach, which being
done, he took a rope of about ten feet long, and having the same in a
block or pulley, so as to divide it in the middle ; he made both ends
meet in a knot upon the spike, on both sides of the mast, so that the
block, falling on the contrary side, became a stirrup to mount upon for
driving another spike in the same manner: and thus, from step to step,
observing the best advantage of striking with his hammer in the smooth-
est sea, he got alofl, and drove cleats for shrouds to rest upon, and was
soon in a posture of receiving help from his comrades, who got a yard
and sails, with other accommodation, such as could be had ; and thus
were we enabled, in a few hours time, to make some sail for our port.
The mainyard, that in the storm had been lowered to the waist, to lie
out of harm's way, was now preferred to the place of a mainmast, and
was accordingly fitted and accoutered, and grafted into the stump of what
was left in the storm, some eight or ten feet from the deck. It was a
hard matter to find out rigging answerable to that new-fashioned mast and
yard. Topgallant sails and yards wore most agreeable for his equipage,
and was the best part of our remaining stores. The seas grew every
moment smoother, and the weather more comfortable, so that, for awhile,
we began to shake off the visage of utter despair, as hoping ere long to
see ourselves in some capacity to fetch the Cape. We discovered another
ship bound to Virginia, who as frankly promised to stand by us, the wind
at N.N.W. We did what could be done by a ship so mangled, to get the
weather gauge of Cape Henry, conceiving ourselves to the southward
of Cape Hatteras ; hut, by taking an observation on a sunshiny day, we
found ourselves carried by a current, we knew not of, to the windward,
much beyond our dead reckonings, and allowances for sailing; insomuch,
that when we thought we had been to the southward of the Cape, we
found ourselves considerably shot to the north of Achomat ; and that in
the opinion of Mate Putts, who was as our north star.

We passed this night with greater alacrity than we had done any other
since we had left Fyal ; for Mate Putts, our trusty pilot, did confidently
affirm, that if the gale stood, there would be no question of our dining
the next day within the Capes. This was reasonable news: our water
being long since spent; our meat spoiled or useless; no kind of victuals

rci
alii
tin;
mu
Th
cov
clu(
the
as t
thui
the
fidei
thou
tree
but
whi(
his (
he h
thei
of th
Tl
met i
tiont
But,
our e
barge
Defei
sleep
to se
that (
sighs
reduc
Half
all we
Malaj
it.
carri€
confid
the
to mij
him
The
inson
from
was
placel
wantf
head |
so th^
watch
hand!
Not
day,
gentld

. —**■*? y*T S * -^ T

•rr^r-i -'

sa^nssss^^ -v^^^rttK^r--?;*^^?^,-. - ;;i,-:H^

5D.

ly a copy of his
ive never hoard

t the ship about
oration was how

was of it, stood
must, in the first
difficulty how to
e he that would
help for his rise
s crew to a non-
fat would not be
e had a mind to
» encourage him
ward his service,

8o to do. The
scattered parcels
lalf a dozen iron
one of them into
ach, which being
ng the same in a

made both ends
mast, so that the

mount upon for
from step to step,
ler in the smooth-
38t upon, and was
j8, who got a yard
be had; and thus

1 sail for our port,
to the waist, to lie
f a mainmast, and
the stump of what
le deck. It was a
'ashioned mast and
e for his equipage,
B seas grew every
so that, for awhile,
hoping ere long to
discovered another
ind by us, the wind
mangled, to get the
i to the southward
a sunshiny day, we
,f, to the windward,
r sailing; insomuch,
rd of the Cape, we
chomat ; and that in

had done any other
(ilot, did confidently
estion of our dining
tie news: our water
; no kind of victuals

A FATAL DISAPPOINTMENT.

*t«>^'£**itS";.~i.'''-;'i*

remaining to sustain life, but a biscuit cake u day for a man ; at which
iiliowance there was not a quantity to hold out many days. In the dark
time of the night, in tacking about, we lost our new comrade, and, with
much impatience, we expected the approaching day ; the wind N. W.
The morning appeared foggy, as the wind veered to the east, and that
covered and concealed the land from our clearer sight : howbeit, we con-
cluded, by Mate Putt's computation, we were well to the northward of
the Capes. Many times he would mount the mizzentop for discovery,
as the weather seemed to clear up ; and would espy, and point at certain
thum-works of trees, that used to be hia several landmarks, in most of
the twenty-two voyages ho had made to that plantation. Under this con-
fidence he made more sail, the daylight confirming him in what he
thought right. All the forenoon wc lost the sight of land, and marks by
trees, by reason of the dark fogs and mists that were not yet dispelled ;
but as soon as the sun, with a north-west gale, had cleared all the coast,
which was about the hours of two or throe o'clock. Mate Putts perceived
his error from the deck, and was convinced that the thum-works of trees
he had seen, and relied on for sure landmarks, had courier points to
the South Cape, which had misguided him ; and that it was the opening
of the bay, which made the land at distance, out of sight.

This fatal disappointment, which was now past human help, might have
met an easy remedy, had our sails and rigging been in any tolerable condi-
tion to keep the windward gauge, for we had both the Capes in our sight.
But, under our circumstances, it was vain to endeavor such a thing; all
our equipage, from stem to stern, being no better than that of a western
barge ; and we could not lie within eleven or twelve points of the wind.
Defeated thus of lively hopes we had the niglit before entertained, to
sleep in warm beds with our friends in Virginia, it was a heavy spectacle
to see ourselves running at a round rate from it, notwithstanding all
that could be done to the contrary. Nothing was now to be heard but
sighs and groans through all that wretched family, which must be soon
reduced to so short allowance as would just keep life and soul together..
Half a biscuit cake a day, of which five whole ones make a pound, was
all we had to trust to. Of liquors there remained none to quench thirst;
Malaga served rather to inflame and increase thirst, than to extinguish
it. The gale blew fresh toward night, and made a western sea, that
carried us off at a great rate. Mate Putts, extremely abashed to see his
confidence so miserably deluded, grew sad and contemplative, even to
the moving compassion in those whom his unhappy mistake had reduced
to misery. We cherished him the best we could, and would not have
him so profoundly sad, for what was rather his misfortune than his fault.
The wind continued many days and nights to send us out into the ocean ;
insomuch, that until wc thought ourselves at least a hundred leagues
from the Capes, the north-west gale gave us no truce to consider what
was best to do. All little helps were used by topgallant sails, and masts
placed where they could be fixed, to keep the windward tack ; but, for
want of borolins and other tackle to keep them stiff to draw, every great
head sea would check them in the wind, and rend, and tear them in pieces ;.
so that it was an ordinary exercise with us to lie tumbling in the sea, a
watch or two together, driving to leeward, while the broken sails were in
hand to be repaired.

November 19th. To give us a little breathing, about the nineteenth
day, the wind shifted to the east, but so little to our avail, the gale so.
gentle, and the seas made against us like a strong current, that, with the

J:i.

: ;l!':i'

PEBILOUS VOYAGE OP CAPTAIN NORWOOD.

nail wo were able to make, we could hardly reckon the ship ahortoncd
the way, but that aho rather lost ground. In less than two watches, the
gale faced about ; and if we saved our own by the change, it was all we
could pretend unto. Our mortal enemy, the north-west gale, began
afresh to send us out to sea, and to raise our terrors to u higher pitch.
One of our pumps grew so unfixed, that it could not be repaired ; the
other was kept in perpetual motion ; no man was excused to take his
turn that had strength to perform it. Among the manifest perils that
threatened every hour to be our last, we were in mortal apprehension
that the guns, which were aloft, would show us a slippery trick, and some
of them break loose, the tackle that held them being grown very rotten ;
and it was another providence they held so long, considering how im-
moderately the ship rolled, especially when the sails were mending that
Hhould keep her steady, which was very near a third part of our time,
while we plied to the windward with a contrary gale. To prevent this
danger, which must befall when any one gun should get loose. Mate
Putts found an expedient ; by a more than ordinary smooth water, and by
placing timber on the hatchway, to supply the place of shrouds, he got
them safe in hold which tended much to our good, not only in removing
the present danger, but by making the ship, as seamen say, more whole-
some, by having so great a weight removed from her upper works into
her center, where ballast was much wanted. But the intolerable want
of all provision, both of meat and drink, jostled the sense of this happi-
ness soon out of our minds ; and to aggravate our misery yet the more,
it was our interest to pray that the contrary gale might stand ; for, while
the westerly wind held, we had rain-water to drink, whereas at east the
wind blew dry. In this miserable posture of ship and provision, we
reckoned ourselves driven to the east, in less than a weck^s time, at least
two hundred leagues, which we despaired ever to recover without a
miracle of Divine mercy. The storm continued so fresh against us,
that it confounded the most knowing of our ship's company in advising
what course to take. Some reckoned the ship had made her way most
southerly, and, therefore, counseled we should put ourselves in quest of
the Bermuda Islands, as the nearest land we could hope to make;
but that motion had great opposition in regard of the winter season,
which would daily produce insuperable difficulties, and give greater
puzzle in the discovery of it than our circumstances would admit. Back-
ward we could not go, nor forward we could not go, in the course we
steered; it followed then, of course, that we must take the middle
way ; and it was resolved, that, without further persisting in endeavoring
to gain our port by a close hale, we should raise our tackle, and sail
tardy for the first American land we could fetch, though we ran to the
leeward as far as the coast of New England. ^

While this determination was agreed and put in practice, the famine
grew sharp upon us. Women and children made dismal cries, and
grievous complaints. The infinite number of rats, that all the voyage
had been our plague, we now were glad to make our prey to feed on ;
and, as they were ensnared and taken, a well-grown rat was sold for
sixteen shillings, as a market-rate. Nay, before the voyage ended, (as I
was credibly informed,) a woman, great with child, offered twenty shil-
lings for a rat, which the proprietor refusing, the woman died. Many
sorrowful days and nights we spun out in this manner, till the blessed
feast of Christmas came upon us, which we began with a very melan-
choly solemnity; and yet, to make some distinction of times, the scrapings

'^—^'^r'-^T^^ev^ec?

twaaswry arty u '..^-. Jn. WMmi tj/sj ^r^ 'f- '^ '^ ! '* ' ■^ ■aai'*

»B.Srj»«:-T

3D.

ship ahortmcd
ivo watches, the
c, it was all we
}sl gale, began
u higher pitch.
5 repaired; the
led to take his
Ifest perils that
il apprehension
trick, and some
wn very rotten ;
iering how im-
re mending that
irt of our time,
To prevent this
^ct loose. Mate
th water, and by
shrouds, he got
nly in removing
ly, more whole-
pper works into
intolerable want
e of this happi-
•y yet the more,
tand; for, while
areas at east the
d provision, we
k^s time, at least
cover without a
esh against us,
pany in advising
ie her way most
3lves in quest of

hope to make;
5 winter season,
ind give greater
id admit. Back-
1 the course we
ake the middle
g in endeavoring

tackle, and sail
gh we ran to the

■ctice, the famine
ismal cries, and
it all the voyage
prey to feed on ;
rat was sold for
yage ended, (as 1
ered twenty shil-
lan died. Many
r, till the blessed
ith a very melan-
aes, the scrapings

TANTALIZING DREAM.S.

Stalt XSXr wllhtr::; /"^'?''^^r -"'"f"- « P»'»''inJ
tlH) ii.tf,c-,li.,..t« Of I rC .. , ' ,"'"'. ^ir"' "" "■"" '"••'I i" .il, wort

but p..acouMy .njo;,-.] ouf Cirr'tmas'n.ddLr"' '" """ "" "•••^'""•"-■

;[- -orso b'y that t.!^£^ Scy " torn "t.iT^tr'"^ r""'"' '"-''

l>o captain's favor iu ajlowinc n.o a sharn „f M ^"""'^ ^'''V •■«"'' h

1.0 had concealed in a privateVoUar ?or a dead im ^T "' T^^ ^'"^'"•

ol water for qualifying it to quench thir«^. '' '^'""•^'^ " "'''"""'

remedy, and a great%efre8hLm tome '^i""^ ^"^ " P''^^^"'

to shorten our way to the shorA fhn„^f' '^''^.«'«storIy wind continuo.l

'his clid not at all incUe u to chln.et/r? tl""' ^^^ ""^ P"''-" «>"'
t .e first land; it rather anima od^^jrupportodt i'n" ""^ '"'''"' '^" ''"^
tl'o hopes of touching land was food 3 !• . °'" P'"*'"^'" ^"''»"e =

some expectation, we paTed^r thSe ?„r T.""' *° "'• ^» ^^'^ ^^"i-
and then we saw the water^Ln,^! , '^'" "f "'"^ ^^y« ""d nights,
approached the shore tlTe^Lhto^fn'"'"'',?'' .'»«'' ««"ndings. We

'i- morning of the fou S daf ^ave us"Sh?^' ^ ""u« '""^'^"'^ "«
what lati.ude we could not leH -^Jor th-Vlh^ ' T "*^ *^« '^"•^' ^ut in
to keep the reckoning ofX ah p L for m'' "*/''''' ^''°'''' ^"'^ »' ^»''
'I'at part; nor had we seen the snn - """{.fays past totally omitted
which, though a lame excuse was ^ntr^L''^'"' '° '""^^ observations.
But, in truth, it was evident' tLt thi l'^ ^''* '° '"^ *«•• **'"' «""««'«>"•
hourly jeopa dy of lifo mado hi™ desperate state of the ship, and
journal the thLgh of "tthe T.^"^^^^ «i'her log or

-de them neglect that^ofrXarn^nsfc '"^ "' »* ''-^'

we^t r nTfr fo Srshorr^'^^ "^-^ ^^'« -«^ eve,
water smooth ; the land wo aw neals^ '"'"^ ^'^'^''"*^ ""^ '=»'™. '^e
miles distant from us; ouTsoundings twerfirf^.h*' —« English
for anchor hold. These invitatrns wire In „» •°'"' "" ^"""^ ^'°""''
generality, especially the 00830^?,^! ^"^'^^t've to encourage the
on for the shore; but one^dd Xe; wr'''"*\''*^f ^^^ "^een refolved
stores, while there were any wouw'Jt """' ''"''"^^ ^°' ^^e ship's
the only anchor of any servS Tat wJ^?!^"'^*' °° "'^ *«""«' »« ^rust
«ight at sea. His a?gurJents to bZ h" "' ■"■ P'^^-^^^tion out of his
tirst, the hazard of losfng th" onlv aJ.Li K "P""°° .T'^ P'^"«'l»J« ^ ««.
with it a necessity to cut or slin I ^r k ^^ ''"X s»dden storm, bringing
the shortness of^thrcaW; ve^r'v unfi ''foV'''^'^" depended ; Seconal
thirdly, the weakness of the shin's Jrew ""^^^''^g '» the ocean; and
board; and the passengers weXn^nT' /"^"^ ^^"^ ^°d fallen over-
the decks, or at the numn Jhi t 1^^ ^'""^^r, dying every day on
but must not rest. ^ ^' ^^'''^' *"'' ^^''' difficulty, was kept going

bistTto t torjiVwrfw^hiTw-a t;rr.r --'-^ -^

save our ship, with oJr 1 Ves^aSStlr'-'''''*^ °^ ^"*^'"^ '^ '^"hor to
These last regions prevailed uinthrm!; V""^- "^^^ °" ^he coast,
when the anchor was 1^10080 'ZlnPn"'""'^ ''^^'"'^ "^^ negatives; and
discovery of what we migKp^^^^^^^^^ "'^''^'^J^' ^^^^ the first

h.» twelve sickly P-nfiUTh^VLrJ^r Xrit^^^^^^^^^

ssrasrrf^afHa^JtEjS:

I'MUir.ous voYAOi; or captain Norwood.

and cnrric!(l Major .Morrison on sliorn with liitn. In lour or five, hour:-
lime, we <'iMil(l (iisc()\('r tiic boat rftiirninj; with INTalc J'tiMs nlonn for a
setter, wliicii we lo(il;i'(l upon i\^ a. sii;iial of iiappy HijccfSH. VVIii'ii he
fiinu' (lU lioard, iiis iiioiitli was full of f/ood ti<lin<.'?i; an, naiiuily, that hr
ilisrovcrcd a crrclv tiial woiihl harhor our siiip, and tiiat tlii-ro was a
drpth of water on tho har, siiiliiient for lier <lrniifjht wiien nhe w.i-i lipht ;
ifiiil llu;ro wa«< exrclh-nl water; (a taste winireof Major Morrii^oii had
tent mo in a Ijotth-;) thai tii« siiore Hwarrned witli fowl; and tliat .Major
Morrison Htaid behind In exportation of tho whole ship'.s company to
rr»llow.

I opened my earn wido to tho motion, and promoted tho design of «»ur
landitif; there with all tho rhetoric and interest I ha<l. Tho enptain was
no less forward for it, hopinj; thereby to save tho lives of the pnssenfjers
that remained ; and, that he might not wholly rely on Mate Putts' jndg-
ment, in a matter wherein ho was most coucemod, ho embarked with me
in the wli(>rry, with a kinsman of his, and some others; and the seamen
wore glad of my help to put tho boat to shore, my hands being very well
soascmod at the pump by taking my turn for many weeks, at tho rate of
three hours in twenty-four. My passionate «lesircs to be on shore, at the
fountain head, to drink without stint, did not a little (juirken me ; inso-
much, that the six or seven miles I rowed on tliis occasion, were no more
than the breadth of the Thames at London, at another time, would have
been toilsome to me. [n our passage to the shore, the darkness of the
evening made us glad to see the tires of our friends at land, which were
not only our beacons to direct >is to their company, but were also a com-
fortable relief to our chilled bodies when we came near them, the
weather being very cold, as it ever is; the wind blowing north-west on
tliat coa.st. As soon as I had set my foot on land, and had rendered
thanks to the Almighty for opening this door of deliverance to us, after
r-o many rescues, even from the jaws of death at sea. Major Morrison was
pleased to oblige me beyond all requital, in conducting me to the run-
ning stream of water, where, without any limitation of short allowance.
I might drink my fill. I was glad of so great liberty, and made use oC
it accordingly, by prostrating myself on my belly, and setting my month
against tho stream, that it might run into my thirsty stomach without
stop. Tho rest of the company were at liberty to use their own methods
to quench their thirst; but this I thought the greatest pleasure I ever
saw on earth.

After this sweet refreshment, the captain, myself, and his kinsman,
crossed the creek in our wherry, invited thither by the cackling of wild
fowl. The captain had a gun charged ; and the moon shining bright in
his favor, ho killed one duck of the flock that flew over us, which was
roasted on the stick out of hand by the seamen, while we walked on tti'^
shore of tho creek for further discovery. In passing a small stream, wi>
trod on an oyster-bank, that happily furnished us with a good addition |
to our duck. When the cooks had done their parts, we were not loiii'
about ours, but fell on without using the ceremony of calling the rest nt
our company, which would have been no entertainment to so many — th<
proverb telling ns, " The fewer the better cheer." The bones, head,
legs and inwards were agreed to bo the cooks' fees ; so wo gave Goil I
thanks, and returned to our friends without making boast of our good j
fortunes.

Fortified with this repast, we informed ourselves of the depth of water i
at the bar of tho creek, in which the captain seemed satisfied, and madol

'^'«^SSSS«S:T*»i3!5i

'-'^M'ff^mmr^i' '

OOD.

four or i'lvn honi-

I'liltrt aloiii! for ;i

ic'css. VVIu-n 111'

,S. tliUIK^Iy. tlli\t hr

that tlwro was ;i
li(!n sli". w.is liflli' ;
jijor Morrison IkkI
\; nml that !M;>jor
ship^H company to

1 tho dcHifin of our
Tho (^nptain was
< of tho pn88('n{,'or8
1 Mate Putts' .jutlg-
oinbarkcd with mo
rH ; ami tlic soaincn
nds boinjL' very w<',ll
ooks, at tho rato of
I bo on shoro, at tlic
quicken mo ; inso-
asion, worn no morr
sr timo, wouUl have
tho darkness of the
at land, which were
)ut were also a com-
imc near thorn, the
)winR north-west on
1, and had rendered
liverancc to us, ufloi
Major Morrison was
ctinf^ mo to tiio run-
i of short allowance.
ty, and made use of
nd setting my mouth
sty stomach without
io their own methods
atest pleasure I ever

!lf, and his kinsman,
tho cackling of wild
oon shining bright in
V over us, which was
die we walked on th*^
ng a small stream, wi'
with a good addition I
irts, we were not Ioiil'
of calling the rest ot
ment to so many — thi
." The bones, head,
ees ; so wo gave Goij
ng boast of our gooil

! of the depth of watti
led satisfied, and made

MISERY UPON A DESERT ISLAND,

shows, in all his deportment, of his resolution to disclLtrgo his nliip there,
in order to our snl'ity. 'J'oward break of day, ho askod mo in my ear,
if 1 would go hack with him on board tho ship. 1 told him no; bccauHU
it woulil b(« lultor lost, in case ho would persist in his resolution to do
what III! pretended ; wliicli he ratified again by protestations, and so went
olf with his kinsman, who had a large, coarse, cloth gown, I borrowed of
him to shelter mo from the sharjiost cold I ever felt. No sooner had thp
captain cleared himself of the shore, but the day-break made mo see my
error in not closing with his motion in my ear. The first objec^t we saw
at sea, wau the ship under sail, standing for the Capes, with what canvas
could bo made to servo the turn. It was a very heavy prospect to us,
who remained, wo know not where, on shore, to see ourselves thus aban-
doned by tho ship ; and more, to be forsaken by tho boat, so contrary to
our mutual agreement. Many hours of hard labor and toil were spent
neforo tho boat could fetch tho ship; and tho seamen, whose net it was
to set sail without the captain's order, (as we were told after.) cared not
for the boat, while the wind was largo to carry them to tlie Capes. But
Mate Putts, who was more sober, and better natured, discovering the
Ijoat from tho mizzentop, lay by till she came with tho captain on board.

In this amazement and confusion of mind, that no words can express,
did our niiuerable, distressed party condole with each otlier, on our being so
cruelly abandoned, and left to the last despairs of human life, or, indeed,
of ever seeing more the face of man. We entered into a sad consulta-
tion what course to take ; and having, in the first place, by united prayers,
implored the protection of Almighty God, and recommending our miser-
able state to the same Providence which, in so many instances of mercy,
had been propitious to us at sea: the whole party desired me to be, as it
were, the father of the distressed family, to advise and conduct them in
all things I thought might most tend to our preservation. At the same
time I quitted the ship, my servant, Thomas Harman, a Dutchman, did,
at parting, advertise me, (for I left him on board to look to my goods,)
that in the bundle I ordered to be carried with me onshore, I should find
about thirty biscuit cakes, which he, by unparalleled frugality, had saved
out of his own belly, in tho groat dearth and scarcity wo lived in. The
thoughts of these biscuits entering upon me at the time I was pressed to
accept this charge, I thought myself obliged, in christian equity, to let every
one partake of what I had ; and so, dividing the bread into nineteen parts,
which was our number, perhaps I added the fraction to my own share.

It was, to' the best of my remembrance, upon the 6th day of January,
16fiO, that we entered into this method of life, or rather into an orderly
way into our graves ; since nothing but tho image of death was represented
to us. But that we might use our utmost endeavors to extract aD
the good we could out of those evil symptoms that every way seemed
to confound us, I made a muster of the most able bodies for arms and
labor; and, in the first place,! put a fowling-piece into every man's
hand that could tell how to use it. Among the rest, a young gentleman,
Mr. Francis Cary by name, was very helpful to me in the fatigue and
active part of this undertaking.

All our woodmen and fowlers had powder and shot given them, and
some geese were killed for supper. Evening came on apace, and our
resolution being to stay one night more in these quarters, I sent my
cousin, Cary, to head the creeks, and make what discovery he could, as
he passed along the shore, whether of Indians, or any other living
creatures, that were likely to relieve our wanta or end our days.

" ^^■•B'«**akwa^

*\'

«'*

PK11IL0U3 VOYAOK OK CAPTAIN NORWOOD.

My ronsiii Cnry was not ahuont miirh nliovn nn hour, wlim wo naw
him rt'tnrri in ii contrary point to that ho Halliccl out upon. Ilin faco wa.s
clon(h>il with ill news \w had to li'll ns, iiaimly, that w<> woro now
rt'sidinfr on nn iHlnnd without nny inhahitants, nnii that hi^ had Hccn its
wholo t'xtcnt, Hurroundcii, as lii^ hciicvcd, witli water deeper than hin
head; that hit had not Hoon uny nativo, or anything in human »<liap(<, in
nil his round; nor nny othor crouturn boxidi' \\\v t'owin of tho nir, which
ho wouhl, but could not, bring unto us. Tiii.s dismal success, of so
unsucco.ssful a nnturo, startled us moro than any single niisfortuno that
had befallen us nnd was like to plungo us into utter despair. We beheld
each other as miserable wretches sentenced to a lingering death, no man
knowing what to projmse for prolonging life nny longer than he was able
to fast. My cousin, Cnry, was gone from us without notice, and we had
reason, from what followed, to bclicvo ho was under the conduct of on
angel; for wo soon saw him return with a cheerful look, his hands
carrying something we could not distinguish by any name nt n distance;
but, by nearer approach, wo wore able to descry they wore a parcel of
oysters, which in crossing the island, as ho stepped over n small current of
water, he trod upon to his hurt; but laying hands on whnt he felt with
his foct, and pulling it witii nil his force, ho found himself possessed of
this booty of oysters, which grow in clusters, nnd were contiguous to a
large bonk of tho same species, that was our staple subsistence wiiilo we
remained there. While this very cold scnson continued, great flights of
fowl frequented tho island — gocso, ducks and curlieus ; and some of every
sort wc killed and roasted on sticks, eating nil but tho feathers. It was
the only perquisite belonging to my place of preference to tho rest, that
tho right of carving was annexed to it ; wherein, if 1 was partial to my
own interest, it was in cutting the wing as largo and full of meat as
possible, whereas tho rest was measured out, as it were, with scale and
compass. But, as the wind veered to the southward, we had greater
warmth and fewer fowl ; for they would then bo gone to cohlcr climates.
In their absence we were confined to the oyster-bank, and a sort of weed,
iomc four inches long, as thick as house leek, nnd the only green (except
pines) that tho island afTorded. It was very insipid on tho palate, but
being boiled with a little pepper, of which one had brought a pound on
shore, and helped with five or six oysters, it became a regale for every
one in turn.

In quartering our family we observed the decency of distinguishing
sexes. We made a small hut for the poor weak women to* be by them-
selves. Our cabin for men was of the same fashion, but much more
spacious, as our numbers were. One morning, in walking on the shore
by the seaside, with a long gun in my hand, loaded with small shot, I
fired at a great flight of small birds, called oxeyes, and made great slaugh-
ter among them, which gave refreshment to all our company. But this
harvest had a shon end ; and as the weather, by its warmth, chased the
fowl to tho north, our hunger grew keener upon us; and, in fine, all the
strength that remained unto us was employed in a heartless struggle to
spin out life a little longer ; for we still deemed ourselves doomed to die
by famine, from whose sharpest and most immediate darts, though we
seemed to be rescued for a small time, by meeting these contingent
helps on shore, yet still we apprehended (and that on too great proba-
bility) they only served to reprieve us for a little longer day of cxecn-
tion, with all the dreadful circumstances of a lingering death: for the
south-west winds, that had carried away the fowl, brought store of rain,

rya?r".> V^ 'VvJ5j:^^fl y n?y5::tr>V'

vnoD.

»ur, wli*"!! wo naw
lon. llirt I'liio wn:«
liiit w<' wcri! now
lilt ho liml HtM'n its
r (IccpfT tliiiii hid
11 human »\m\»', iu
of tlio iiir, which

Ual HUCCCSH, of BO

\vi uiinforlunii tliat
Hpair. VVc behold
rin^ death, no man
;r tlian ho was ahio
notice, and wo had

tho conduct of an
ill look, his hands
name at a distance ;
•y worn a parcel of
(r a small current of

what ho felt with
imsclf possessed of
Dro contiguous to a
ubsistenco wliilo we
jcd, great fliglits of
I ; and some of every
,0 feathers. It was
ICO to the rest, that

1 was partial to my
and full of meat as
'oro, with scale and
ird, we had groator
c to colder climates.
, and a sort, of weed,
B only green (except
on the palate, but
Drought a pound on

10 a regale for every

icy of distinguishing
imen to* bo by them-
ion, but much more
valking on the shore
id with small shot, I
d made great slaugh-
company. But this
warmth, chased the
, and, in fine, all the
heartless struggle to
selves doomed to die
ate darts, though we
ing these contingent
t on too great proba-
longer day of execu-
rering death: for the
irought store of rain,

THE LIV1N(» KKKD UI'ON THE DEAD.

I spring-tido, our rhiof magaaino, the oyxtor-ljank,
M thfy hocnme more ai'ce:4!*ihlc, our liodicM also

which, mnoting wifli
was ovorllown ; und,

decayed so sciisilily. that W" <'<>i,|rl Intnlly pull thetii out of the muddy
beds they gri-w oil, ikuI froui < » i "• forward we rarely saw llie fowl;
lliey now gr<'w shy, iind kept aloof ,\v ii they saw us cdiilrivitig against
their lives. A(|d to this, nnt fltms, mofli (d* them iiiitixcd and out of
oriler, and our pow^< r much (ientyf'f) ; insomuch, that nothing did now
remain to prolong lilr, but what is cuuAi il rather sauce to wliet, than
sulistance to satisfy the a|/jietitO. I mean llie oV°*''r3. which wero not
easily goll 'u by our cra/y l>u(iies, at\er the ijuantity wa? M|»'nt that lay
most commodious to be n-ached, and which had fed us for the first six
days wo had been on the island.

Uf the lliree weak women Ix'foro mentioned, on had the envied hap-
piness to die about this time ; and it was my advice to the survivors, who
were following her apace, to cudoavor their own preservation by con-
verting her dead carcass into food; as they did to good ctfect. The samo
counsel was embraced by those of our sex. The living fed upon the
dead ; four of our company having the happiness to end their misi^rablo

lives on .Sunday night, the day of January. Their chief distemper,

it is true, was hunger ; but it pleased God to hasten the exit by an
immoderate access of cold, caused by a most terrible storm of hail and
Hiiow, at noith-west, on the Sunday aforesaid, which not only dispatched
those four to their long homes, but sorely threatened all that remained
alive, to perish by the samo fate. Great was the toil that lay on my
hands, as the strongest to labor, to get fuel together sutlicient for our
preservation. In the first place, I divested myself of my great gown,
which 1 spread at large, and extended against the wind, in lieu of a
screen, having first shilled our quarters to the most calm, commodious
place that could be found, to keep us as much as possible from the
inelemeiH y of that prodigious storm. Under the shelter of this traverse,
I took as many of my comrades as could be comprehended in so small a
space ; wiiereas, those who could not partake of that accommodation,
and were unable to make provision for themselves, were forced to sufi'er
for it ; and it was remarkable, that notwithstanding all the provision that
could possibly be made against the sharpness of this cold, either by a
well burning fire, consisting of two or three loads of wood, or shelter of
this great gown to the windward, we could not be warm. That side of
our wearing clothes was singed and burnt, which lay toward the flames,
while the other side, that was from the fire, became frozen and congealed.
Those who lay to the leeward of the flame could not stay long to enjoy
the warmth so necessary to life, but were forced to quit and be gone, to
avoid sufibcation by the smoke and flame.

When the day appeared, and the sun got out to dissipate the clouds,
with downcast looks and dejected, the survivors of us entered into a
final deliberation of what remained to be done on our parts, beside our
prayers to Almighty God, to spin out a little longer time of life, and wait
a further Providence from heaven for our better relief. There were still
some hands that retained vigor, though not in proportion to those
diflicuUies we were to encounter, which humanly did seem insuperable.
Major Morrison, on whose counsel I had reason to rely most, was
extremely decayed in his strength, his legs not being able to support him.
It was a wonderful mercy that mine remained in competent strength, for
our common good, which I resolved, by God's help, to employ for that
end to the last gasp. In this last resolution we hod to make, I could not

fiili

32 PERILOUS VOYAGE OF CAPTAIN NORWOOD.

think on :inytliiD<,' worthy my proposal, but by an attempt to cross the
creek, ami swim to the main, whicii was not above a hundred yards over;
and, l)eini,' there, to coast along the woods to the south-west, wiiicli was
tiic l)('urin<r of Virginia, until I should meet Indians, wiio would either
relieve or destroy us. To fortify me for this expedition, it was ncces-
siu y lli.it some provision should be made for a daily support to me in
this my peregrination. Our choice was small ; our only friend, the oyster-
bank, was all' we had to rely on, which, being well stev ed in their
own liquor, and put up in bottles, I made no doubt, by God's blessing,
but tliat two of th(?m, well filled, would suffice to prolong my life, in
moderate strength, until I had obtained my end. To accomplish this
design, my cousin Cary labored hard for oysters, hoping to make one
in the adventure.

January 14. About the ninth day of our being in the island, I fell *o
my oyster cookery, and made a progress that very day. When in the
heat of my labor, my cousin Cary brought me word, that he had just
ID that instant seen Indians walking on the main. I suspended my
cookery out of hand, and hastened, with all possible speed, to be an eye-
witness of that happy intelligence ; but with all the haste I could make, I
could see no such things, but judged it a chimera that proceeded from
some operation in my cousin's fancy, who was more than ordinary of a
sanguine nature, whicli made him see as it were, by enchantment, things
that were not, liaving many times been deluded, as I judged, by the
same deception.

Defeated in this manner of my hopes to see Indians, without the pains
of seeking them, I returned to my work, and continued at it till one
bottle was full, and myself tired ; therefore, that I might bo a little
recreated, I took a gun in my hand, and, hearing the noise of geese on
the shore, 1 approached them privately, and had the good fortune to be
the death of one. This goose, now in my possession, without witnesses,
I resolved to eat alone, deducting the head, bones, guts, etc., which
were the cooks fees, hoping thereby to be much the better enabled to
swim the creek, and perform the work I had upon my hands. 1 hung
my goose upon the twist of a tree, in a shrubby part of wood, while I
went to call our cook, with his broach and a coal of fire, to begin the
roast. But when we came to the place of execution, my goose was
gone all but the herd, the body stolen by wolves, which, the Indians told
us afler, abound greatly in that island.

The loss of this goose, which my empty stomach looked for with no
small hopes of satisfaction, did vex me heartily. I wished I could have
taken the thief of my goose, to have served him the same kind, and to
have taken my revenge in the law of retaliation. But that which trou-
bled me more, was an apprehenson that came into my mind, that thin
had been the cflect of divine justice on me, for designing to deal
unequally with the rest of my fellow-sufferers, which I thought, at first
blush, looked like a breach of trust ; but then again, when I considered
the equity of the thing, that I did it merely to enable myself to attain their
preservation, and which otherwise I could not have done, I found I could
absolve myself from any guilt of that kind. Whatever I suffered from
this disappointment, the cook lost not all his fees ; the head and neck
remained for him on the tree. Being thus overreached by the wolf, it
was time to return to my cookery, in order to my sally out of the island
for I had little confidence in the notice frequently brought me, of more
and more Indiana seen on the other side, since my own eyes could never

m(mm*m i>'-," mif:m msi»^^sm^^-

OOD.

jinpt to cross the
iiulicd yards over ;
h-\vest, wliich wan
who would either
ion, it was necos-
support to me in
friend, tiio oyster-
l staved in their
jy God's blessing,
rolong my life, in
'o accomplish this
ping to make one

he island, I fell 'o
ay. When in the
, that he had just
I suspended my
>eed, to be an eye-
3te I could make, I
at proceeded from
than ordinary of a
nchantment, things
1 I judged, by the

(, without the pains
nued at it till one
[ might be a little
noise of geese on
good fortune to be
, without witnesses,
, guts, etc., which
I better enabled to
my hands. 1 hung
t of wood, while I
f fire, to begin the
ion, my goose was
ch, the Indians told

looked for with no
vished I could have
3 same kind, and to
lut that which trou-
my mind, that tliif
designing to deal
h I thought, at first
, when 1 considered
nyself to attain their
one, I found I could
ver I suffered from
the head and neck
ched by the wolf, it
ly out of the island
irought me, of more
»wn eyes could never

FRIENDLY VISITORS. o.-j

bear witness of their being there. The next morning, being the ninth or
tenth of our being tliere, I fell to work afre.sh, iioping to bo ready to
begin my journey that day; and, being very busy, intoiligcnco wa.s
brought liiat a canoe was seen to lie on the broken ground to the south
of our i^sland, which was not discovered till now since our being tiiere ;
l)ut this 1 thouglit might be a mistake, cast in the same mold of many
otiiers. tiiiit had deceived those discoverers, who fancied all tilings real
according to their own wishes. But when it was told me that Indians
had been at the poor women's cabin in the night, and had given thcni
shellfish to eat, that was a demonstration of reality beyond all suspicion.
I went immediately to be informed from themselves, and they both
avowed it for truth, showing the shells, the like whereof I ncvoi had
seen ; and this I took for proof of what they had said. The farther
account tiiat these women gave of the Indians, was, that they pointed to
the south-east with their hands, which they knew not how to interpret;
but imagined, by their several gestures, they would be with them again
to-morrow. Their pointing to the south-east was like to bo the time
they would come, meaning nine o'clock to be their hour, where the sun
will be at that time.

This news gave us all new life, almo.st working miracles among us.
by making those who desponded, and totally yielded themselves up to
the weight of despair, and lay down with an intent never to rise again,
to take up their beds and walk. This friendly charitable visit of tlit-
Indians also put a stop to my preparations to seek them, who had so
humanely prevented me, by their ways, seeking to preserve and save
our lives. Instead of those preparations for my march, which had cost
me so much pains, I passed my time now in contriving the fittest postun;
our present condition would allow us to put on, when these angels of
light should appear again with the glad tidings of our relief; and the
result was, that every able man should have his gun lying by his side,
lop'led with shot, and as fit for use as possible, but not to bo hai;dlc(l
ulless the Indians came to us like enemies, which was very unlikely,
the premises considered, and then to sell our lives at as dear a rate
as wc could. But if they came in an amicable posture, then would we
meet them unarmed, cheerfully ; which the Indians like, and hate to see
a melancholy face. Scouts were sent out to the right and loft hands,
without discovery of anybody all the forenoon ; and then, considering
our case admitted no delay, I began to resume my former resolution of
swimming to them that would not come to us. But how wholesome
soever this counsel might seem in itself, it was most diflicult to be put
in practice; in regard of the cold time.

The northerly wind, that in these climates blows very cold in the
heat of summer, much more distempers the air in the winter season,
(as our poor comrades felt that Sunday night to their cost,) and sent
so cold a gale upon the surface of water in the creek I was to pass, that,
in the general opinion of all concerned, it was not a thing to be attempted,
and that if I did, I must surely perish in the act. I w as easily persuaded
to forbear an action so dangerous; and the rather, because I verily
bei'jvcd the Indians would bring us off, if our patience would hold out.

About the hour of two or three o'clock, it pleased God to ciiange the
face of our condition for the best ; for while I was busy at the lire in
preparations to wait on them, I discovered the Indians, who had placed
themselves behind a very great tree; their faces wore most cheerful smiles;
they were without any kind of arms, or appearances of evil design ; the

iiiiinwP

PERILOUS VOYAGE OF CAPTAIN NORWOOD.

whole number of them, perhaps twenty or thirty in all, consisting of men
women, and children ; all that could speak accosting us with joyful
countenance, shaking hands with everyone they met. The words, "ny
tap," often repeated by them, made ua believe they bore a friendly
signification, as they were soon interpreted to signify, my friend. After
many salutations, and "ny taps," interchanged, the night approaching,
we fell to parley with each other ; but performed it in signs more con-
founded and unintelligible than any other conversation I ever met withal ;
as hard to be interpreted as if they had expressed their thoughts in the
Hebrew or Chaldean tongues. They did me the honor to make all
applications to me, as being of largest dimensions, and equipped in a
camlet coat, glittering with galoon lace of gold and silver. The ears
of Indian corn they gave us for present sustenance, needed no other
interpreter to let them know how much more acceptable it was to us
than the sight of dead and living corpses, which raised great compassion
in them, especially in the women, who are observed to be of a soft, tender
nature. One of them made me a present of the leg of a swan, which I
ate as privately as it was given me ; and thought it so much the more
excellent by how much it was larger than the greatest limb of any fowl I
ever saw.

The Indians stayed with us about two hours, and parted not without a
new appointment to see us again the next day, and the hour we were to
expect them, by their pointing to the sun, was to be at two o^clock in
the afternoon. I made the chief of them presents of ribbon, and other
slight trade which they loved, designing, by mutual endearment, to let
them see it would gratify their interest, as well as their charity, to treat
us well. Ila-na haw, was their parting word, which is, farewell ; pointing
again to the place where the sun would be at our next meeting. We
took leave in their own words, Ha-na haw. The going away of the
Indians and leaving us behind, was a separation hard to be borne by our
hungry company, who, nevertheless, had received a competent quantity
of corn and bread to keep us till they returned to do better things for
our relief. We did not fail to give glory to God for our approaching
deliverance; and the joy we conceived in our minds, in the sense of so
great a mercy, kept us awake all the night, and was a cordial to the sick
and weak, to recover their health and strength. The delay of the
Indians coming next day, beyond their set time, we thought an age of
tedious years. At two o'clock we had no news of them ; but, by attending
their own time, with a little patience, we might see a considerable number
of them, men, women, and children, all about our huts, with recruits of
liread and corn to stop every mouth. Many of them desired beads, and
little truck they use to deal in, as exchange for what they gave us, and
wo as freely gave them what we had brought on shore. But to such of
us as gave them nothing, the Indians failed not, however, to give them
bread for nothing.

One old man of their company, who seemed, by the preference they
gave him, to be the most considerable of their party, applied himself to
inc, by gestures and signs, to learn something, if possible, of our country,
unci occasions of the sad posture he saw us in, to the end that he might
inform his master, the king of Kickotank, on whose territories we stood,
and dispose him to succor us as we had need. I made return to him, in
many vain words, and as many significant signs as himself had made to
me, and neither of us one jot the wiser. The several nonplusses we
both were at in striving to be better understood, afforded so little of

UN Ml J I , W ■ ■ I^ .IH I ^ .^

iisisting of men
us with joyful
rhe words, "ny
bore a friendly
friend. After
it approaching,
igns more con-
ver met withal ;
thoughts in the
lor to make all
I equipped in a
ver. The ears
eeded no other
le it was to us
reat compassion
of a soft, tender
a swan, which I
much the more
nb of any fowl I

ed not without a
lour we were to
, two o'clock in
ibbon, and other
dearmcnt, to let

charity, to treat
rewell ; pointing
t meeting. We
ng away of the
be borne by our
mpetent quantity
better things for
our approaching

the sense of so
Drdial to the sick
he delay of the
jught an age of
but, by attending
jiderable number
, with recruits of
sired beads, and
hey gave us, and

But to such of
ver, to give them

preference they
jplied himself to
3, of our country,
nd that he might
ritorics we stood,
return to him, in
self had made to
il nonplusses we
rdcd so little of

A HOSPITABLE RECEPTION.

edification to either party, that our time was almost spent in vain. It
came at last into my iiead, that I had long since read Mr. Smith's Travels
through those parts of America, and that the word Wurowancc, a word
frequently pronounced by the old man, was, in llnglish, the king. Tliat
word, spoken by me, with strong emphasis, together with tlie motions of
my body, speaking my desires of going to him, was very pleasing to
the old man ; who, thereupon, embraced me with more than common
kindness, and by all demonstrations of satisfaction, showed that he
understood my meaning. This one word was all the Indian I could
speak, wiiich, like a little armor well placed, contributed to the saving
of our lives. In order to what was next to be done, he took me by the
hand, and led me to the seaside, where I embarked with himself and
oiie more Indian, in a canoe, that had brought him there ; which the
third man rowed over to that broken ground, where, not long before, we
made discovery of a canoe newly laid there ; and, as they told us, was
lodged there on purpose to be ready for our transport, at such time as
they thouglit fit to fetch us oflT: and the reason of tlieir taking me with
them, was to help to launch this weighty embarkation, whicij was very
heavy for its proportion ; as being made of the body of an oak or pine,
some twenty-two feet in length, hollowed like a pigs' trough, which is
the true description of a canoe. The manner of its being put into motion
is very particular : the laborers, with long brooms, place their feet on
the starboard and larboard sides of the boat, and with this fickle footing
do they heave it forward.

The canoes being fitted to take us in, and waft us to the main, I made
a fair muster of the remnant we had to carry off; and found we want' d
six of the number we brought on shore ; viz. four men, and two women.
Five of those six, we knew were dead; but missing one of our living
women, we made the Indians understand the same; who as readily
made us know that she was in their thoughts, and should be cared for,
as soon as we were settled in our quarters. In passing the creek that
was to lead us to an honest fisherman's house, we entered a branch of it
to the southward, that was the road way to it. Tlie tide was going out,
and the water very shoal ; which gave occasion to any one that had a
knife, to treat himself with oysters all the way. At the head of that
branch, we were able, in a short time, to discover that haven of happiness,
where our most courteous host, with a cheerful countenance, received
and entertained us. Several fires were kindled out of hand, our arms and
powder were laid up in safety, and divers earthen pipkins were put to
l)oil, with such varieties as the season would afford. Everybody had
something or other to defend and save them from the cold ; and my obli-
gation to him, by a peculiar care that he had of me, exceeded all the
rest; I had one entire side of the fire, with a large platform to repose on,
to myself, furs and deer-skins to cover my body and support my head,
with a priority of respect and friendly usage; whicii,to my great trouble,
I was not able to deserve at his hands, by any requital then in my power
to return.

I can never sufficiently applaud the humanity of this Indian ; nor ex-
press the high contentment that I enjoyed in this poor man's cottaire,
which was made of nothing but mats and reeds, and bark of trees fixed" to
polos. It had a loveliness of symmetry in the air of it, so pleasing to the
eye and refreshing to the mind, that neither the splendor of the Escurial,
nor the glorious appearance of Versailles, were able to stand in compe-
tition with it. We had a boiled swan for supper, which gave plentiful

a«i t»« i»*j| jc w i^ > . ».

it)

PERILOUS VOYAGE OF CAPTAIN NORWOOD.

jjji

repast to all our upper mesa. Our bodies thuH refroHhed with moat ami
sleep, coinfortcd with fires, and secured Irom nil the ciianfres and inclem
encies of that sliarp, piercing cold season, wo thouftht the morning,
thouirji clad in siinHliinc, did not come too fust upon us. Breakfast was
liberally provided, and soon set before us, our arms faitiifully delivered
up to my order for carriages; and thus, in readiness to set forward, we
j)ut ourselves in a posture to proceed to the place where the king resided.
The woman left behind at the island, had bee?; well looked to, and was
now brought off to the care of her comrade that came with us ; neither
of them in a condition to take a journey: but they were carefully attended
and nourished in this poor man's house till such time as boats camo to
fetch them to Virginia; where they soon arrived in perfect health, and
lived (one, or both of them,) to be well married, and to bear children, and
to subsist in as plentiful a condition as they could wish. In beginning
our journey through the woods, we had not advanced half a mile, till we
lieard a great noise of men's voices directed to meet and stop our further
passage. These were several Indians, sent by the king to order us
back to our quarters. The good-natured king being informed of our
bodily weakness, and inability to walk through the woods to his house
on foot, (which might be about four miles distant from our setting out,)
iiud a real tenderness for us, and sent canoes to carry us to the place
nearest his house by the favor of another branch of the same creek:
and to the end we might take no vain steps, as we were going to do, and
exhaust our strength to no purpose, those Indians made this noise to stop
us. We entered the canoes that were manned and lay ready to receive
us. We had a pleasant passage m the shallow water, and ate oysters all
the way: for although the breakfast we had newly made, might well
excuse a longer abstinence than we were like to be put to, our arrcar to
our stomachs was so great, that all we swallowed was soon concocted
and our appetite still fresh and craving more.

Having passed this new course for some three English miles in
another branch of the creek, our landing place was contrived to be near
the house of the queen, then in waiting. She was a very plain lady to
see, not young, nor yet ill-favored. Her complexion was of a red
white, but tho measures of beauty in those parts where they arc exposed
to the scorching sun from their infancy, are not taken from red and white,
but from colors that better lie upon their tawny skins. The beauty of
this q)ieeii'» mind, which is more permanent than that of color, was
conspicuous in her charity and generosity to us poor starved weather-
beaten creatures, who were the objects of it. A mat was spread without
the house, upon the ground, furnished with pone, hominy, oysters, and
other things. The queen made us sit down and eat, with gestures that
showed more courtesy than majesty; but spoke as hearty ■welcome
as could in silence be expected: and these were the graces that, in our
opinion, transcended all other beauties in the world; and abundantly
supplied all defects of outward appearances in the person and garb of the
(jucen.

When this collation of the queen's was at an end, we took leave of
her majesty, with all the shows of gratitude that silence knew how to
utter. We were now within half an hour's walk of the king's mansion,
which we soon discovered by the smoke, and saw it was made of the
same stuff with the other houses from which we had newly parted,
namely, of mat and reed. Locust posts sunk in the ground at corners
and partitions, were the strength of the whole fabric. The roof was tied

1 with moat and
[nc.a and inclem
it the morning,
Brealcfast was
lifuliy delivered
set forward, we
he king resided,
iked to, and was
vilh us ; neither
irefully attended
as boats came to
feet health, and
3ar children, and
1. In beginning
ilf a mile, till we
1 stop our further
ing to order us
informed of our
ids to his house
our setting out,)

us to the place
the same creek:

going to do, and
Ihis noise to stop

ready to receive
nd ate oysters all
lade, might well
to, our arrear to
I soon concocted

English miles in
trived to be near
ery plain lady to
n was of a red
they arc exposed
m red and white.
The beauty of
uat of color, was
starved weather-
as spread without
niny, oysters, and
vith gestures that
hearty welcome
[races that, in our
; and abundantly
an and garb of the

we took leave of
nee knew how to
le king^s mansion,
was made of the
lad newly parted,
around at corners
The roof was tied

liOSPITALITV OV THE INDIAN CHIEF.

fartt to llio body witii a knot of strong rushes that grow tlioro, which sup-
plied the place of nails and pins, mortices and tenants. Tlio brcuidtii of
tins place was about eigiitoen or twenty feet ; tiio lengtii about twenty
yards. Tlio only furniture was several platforms for lodging, each about
two yards long and more ; placed on both sides of the house, distant from
each other about live feet; the space in the middle was tlin chimney,
winch had a hole in the roof over it, to receive as mucii of tlie smoke u.s
would naturally repair to it: the rest wo shared among us, wliich was
l!ic greatest part ; and tiie sitters divided to each side, as our soldiers do
in their corps de guarde. Fourteen great fires, thus situated, were burning
all at ouce. Tiio king's apartment had a distinction from the rest ; it
was twice as long, and the bank he sat on was adorned with deer skin.s
hncly dressed, and the best furs of otter and beaver that the country
produced. The fire assigned to us was suitable to our number ; to whicli
we wer.- conducted, without intermixture of any Indians, but such as
came to do us oflices of friendship. Tiiere we were permitted to take
our rest, until the king pleased to enter into communication witii us.
Previously to which he sent his daughter, a well-favored young girl oi'
about ten or twelve years old, with a great wooden Ijowl full of hominy,
wliicii is the corn of that country, beaten and boiled to mash. She,
in a most obliging manner, gave me the first taste of it; which I would
have handed to my next neighbor after I had eaten ; but the young
|)rincc'.s.s interposed her hand, and taking the bowl out of mine, delivered
It to the same party I aimed to give it, and to all the rest in order.
Instead of a spoon there was a well shaped muscle-shell that accompanied
the bowl. About three hours after this meal was ended, the king sent
to hiivo mo come to him. He called me Ny a Mutt, which is to say, my
brother; and compelled me to sit down on the same bank with himself,
which I had reason to look upon as a mighty favor. After I had sat
liicro about half an hour, and had taken notice of many earnest discourses
and repartees betwixt the king and his crotemen, (so the Indians call the
king's council,) I could plainly discover, that the debate they held was
concerning our adventure and coming there. To make it more clear, the
king addressed himself to me, with many gestures of his body ; his arms
displayed in various postures, to explain what he had in his mind to utter
for my better understanding. By all which motions I was not edified iu
the least, nor could imagine what return to make by voice, or sign, to
satisfy the king's demand, in anything that related to the present straits
of our condition. In fine, I admired their patient suflerance of my dullness
to comprehend what they meant, and showed myself to be troubled at
it: which being preccived by the king, he turned all into mirth and
jollity, and never left till he made me laugh with him, though I knew
not why.

I took that occasion to present the king with a sword and long shoulder
belt, which he received very kindly; and, to witness .lis gracious accep-
tance, he threw off his mach coat, or upper covering of skin, stood upright
on his bank; and, with my aid, accoutered his naked body with his new
harness, which had no other apparel to adorn it, beside a few skins
about his loins to cover his nakedness. In tiiis dress he seemed to be
much delighted; but to me, he appeared a figure of such extraordinary
shape, with sword and belt to set it oil', that he needed no other art to
stir me up to laughter and mirth, tlian the sight of his own prop^ r person.
Having made this short acquaintance with the king, I took leave, and
returned to ray comrades. Several Indians of the first rank followed me

^^^^^^^^j ^ ' ^ j ^^S jE^ ^ ' ^g^^ ' ^ ;

I'l*

PERILOUS VOYAGE OF CAPTAIN NORWOOD.

to my quarters, and used their boHt endeavors to sifl something from us,
tliut might give tiiem light into knowing what wo were. They sought
many way.s to make their thoughts intelligible to us; but still wc parted
without knowing wiiat to fix upon, or how to steer our course in advance
of our way to Virginia. In this doubtful condition, wc thought it reason-
able to fall upon a speedy resolution what was next to bo done on o':r
parts, in order to the accomplishment of our voyage by land ; wiiich wo
hoped, by the divine aid, wc might be able to effect, adcr a little more
refreshment, by the plenty of victuals allowed us by the king; wlio was
no less indulgent and careful to feed and caress us, than if wc had been
his children. Toward morning we were treated with a new regale,
brought to us by the same fair hand again. It was a sort of spoon meat,
in color and taste not unlike to almond milk, tempered and mixed with
boilfd rice.

Major Morrison, who had been almost at death's door, found himself
abundantly refreshed and comforted with this delicacy. lie wished the
bowl had been a fathom deep ; and would say, when his stomacii called
on him for fresh supplies, that if this princess royal would give him his
till of that food, he should soon recover his strength. Our bodies growing
vigorous with this plenty, wo took new courage, and resolved, as many
as were able, to attempt the finding out of Virginia. Wo gnesscd the
distance could not be great, and that it bore from us S. by W. to S, W,
Our ignorance of latitude we were in, was some discouragement to us ;
but we were confident, from what the seamen discoursed, we were to the
southward of the Menados, then a Dutch plantation, now New York: fair
weather and full stomachs made us willing to be gone. To that end we
laid out for a quantity of pone ; and, for our surer conduct, wc resolved
to procure an Indian to be our pilot through the wilderness ; for we were
to expect many remoras in our way, by swamps and creeks, with which
all those coasts abound. The king remarking our more than ordinary
care, to procure more bread than amounted to our usual expense, gath-
ered thence our designs to leave him, and shifl for ourselves. To pre-
vent the rashness and folly of such an attempt, he made use of all his
silent rhetoric to put us out of conceit of such design ; and made us
understand the peril and difficulty of it, by the many obstacles wc must
meet with. He showed us the danger we should expose ourselves unto,
by rain and cold, swamps and darkness, unless we were conducted by
other skill than we could pretend to. He pointed to his fires and shocks
of corn, of which he had enough ; and made it legible to us in his coun-
tenance, that we were welcome to it. All the signs the king made upon
this occasion, we were content to understand in the best sense ; and
taking for granted our sojourning there was renewed to another day, wc
retired to our quarters.

About midnight following, the king sent to invite me to his fire. He
placed me near him, as before ; and, in the first place, showing me the
quarters of a lean doe, newly brought in, he gave me a knife to cut what
part of it I pleased ; and then pointing to the fire, I inferred I was left
to my own discretion for the dressing of it. I could not readily tell how
to show my skill in the cookery of it, with no better ingredients than
appeared in sight ; and so did no more but cut a collop, and cast it on
the coals. His majesty laughed at my ignorance ; and to instruct me
better, he broached the collop on a lon<j !c»>ver, thrust the sharp end
into the ground, (for there was no he.r'ii iiut what nature made,) and
turning sometimes one side, and sometimes the other, to the fire, it

whi
tok
of a
me,
pros

NORWOOD CONVERSES BY SIGNS.

injT from UB,
riicy sought
U wc parted
B ill advance
ht it reason-
done on o".r
1 ; wliich wo
a litth more
ig; who was
we had been
new regale,
spoon meat,
d mixed with

Dund himself
wished the
omach called
give him his
)dics growing
ved, as many
! guessed the
yr W. to S, W.
[cment to us ;
e were to the
cw York: fair
o that end wc
t, we resolved
; for we were
cs, with which
than ordinary
xpcnse, gath-
ves. To pre-
iisc of all his
and made us
iclcs wc must
lurselves unto,
conducted by
es and shocks
s in his coun-
ng made upon
st sense; and
lother day, we

his fire. Ho
owing me the
ife to cut what
ed I was left
ladily tell how
gredieuts than
and cast it on
to instruct me
thu sharp end
re made,) and

to the fire, it

Ijocamo fit, in a short time, to bo served up, had there been a dining-room
of slate, sucii as tliat excellent king deserved. I made tender of it first
to tiie king, and tiien to his nobles, but all refu.sed, and left it to me, who
gave (iod and the king thanks for that grt?at meal. The rest of the doe
was cut up in pieces, stewed in a pipkin, and then put into my hands to
diaposo of among my company.

Before I parted, the king attacked mo again, with reiterated attempts
to bo understood ; and I thought by these three or four days' conversation,
I had the air of his expression much more clear and intelligible than at
first. Ilis chief dritl, for the first essay, seemed to bo a desire to know
which way we were bound, whether north or south. He took up a stick,
with which he made divers circles by the fireside ; and then holding up
his finger to procure my attention, he gave to every hole a name ; and it
was not hard to conceive, that the several holes were to supply tlio place
of a sea chart, showing the situation of all the most noted Indian territories
that lay to the southward of Kickotank. That circle that was most south-
erly, he called Achomack, which though he pronounced with a difi'erent
accent, I laid hold on that word with all the demonstrations of satisfaction
I could express; giving him to understand, that was the place to which I
had a desire to be conducted.

The poor king was in a strange transport of joy to sec me receive
satisfaction ; and forthw ith caused a lusty young man to be called to
him, to whom, by the earnestness of his motious, he seemed to give ample
instructions to do something for our service; but what it was, we were
not yet able to resolve. In two or three days' time, seeing no cfiect of
what he had so seriously said, we began again to despond ; and there-
fore resumed our former thoughts of putting ourselves in a posture
to be gone ; but the king seeing us thus ready at every turn to leave him,
showed in his looks a more than ordinary resentment ; still describing
(as he could) the care he had taken for us, and the impossibility of
accomplishing our ends by ourselves ; and that wo should surely faint in
the way, and die without help, if we would not be ruled by him. He
showed me again his stores of corn ; and made such reiterated signs, by
the cheerfulness of his countenance, that we should not want, while we
had such a plenty, as made us lay aside all thoughts of stirring till ho
said the word. But as oft as he looked or pointed to the coast of Acho-
mack, he would shake his head, with abundance of grimaces, in dislike
of our design to go that way till he saw it good we should do so. I was
abundantly convinced of our folly, in the resolution we were ready to
take of going away, without better information of the distance from
Achomack, and the way that led to it ; and having so frank a welcome
where we were, we resolved to stay till the king should approve of our
departure; which he was not able to determine, till the messenger came
back, that he had sent to Achomack ; who, it now seemed more plainly,
was dispatched upon my owning that place to be our home ; though we
knew it not from any cause we could rely upon, before we saw the
effect.

While we lived in this suspense, the king had a great mind to see our
firearms, and to be acquainted with the use and nature of them. That
which best pleased his eye, I presented to him, and showed him how
to load and discharge it. The king's eldest son, of about eighteen years
of age, was hugely enamored with our guns, and looked so wistfully on
me, when he saw what wonders they would do, that I could not forbear
presenting him with a birding-piece. Some of our company, who knew

""?,^S^Sga^?saass!-

*:.f,*&

l!( *

Li ,

PKRILOITS VOYAGE OF CAPTAIN NORWOOD.

that l)y thi> laws of Virfjinin, it was rriminal to furniah tho Indians with
firearms, j»av(! rnn n caution in this case: but I resolved for once to bor-
row a point of that law. For though it might bo of excellent uso in
general, yet as our condition was, I esteemed it a much greater crime to
deny tliose Indians anything that was in our power, than the penalty of
that law could amount to. Fatiier and son abundantly gratified in this
manner, tho king thougiit himself largely requited for tho cost wo put
him to in our entertainment. I taught his son to shoot at fowls, to charge
his gim and clean it: insomuch, tiiat in a few minutes, ho wont among
tho Hocks of geese, and firing at random, ho did execution on one of
them to his great joy ; and returned to his father with the game in his
hand with such celerity, as if ho had borrowed wings of the wind.

About throe o'clock this afternoon (January 24) the king was pleased,
in great condescension, to favor mo with a visit ; a favor which I may.
without vanity, assume to myself, and my better habit, from tiio many
particular applications that he made to me, exclusive of the rest of the
company. Ho thought I was too melanciioiy, (^for the Indians, as has
been observed, are great enemies to that temper,) and showed me by his
cheerful looks, what humor ho would have mc put on. lie came at
this time, attended by his young daughter, who had done us the good
offices before mentioned ; and having first, by kind words and pleasant
gestures, given us renewed assurance of hearty welcome, he singled mc
out, and pointed with his hand to a way he would have me take; bu«
whither, or to what end, I was at liberty to guess. Upon that he produced
his little daughter, for my conductress to tho placo to which I should
follow her, wherever she would lead mo. The weather was excessively
cold, with frost ; and tho wind blowing very fresh upon my face, it almost
stopped my breath. Tho late condition I had been in, under a roof, with
great fires and much smoke, conduced to make me more sensible of
tho cold air; but iij loss than half an hour, that pain was over. Wo were
jow in sight of the house to which we were bound, and the lady of tho
place, who proved to be the mother of my conductress, was ready to re-
ceive us, and to show mc my apartment in the middle of her house which
had the same accommodation to sit and rest upon, as before has been
described in ottier instances. The lusty rousing fire prepared to warm
mc, would have been a most noble entertainment of itself ; but attended,
as it was quickly, with good food for the belly, made it to be that com-
plete good cheer, I only aimed at. A wild turkey, boiled with oysters,
was preparing for my supper, which, when it was ready, was served up
in the same pot that boiled it. This queen was also of the same mold
of her majesty, whom we first met at our landing-place. Somewhat
ancient, in proportion to the king's age, but so gentle and compassionate,
as did very beautifully requite all defects of nature. She passed some
hours at my fire, and was very desirous to know the occasion that brought
us there, as her motion and the emphasis of her words showed ; but I
had small hopes to satisfy her curiosity therein, after so many vain attempts
to inform the king in that matter. In fine, I grew sleepy, and about nine
o'clock every one retired to their quarters, separated from each other by
traverses of mat; which, beside their proper virtue, kept the ladies from
any immodest attempts, as secure as if they had been bars of iron.

As the day peeped in, I went out and felt the same cold as yesterday,
with the same wind, N. W. I was not forward to quit a warm quarter,
and a frank entertainment ; but my young governess, who had her father's
orders for direction, knew better than myself what I was to do. She

ho Indians with
for once to bor-
xccllcnt nso in
greater crime to

the penalty of
[fratitiod in this
iho cost wo put
fowls, to charge
he wont among
iition on one of
he game in his
the wind.
Ing was pleased,
nr which I may,

from the many
f the rest of the

Indians, as has
bowed mo by his
n. lie came at
me us the good
rds and pleasant
G, he singled me
vo me take; bu»
that he produced
> which I should
r was excessively
my face, it almost
mder a roof, with
more sensible of
I over. We were
d the lady of the
, was ready to re-
f her house which

before has been
jrepared to warm
elf; but attended,
t to be that com-
iled with oysters,
ly, was served up
of the same mold
jlace. Somewhat
nd compassionate,

She passed some
lasion that brought
rds showed ; but I
nany vain attempts
py, and about nine
rom each other by
ipt the ladies from
bars of iron.

cold as yesterday,
lit a warm quarter,
ho had her father's
[ was to do. She

ARUIVAL OP FRIP:NDS FllOM VIUOLVIA.

put hfrscif ill u posture to load the way back from wlinicc wo came,
after a very i/ooii rcpant c f stowed muscjos, toijcllier willi a very hcrirlv
wclcoiiir, plainly iijjpoaring in the quooii'H lookn. My iiiinlih! pilot lei]
mo away with yrcal Hwiftiioss, and it was noccsHary ho to do; tin; wfailicr
still <oiitiiiiiirii,' ill that violent sharpnoss, notliinjr but a violent motion
could mako our limlis usofiil. No sooner had I s(,'t my Coot in the kiii<;'s
house to visit my conirnd(>H, but a wonderful surprise appeared to mo "in
tiic cluui^'o of ovory countonanop ; and, as every face did plainly sptMik
a gonoral satisfaction, so did they with one voice explain the causo thereof,
in telling mo, the messengers of our delivery were arrived, and now
with the king. I hastened to see those angels, and addressing mysolf to
one of thorn in English habit, asked him the occasion of his coming thore ?
[lo told me his business was to trad<; for furs, and no more ; but as soon
as I had fold him my name, and the accidents of our being there, ho
acknowledged ho camo under the guidance of the Kiokot7ink Imliaii
(^ which I imagined, but was not sure the king had sent,) in quest of me
and those tliat wore lefl on shore. He had been sent by the governor
of Virginia's orders to inquire after us, but ,knew not whore to find us
till the Indian oame to his house. He gave mo a largo account of the
ship's arrival, and the many dangers and difficulties she had encountered
before she could come into .lames River; where she ran ashore, resolving
there to lay her bones. His name was Jenkin Price: he liad brought an
Indian of liis neighborhood with him, that was very well acquainted in
those parts, for our conduct back to Achomack, which Indian was called
Jack.

The king was very glad of this happy success to us, and was impatient
to learn something more of our history than hitherto he had been able to
extract from signs and grimaces. Jenkin Price, with his broken Indian.
could make shift to instruct Jack to say anything he pleased ; and Jack
was the more capable to understand his meaning, by some sprinklings of
English, that ho had learnt at our plantations. Betwixt them both, they
\vere able to satisfy the king in what he pleased to know. Jack told
them, of himself, what a mighty nation we were in that country, and gave
them caution, not to embezzle any goods wo had brought with us, for
fear of an after reckoning. I wondered, upon this serious discourse he
had with the king, to sec guns, and stockings, and whatever trifles we
had given, offered to be returned; and being told the reason of it, by
Jenkin Price, I was very much ashamed of Jack's too great zeal in our
service ; which, though it proceeded from a principle of honesty and .
good morality in him, we were to consider that our dearest lives, and all
that we could enjoy in this world, were, next to divine Providence, owing
to tho virtue and charity of this king ; and therefore, not only what they
had in possession, but whatever else ho -should desire, that was in mv
power, would be too mean an acknowledgment for such high obligations'.
I took care to let them know that I had no hand in the menace by which
Jack brought them to refund what they had got of us : the right under-
standing whereof increased our good intcUigenQe, and became a new
endearment of affection between us.

By better acquaintance with these, our deliverers, we learned that we
were about fifty English miles from Virginia. That part of it where
Jenkin governed, was called Littleton's Plantation, and was the first
English ground we expected to see. He gave me great encouragement
to endure the length of the way, by assuring me, I should not find either
stone or shnib to hurt my feet through my thin soled boots; for the whole

>MWK>°WI

PERILOUS VOYAGE OF CAPTAIN NORWOOD.

colony had noitlior stone or underwood. Ilavinjf thus sntisfiod my curi-
osity, in thn l<no\viodgo of what Jcnkin Price couhl comrnunicnto, wo
dotVjrrod no h)nj,'er to resolve how and when to b(!>,'in our journey to
AchdiiKiriv.

Tlic liidiiin lie brought with him (who aftrrwardn lived and died my
Horvaiil) wan very expert, and a most inconiparahio jjuidc in tiic \.oods
we \v< re to |)ass, iieing a native of tiiese ])artH; no tliat ho was as our
sheet andior in tiiis our perigrination. The iiing was loth to let us go
till tlie weather was better tempered for our bodies ; but when he saw
wc were fully resolved, and had pitched upon the next morning to begin
our journey, ho found himsi^lf much defeated in a purpose he had taken,
to call together all the flower of his kingdom, to entertain us with a
dan<'e ; to the end tliat nothing might be omitted on his part for our
divcrtisoment, as well as our nourishment, which his territory could pro-
duce. Most of our company would gladly have deferred our march a
day longer, to see this masquerade: but I was wholly bent for Achomack,
to which place I was to dance almost on my bare feet ; the thoughts of
which took otf the edge 1 might otherwise have had to novelties of that
kind.

When the good old king saw wo were fully determined to bo gone the
next day, ho desired, as a pledge of my ftluMtion to him, that 1 would
give him my camlet coat; which he vowni to wear, while he lived, for
my sake. I shook hands, to show my williiigness to please him, in that
or in any other thing ho would command; and was the more willing to
do myself the honor of compliance in ihis particular, because he was
the Krst king, I could call to mind, thit had ever showed any inclination
to wear my old clothes. To the young princess, that had so signally
obliged me, I presented a piece of twopenny scarlet ribbon, and a French
tweezer-caae, that I had in my pocket, which made her skip for joy ; and
to show how little she fancied our way of carrying them concealed, she
retired apart for some time, and, taking out every individual piece of
which it was furnished, p'." tied a snip of ribbon to each, and came back
with scissors, knives, and bodkins, hanging at her ears, neck and hair.
The case itself uas not excused, but bore a part in this new dress ; and,
to the end we might not part, without leaving deep impressions of her
beauty on our minds, Rhe had prepared on her fore-fingers, a lick of paint
on each ; the colors (to my best remembrance) green and yellow: which,
at one motion, she discharged on her face ; beginning upon her temple,
and continuing it, in an oval line downwards, as far as it would hold out.

Early next morning wo put ourselves in a posture to be gone. Major
Morrison was so far recovered, as to be heart-whole ; but ho wanted
strength to go through so great a labor as this was likely to prove. We
left him, with many others, to be brought in boats that the governor had
ordered for their accommodation ; and with them, the two weak women,
who were much recovered by the good care and nourishment they received
in the poor fisherman's house.

Breakfast being done, and our pilot Jack ready to set out, we took a
solemn leave of the good king. He inclosed me in his arms with kind
embraces, not without expressions of sorrow to part, beyond the common
rate of new acquaintances. I made Jack pump up his best compliments,
which at present was all I was capable to return to the king's kindness ;
and so, after many hana haea, we parted. We were not gone far, till
the fatigue and tediousness of the journey discovered itself in the many
creeks we were forced to head, and swnmpg to pass, (like Irish bogs,)

isfipcl my cnri-
niiuinicnto, wo
our journey to

I and died my
I in the x.oodfl
ho was as our
,th t(. lot us go
it when he saw
ornin« to begin
c lie liad taken,
rlain us with a
lis part lor our
■itory co^ild pro-
cd our march a
it lor Adiomack,
the thoughts of
iiovoltios of that

sd to bo gone the
iin, that I would
lilo ho lived, for
ease him, in that
B more willing to
, because ho was
3d any inclination
t had so signally
)on, and a French
skip for joy ; and
•m concealed, she
lividual piece of
1, and came back
s, neck and hair,
new dress ; and,
npressions of her
urs, a lick of paint
nd yellow: which,
upon her temple,
it would hold out.
be gone. Major
; but ho wanted
ely to prove. We
the governor had
two weak women,
ment they received

set out, we took a
lis arms with kind
syond the common
1 best compliments,
|e king^s kindness ;
not gone far, till
itself in the many
L (like Irish bogs,)

AURIVAL AT ACHOMACK.

which madn thn way at leaHl doulilc wliat it would havo amounted to
ill a .straight line: uini it was our wonder to sec our ^'uido Jack lead on
the way, witii the saiuo e.onrKleucn of guiii<r ri<;lil. a^ it' lio had had a
liOndoii road lo keep him I'roiii strayitig. Toward evenitig we p(!i'f-.(uved
:jnioke, ail iiiraliihic sign of an Indian town, whit-h Jack knew to aiiso
from (iing(» Teaguo. We wtiit boldly into the king's house, l)y a(lvi<;a
of his brotiior of Kit kotank, who was also a very humane prime. What
tho place and season produciul, was set befor*; us with all convenient
speed ; which was en4>ugh to satisfy hunger, and to fit us for ri'pose. 1
was extremely tired with this tedious journey, and it was the more irksome
lo me, because I performed it in boots, my sho(;s being worn out, which
at that time w(.<re coiumunly worn to walk in ; .^o that I was much more
sleepy tlian I had been hungry. Tiie alliance I had newly made at
Kickotank, did already staiul me in sonu; stead; for that it qualified mo
to a lodging apart and gave me a first taste of all we had to oat; though
tho variety was not so great as I had seen in oilier courts.

I passed the iiigiit till almost day-break in one entire sleep; and when
I did awake, not suddenly able to c(dlect wher<! I was. I found myself
strangely confounded to s(!c a damsel placed close to my side, of no
meaner extract than the king's eldest daughter ; who had completely
Hnished tho rape of all the gold and silver buttons that adorned the king
of Kickolank's coat, yet on my back. When I was broad awake, aiul
saw this was no enchantment, like those trances which knights-errant use
to be in, but that 1 was really despoiled of what was not in my power to
dispense witiial ; I called for Jack, and made him declare my resentment, •
ami much dislike of tho princess's too great liberty upon so small an
acquaintance ; which made mo havo a mean opinion of her. Jack showed
more anger than myself, to see such usage by any of his country; and
much more was he scandalized, that ono of tlic blood-royal should purloin.
But tiio king, upon notice of tho fact, and party concerned in it, imme-
diately caused the buttons to be found out and returned, with no slight
reprimand to his daughter, and tiicn all was wtdl ; and so much the better
by the gill of such small presents as I was able to make to the king
and princess. Breakfast was given us, and we hastened to proceed on
our journey to Achomack. We reckoned ourselves about twenty-five
miles distant from Jenkin's house, and I resolved, by God's help, that
night to sleep there. But the distance proving yet greater than had
boon described, and my boots tcazing me almost beyond all sufferance,
1 became desperate, and ready to sink and lie down. Jenkin lulled me
(m still with words that spurred me to the qui«;k ; and would demonstrate
tho little distance between us and his ]>lantation, by the sight of hogs and
cattle ; of which species the Indians were not masters. I was fully
convinced of what he said; but would, however, have consented to a motion
of lying without doors on tho ground, within two or tiirce flights shot of
the place, to save the labor of so small a remainder.

The close of the evening, and a little more patience, through the
infinite goodness of the Almighty, did put a happy period to our cross
adventure. A largo bed of sweet straw was spread ready in Jenkin's
house for our reception, upon which I hastened to extend and stretch
my wearied limbs. And being thus brought into safe harbor by the
many miracles of divine mercy, from all the storms and fatigues, perils
and necessities to which wo had been exposed by sea and land, for almost
the space of four months ; I cannot conclude this voyage in more proper
terms, than tho words that are tho burthen of that Paalm of Providence,
3

«4 PBR1L0U8 VOYAOE OP CAPTAIK NORWOOD

lo U.at .nan wouU. U.cre^re P'-^;; U. '-J,*:'^ "'« «-'"""' ^^^ *^'
Ui. w..u.lr.>us work- j.nU. tho ^'''f'" „^ , Z;^;,' j^ek, took Rroat care to

(,..r la.Hllonl, Jonk.n '' "^"^ ;;£! ^a honn, we coul.l not want.
provi.U, .n.-.a ior «h; ''"'^ '''^^^^ f,^/ '^I I hour- to oat wl.utcvor wan
Ah lor «»r Hloinacl.H tl.cy wor., o J.c i ui r.-IVcHh.Ml willi h1o.ii'

H... hdoro uh; .u, hoou as our w.ar.e^^ bod c w r ^^^ ^^^^^^^^ ^^.^
It w»H on Saturday, ^''« — ".yi^i,;tuVufK^aou,inions at Acho.nuck
woariHouu. ,.ilKri...u«;', ""'' ^^^ ^ /co^ty ; wl.id. is the only county o.j

„., ,.y t|;o K.^^1., No^^ '^J,;:-,,^ • .,, Virginia, and U the l>e.t

■■W U I

■-r- '-—•»-

>0D.

roodnosB, and for

lok ^xi'tA care to
ve coulil not want,
nat wliatcvor wbh
ihIhmI with h1oi)|'
(■ ciulod ihiH our
lioiiH at Acliomaik
ho only county on
iu, and 18 the b«(il

S£V£N TEARS

or A

S A I L O R'S LIFE,

AltONO TBI

SAVAGES OP THE CAROLINE I8LAND8.

"In or about the yoar 1826, I shipped "—says O'Connoll, an Engh'jh
sailor, in the story of hia lifc--"at Sydnuy, Now South Wales, in the bark
John Bull, wlialor, Capt. Barkus. Aftor wo had bocn from Sydney about
four months, wo put in at tiio Bay of Islands, Now Zealand. Bishop
Marsdi'u, at that lime on „ visit to Now Zealand, from iiis residence at
Paramatta, put on board of us a missionary, who was a|)pointcd to Strong's
Island, one of th« Caroline Archipelago, witli his wife and daughter.
Wo wore to cruise among the islands toward Japan, with the inten-
tion to roacii tlie shores of Japan a; a particular season, when whaloK
wor<' supposed to frequent the sea of Japan. At eight mouths out, y^■^
iiad taken about eiglit hundred ban els of oil, and wore endeavoring to
make Strong's Island, to leave our passengers. At nightfall, wo had
made no land, but knew from observation and the ship's log, that wo wore
within a days' sail of our destination. Wo were bowling along uudor
easy sail, the wind on our quarter, wiirn, at about eight o'clock in
liio evening, the vessel struck on a concealed coral reef, which is not
hiid down on the ciiarts. Capt. Barkus was, as usual, drunk on the
iien-coop when the vessel struck. In the presence of the master, the
mates can assume with success no authority which it is his peculiar pro-
vince to exercise ; consequently, with a drunken, stupid sot for a master,
tvery one followed the promptings of his own experience or inclination.
Tiio boats wore lowered; but notwithstanding the necessary precipitation
with which we prepared to lenvo the vessel, the boat in which I escaped
was furnished with provisions and arms, and wo were able, also, to take
away some ammunition, and little portable articles. In the boat with
myself were five seamen, and tiio wife and daughter of the missionary.
He was in the boat with the captain. In the four boats the whole crew
escaped from the vessel. For five or six hours, wo kept together; but,
when the morning dawned there was only one of the other boats discer-
nable, and that but faintly a long distance astern, as wo crested a wave !
The sufferings of the ladies ongrossed more of our care than our own
situation, We had a sail in our Iwat, and kept her away before it, both
because of the comparative comfort of such a course, and our indifference
as to what point we stood for. As I sat steering, I folded the shivering,
sobbing daughter to my body with my left arm, while two of my shipmates'
assisted in protecting her by placing themselves on each side. The mo-
ther was similarly cared for by the other seamen,. We tendered them
parts of our clothing, but could not persuade or induce them to accept
anything of the kind. Oh, such a horrid night ! The women had much
more to endure than ourselves, for, beside the natural weakness of their

(35)

♦"-"■ *.%■'- *ie-5-#ffin-**- .<«Aw«.':«i«ik»e«.^

ma i uj-i wi

iil

86 SEVEN YEARS OF A SAILOR'S LIFE.

frames, and the delicacy which is womau's euflerinp in misfortune, as her
ornament in prosperity, they suffered iicut(! pain from the excoriation
they had received in descending to tlie hoa' by the davit-tackh-s: the
.Bait-water rendered poignant the smarting i)aiu of their wounds. IJnt in
all their affliction, they bore holy testimony to the eflicacy of that rtdigion
wiiose messengers they were. If ever true practice, as well as |)rof( .<sion
of religion, existed, it was exemplified in this family. On shiplward, bo-
fore our misfortune, the discreet and feeling manner in wiiich they strove
to impress upon rude sailors the truths of religion, had convinced all of
their sincerity, at least. In the boat we had more affecting proof. They
prayed frequently and fervently, and there were none to scoff.

Broiling heat succeeded the chills of night; the wind abated, and at
noon we were becalmed— dying witii heat and fatigue, upon a sea whose
dead swell was so tranquil, that its glassy slimy smoothness was not ruf-
fled. Toward night, wc had a breeze again, through the night the wet
chills, and the same heat and calm upon the next day. After two days'
and three nights' exposure, the daughter died about ten o'clock on the
third day. For some hours before, she had been apparently unconscious
of her situation : she had talked in her wanderings of her father, of her
home, and of the island to which she was destined on an errand of mer-
cy: the happy end of her pilgrimage was attained without the toil to
which she had in her yoi>th devoted herself to reach it. The mother
was, by suffering, so far bereft of sensibility, that the death of her child
hardly moved her. She scarcely appeared to understand us when we
informed her of it ; or, if she did, the announcement was received with
a sort of delirious joy. With as much attention to the forms of civilized
society, as our situation would permit, we committed the body to the
ocean. We at first intended to wrap the corpse in our sail ; but the pru-
dence of a portion of the crew, who objected to exposing the living to
save a form for the dead, prevailed. The mother, in her weak state,
hardly uttered a comment, and in a few hours followed her daughter.
Her body was also consigned to the deep.

Upon the next morning after these melancholy duties to the two mar-
tyrs to religion, we made the land. We had been in the boat three days
and four nights, but, rejoiced as wc were to make the land, no immediate
prospect of profiting by it appeared, for it was circled with a coral reef,
in which it was past noou before we discovered an opening. Effecting
a passage, Wc entered a smooth basin of water, and saw hundreds of
canoes launching and putting off to us. They would approach within a
short distance, then suddenly retreat, and at length conuncnced shower-
ing stones, arrows, and other missiles upon us. We threw ourselves in
the bottom of the boat, and when they had satisfied themselves that we
could or would offer no resistance, they were emboldened to make a rush
upon the boat, which they towed to the beech. After we were landed,
they stripped us of our clothing, and took everything out of the boat,
whale-irons, tubs, muskets, etc. The boat was then hiiulcd upon the
beach, and our company, six in number, were led to the canoe-house.

We were seated in the center of the house, upon mats ; and yams,
bread-fruit, plantains, bananas, fish, bits of cold game of some sort, were
brought to us. The building was filled in every chink by natives, seated;
the men with crossed legs, like Turks, and the women on their heels.
A constant buzz of conversation ran through the assembly, each talking
to his next neighbor, and gesticulating vehemently. The interjection, or
sound, indicative of pleasure or surprise among the .Indians, is a cluck,

• <

IS LIONIZED BY THE ISLANDERS.

isfoittine, as lici
tlio excoriation
iivit-lackles: the
lounds. But in
f of tliat religion
oil as prol'i .<sion
)n shipboavJ, bo-
vliicli thoy slrove
convinced all of
ng proof. They

acotf.

d abated, and at
ipon a so a whose
ess was not vuf-
liG night the wet

After two days'
n o'clock on ihv
cntly unconscious
ler father, of her
in errand of iner-
ithout the toil to

it. The mother
eath of her child
land us when wc
vas received with
forms of civilized
I the body to the

sail ; but the pra-
ising the living to
1 her weak state,
ved her daughter.

js to the two mar-
he boat three days
land, no immediate

with a coral reef,
•pening. Effecting
I saw hundreds of

approach within a
ommenced shower-
threw ourselves in
themselves that we
sncd to make a rush
sr wo were landed,
ig out of the boat,
n hiiuled upon the
tlic canoe-house,
m mats; and yams,
c of some sort, were
ik by natives, seated;
men on their heels,
aembly, each talking

Tiio interjection, or

Indians, is a cluck,

and of this sound there was abundance, but we were at that tiiiio at a loss
how to interpret it. Parties of two or three would come .lown to where
we sat, walking with their, bodies bent almost doul>lo. They took jiold
of our persons very famiiiaiiy, women and men, and gave frcmunt .^l.icks
ot admiration at the hliio veins whicli were marked through our skius on
parts of the bodies wiiicli iiad not been usually exposed to be bronzed
by the sun. My comrades feared the Indians were cannibals, and that
this examination was to <liscover whether we were in good roastin.r case •
it horrible supposition, which was strengthened by tiio building of^two or
three wood hres, covered with small stones. Their fear was so exces-
sive, that they gave themselves up as lost; but as I had been somewhat
acquainted with the manners of the inhabitants of other islands, I rea-
soned, from the apparent good humor of these people, that they intended
us no harm. ''

In a sort of desperate feeling of recklessness, I determined to try the
experiment of dancing upon our savage audience. I proposed it to my
comrades, and they endeavored to reason me out of what they esteemed
criminal, thoughtless conduC, in the view of a horrid death. The pros-
pect was none of the most agreeable, certainly; but I was determined
on rny experiment, despite their remonstrances. I accordingly spruna to
my feet and took an attitude ; a cluck of pleasure ran through the sava-
ges, and one of them, readily understanding my intention, spread a mat
tor rne. I struck into Garry Owen, and figured away in that famous jig,
to the best of my ability and agility, and my new acquaintances were
amazingly delighted thereat. There was no loud acclamation, but anxious
peering and peeping over each other's shoulders, the universal cluck
sounding all over the house. Before my dance was «nished, the cause
tor which the fires were built became apparent, to the no small relief of
my comrades. It was ascertained that the roasting preparations were
made, not lor us, but for some quadrupeds, which we aflerward found
w-ere dogs. Other preparations, such as the pounding of iago, roastins
of game, etc., were making for a feast. In three or four hours all was
ready. After my dance was concluded, we were separated from each
other, each of us making the nucleus of a group of natives, who could
not sufficiently admire and examine him. Food was sent us, and iago.
Of the latter I could not drmk; it was unpleasant in taste, and a verv
strong narcotic in effect. ^

We were now all completely reassured ; the conduct of the natives
to us was all that uncultivated kindness and hospitality could prompt.
*or three or four days it was with us a continual feast, islanders crowd-
mg trom all directions to see the white strangers. Upon the fourth day
after our landing there was an arrival of a fleet of canoes, the head and
other chiefs. We were again inspected by the new-comers, and it was
my fortune to be selected, with my shipmate, George Keenan, by the
principal chief. The other four of my comrades were also appropriated ;
ITso dWidT^'*^' *'''*'^*'^ *'' brought on shore in the boat, were

On the morrow, my new friend, or master, or owner— I do not know
exactly how he considered himself— left the island upon which we landed,
taking with him Keenan and myself. Eight or nine hours carried us to
hiB island, where new feasting and lionizing awaited us. A grand feast
celebrated the return of the chief to his house, at which I repeated the
nsh Jig which had taken so well upon my first landing. I have no doubt
that in my heels was found the attraction which led the chief to select

SEVEN YEARS OF A SAILOR'S LIFE.

me from among my comrndcn. Upon the next day after his return, he
rpatorcd to Cicorgn and mo our "ditty bags," the only property I had
preserved from the wreck. In that bag, were two odd volumes of Jane
Porter's Scottish Chiefs, and a little shaving-glass.

The shaving-glass did not survive long. While it lasted, I kept it sa-
<Tod to the eyes of the island aristocracy, never permitting plebeian
Jiazers access to it. I carried it with me on all my rounds of visits to the
• hicfs, and the exclamations of those who were favored with a peep at
the magic glass, were amusing enough. As many as could look in at
once, would peep over each other's shoulders, twisting thoir features into
the most grotesque expressions, and clucking with delight. They imag
iuod the reflection of their visages was caused by spirits behind the glass;
consequently, some awe was mingled with their delight. It is, however,
a curious fact for the student of mental philosophy, that their respect for
those genii did not prevent their destroying the frame of the glass, one
day in my absence, and scraping off tlie quicksilver, to detect the spirits
in their hiding-place, and meet them all at onco!

We had been about three days at our new residence, when some of the
natives began showing us their tattooed arms and logs, and making signs
not entirely intelligible to us at first, though their meaning became after-
ward too painfully marked. On the fourth or fifth day, George Keenan
and myself were put on board of a canoe, with six natives. They pad-
dled a short distance along the shore of the island, and then turned into
a creek, wide at the mouth, but soon narrowing till there was not room
for two canoes abreast. At length we reached a hut on the banks of the
creek, landed, and entered it, directed by our conductors, who remained
outside. No person was there to receive us, and for half an hour George
and I busied ourselves in guesses and speculation as to the end to which
all this was tending.

At length our suspense was relieved — ended, I should say — by the arri-
val of five or six women bearing implements, the purpose of which we were
soon taught. George was made to sit in one corner of the room, and I was
seated in another, half the women with me, and the residue with my com-
rade. One of my women produced a calabash of black liquid ; another
took my left hand, squeezing it in hers, so as to draw the flesh tight
across the back. Then a little sliver of bamboo was dipped in the liquid
and applied to my hand, upon which it left a straight black mark. The
third beauty then produced a small flat piece of wood, with thorns pierced
through one end. This she dipped in the black liquid, then rested the
points of the thorns upon the mark on my hand, and, with a sudden blow
from a stick, drove the thorns into my flesh. One needs must when the
devil drives, so I summoned all my fortitude, set my teeth, and bore it
like a martyr. Between every blow my beauty dipped her thorns in the
ink. I was too much engaged in my own agreeable employment to watch
my comrade, but George soon let me hear from him. He swore and
raved without any attention to rule ; the way he did it was profane, but
not syntactical or rhetorical. He wished all sorts of bloody murder and
plagues to light upon his tormentors, prayed that the islands might be
earthquake-sunken, hoped forty boats' crews, from a squadron of armed
ships, would Ifljid and catch the blasted savages tormenting the king's
subjects. All this availed nothing but to amuse the women ; and even I
could not forbear a smile at his exclamations. The operators suspended
this work to mimic him — mocked his spasmodic twitches of the arms and
horrkl gestures. He was a standing butt for it long afterward, and when

_t, .;-jMmm':w»'»-'

mM i^tf itfjMiiftiaaitf

HOW I WAS TATCOED.

or his return, he
ly property I had
vnlumeH of Jane

ted, I kept it sa-
rmitting plebeian
ids of visits to the
1 with a peep at
could look in at
their features into
ght. They imag
5 behind the glass;
. It is, however,
t their respect for
of the glass, one
detect the spirits

when some of the
and making signs
ling became after-
r, George Keenan
itives. Tliey pad-
i then turned into
ere was not room
n the banks of the
jrs, who remained
alf an hour George
) the end to which

d say — ^l)y the ai ri-
3 of which we were
he room, and I was
iiduo with my coni-
ick liquid ; another
aw the flesh tight
jped in the liquid
black mark. The
ivith thorns pierced
d, then rested the
vith a sudden blow
ids must when the
teeth, and bore it
her thorns in the
nployment to watch
He swore and
was profane, but
bloody murder and
islands might be
iquadron of armed
nenting the king's
omen; and even I
perators suspended
les of the arms and
fterward, and when

the natives wished to revile him, they would act the tattooing scene, ending
with the exclamation, "Narlic-a-Nutt mucha purk," — Narlir-a-iNutf (his
name) is a coward; "Jim Arochc ma coo mot," — Jim Chief hravr!

After my executioner had battered my hand awhile, she wiped it with
a sponge. I hoped she had finished; but no! She held my hand up,
squinted at the lines, as a carpenter would true a board, then she com-
menced again, jagging the thorns into places where she thought the mark
was imperfect. Tiie correction of tiie work was infinitely worse than the
first infliction. In about an hour and a half the hand was finished, and
the women left us, taking away their tools. Before they lefl us, however,
they smeared the tattooed part with cocoa-nut oil, and then patted pulver-
ized coal upon it. This was repeated often, till there was a thick crust
of coal and oil, completely concealing the flesh. The healing properties
of charcoal are familiar to chemists. The reader has noted, perhaps,
that it will delay the putrefaction of butcher's meat ; and, indeed, some
over economical liousewifes know how to restore tainted meat by an ap-
plication of it. The women gone, something was sent us to eat, and wc
flattered ourselves that our punishment for the day was over. However,
the afternoon brought a fresh bevy of these tender ladies, who continued
operations upon the left arm. At night wc were pointed to some mats
and informed that we must sleep there.

On the next morning the gout-puffed hand of the canon of Gil Bias
would not have been a circumstance in size to mine ; though the color
of my flesh, maturated, and grimed with charcoal, hardly looked so aristo-
cratic as a delicately swelled, gouty limb Another squad of these savage
printers followed our breakfast. George was outrageous in his protesta
tions, and howled and gesticulated earnestly against a repetition ; and I
did not spare entreaty. The prayer of his petition was granted, but my
reluctance availed nothing. For a reason of which I then knew nothing,
they made gestures that I must stand it — ^there was no escape. George
was let off, but not without unequivocal expressions of disgust at his
cowardice and effeminacy. He was indeed incapable of enduring it; his
blood was bad; but physical disability, among all savages, is quite as much
a disgrace as a misfortune.

After fin hing the left, operations were commenced upon my right arm.
It is unnecessary to go into details ; eight days were occupied in the
process upon different parts of my body. My legs, back, and abdomen,
were marked also, and to enable them to operate I was compelled to lay
extended upon a mat. The hair upon my body was twitched out with sea-
shells — a process which was performed as expeditiously upon my person
as the same ground can be cleared of pin-feathers on geese by a dextrous
cook. I often thought I should die of these apparently petty, but really
actually painful inflictions. George was compelled to remain with nic,
not only during the eight days the tattooing was going on, but for the
month afterward that I was obliged to remain at this hut for my flesh to
heal. During this time the application of the oil and charcoal was con-
tinually repeated, till I resembled in skin, if not in shape, the rhinoceros.

I had supposed that my tattooing was over, but I had not been ashore
three hours, before, by the chiers direction, one of his daughters prepared
to mark mo still more. She tattooed a ring upon my right breast, another
upon my left shoulder, and two about my right arm. This was but the
prick of a needle to the extensive printing business which had been
prosecuted upon my body at the tattoo-house, and I made no complaint.
The feasting coutinued during the day ; many dogs barked their last ;

tfS-!

SEVEN YEARS OF A SAILOR'S LIFE.

ia(ro in abundiincc was mauled to cxpross its juice; and my comrade
lor Ills fiib, iuid myself lor my heels, were in oxcellont odor with thu
natives. 1 enjoyed this much better than my comrade; fell into the spirit
of it, and danced like mackupon every visit from stranj,'ers; George sup-
plying viio music, and tiie spectators duckin},', or hrealting out into an
unsuri-nissed lauf,'hofdeli),'iit. (ieorye's music saved him much coniumely,
which he would otherwise have received for his cowardice in the tattoo-
house. , , T . . .

So wore the second day. It was not until night that I began to suspect
to what it all tended. At night 1 learned that the young lady who im-
printed the last mentioned marks upon my arm and breast was my wifo!
that last tattooing being part of the ceremony of marriage. Upon the
third morning my bride led mo away to the bath, and the day was spent
in feasting and dancing, as upon the two days preceding ; only that the
third, being the climax, was more of a day of rejoicing than the two
preceding. There was, however, no (juarreling or disturbance, no uproar
or disorder. The liquor expressed from jago is a tremendously powerful
narcotic, and drinking it in large quantities produces deep and stupid sleep.
George also was provided with a wife ; but his unwillingness to submit
to the process of tattooing wedded him to a woman of no rank. She how-
ever, proved a good woman lo him. My futher-iu-law was Ahoundel-a-
Nutt,chief of the island of Nutt, and the most powerful duel on the group
of islands inclosed by the reef, set down on the charts as one island,
Ascension, but called by the natives Bonabee. He did not have the grace
to "ivc me a separate establishment however, for, during the whole time
I remained upon the island, 1 resided under the same root with him. He
gave me his own name, Ahoundel, but I was oftener colled Jcm-aroche.
George Keenan's island name was Narlic. • •, r

1 never had more reason to complain of my wife than the majority ol
people in civilized countries have. She was only about fourteen years
of age, atlcctionate, neat, faithful, and, barring too frequent indulgence
in the flesh of baked dogs, which would give her breath something ot a
canine odor, she was a very agreeable consort. During my residence
upon the island she presented me with two pretty little demi-savages, a
little girl, and a boy, who stands a chance, in his turn, to succeed his
grandfather in the government of the island.

Although my father-in-law never permitted me a house distinct froci
his, but kept me as one of his own household, with a host of other con
nections— a knight of his majesty's bedchamber— for there was no division
wall in the hut, and I slept on a mat next him; my wife's dower in canoef ,
Nigurts, (slaves,) and other Caroline personal property, with the improv)-
ment of real, was far from inconsiderable. She assumed a task new i o
her, and one of course which she could have had no idea of before— that
of an instructress in the language. I was a tolerably apt scholar, but my
teaclier had a very critical ear, and the least deviation from the island
pronunciation created vast merriment both for her and others present.

My wife accompanied me in ray walks and in my canoe excursions;
always at my side, and looking up to me affectionately. Her father, who
was a practical joker, contrived, in the excursions in which he accompanied
us during the lengthened honeymoon, to pop upon places where he knew
that, although my name and fame had preceded me, the residents had
never seen me. He would direct me to enter a house suddenly, with a
howl, and strike an attitude. It would invariably send all the occupants,
usually women, Bying out at every place of egress. The sight of Ahoundel

PYKAMID OF U0NE3.

and my comrade
lent odor with tho

loll into tiic spirit
ij^ers ; George sup-
salting out into an
iinuicli coniuinoly,
rdicu in tho tattoo-

I began to suspect
)ung lady who im-
rcast was my wife!
irriage. Upon the
1 the day was spent
ling ; only that the
icing than the two
turbancc,no uproar
lendously powerful
cp and stupid sleep,
llingness to submit
10 rank. She how-
w was Ahoundel-a-
1 chief on the group
arts as one island,
1 not have the grace
ring the whole time
roof with him. He
called Jem-aroche.

lan the majority of
(OUt fourteen years
i:equent indulgence
3ath something of a
Liring my residence
ttle dcmi-savages, a
iirn, to succeed his

bouse distinct froci
a host of other con
there was no division
'e's dower in canoe? ,
ty, with theimprov5-
umed a task new i o
idea of before — ^that
apt scholar, but my
ion from the island
ad others present,
y canoe excursions;
y. Her father, who
hich he accompanied
aces where he knew
e, the residents had
ise suddenly, with a
nd all the occupants,
'he sight of Ahoundel

on liio outside, enjoying a hearty laugh, would remove fear, and this
rude method of introdiiclion .supplied both parties, tlie visitors and the
visited, with rare amusenient. Imagine the efl'eit wiiich would be pro-
duced on a parly of American or European ladies by the siiddtMi appari-
tion of .-in Albino under sucli circumstances, and you will have some idea
ot the frigiit of tiie islanders.

To excursijMis without him Ahoundel was very averse. H(! would, ^t
answer to my inquiries about the other islands, tell me they were inhabited
l)y cannibals, and assure me, tiiat if I ventured away from him I should
certainly be eaten. George and I, if we took excursions, did so in a
canoe borrowed of fishermen, because we could not launch our own un-
perceived. Afraid of being eaten, our trips were at first confined altogether
to Nutt, the island upon which we resided; circumnavigating it, and pad-
dling up tlie creeks. When we were near a settlement, George would
take his fife and make its shrill notes echo in the still valleys and moun-
tains. "Narlic! Narlic! Narlic! Narlic!" wt would soon hear the
natives shouting, as they came running down to tho creek side, " Narlic,
cudjong! cudjoug!" Cudjong was the name which the natives had
bestowed upon George's fife. The shore would soon bo lined with
breathless listeners, and while I kept the canoe just in motion enough
to avoid tlie banks, George would play some of his sweetest tunes. We
were always invited to land, and usually did so. As soon as I left the
boat came my turn ; 1 was besieged to dance, and as I always refused to
land except when intending to astonish the natives with a reel which might
liave passed for clever, even

— " at the fair of nato Ologhecn,"

I usually complied with their request.

There is one species of fish universally held sacred by the islanders,
a species of eel, inhabiting the fresh water. Keenan and myself had
resided upon Nutt, and eaten at many feasts, beside the regular domestic
fare, but in all this eating no eels had furnished their share. To our
inquiries why this fish enjoyed such a peculiar and universal exemption,
the only answer had been " Major-howi !" This we knew was a partial
defense for all fish, and not being aware that the respect for eels was
more strenuously insisted upon than that shown their cousins, the dwellers
in salt water, wc determined upon indulging ourselves in a feast upon
them ; taking the precaution, however, not to invite any of our copper
friends to be of the party.

We selected for the occasion a fine night, and with elbowed sticks poked
the fiah out of the water at a sudden bend in a brook. Unlike the ells
which were used to being skinned, these were not so much as used to
being caught, and having enjoyed an immunity from the snares of the
hsher, from time immemorial, our trouble was in avoiding to take too
many, rather than in catching enough for our purpose. Building a fire
and broiling them in an unoccupied house, wo had a sit down alone, and
demolished them with an appetite which was not abated by the circum-
Btaaces under which we feasted — the wise man having recorded his
opmion that "stolen waters are sweet." Our feast finished, we wiped
our mouths, and returned to our island friends with all the conscious
rectitude of rogues undiscovered.

We had neglected the precaution of concealing the bones, and, with u
aptitude for detecting sin like that which characterizes some civilized
people, some of the natives recognized in the bones the fragments of the

SEVEN YEARS OF A SAILOR'S LIFE.

forbidden fiHh. Our first intiiiuitioi. of tl.o <liscovcry was taken from seeing
the natives repairing to the house and not at first umlerstandmg the
reason of it, wo fell in upon the tide. When wo reached the hut we
found men, women and children, kneeling, or completely prostra e l.eating
.heir breants, and rocking to and fro, or rolhng on the floor. Ot the noise
they mad.>, wc had been, of course, apprised by our ears before ve readied
the lioiise, and had concluded that some accident or sudden death was
the reason of die outcry. Nothing was there liowevcr-no broken bonca
but the bones of the eels; the pyramid of which, as George and I had left
it, might indeed have caused cries of surprise that two persons could have
left such testimonials of appetite; but as the aspect of afl^airs looked ikc
an expression of something more than surprise, we esteemed it prudent
to keep our own counsel. For two or three days was the lamentation
continued; it flew from place to place and from hut to hut; on every side
was weeping and lamentation. George and I thought we saw some looks
indicative ot- suspicion, and when the bones were tairly buried by the chiefs
orders, and the hubbub ceased, we felt relieved from a load of fear which
had been sufficient to give lis a distaste for eels; which operated better
for their safety, as far as wo were concerned, than all the acts passed
by the legislature of Massachusetts have done for the shad and alewives

in Taunton River. . ^ ,

Upon one occasion, when I was sick, a journey \yas projected, as was
the usual course with invalids. I, however, refused to be cured in such
a way, preferring case and quiet. All the preparations having been inade
for the journey, it was taken without me. I thought my wife might have
had the grace to remain at home with' her sick spouse, but she chose to
accompany her father. Upon her return I had pretty we 1 i-ecovered, and
I welcomed her by taking my wedding g.ft-a few blue beads-from her
basket, and breaking them between two stones, before her eyes As soon
as I had done the mischief, Laowni ran from the house to a stone m the
edge of the water, where she sat down and commenced crying like an
infant. I followed, and endeavored to pacify her, but it was of no use
The only answer she made was to kick like a spoiled child The tide
flowed in, till she was in water to her elbows; then I was enabled to coax
her away, but still she ceased not bellowing for her beads. If I had

bitten ofl- her finger, it would certainly have g/'«^^'*l/^Vr';.t tho.S
I went to sleep and left her weeping. She had refused to eat, though
fish and the most delicate bits of a murdered puppy had been off-ered her.
Happening, however, to awake at midnight, I detected her solacing her
anil not,tike Mrs. Oakley, on boiled chickens, but like a delicate savage,
In a dog's -Irumstick. I said nothing, thinking the return of her appetite
was a good omen; but when I waked again in the morning, clouds and
darkness still sat upon the countenance of Laowni.

The day long she wore the same sulks, giving me an occasional look
of anything but affection, but not vouchsafing a word. At night 1 took
George with me, and instead of sleeping in the canoe-house, whidi was
then Ahoundel's quartet-, went to his house proper, /here we built a
small fire for its light, and just as we had propounded to each o her the
Ze condusion that his Majesty of Nutt and fanj.ly were not in the best
humor we were surprised with a visit from that dignitary himself, accom-
pSd by a native Sho was particularly indebted to me for detecting
him in stealing ray knife, and two others, all armed with spears. Without
,Z^ a word they sat down at a litUe distance, biting the.r nether lips,
as 19 always their custom when vexed or m a passion. I spoke to them,

s taken from scoinjii
uiulorstiuul'mK the
sachnd the hut, wc
!ly prostrate, heating
floor. Ot* the noise
rs before vo readied
,r sudden death was

51 no broken bones

icorge and 1 had left
> persons could have
o( atfairs looked like
esteemed it prudent
was the lamentation
to hut; on every side
lit we saw some looks
yburicdbythechicrs
\ a load of fear which
khich operated better
n all the acts passed
the shad and alewives

was projected, as was
d to be cured in such
ions liaving been made
ht my wife might have
3use, but she chose to
tty well recovered, and
blue beads— from her
>rc her eyes. As soon
house to a stone in the
nenced crying like an
but it was of no use.
oiled child. The tide
1 1 was enabled to coax
her beads. If I had
-cd her less. At night
refused to eat, though
y had been oflfered her.

feted her solacing her
t like a delicate savage,
e return of her appetite
le morning, clouds and

mo an occasional look
word. At night I took
lanoe-house, which was
,peT. There we budt a
inded to each other the
lily were not in the best
lignitary himself, accom-
fed to me for detectmg
d with spears. Without
biting their nether bps,
i,8ion. I spoke to them,

RIDINQ A HOBBT. ^

and inquired the reason of the visit, but received not a word in answer.
George shivered beside mo like a leaf, though I assured him ho need
fear notiting, as the visit was undoubtedly intended solely for mc. At
length our agreeable state of suspense was relieved by the appearance
of Laowni, who beckoned them outside, and we saw nothing more of
them. It was two or three days afterward before the reconciliation be-
tween myself and wife was completed, as I took it upon me, upon the most
approved civilized plan, to become sulky when she relented. This lesson,
however, taught me better than to trifle again seriously with the property
or comfort of a wife, whose father might inflict summary punishment
upon me without being amenable for it to any power. Such I afterward
ascertained was the intention of the visit. Ahoundel lofl the canoe-house
with a determination to put me to death, and it was the intercession of
Laowni, who followed the party, that saved mc. Upon the whole, the
adventure had a good effect. Ahoundel respected the courage with which
I faced him, though God knows it was as much in outward seeming as
genuine; and respected the firmness which led me to maintain my ground,
even after the threat of death.

After I had some time resided with these savages, I happened acciden-
tally to feel a sick man's pulse. This was noted by the observant natives,
and I was called upon to explain what it meant, and why I did it. I gave
them the best illustration in my power, beating time to show them how
fast the pulse should beat, and telling them that anything faster or anything
slower was "no good." The beating of the pulse at the wrists was aremark-
able discovery to them ; all the old women, and indeed all the young,
made a dive at the wrists of every one when first suspected of ill health.
Once on the scent, they followed it, and detected the throbbing of the
temples ; so if there was not room enough at the wrists for all exami-
ners, a portion would settle on his head. It was really amusing to see
how like civilized people they could ride a hobby to death. Inquiries
ceased. As phrenologists are said to read a man's whole character
without other data to proceed upon than the external developments upon his
head, so the native professors of the new art of pulse-feeling wished only
to find rest for the finger on the patient's body. Ho or she would find
rest only when the tormentors were asleep; the sleep of the patient being
of too little consequence to interrupt the medical examinations of the
thousand friends.

An islander sick is an object ghastly enough. His original sallow face is
smeared until it is resplendent in ghastliness. The accompanying objects,
the gloomy visages of the attendants, and their howling and moaning,
give such scenes a character gloomy as the most inveterate old lady
lover of sorrow, rendered doubly sorrowful by exaggeration and anticipa-
iton, could desire. If possible, I was always called to pronounce whether
a patient would live or die; and, by caution in pronouncing judgment,
and care in forming it, my word, as I gained experience, was considered,
with the islanders, life or death to the patient. By a favorable opinion,
confidently pronounced, I question not I saved many lives, as the natives
would redouble their eflbrts when hope was encouraged, and the patient's
imagination, thus relieved, would assist the recovery.

With these people, after George and I had become habituated to their
customs, and learned to appreciate their character, we resigned ourselves
to circumstances, and were content, in the absence of almost all hope
of escape, to be happy. In about a year from our arrival, Ahoundel grew
a little less cautious ibouX our wandering; a forced remission of care, as

.<^.fc-.r Tii>li»n»-'-^

•

«4

SEVEN YEARS OF A SAILOR'S LIFE.

we had become too well acquainted with the poople to believe tliem all
cannibals. Still he inaistcd upon our being fruquently in his company.
The difficulty with Laowni, detailed in a preceding page, my father-
in-law's conduct, in which lie was, I suspect, instigated by Namadow, lefl
my situation not quite so pleasant as betbro. Ahoundel secmod inclined
to repair his harshness with over aiTection, and it was with much difficulty
George and I obtained permission to leave Nutt even for twenty-lbur
hours.

Outside the reef which bounds Bonabee, the island we were upon, arc
two other islands, one called by the natives Hand, about twenty miles
distant ; the other Pokeen, about sixty miles distant. The latter, called
un the charts Wellington Island, is inhabited; Hand is not. The inhabi-
tants of Wellington Island resemble those of Bonabee, except that they
are addicted to cannibalism, a practice which is unknown on lk)nabee,
except, perhaps, so far as tasting an enemy's heart goes. Keenan and
myself visited it once, and found it bounded by a reef, through which
there is but one passage. We were detained by a storm longer than we
bargained for, being weather-bound ten days. Upon Wellington Island
we remained nearly six months.

I did not believe, till my visit, that the natives of Wellington Island
were cannibals ; then I had ocular demonstration. It seemed with them
an ungovernable passion, the victims being not only captives, but presents
to the chiefs from parents, who appeared to esteem the acceptance of
their ch'Mren, for a purpose so horrid, an honor. Shortly after our return
fVom Pokeun, or Wellington Island, our four comrades, Johnson, Brayford,
Thompson and Williams, paid us a visit, as had been their occasional
custom. At these meetings wo sparred, danced, sung, and conversed in
English, relating to each other our various experience and discoveries in
the language of the people, and their character.

Upon this occasion my comrades proposed to George and me that we
should leave Nutt, and spend a twelvemonth with them, dividing the time
with the different chiefs with whom they were quartered, and devoting
the first month to an excursion from island to island. This proposal was
eagerly embraced by us. I had frequently expressed to Ahoundel a wish
to the same effect, giving as a reason my weariness of the monotony of an
abode upon one island, but he uniformly refused his consent. My visit
to Wellington Island was protracted, by the strength of the north-east
trades, much beyond his pleasure, and, although I was an involuntary
absentee, and cf course not liable to blame, that long absence had so
proved the need of my presence to him, that it made him averse to my
going from his sight: a fatherly solicitude that was horribly annoying.
Knowing, therefore, the certain answer to an application for leave of ab-
sence, 1 determined to take liberty without. What I fancied a good
opportunity soon offered. Ahoundel and his whole household, and con-
nections, launched the canoes for an excursion or visit. I was excused
from the party on account of the presence of my friends, who declined
accompanying Ahoundel. When they were fairly off, we stepped into
the canoe, but had hardly got under weigh, when a rascally native, who
had evidently been watching us, shoved his canoe off, and prddled before
us like lightning, shoving, or rather poling his canoe over the shallows,
and working like a windmill in a gale with his single paddle in the deep
water. When he reached a creek or inlet, into which we knew Ahoundel
bad turned, he shot up the opening, and we began to see his intention,
«nd the meaning of the hoobooing he had kept up as he {receded us<

mA'i^ m t ^■m^t H'^ ia St afi^

FE.

! to believe them all
Illy in his company.
ig page, my father
ed by Nainadow, left
ndel sceinod inclined
I with much dillicidty
even for twonty-lbur

id wo were upon, arc
, about twenty miles
t The latter, called
lis not. The inhabi-
tbee, except that they
inknown on Bonabee,
t goes. Keenan and
I reef, through which
storm longer than we
M)n Wellington Island

, of Wellington Island
It seemed with them
y captives, but prescnta
;em the acceptance of
Shortly after our return
des, Johnson, Brayfordj
[ been their occasional
sung, and conversed in
ence and discoveries in

Seorge and me that we
them, dividing the time
martered, and devoting
nd. This proposal was
ised to Ahoundel a wish
,8 of the monotony of an
1 his consent. My visit
ength of the north-east
*h I was an involuntary
fat long absence had so
made him averse to my
was horribly annoying,
plication for leave of ab-
[What I fancied a good
ole household, and Con-
or visit. I was excused
»y friends, who declined
lirly off, we stepped into
on a rascally native, who
! off, and prddled before

;anoe over the shallows,
lingle paddle in the deep
which we knew Ahoundel
Jan to see his intention,
t up as he i receded us.

THE KSCAPE AND PURSUIT. 45

In a f'uw riiomonts we saw the canoes of Alioiindcl in pursuit. Wo used
paddles and sail, and crack(!d on, cstocming it more a frolic than any-
thing,' <Ih('. Ah we had the start, and the cano(>8 of the island diHi'r l)ut
liuie in speed, it wuh nearly two hours before they iiad ncared us enough
to ho within hailing distance. They then commenced fair promises if we
would stop, offering us fish, and bread-fruit, and yams, and using all thr
lojjic of persuasion of which they wore capable. Still wo cracked on;
but Ahoundel's canoe at length shoved alongside of us, upon the weather
or outrigger side, and we gave up the race as useless. My friend Naina-
dow was the first to lay hold of the outrigger, and gave us the first intima-
tion of their rough intentions, by endeavoring to capsize us. We hung to
windward to trim the boat, and finding his strength ineffectual to upset it,
ho had the brazen impudence to climb on the olatform with the intention
to board us. In the heat of the moment I administered a settler with my
list, which knocked him into the water. Then half a dozen of the Indians
laid hold of our outrigger at once, and esteeming it useless to struggle
against such odds, we all jumped out of the canoe. Others of AhoundePs
fleet had by this time gathered around us, and the Indians commenced
beating us with the flat sides of the paddles whenever we showed our
heads. Our canoe was smashed to smithereens, and my comrades were
allowed to climb into others in the fleet, without much beating; indeed,
they were assisted in; but I did not fare so well. Ahoundel made frequent
feints with his spear, and so did others, but not one was thrown, nor
had any person any such murderous intention; as I afterward learned
their orders were to frighten and beat, but not to hurt: a consoling cir-
cumstance, of which I had not then the benefit, but considered myself a
case. During all this time my father-in-law was upbraiding me with my
ingratitude, reminding me of my rank, connections, wife, and the benefits
he heaped upon me. I protested my purpose was only to make an ex-
cursion witii the intention to return. The paddle pounding had ceased
afler the first rude attack, and this conversation was carried on, or rather
his scolding, while I was eyeing the spears, and dodging, in anticipation
of the expected blows. I made several attempts to climb into AhoundePs
canoe, but my 'articular friend, who had by this time been fished out
of the water, rapped my fingers with his paddle as soon as they clasped
the gunwale. The fleet, which had received additions from Nutt, of
people who came out from curiosity, seeing the fray, now turned toward
Nutt again ; and Jem Aroche, Moonjob as he was, was fain to crawl into
the canoe of a native, and return to the house of his father. My ship-
mates accompanied me, and Ahoundel, satisfied that I should not repeat
my attempt to escape, proceeded on his excursion. I should have men-
tioned, that no women accompanied our pursuers, as the precaution was
taken to set them ashore before the boats started in pursuit.

Three or four days passed before Ahoundel and his party returned.
During that time I had ample opportunity for reflection, and came to the
conclusion, that, considering the stealthy circumstances under which I
left Nutt, the chief had reason for his jealousy of me. Nay, I could not
help acknowledging to myself that my punishment was not altogether
undeserved, as my treatment of my father had, to say tho least, been
unhandsome. When the party returned, Laowni immediately sought me
upon landing, as she had heard vague rumors of my adventure, and was
not sure that I was not killed. She was overjoyed to see me, rubbed her
nose against mine, threw herself on my neck, and fairly wept tears of
joy at my safety. Ahoundol himself made a sort of half apology, and

■» <t) iit ii^ XT. [ f— I • i lU m

ja'9^

SEVEN YEARS OF A SAILOR'S LIFE.

excused himself by rncapitiilating tho suspicious circumstances against mn
Laovvni was clamorous in her complaints ofmy treatment, and even appealed
to her father by asking him how he would like such usage if he was a
stranger in I^ondon.

Laowni questioned all the particulars of tho attack out of mo, and
worked herself into such a rage with Nomadow, tho friend who struck
my hand, that she ran up to him, and struck him with her codjic, or
small wooden knife. It was a severe blow, too, she dealt him, doing her
savage notions of friendship more credit than her sex. He had no refuge
but flight, and the others, who had been busiest in abusing me at the time of
the encounter, noticing the reconciliation with Ahoundel, did not aAerward
venture into the canoe-house when I was present, till they imagined they
had propitiated me with presents. Ahoundel was much better pleased
with Laowni's attack upon Nomadow than I was. He called her " brave *^
for it; not exactly to her face, but as any father among us would rather
commend than regret the pranks of a spoiled child ; for such was Laowni,
his only daughter. Nomadow was so severely wounded by her, that his
death, occurring within a couple of months, was attributed to the com-
bined effects of his bodily injury and his shame at being punished by a
woman.

Our shipmates lengthened their visit some days after their capture .
under the apparently suspicious circumstances of running away with
George and me. Ahoundel had the justice to present them with a new
eanoe, the civility; to invite them to prolong their visit, and the delicacy
to restore their property so soon aAerthe explanation, that their visit could
not seem a detention forced by the lack of means to escape. Not the
least interesting among our occupations and amusements on the island
was conversation with the natives, and watching the avidity with which
they swallowed whatever we told them, and the dexterity with which they
applied the information thus gained to the improvement of their arts;
always excepting when it interfered with such part of their customs as
were based on their religion. It was a practice with us to impress their
minds with an idea of the power of the chiefs of England and America.
We told them of musketry and of cannons, but never, with the guns in
our hands, (Auld convince them that those guns were the death-dealing
engines, of which, from tradition, they had some idea. Our powder was
all spoiled in the boat, before we landed.

In illustrating geography to my adult scholars, I drew, upon bark, a
rough skeleton outline of America, large, a small spot for England, and
to show them the comparative size of their own islands, a small dot. Thi&,
however, would not suffice to make them understand, till they inquired
how many day's journey it required to go round America and England.
To the first I assigned an indefinite time, very, very long — too many daya
to be counted. My inquirers would cluck, cluck, in astonishment.
England (not to let her appear too insignificant) I bounded ,by a ycarV
traveling, the name England comprising the three kingdoms. They would
then revert to their own speck in the ocean, almost incredulous to thu
statement that other inhabited spots so much exceeded it in size.

Some months after this, we were informed that Wajai-a-Hoo, the chief
of a neighboring island, had declared war against Ahoundel-a-Nutt, un
account of my marriage. It appeared that Laowni was promised to hint
previous to my arrival. Tho daughter never much affected the matcii,
as Wajai was old, and the husband already of something like a dozen.
It may be to her disgust for that union, quite an much as to my own good

Wj&t-V'iVaM.^Jt-^fi^

stances agninst mo
, and oven appealed
usage if ho was a

:k out of mo, and
friend who struck
with hor codjic, or
ealt him, doing her
He had no refuge
ng me at the lime of
cl, did not afterward
. they imagined they
nuch better pleased
) called her "brave"
ong us would rather
or such was Laowni,
ided by her, that his
iributed to the com-
)eing punished by a

i after their capture
running away with
lent them with a new
isit, and the delicacy
I, that their visit could
to escape. Not the
sements on the island
le avidity with which
:terity with which they
ivement of their arts;
rt of their customs as
ith us to impress their
Elngland and America,
iver, with the guns in
vere the death-dealing
iea. Our powder was

I drew, upon bark, a

spot for England, and
ads, a small dot. Thib,
tand, till they inquired
America and England,
•y long — too many days
uck, in astonishment.

I bounded by a year't^
:ingdom8. They would
nost incredulous to tht;
leded it in size.

Wajai-a-Hoo, the chief
ist Ahoundel-a-Nutt, on
ni was promised to him
uch affected the match,
something like a dozen
nnrh as to my own good

laLAND WARFARE 47

looks, that I owed my marriage to her. Bo that as it may, Ahoundel.
alter stating tho case, asked mo if I was willing to tight; and as I saw 00
honorable mode of escape^ and am a native of a country whoso hoys havt;
no very decided aversion to a bit of a row, I consented ; but George
sliowcd the wiiite feather, and positively refused.

Preparations were immediately set on foot to visit him, and " carry the
war into Africa," by answering Wajai's challenge at his own door.
Natives to the number of about fifteen hundred were mustered, from Nutt
and two contiguous small islands, called Hand and Param. Each canoe
was furnished with smooth stonos, which were stowed in the bottom, and
each native was furnished with a sling, a spear, a bow and arrows, and
war-club. The spears are from five feet to eight in length, and barbed
with tho back bone of a fish, preserving five or six joints, with the pro-
truding bones, like arrow barbs. The clubs arc made of heavy wood and
notched, about eighteen inches or two feet in length. Tho natives wore
dressed in their best savage articles of adornment, their heads dressed
with flowers, but no paint was put upon their flesh, except the everlasting
smearing with cocoanut oil and curry.

The day and place had been appointed with all the circumstance of a
duel, or rather of an ancient joust at arms, with tho exception that there
was no stipulation or limitation as to force on either side ; each party
bringing all the strength he could muster. Treachery sometimes occurs
in island warfare, and attacks by surprise arc made ; seldom, it is true,
but often enougli to induce those who are aware that they have enemies
to be on their guard. This engagement with Wajai was, however, a fair
tight, preceded by a challenge and its acceptance, and of course Wajai
was prepared to receive us, though with an inferior force.

His canoes were ranged in the water, in front of his settlement, and as
soon as we wore near enough to distinguish features, our cliief, Ahoundel,
and Wajai sprung simultaneously to their feet, upon the platforms of their
canoes, and flourishing their spears, set up a shout of defidnce, the conches
blowing an accompaniment. The inferior chiefs upon both sides then
rose and joined in the cry, and the engagement commenced with hurling
the stones with slings. The stones are seldom less than a pound in
weight, and are thrown with tremendous precision, tho parties being from
thirty to forty yards apart. Several canoes were broken and sunk on both
sides, and many men killed. The stones exhausted, arrows and spoars
followed; the parties nearing each other, till the battle was canoe to canoe,
and hand to hand. The natives would seize each other by the hair, and
thrust with a small wooden spear or lance, without barbs, and cut the fleah
with sharp shells. In tho onset Wajai was killed by one of the party in our
canoe. A shout of joy on one side, and a murmur of grief on the other,
suspended the battle a moment ; but it was soon renewed with unabated
fierceness. At length we forced a landing, and the vanquished or broken
foe, failing to prevent it, also sprung on shore, and disputed every inch
of ground, to the very doors of their houses. The land engagement was
fought with the jagged spears and tho short war-clubs. It may be neces-
sary here to state that direct thrusts are seldom made with these spears;
they are generally used for striking, and inflict mangling wounds in the
flesh. The clubs which arc worn in the belt, like a North American
Indian's tomahawk, are the last resort, but arc never hurled.

An hour and a half of hard fighting brought us to the estate of Wajai.
The women had long before deserted the houses, taking with them such
of their effects as they could con^'eniently transport, and the men, fairly

BEVEN TEARS OP A SAILOK'S LIKE.

overpownrud, fled to tlio interior. No attempt hnd boon nimln \ i tak<:
prisonnrH on t>itlu;r nidrt, nnd tlin tuf;itivcH wcrii not purHticd. 'I'lin nntivvH
of Uunalxin, ncvrr nlauKtitor in rold lilood nlli'i a too ('r>aHi!M to reHJHt.
Our party plundered tliu hounefl of whatever movahlim were lel\, Het
tire to them, and, returninf( to the beach, brolte up the c.unoeH of the foe,
and takin;; with un tiio iipearR, mats, nnd otii'<T plunder, we returned to
Nutt. We broiifjht back such of our own dea<i an we could tind, and the
liody of Wujai and other rhiefH, who fell upon tite other aide.

For the credit of a pco|)le whoso character in generally huniano, for
uucultivated savaf^eg, I iiluudd rejoice to stop here ; but the truth cotiipels
mo to Hpeak of a cuatorn ditferiuK ao entirely from their unuiil character.
that I am at a ioaa to account for it. Ujton the next day atler our return
there wftH a fi^aat held. The uaual preparations of ja^o and do^ veniHon
wore made, and the bodies of Wajai and his chiofH were burned ; but
previously to the entire cotisumption of tho liodios by tire, the heart of
Wajai was taken out, and presented to the chiefs on a Inr^e plantain leaf
Whether it was oaten, or <;ven tasted, I cannot say, as I was not |)rrscnt at
tho dis^ustin^ ceremony. The presumption, iiowcver, is, the eating the
hoarts of tho chiefs killed in war is a custom with them. Of this I can
spoak only so far ns I have spoken, having had but one opportunity for
ascortainin),'. No other part of the liody than the heart was oaten, (ind tiiut
rather as a ceremony than a gratification.

It was in the early part of the month of November, 1833, that I discov-
ered a vessel from Nutl ; the tirst vessel that i am positive of having seen
while on tho island of Bonabec. My comrades ol^ n said they saw vesscl.s,
and I frequently imagined that I did, but none npproached near enoujjh
for us to distinfruish their class. It was about sunrise in the rnornin^L.'
whon I first discovered her, and i called up George inunediatcly. Wc ran
to the top of the nearest hill, and anxiously watched her, as well as the
mist and occasional rain would permit, for it was a dull morning. Ailer
wo had satisfied ourselves that it was a European or American vessel, wo
ran down to the chief and informed him tiiat there was a vessel in the
otfing, and that we wisiicd to board her. Ho was not half so much elated
ai. receiving the information as we werfc in imparting it. He eyed mo
some moments. "What!" said he, "uship? No, no." I repeated my
assurance, and led him to the hill. My wife and tho whole household
followed. (je6rge and I bounded about for joy, skipping up tho hill, as
if our feet could not serve us fast enough. I'ln' pace of our companions
offered something of a contrast; they were still incredulous, and my wife
and father were evidently hoping airainst the truth of my discovery, as
they saw in my joy anything but a pleasant indication of my feelings
respecting remaining upon tho island. 1 pointed out the vessel, and satis-
fied them that it was not, as they butiposcd, and hoped it might be, a native
war-canoe. I repeated my request >r a canoe, assuring Ahoundel that
I would make the vessel ^^moondie,'" literally, "«/ rfotrn," or come to an
anchor. At the canoe-house, whither Ahoundel, Laowni, my children,
and others, followed me, Ahoundel granted his unwilling consent that 1
should go off to tho vessel, following it up with questions, while Laowni
anxiously watched the express on of my face for an answer. " Do you
love your wife? your children? Do you love them much, very much?
Will you certainly return ?" To all this I answered yes, yes; ond my heart
smites mc now, as I recollc( ihc gratified expression of my wife's coun-
tenance upon receiving the ansurance. A large canoo was prepared tu
lauucli, but the tide was out. We were obliged to wait for it two full

.IKK.

[i bo<:n iiiniln I > take
uirMUiiil. 'I'lio unlives
I foo iraHCM to rrsiMt.
>vnl)l(!N woro loft, Hot
tho f.uiiocH of tin; fo«,
imlcr, w«' retiirnod to
tvo coiiUI tind, antl the
lUhur Hill)',
pcnnrally liiimano, for

hut thf> truth coriipGU
thoir unuiil chnractcr.
tt duy allor our return

jnjjo and <1ok venison
Lifn were huruod; hut
i hy lire, tho heart of
n a liir^e plantain leaf
aH 1 was not present at
ever, is, the eating the
I thorn. Of this I can
It one opportunity for
iart was eaten, (ind that

or, 1833, that I discov-
positive of having; noon
n said thc^ saw vcsscl.s,
proachod near enough
mnriso in tho rnorninji;
immediately. Wo ran
led her, as well as the
1 dull morninR. After
»r American vessel, wo
ere was a vess<.>l in the
not half so much elated
rting it. Ho eyed mo
, no." I repeated my
d tho wholo household
(kipping up tho hill, as
)ac<' of our compajiions
credulous, and my wife
ith of my discovery, as
lication of my feelings
)Ut tho vessel, and satis-
ped it might bo, a native
issuring Ahoundel that
t dou-n," or como to an
, Laowni, my children,
mwilling consent that 1
uestions, while Laowni

an answer. " Do you
lem much, very much?
d yes, yes; and my heart
ision of my wife's coun-

canoo was prepared to
1 to wait for it two full

^>*

■•'f Jr .

liA^'^s*^^^^*'*''®*^'*"^''^^^

^— i*s^jrtt«flr«*?^a«'--

ifii*j(^i'j,'iLri I*"

THE SPY, OF SALEM. ^g

hours! Oh the impatience we felt! the snnil.Iilf« nrn»,<>.. r .• •

At It..^ h the tide served us to launch the canoe. Ahoundel anrf

before we could exchange a word with them I «h„. u i? • ,'

u.,but my haLds and aVmsKe tfe^L o^f Kate^r^'i'^^'/P*'"

.*.«-«h*w*« -v imMfo e- ^t m ^ v*^ ,^, ^

SEVEN YEARS OF A SAILOR'S LIFE.

nearly together. The outrigger was thrown upon the ledge at the sccoud
or third roll, and had we clung to it we should have been dashed to pieces
among the rocks, by the force with which wu should have been driven.
The young chief had reached the Icdgo before us, and between our forced
plunges we could see him encouraging ua by swinging his mat. After
being thus swamped five or six times we reached the rocks, more dead
than alive, and crawled where the water had least force. Here, taking
the pole of the outrigger, which, as before stated, had preceded us, I
attached my mat to it, and made signals of distress. On board the schooner
they paid no heed to it, although she stood at one time almost within hail
of us. Taking us for natives, and supposing us used to such mishaps,
her master thought we could manage for ourselves ; had he, however,
been inclined to assist us, no boat would have lived in the surf. We were
two or three hours on the reef before we were discovered by the natives;
then some fishing canoes came to us from the inside, where the sea was
comparatively nothing, and the reef approachable, and took us otT. One
of the party, the native who remained with the canoe, was drowned, his
body being picksd up a day or two afterward among the rocks which
formed the reef.

Upon reaching Nutt, Ahoundel was astonished with the story of our
escape. The young chief described our conduct to him, and his astonish-
ment was increased, that two white men should prove better or more
fortunate swimmers than a native fisherman. We were weakened, and
bruised, and sore, as the reader will readily conceive ; but our bodily
sulTeriag was forgotten in our mental anxiety, as the last light of day
showed us the schooner standing off shore. Would she return? The
night long we ])ussod in anxious doubt, and were out with the dawn to
look for the sail. At length I saw her, just a speck. Heavens! how my
heart leaped! A half hour more and the tide was right. The vessel,
standing in, was now fairly visible, and, prepared with a fresh load of
tortoise shell and provisions, with George and two natives for companions,
I set sail again. As we went out by the reef, we were forcibly reminded
of our escape of tbo preceding day, by a fleet of canoes which were
paddling as near the reef as they dared, in search of the body of the
drowned man. When we reached the schooner she was hove to, with
her boarding nettings up, and her men mustered, with boarding pikes and
muskets in hand, or at hand. Two or three other canoes got along side
at the same time that we did, and others were coming off. Upon the
day before no natives had been allowed to board the vessel, though a
barter trafiic for yams and bread-fruit was opened between the canoes and
those on board the vessel. We passed under her stern, and I read the
name, " Spy, of Salem." She was brig rigged forward, and schooner aft.
Fusing round to her weather bow, I song out, " Shipmates, throw us a
ropers end, will you ?'' There was a bustle on deck, a buzz of surprise,
but DO answer, and in a moment I heard somebody exclaiming, "Captain,
the natives on this island speak English!** The anxiely to get a peep at
tt8 through the boarding netting was now redoubled, forward and afl.
One of the men, ailer much hesitation, threw us a rope, and the captain
came to the gangway and asked us on board, requesting us to keep the
natives in the canoe, which we did. The captain did us the honor to
Mhip the side-ladder for us, and Qeorge and I needed no second invitation
to come on deck, but, taking up the tortoise shell with us, directed the
natives to pass up the yams. To my first question the captain answered
that the nune of the island waa Asceosion, the group being laid down

• - «K'" ' • iiM«iiii» ' i'ifirr — f. -r ' - ^i' - - — ——-'--- ■-^^-

THE SPY FIRES UPON THE NATIVES.

ilge at the second
, dashed to pieces
ave been driven,
etwcen our ibrccd
,g hia nmt. Alter

rocks, more dead
ce. Here, taking
ad preceded us, 1
board the schooner
i almost within hail
Ito such mishaps,
• had he, however,
^hesurf. We were
ered by the natives;

where the sea was
d took us off. One
e was drowned, his
ng the rocks which

ith the story of our
lim, and his astonish-
,rove better or more
were weakened, and
eive ; but our bodily
the last liglit«f day
Id she return? Ino
out with the dawn to
Heavens! how my
3 right. The vessel.

with a fresh load of
latives for companions,
,ere forcibly reminded
kf canoes which were
ch of the body of the
ahe was hove to, with

ith boarding pikes and
I canoes got along side
homing off. Upon the
[d the vessel, though a
Vetween the canoes and
r stern, and I read the

w&tA, and schooner att.

Shipmates, throw us a

■ck, a buzz of surprise,
exclaiming, "Captain,

tnxiclytogetapeepat

ibled, forward and att.
I a rope, and the captain
questing us to keep the
Sin did us the honor to
ded no second invitation
,11 with us, directed the
m the captain answered
group being laid down

a.s one island on the chart. He inquired particularly into our story, and
prococded, while lie did su, to offer us, with a sailor^^ liospittility, a rum-
iiior of grog, it was- tlie first I had tasted for years, of course, and a bare
hwallow of it i)urned my throat, flushed my face, and played the deuce
witli my head altogetlier. Poor (ieorge was even worse flabborgusted
tliau 1 was.

In answer to Captain Knight's inquiries, I assured him of the peaceable
character of tlie islanders, and that there was abundance of tortoise shell
and beche Ic incr for commerce, and yams, bread-fruit, water, and wood,
for provision upon the islands. In a short time Captain Knigiit expressed
a willingness that I should permit my natives to come on board, and we
dropped the canoe astern. Other natives were not so fortunate; they
huddled about the vessel, and, coveting iron, strove to pull out the iron
work under the chains with their hands. The schooner filled away again,
and we stood off with a fleet of canoes in tow, dashing and plashing
through the water, their outriggers foul of each other, and getting contin-
ually carried away. I dined on board, with George, at the cabin table.
The condiments of my own furnishing, with the salt provisions, ship bread,
and butter, of the ship's stores, furnished a more savory meal than I had
sat down to for many a day. I undertook to pilot the Spy inside the reef
to an anchorage, at Captain Knight's request. At four or five o'clock in the
evening she came to an anchor in the harbor of Matalaleme. By the
natives who went that night to Nutt, I sent Ahoundel a large broadax
and an adz, and to Laowni I sent beads, red kerchiefs, and other trinkets;
while George and I remained on board, afraid to trust ourselves on shore
again.

In the morning the vessel was again surrounded by canoes, and Captain
Knight purchased of the natives, through me as an interpreter, tortoise
shell and other articles, and one canoe, which he purposed to carry away
na a curiosity. This was dropped astern and fastened by a rope to the
counter. In about two hours from tiie time of purchasing some of the
natives slipped into it, and before we were aware were making oft" with it,
induced probably by some island superstition. Captain Knight immedi-
ately fired upon the thieves, and, lowering a boat, sent some men in
pursuit; but it would have been impossible to have overtaken them, even
if the water had not been ttw shallow in places for the keel of the boat.
Captain Knight now began to fear that the natives intended to take his
vessel, although George and I assured him to the contrary, and told him
that their worst fault was an irresistible propensity to thieve, where they
saw articles they so earnestly coveted. We represented to him that harsh
treatment might bring about the very event he dreaded, and that, at any
rate, the next vessel which came within their reach would suffer for his
conduct. Still he was nervous, agitated, and acted like one beside him-
self, begging me to prevent treachery and keep the natives quiet. In-
stead of acting like a discreet person, which had he done, he might have
lain at Matalaleme weeks, with profit, he blowed out the brains of a native
who was climbing in at the cabin windows, and threw out the body.
Luckily for Captain Knight, the murdered man was a common man, ao
that the dissatisfaction of the natives amounted only to a murmur; had he
been a chief, the capture of the vessel and murder of the crew would have
atoned for his death. It did not seem long to intimidate them, but after
they had clamorously inquired of me the cause of his death, and I told
them it was for thieving, they seemed, in a measure, satisfied that it was
just. During the time that the Spy lay at Matalaleme no natives were

,e-aij;sa<jEiiT«^y

-2 SEVEN YEARS OP A SAILOR'S LIFE.

permitted to come upon her dock, but stood in the chams^and jn^their

Loos. No chiefs of not. cun.e off to the ves« I ^at^^ ^.^^^ I ^^^

adopted by their friends, \P^"^f"™.^ieous a measure could not have
andV'cy of the P-P/j«'^:\^;,,;Vrt "X^^^ after the native was
beencarr.cdout by an the islands^ .^^^ ^^^ foretop, charged

shot in the cabm, » j™''" 'r^^"',*?,,'! Every fresh arrival of canoes put
with nails, slugs, ^"^.■^"^^f^i'fi^^^^ commenced hostilit es,

Captain Knight m add.tiona P^*":^^^^^^^ Constant persuasion,

and even I began to have fear for he conHequenc^ ^^ ^^

and even the exercise of authority, was n J . '^j^^ ^„r„i„g the

a rush upon the veBBol, by the naUves At abo ^.^ ^^^^ ^^ ^^^ ^^^^

Spy got under way, ."^"^ ,^^P^''° f "J niyself to take arms against people
natives, and even wished ^^f "*i». "'^^^ protectors. We flatly refused,
who had for five y^a" been our friends and protec o ^^^^ ^^^

The musket shots were answered ^J °c^;««>;^^^^^^ but

canoes, none of >vh,ch took effect, aveo^^^^^ butslightly. Dunng

from being spent, or sorne oyer caus^^^^^^^ ^^ ^^^^^^ .^^^^^^^^^ than

all the time the """.^^'^ °l*J^f„, ^Tv/rsation and pa
diminished, and I was >° ;°"™^^°7Sf ^^^^^^ tici-tic (petty chie )
They complamed of ^^^ ^J^^^^.'Y"^ ° „ot to blame for it, and appealed to
of the vessel. I answered that 1 was noi lo u ^ anxious

Sem for the fact that I had "«* J^^lf i^^eT ^^^^ to Ahoundel.

that a good report of my conduct «n°uW be earn ^^ ^^^

"^ As ^?e beat out-for the wind ws against u^^fl^-t^^ ^^^ ^^^
canoes, nothing daunted by th« death oi i ^^^^ ^^ ^ ^^^^^^

put off/or us from variou^ parts^^^^^ oWelf startling. It rang from
report in the harbor of .^?\*''V^f p'.^bably for the first time; that genera-
rock to rock, fd from hill to h lU , P^^^^'^^y j^j „f the use or character
tion of the islanders, **3X'erEi"y was doubled by his want of
lf=edg?o«e^ttrw^H^^^^^^^^ -^e conduct of

''VhriU of a fresh fleet putting off towa^^^^^^^^^^
desperate. He ««"* a hand w>th a ™atchj^nto

the sail, and sent ^^e charge »^^^^^^^ ^^„„,,. There

1 saw several natives drop like dogs over V ^ survivors; but the

rose a howl of mingled ^,*g« "^"^^J^^^^e Ss fell back, and though
cruel expedient answered the purpose t^e ^^^^^^ j^ ^^^

they followed us far outs.de the reef, ^^ ^^J^^ « ^^ ^^^ ^^^^^ jj^j
pasWe through the reef we nmowlpj^^^ ^^^^ d

ir^ngi^'sSX^s^^^^^^ ^- ^^'^ ^"^^^ '' '''

islanders. „ „„♦ ,on«iitfld The mast was strained, and

The shot from the foretop was not '«P«*X;„ the backstays by the run,

the sailor who officiated as gunner c«n« ^own the^J^^^yj^h occurred

protestinghewouldnot agamfire he 8w^^^^ J ^^ unpleasantly

Suring my connection .^l^^X Captan Knight. Knowing perfectly
as the butchery of my tnends oy ^ap"^" . . » ^j^ t, unt I they were
Z language and character of the people,^ la^ewthat^

roused to revenge by the death of the "^tY/l^^J^J^^^^ have been guarded

' %*(i«r»5«(a*«***»«»»''-''

:-BS»««S*^<^'9«»WW»««««*****«***^

VILLAINY OF CAPTAIN KNIGHT.

g, and in ihcir

1 a precaution

wWj the habits
: could not have
r the native was
brctop, cliarged
,1 of canoes put
Bnced hostilities,
3tant persuasion,
r part, to prevent
the morning the
f, to fire upon the
ns against people
We flatly refused.

hurled from the
ick the mate; but
L slightly. During
er increased than
.y with the natives,
■a-tic (petty chief)
it, and appealed to
jm. I was anxious
back to Ahoundel.
;t after fleet of the
res who had fallen,
, echo of a musket
tling. It rang from
t time; that genera-
te use or character
ed by his want of

to safe conduct of

ide Captain Knight
oretop, cleved up
hickest of the fleet,
heir canoes. There
e survivors; but the
•ell back, and though
tt distance. In the
eon the rocks. Had
ould have answered
American or English
probably be sacrificed

ito the power of th«

mast was strained, and
backstays by the run,
thing which occurred

me so unpleasantly
Knowing perfectly
► that, until they were
aht of farther mischiet

ily have been guarded
taken did not answer.

[ proposed to Captain Knight, as we entered the harbor, that the vessel
should lay there a month or six weeks, informing him of the quantities
of beche le mor which I proposed to cure for him, taking the requisite
tools from the vessel. I did not expect that anything but peace and good
fellowship between the natives and the crew of the vessel would grow out
of the visit; but the hasty and cruel conduct of Captain Knight marred it
all. I was grieved at the death of the the natives; but I was astonished
at the efl'rontery with which Captain Knight called upon us to fire upon
our friends. We told him we were anxious to get away from tlic island,
but that we should prefer to be set on shore again, rather than purchase
our freedom by such an abuse of friendship.

Fairly out of the harbor of Matalaleme, the deportment of Captain
Knight materially changed toward us. lie was no longer the supplicant
for intercession with the natives, but the master, imposing his authority upon
us in every possible manner. In about fourteen days we made Guam,
one of the Marian Islands, whore Captain Knight would have left us, but
the authorities would not permit it. By the way, I should have mentioned
that the ship's cook was set ashore at Matalaleme, with his own consent,
and I directed the natives into whose canoe he stepped to carry him to
Ahoundel, and treat him well, for my sake. Whether he, and the four
comrades whom I left upon the islands, did not fare worse for Captain
Knight's conduct, I had no means of ascertaining; but must do the natives
the justice to express the opinion, based upon a knowledge of their char-
acter, that they have too much benevolence and perception of right and
wrong to abuse known friends for the conduct of strangers, though those
strangers were of their color and language.

After leaving Guam, I had some altercation with Captain Knight, which
resulted in no very agreeable consequences to myself. During the whole
passage I had been sick, from a cold, exhaustion, fatigue, and derange-
ment of my whole system, from the change of diet. Under my right arm
was a large and very painful swelling. One night I had the watch from
eight to twelve, the first two hours of which I spent on the topgallant yard,
upon the lookout. When I came down I laid myself on the forecastle by
the heel of the bowsprit, exhausted, and in agony from the swelling under
my arm. Captain Knight came forward, and at the first intimation I had
of his proximity was a kick. "What business have you here asleep, sir?"
I pleaded my weakness and ill health, and the suffering I had already
endured by the lookout at the masthead. He collared me, and I returned
his grasp with interest; he freed himself from me, went aft, and returned
with a brace of pistols in his hand, threatening to shoot me. I told him
to do it ; that I was tired of life, and would willingly die. He then let
m(j alone for the night, and indeed wo had no more words, but he hove
to near the first land we made, lowered the boat, and ordered mo into it.
George insisted upon accompanying me, to which Captain Knight at first
objected, but afterward consented. He then sent the second mate and
two men with directions to leave the two Irish villians (he used a worse
word) anywhere— on a rock, or a sand-bank, but not to bring them on
board again. This was in the straits of Barnardino. Upon reaching the
shore wo found bullocks grazing, but saw no house, or shelter of any kind,
and persuaded the second mate to take us back. He did so, and upon
returning to the vessel told the captain that he could not drive us from the
boat, but that we insisted upon coming back.

We were taken on board, and the vessel filled away again. I very
foolishly, as the event proved, threatened Captain Knight that I would

5iS.l?^?J&*;^"g

.Kf'-MHMMP

'if

SEVEN YEARS OP A SAILOR'S LIFE.

represent to the authorities at Manilla his treatment of the Indiana at
Ascension, and his abuse of me. Upon arrival at that port he anticipated
'no, making' ail sorts of charges against us, as runaways from punishment
at New Holland, pirates who strove to cause the capture of his vessel by
the Indians, and mutineers on board. Upon being boarded by the cap-
tain of the port at Manilla, just as we thought we had reached the end
of our vexations and were in a way to return home, we were agreeably
surprised by a present of leg safety-chains, and were placed, ironed, in
the bows of the captain of the port's barge.

Captain Knight soon came down over the side, and seated himself under
the awning in the stern sheets, with the captain of the port, the quarantine
and custom-house officers; and as we sat, we could perceive we were the
objects of the conversation. We bore this talking at, some time in silence,
but tiring of it, I requested George to play his flute; which, by the way,
as a memento of his residence on Ascension, he had taken care to keep
with him. Accordingly he struck up St. Patrick's Day in the Morning,
Garry Owen, and divers other merry Irish tunes, to the astonishment and
edification of the boatmen, and, after awhile, to the amusement even of
the officers in the stern sheets. We were pulled in this way alongside
half a dozen vessels which had just entered the harbor, and endured the
gratification of being pointed out to their crews ..s felons : — a story we
took every opportunity to contradict. The feelings of the sailors were,
of course, with us, and their half-expressed and doubtful sympathy was
grateful, when all the rest of the world were disposed to frown.

After being paraded in this way about the harbor for half a. day, we
were landed, and marched with military honors up the street. Wo had
reached a church — were famished with hunger, having eaten nothing since
morning, and faint with exposure to the heat of a broiling sun. " Is it
vespers you arc taking us to? Well, prayer after fasting." The captain
of our escort pointed to the opposite side of (lie street, and there, fronting
(he church, stood a loss agreeable resort for sinners; one, like the church,
not always sought voluntarily — tiie calabozo. They had the impoliteness
to fasten the door at our backs when we entered.

Upon entering, we found ourselves in a sort of reception room, more
convenient for its purposes than genteel, or elegantly furnished. It was
separated from the rest of the prison by an iron grating, through which
the friends of the prisoners conversed with them. Through this grating
we saw a large hall, tenanted by prisoners, but were ourselves passed
up a flight of stone steps, communicating with the second story. At the
end of the room opposite the entrance was an altar and crucifix ; and
we were curious as to what was coming when we were led toward it.
The marvel ceased, however, when a door near the crucifix was opened,
and we were ushered into the jailor's office, and requested to favor him
with our autographs in his album. This done, we were returned into
the common hall, and an allowance of rice served out to us.

All this time we had no precise knowledge of the charges made
against us, although we knew it was something in which Captain Knight
had a hand. Upon the aext day the interpreter, who, by the way, had
honored us with his company until he saw the key safely turned upon
us, paid us a visit. From him we learned what the reader has already
been informed, that there were three distinct charges, either of which
was sufficient to authorize the affectionate care taken of us; namely,
piracy, escape from Botany Bay, and mutinous conduct. We inquired
whether we should have a trial, and how soon ; to which he replied, that

• » l > ll » .l <3» .> J i » l , , «i y j j ^ i ^Jj;„tl^ y,r~y^^^*aMg.S-^'-»»^

PUT IN PRISON AT MANILLA.

the Indians at
he anticipated
3m puniahnjcnt
tf his vessel by
led by the cap-
sached ll>e end
were agreeably
aced, ironed, in

sd himself under
I, the quarantine
■ive we were the
3 time in silence,
lich, by the way,
lien care to keep
in the Morning,
istonishmcut and
uscment even of
lis way alongside
and endured the
ons:— astory we
the sailors were,
ful sympathy was
o frown.

■or half a day, we
: street. We had
atcn nothing since
liling sun. "Is it
ig." The captain
ind there, fronting
e, like the church,
d the impoliteness

option room, more
urnishcd. It was

ng, through which

irough this grating
ourselves passed

ond story. At the
and crucifix; and
ere led toward it.
ucifix was opened,
lested to favor him
/ere returned into
t to us.

the charges made
ch Captain Knight
lo, by the way, had
safely turned upon
reader has already
3S, either of which
;enof us; namely,
luct. We inquired
lich he replied, that

es,

wo probably should. Of Capt. Knight we saw nothing, after leaving
him at the landing, except one day, when he passed the prison, and I
took the liberty to hail him by name, adding sundry expletives and titles,
more applicabtn and graphic th.'.n melodious and beautiful. Days passed,
and as a sort of desperate amusement, 1 commenced writing letters of
complaint, and sending them out, directed to any English or American
resident whose name I could learn. The rial a day, which was allowed
us from some source I n> ver could precisely learn what, to provide our
provender, was, afler awhile, taken off, and we were served with rice
daily, and, once or twice a week, beef and fish.

Sailors, many of whom visited us, were in the frequent practice of
making us small presents. With the money thus obtained, we sent and
purchased bread and meat, but the eyes of Argus were necessary to
prevent too frequent verification of the proverb, " many a slip 'twixt cup
and lip.'* Even afler our bit of meat was in the pot with the rice, and
we were superintending its cooking, some dextrous Chinese thief would
whip it out with his chop-sticks, if our eye strayed from it one moment.
Each of the prisoners is obliged to prepare his own food, in a portion of
the prison set apart for that purpose.

All sorts of ingenious modes of punishment were practiced upon the
prisoners for misdeeds while there. It would almost seem the Chinese
ingenuity of torture, tempered by a little more regard for humanity than
the officers of his Celestial Majesty possess. Stocks, confining the culprit
in all sorts of positions, many of which were as ludicrous as uncomforta-
ble, clogs, irons, and collars, and devices, the description of which would
tire, were in continual exercise. Flogging was going on all day, but the
poor devils of Chinese came in for more than a proportionate share of it,
and the blows were laid on with more hearty good-will, as they were
heretics.

To give variety to our life, we had an occasional opportunity of seeing
a tenant in the pillory, opposite the prison. Here, too, during the time
we lay in jail, we saw two or three executions, done in a manner to
which the Turkish bowstring is tender mercy. I shall spare the reader
the description of a method of strangulation the most horrible possible;
only remarking, that in a country where the oflUce of the executioner is
so directly instrumental to the death of the criminal, and his duty so
cruel and protracted, it is no wonder that even criminals, the most debased,
despise the hangman.

At the rear of the prison tan a river or canal. On the opposite bank
stood a church, and near this lay what appeared to us a pile of human
bones. When I tired of watching the passengers in the street in front,
I looked out upon the church, and noted that no Catholics passed it
without making a genuflection. At night, the spot was marked by a
taper burning before the image of some saint, and I found myself fre-
quently looking toward that church. I wondered if, among the bones
there preserved upon consecrated ground, there lay the relics of any
person so much the sport of fortune aa myself, who had fallen, unwept
and unattended, in a strange land. During no period of my residence
upon the Carolines had I felt so utterly dispirited and forsaken, as I did,
at times, in the prison at Manilla. I had made repeated applications for
trial, besieged every person whose address I could learn with letters;
the only effect of which was to bring two English merchants to the
prison, to tell us that, as we came in in American vessel, as part of her
crew, they could do nothing for as. The American consul, and Mr.

-tw*r-W5r??t'!^??*'

"f^rg^" ^ ^ ? , ' ^& '-:*-;--:'rr^*«i»wf^>r-

SEVEN TEARS OF A SAILOR'S LIFE.

Sturgis, an American resident, visited us in about a week after our
committal.

We were not without amusement. George had brought his violin and
flute, of course, and I had not forgotten the exercise of my heels.
Then, in the various assemblage, there was ample amusement in watch-
ing tiic different disposal of time, according to character. The Chinese
were most of them merchants, in a small way, vending tobacco, betel,
and other " notions,'' as a Yankp^ would say, and there is no better

word in the world. Stock in trade was not wanting, while there was a
chance to exercise their expert fingers in tricks of sleight-of-hand.
Others would operate as barbers, tailors — they had a thousand resources
for busy idleness. Spanish blood showed itself in games of chance —
cards, draughts, dominoes — and the parties would sit as gravely and
intently engaged as if they had been recreating in the palace of a gran-
dee. An occasional industrious one wove hats ; and cooking their pilau
was the periodical occupation of all hands.

I indulged in an occasional game of draughts with one of my fellow-
prisoners, a Spaniard. It did very well, till, one day, ho tried to cheat
me out of the game. The stake was not worth quarreling about, but it
was the point of pride. We wrangled, I collared him, and was reported.
As a punishment, I was ordered into the lower prison, and George, my
shadow, was moved with me. This apartment, sacred to the lowest
rogues, was by no means so light and pleasant as the upper one. There
is a choice, even in prisons.

Here I resumed the amusement of dispatching letters; continuing it
until, one day, the deputy jailor came to me with orders to put mc in
close confinement. [ resisted, and in the scufllo was severely bruised,
and my rigging dismantled. Preparatory to my solitude, and to give me
food for reflection during its continuance, I was seized down to a bench
and beaten with cowhides. Upon entering the cell which was to be my
temporary residence, I found that the happiness of entire solitude was
to be denied me, and was compelled to accept the society of a Spanish
ofliicer, who was waiting transportation to Cadiz, and trial for murder
upon his own confession.

Previous to my committal to the cell, two attempts were made to
compel me to ship on board vessels, one of which was the Dash, an
American brig or barque, I have forgotten which. She was bound to
the Fejees; but, as I had already had enough of the Pacific Ocean, I
peremptorily refused to sign articles, and was remanded to prison. The
other was a Spanish vessel, and I declined, in terms more positive than
polite, to go in her. The American consul gave me a rating for annoying
the residents with letters, and for refusing to go away by the opportu-
nities he provided for me. After these adventures I was confined in the
cell, as before stated, and could not, in my own mind, avoid connecting
them as, at least, partial cause and efiect.

The burden of my complaint had been the delay of a trial. Why was
no attempt made to substantiate the charges made against me? Why no
opportunity given me to disprove them? The treatment I endured
would have been adequate punishment for any crime short of willful
murder. Beaten, half-starved, and worse than dl, thrust, ironed, into a
noisome cell with a murderer ; a portion of the time bolted to the floor
of that cell, and upon three successive Sabbaths paraded with my room-
mate to prayers, before all the prisoners, who classed me with the mur-
derer ; and all this without the show of any reason, or the pretense of

"' ^ <l» n ' ^j^^^:^w .'^ ■ > J KJ Vywm ai.^

rj^«B5!Paiiiiiaas»ste*!

week after our

»ht his violin and
ise of my heels,
serocnt in watch-
■r. The Chinese
ig tobacco, betel,
lere is no better
hile there was a
>f aleight-of-hand.
lousand resources
imcs of chance —
lit as gravely and
, palace of a gran-
cooking their pilau

one of my fellow-
, he tried to cheat
reling about, but it
,, and was reported,
and George, my

crcd to the
upper one

lowest
There

itters; continuing it

orders to put roe in

aa severely bruised.

lude, and to give me

ed down to a bench

which was to be my

entire solitude was

society of a Spanish

tnd trial for murder

mpts were made to
was the Dash, an
She was bound to
the Pacific Ocean, 1
ided to prison. The
1 more positive than
a rating for annoying
way by the opportu-
" was confined in the
id, avoid connecting

I of a trial. Why was
kcainstmet Why no
Treatment I endured
trime short of wiUful
I thrust, ironed, into a
\e bolted to the floor
Laded with my room-
ted me with the mur-
, or the pretense o\

THRUST INTO THE DUNGEON.

it. So formal charge was ever made, or, if made, was ever prosecuted.
Upon our egress tioin the prison, Mr. Sturgis gave George and ine five
dollars, and the consul procured us a passage to Macao in a Spanish
ship.

The prison was a miniature Pandemonium — a little hell, where the
worst passions and propensities of the brutal officers who managed it
had license unrestrained. 1 have been fastened in a {losition painiul of
itself, my lugs extended and arms confined, wliilc two brutes adminis-
tered llagcllation witii heavy cowhides. In the struggle wliich preceded
my being thrust into the dungeon, my body was so completely denuded
of clothing, that, in the cold, damp cell, I was fain thankfully to accept
the comfort uf a portion of the mat of the miserable felon who was the
occupant of the cell with me. Even the sorry privilege of perambula-
tion about my narrow quarters was, during a portion of the time, denied
me. Heavy irons upon my feet, bo't-ig them about three feet apart,
were connected with a chain to my lei arm, compelling me to keep the
arm straigiit by my side, when I stood erect. The bolt between my legs
was, during about a week of the three I spent in the cell, fastened to a
ring-bolt in the floor. The food served me there was a miserable pit-
tance of half-boiled rice, floating in three times the quantity of water
necessary to cook it. This, with two small broiled fish, was barely sufii-
cient to sustain my miserable existence. Never, during my life, did I
80 utterly despair as when confined in this horrid hole, seeing no person
except my convict companion, save when, upon the Sabbath, I walked in
my irons to the altar, to see the institutions of religion profaned in a
place where its dictates were utterly set at naught. For all this, decency
would seem to require, at least, the form of an examination upon the
charges preferred by Capt. Knight; but no such form, to give my con-
finement a color of justice, ever took place. Upon my liberation, the
Spy had been sold, and Capt. Knight had left Manilla. His unsupported
word had been sufficient to throw mo into the power of these demons,
and, careless of my fate, he left me th .ire. The inquiry may be made,
why, if my confinement was so irksome, I did not gladly embrace the
first opportunity to escape from it. To this I answer, that the worst part
of my punishment did not take place till after I had so refused, and that
my principal reason for refusing was my unwillingness to leave George,
unfriended, in a prison. We had been together so long, and had become
so endeared to each other by a participation in good and ill fortune, that
to separate was even more painful than to endure the worst that the
prison would inflict. I knew that no constitution, even the most iron,
could long bear up under the hard usage and scanty food ; the records
were before me in the names of British and American citizens carved
on the guard-bed. Under many of these, survivors had written the date
of the death of the persons who cut them there ; and the mate of the
Spanish vessel in which I left Manilla, who was an American, and had
himself been a prisoner in Manilla, informed me that he had known
many instances where foreign sailors had fallen victims to the combined
ill effects of the climate and the prison.

Arrived at Macao, we were thence sent to Canton. At Canton, we
were objects of curiosity, and were visited by merchants and others con-
nected with the English Factory ; our tattooing examined, and our story
of shipwreck and residence on the Carolines was repeated two or three
times a day, during the week we remained there. Through those gen-
demen, the owners, and others interested iu the John Bull, probably.

t?*^%~",r!':~«T»-Cr.- • ■•TT-x

SEVEN YEARS OP A SAILOR'S LIFE.

hoard of the I088 of that vottsel, if it had not buforc lionn piihliHhod hy
our Hhipinatns who took the other Iwats. Of the fateof nny except thot«e
who eacuped in the boat with iia, I have never heard a syllfiblo. It
may be thut they found their way to other ialauds in the Pacific, and it
may be that thoy purished at sea.

8U00E8SFUL RESISTANCE OP THREE SAILORS AGAINST
SEVERAL THOUSAND SAVAGES.

Tub Htory of O'Connell well illustrates the superiority of oven one
civilized man over multitudes of hi.s savage fellow-men. By means of
this superiority, the FSuropean, or American, cast upon a barbarous shore,
will oi\nn, indeed, will commonly, secure assistance and support from
those who must respect his greater intelligence, and will desire to profit
by his acquired knowledge, l>oth so much superior to their own. Most
of the instances of the slaughter of sailors or travelers by the barbarians
of Oceanica, which have come to our knowledge, have evinced either
great imprudence or criminal conduct on the part of these victims of
savage fury. The following account of the successful contest of three
English sailors with a large tribe of cannibal assailants, while it illus-
trates the superiority of civilized weapons and civilized courage and
skill, seems also to show that this was a case of unprovoked assault of
disapiMiintod rage, upon brave and innocent men.

Mr. Dillon was an olRcer of the ship " Hunter," commanded by Captain
Robson, who had made many voyages to the Pojee Islands, and enjoyed
a certain influence with the natives, from having interested himself in
their dissensions and contests. Bonassar, the chief of Wailca, in parti-
cular, was his friend.

The nineteenth of February, 1813, the Hunter cnmo to anchor in the
Bay of VVailea, opposite a small river which leads to the village, lying
at half a league distance from the shore, and situated upon an elevated
spot.

When Robson had fairly established himself in the harbor, he received
a visit from his old friend Bonassar, who told him that, in his absence,
fortune had turned against him, and that the tribes which had once sub-
mitted were again in revolt, and had called to their aid other and more
powerful tribes, which had caused a bloody and disastrous war. Bonassar
expressed the hope that the visit of his old friend would help to improve
his aflfairs, and insinuated that the necessity of defending the court would
prevent the natives from going to the mountains to gather sandal-wood
for the Hunter, unless the captain would come to his assistance against
bis enemies. Boaassar's welcoine to his friend was, in other respects,
not less cordial nor frank than usual. At this time, a number of Euro-
pean sailors, either deserters or shipwrecked on the island, were in the
service of several of the chiefs, well treated, and made much of by their
savage friends.

Captain Robson sought to evade the urgency of Bonassar, but was, at
length, over-persuaded by the promise of a supply of sandal-wood, and
lent him twenty musketeers, three small boats, and a cannon carrying
two-pound ball. Accompanied by an army of three or four thousand
savages, they made an attack on the hostile island of Nanpakob, which
was soon conquered, and the dead bodies of its inhabitants, cut limb from

Wik

''5ei«#fWW'¥!»«»l>B3S««SS«SK?!*I^SS»^^

^'SflP^f«'S«^

aUCflESSFUL RKSISTANOE OP THREE SAILORS.

con puWmhod bj
.f nny except iUohp
ird a syllfiblo. It
Iho Pacific, and it

iS AOArNST

riority of oven one
icn. By moans of
ti a barbarous shore,
I and support from
will dosiiro to i)rot\t
a their own. Most
rs by the barbarians
lave evinced either
of these victims of
ful contest of three
lants, while it illus-
/ilizod courage and
provoked assault of

remanded by Captain

Islands, and enjoyed

nterested himself in

of Wailea, in parti-

nmo to anchor in the

to the village, lying

ed upon an elevated

le harbor, he received
that, in his absence,
which had once sub-
r aid other and more
itrous war. Bonassar
irould help to improve
nding the court would
> gather sandal-wood
lis assistance against
as, in other respects,
,, a number of Euro-
e island, were in the
nade much of by their

Bonassar, but was, at
y of sandal-wood, and
ud a cannon carrying
tree or four thousand
1 of Nanpakob, which
abitants, cut limb from

limb, and rolled in jjreon Icjavoa, wore roastori with the taro-root, to fur-
nish a feast to the victors. Koltson had fulHIIrMJ his )>art of thi; contract,
hilt Bonassar would not comply with his proinisiv Undor ditfoinit pre-
tnxts, the loading was delayed, imd, finally, the nntivos coased to come
alward, fearing they might be si'i/.ed and kept ns hostages.

This made Rohson furious, and he attacked the fleet of Bonassar, and
i^aptured tuurtettii of his vessels. Sul)se(|iiently he mti(l<> n more grno-
ral attack, with the intention of entirely destroying the military power of
the Fejee chief. In this engagemimt the fatal mistake of separating his
men into small detachments was made, wiiich gave the cunning savages
an opportunity to cut them olT in detail, by moans of crnt\y amhiisrades.
When a retrtMt became necessary, the small party to which Dillon be-
longed WHS under the command of Noriiion, the mute, who fell, pierced
by a lance, leaving the command to him. Kverytliing then looked des-
|)erate to the party, and nothing seemed left but to sell their lives as
dearly as possible, when Dillon perceived, in the midst of the plain, an
isolated rock, abrupt and inaccessible, a kind of fortress placed there for
their safety — a rampart of nature's making, to whose summit the arrows
of the natives could hardly reach. To see this refuge, to point it out to
his companions, and to direct his stejis toward it, was but the work of a
moment. Dillon established himself in this aerie, with Savage, Burhurt,
Duprey and Wilson, Europeans, and a Ciiinaman, named Luis. The
rest of the detachment had been killed, and Duprey himself was pierced
with a lance, beside having four arrow-wounds in his back. Fortunately
tor these poor fellows, the rock, accessible only on a single side, was
oasy to defend.

Meanwhile, the fury of the savages became a little calmed, and a parley
was agreed upon. Among the prisoners taken by Robson. and carried
on board the Hunter, was a brother of the high priest of Vai-Tea. 'I'o
this priest, Dillon proposed an exchange of the savages, in confi^sment,
for him and his companions, which was agreed to, and Dupioy was sent
on board, together with the priest, to perfect the arrangement. Mean-
time, the chief of the Fejeeans approached the base of the rock, and
sought to entice the Europeans from their posts. To all their promises,
Dillon turned a deaf ear, and counseled his companions to do the same.
But one of them, Savage, who had lived among them for several years,
trusting in their good faith, descended the rock, and placed himself under
the protection of Bonassar, who welcomed him with great seeming cor-
diality. This induced Luis, the Chinese, to do the same, and to claim
the protection of one of the chiefs to whom he had formerly rendered
several services. Thinking that with these two examples, Dillon would
be induced to come down, they renewed their solicitations, but in vain.
Then throwing off their mask, the savages raised a great cry, seized
Savage, plunged his head in a ditchful of wator, and speedily dispatched
him, while a blow from another of the murderers made an end of the
Chinese. Dismembered and roasted, these poor fellows were soon
eaten under the eyes of Dillon.

There now. remained upon the rock, only Dillon, Burhart, and Wilson
— three men against many thousand assailants. Thinking they now
iihould have it their own way, the savages recommenced the attack with
new fury. Burhart, a skillful marksman, shot twenty-seven of the
aHsuilants in twenty-nine shots. Dillon also dispatched a large number.
Wilson confined himself to loading the muskets of his two companions,
-'uon the outside of their citadel became encumbered with dead bodies.

yvif^^Sf^PPSF'

SEVEN VEARS OP A SAILORS LIFE.

when tlio iinvnf;ofi, fnarriil of provoking alrnoHt cortain dnfltniction, ceaacd
further nllink, tor tlio pruHcnt, truHtint; tliat tlio darknnfln of ni^ht, or
liuntfcr, would, hooiict or liitrr, doliVor tliciir victitiiH into tlinir liiiiidH.

'I'lioii H(-( III!!) of horrililr) cannibuliHtn worn practiced iiiidor tlin cyos*
of till' l')iiro|)(<nn8. Tint liiiiltM of thuir dond coiiipanion.s wnro drawn
from till! tire, and dividend among tlin tribes, wiio dovoiirod tlicm witii
liurrit)i<> forocity; but occaflionally cRaning their repaMt to taunt Dillon
and his companions, with the as.siiranco that to-morrow th(!y also would
bn riMiHtcd and eaten. Tu Dillon's threat, that if they wnro killed, the
native prisoners on board would llkowiso be killed, the canniiials only
onswered, "Bah! bah! Captain Rohson may oat our friends if that will
do him any good; but wo will eat you there to-morrow, any how."

VVIion night caine, their situation was painful in the e.\trcmo. They
had but seventeen cartridges lefY, and the lirst attack of the savages must
deliver them into the hands of their pitiless enemies. None of thorn
were willing to bo taken alive by those feeders on human flesh, and
were alwut agreeing to ddstroy their own lives, when, for a moment,
their hopes wore raised by seeing a boat put otf from the Hunter, ond
steer directly for tho land. But what was their ama/.ement and regret,
when they saw that tho commander had committed tho unpardonable
fault of releasing tho whole nutnber of prisoners, thus cutting off all
chance of escape for them. What motive could now induce tho natives
to spare them, wiion all fear of reprisals had been taken away?

"A little ailcrward," says Dillon, in his narrative of these events, "tho
reloased prisoners came to mo without arms, led on by their priest, who
said tiiat Captain Robsou had sent a case of cutlery, and other things, to
tho chiefs, as our ransom, to whom wo were also ordered to surrender
our arms. Tho priest added, that, in case wo complied, ho would con-
duct us safely to our boats. To all this, I replied, that while a breath of
life remained in me, I would deliver my musket to nobody: it was my
own property, and I should hold on to it, certain that if I gave it up, 1
should be treated as my dead companions had been. Palling with me,
the priest turned to Martin Burharl, and sought to persuade him to
acquiesce in his proposal. At this moment the idea entered my head to
make a prisoner of the priest, and either to kill him, or to obtain my
liberty in exchange for his. Seizing a gun, I presented it at the priest,
threatening to kill him if he attempted to escape, or if any of his party
made tho least movement toward attacking us, or to hinder in any way
our retreat. I then ordered him to march for the boat in a direct line,
menacing him with instant death, if he disobeyed. He did as he was
directed, and while traversing through the crowd of savages, he exhorted
them to bo quiet, and do no harm, for if they assailed us, we would kill
him, which would bring down upon them the wrath of the gods in the
clouds, who, irritated at their disobedience, would cause the ocean to
swallow up them and their island. The natives obeyed his orders, and
sat down, while we marrhed toward the boat. When near the landing,
the priest stopped short, refusing to atir another step, and saying we
might kill him if we wished. I threatened him, but without effect. He
said our object was to take him on board our ship, in order to torture
him. As we had no time to lose, I ordered him to stand still, while we,
marching backward, with our guns all pointed at him, soon reached one
of our boats. We were scarcely embarked, before a cloud of arrows
and stones darkened the air, but we soon found ourselves beyond 'the
reach of their bows and slings.'^

TO,-5rsffs?s®?a8®sJS5Str^SK3'i,^^

.IFK.

in destruction, ccaictl
darkn«s« of ni>{ht, or
\n into tlmir liiinds.
iced under tlio cyos
iipaniouH were drawn
D dovoured llicm witli
repant to taunt Dillon
orrow thoy aUo would

thoy w«ro killed, the
cd, tho cannibalM only
lur friends if tliat will
)rrow, any how."
1 the extreme. They
ick of the suvajjes must
«mie8. None of them
a on human flesh, and
, when, for a moment,

from tho Hunter, and
amazement and regret,
ittcd tho unpardonable
3rs, thus cuttin),' off all
now induce the natives
n taken away ?
ve of those events, "the
1 on by their priest, who
ery, and other things, to

ordered to suirender
omplicd, he would con-
djthat while a breath of
t to nobody: it was my

1 that if I gave it up, I
Deen. Failing with me,
ght to persuade him to
idea entered my head to
kill him, or to obtain my
resented it at the priest,
(e, or if any of his party
or to hinder in any way
he boat in a direct line,
yed. He did as he was
rd of savages, he exhorted
ssailed us, we would kill
wrath of the gods in the
rould cause the ocean to
is obeyed his orders, and

When near the landing,
iher step, and saying we
n, but without effect. He
ir ship, in order to torture
im to stand still, while we,
at him, soon reached one

before a cloud of arrows
ind ourselves beyond the

PADDOCK'S NARRATIVE

BONDAGE AMONG THE ARABS,

DiTAiuira iH« ivviruiNai or m* maitie amp cinr or iHi lair oewioo, upon tbi
COAST OF SOUTH RARBARY.

On the 8th of January, 1800, says Captain Judah Piuldock, in his nar-
rative, I lell Now York in tho Ship Oswego, of Hudson, of which I was
the comniiindcr, with a cargo of flax.sciul and staves on freight, lutiiud to
Cork. ()ur passage out was very rough, hut we arrived there in 21 days.
After lying a few days and finding nothing hotter to employ the ship in, I
concluded to ballast her and go to the Cnpe do Vcrd Islands, and take a
load of salt, skins etc., for New York. While tlio ship was |)reparing for
the voyage, I was able to collect about 1200 Spanish dollars, In^sides 600
dollars in gold. While in Cork we iiad heard of several instances of
vessels being robbed on tho coast of Spain, by vessels bearing the French
flag. The truth of these reports I will leave, but thought if they were
to rob me of the 1200 dollars it should require some time to find them.
Accordingly I took a small keg, just largo enough to contain tho money,
at my lodgings, and packed it snug. At a late hour in the evening,
everything being prepared, I took the keg on board while all were asleep
but my officers ; unheadcd a barrel of beef, took one half out, put the keg
in tho middle of the barrel, filled it up again, stowed it away along side
tiie keelson, and put the other provisions over it as they were before.
None of our crew knew anything of this transaction till some time after
wo were wrecked.

On the 22d of March, a fine breeze at N. N. W. and fair weather, we
put to sea. In the afternoon, while arranging my papers, it occurred to
my mind that we had a man on board who had not signed the shipping
articles, and, sending for him down, and presenting them for signing, he,
to my astonishment, refused, by saying he did not belong to the ship, and
knew better than to sign any such articles. I ordered him out of tho
cabin, and, sending for the mate, I told him his man, aa I called him,
refused signing the shipping articles. Tho mate was exceedingly pro-
voked at it. We sent for the man again, and ho making use of the same
language, I threatened to put him ashore on the first place we should
stop at, and as he still persisted, we sent him out of the cabin a second
time, declaring he should be put on board the first British ship of war
that we should fall in with.

I will now relate the story of that man's being in the ship. A few
days before sailing from Cork, I went on board the ship, and saw a
stranger at the caboose; on asking the mate who he was, he informed me
he came on board the day before, as ragged and dirty as he ever saw a
man, and begged to work his passage home ; that he pitied his condition,
gave him some pieces of clothing, and put him to the caboose, and had
found him a good cook. I suspected he was some runaway sailor, and told

(61)

If'

BONDAGE AMONG THE ARABS OF THE DESERT.

the mate to put Iiirn ashore, and went myself below. As soon as the fellow
found ho was to be landed, he came below, and begged very liard to go
to America, saying lie was very poor, tiiat the times were so liard he could
not get a living in the country he came from, and that Ik; had no family
nor friends : he really appeared an object of pity. I told him I suspected
he was 8omo runaway sailor or soldier ; he denied that he hau ever been
cither. I then concluded to let him remain a day or two on board, more
especially as tiie mate pleaded so hard for him. When I went on shore,
I mimtionod the circumstance to some of my friends who had seen him
on board, and thought he was to be pitied, and that I had better take
him. I have been more particular in stating this thing, in order to
prepare the reader for what will be related concerning that fellow
hereafter.

Nothing material happened from the time of our leaving Ireland to the
.'3d of April, being then twelve days from land; and having had moderate
and variable gales with fine weather, and also several opportunities to as-
certain the exact variation of the compass, we had every reason to believe
our reckoning was right. Toward night of this day, as I was sitting in
the cabin, and reflecting on our situation as to our passage track, etc. I
was led to look over my reckoning again, feeling some uneasiness that I
cannot easily describe. When the boy brought our tea down I took up
my books and papers, and gave him the table, and as soon as his things
were arranged I sent him to call the mates; it was now near dark; he
returned, and said the mates were forward at work, and could not come
yet. I drank some tea, and laid down with my clothes on, thinking to go
on deck at 8 o'clock, which was near at hand. Having been hard at work
all the day, I was somewhat fatigued, and unexpectedly fell asleep. I
awoke at the sound from striking four bells ; was on my feet feeling for
my hat, and with no light burning, when I heard an unusually loud noise.
The first thought that struck me, was of a man being overboard. Before
getting out of the gangway I distinctly heard those forward crying out,
Breakers! Breakers right ahead! and several of the crew were running
aft. I saw nothing, nor did I look forward, but ran to tlic helm to put it
up ; too late, for it was hard down, or nearly so. I put my hand on the
tiller-head, and bore it hard to the rail, when, in a moment, the ship flew
to, head to the wind, our yards being a little pointed or braced. By this
time all hands were on deck, and a number aft, to haul round the after
yards. We were on the point of hauling, when I discovered her to fall
air. At that moment we hauled up the mizzen, she having such quick
Btern way with the helm yet down, the main and mizzen topsail kept
shivering or edging to the wind; the jib and fore staysail sheets being
hauled flat, she fell off remarkably quick, every man using his greatest
exertions. When she began to gather headway, the helm righted with
the wind at least two points on the starboard quarter, wanting not more
than once her length of coming round, heading off shore ; at that moment
she struck tremendously heavy, all the cabin windows carne in, and part
of the sea came over the taflle rail. She struck twice more in the hollow
of the two next seas, and floated, runr^ng perhaps three or four times her
length, and struck again, and stopped with every sea breaking over us, no
land in sight, and we seemingly swallowed up by the raging ocean
foaming terribly around us. Her stern soon drove round, so as to bring
the sea on our beam, and at every thump she rolled oflT, with her gunwale
near to the water. By this time we saw the land at no great distance
from us.

■'.'(^ftt'JiS?S8!fa»a-.-<.'S38,

"':ts*j^^; «s^?^^s^'S"saa^»'s

DESERT.

Vs soon as tho fellow
Tod very luird to go
ere so liard he could
lat ho had no family
told him I suspected
lat he had ever been
■ two on board, more
hen I went on shore,
s who had seen him
lat I had better take
s thing, in order to
icerning that fellow

leaving Ireland to the
having had moderate
al opportunities to as-
very reason to believe
a^', as I was sitting in
passage track, etc. I
Dtiic uneasiness that I
ir tea down I took up
as soon as his things
s now near dark ; he
k, and could not come
thes on, thinking to go
ving been hard at work
ectedly fell asleep. I
on my feet feeling for
1 unusually loud noise,
ng overboard. Before
le forward crying out,
he crew were running
m to the helm to put it
put my hand on the
moment, the ship flew
;ed or braced. By this
to haul round the after
1 discovered her to fall
ahe having such quick
id mizzen topsail kept
B staysail sheets being
nan using his greatest
the helm righted with
rter, wanting not more
f shore ; at that moment
dows came in, and part
wice more in the hollow
1 three or four times her
aea breaking over us, no
p by the raging ocean
ve round, so as to bring
ed off, with her gunwale
ad at no great distance

INSUBORDINATION OF THE CREW.

We had now recovered a littlo from our friglit, when I desired tho men
to go into the hold and shovel the ballast in shore, to prevent her rolling
otV; in the meantime those of us left on deck braced our yards as hard
aback as could be done, to keep iier on. In half an hour, with the assis-
tunco of tho sails and by shifting the ballast, she had heat up so high on
l!ic rocks as to lay pretty still; yet every sea rolled some part of it on
di'ck. Before as much of tho ballast was shifted as I wished, one of our
men came on deck in great haste, and informed me that the ship wad
sinking, the water coming in amain: it was some time before I could con-
vince him, that though siie might be filling, she could not sink any lower,
being already on the rocks.

We were in this situation some short time, saying very little to each
other, standing by the mizzen mast and holding to the rigging that was
hanging all around us, when two or three of our men came aft, and asked
me on what coast we were stranded? I told them my fears were that
wo were on the coast of Barbary, but I had a faint hope that it was ono
of the Canary islands; that daylight only would determine it, and we must be
patient for its approach. It was now about midnight. One of them told
me that those forward thought the ship would go to pieces before morning.
[ used every argument in my power to convince him of their error, telling
him the ship was sound, and as strong as wood and iron could make her;
that she never had a cargo in her before this one; that she had been
employed in the whale fishery from tho time she was new, and had never
been overstrained. He returned forward only for a short time, when
several of them came aft, and proposed to go ashore : that proposal made
me shudder. I told them it would, from every appearance, be present
death to attempt it, as we now had a considerable view of the hideous
rocks within, and could plainly see the imp'acticableness of ascending
them, and that another important point to be considered was, in case they
should land in safety, the boat would be dashed to pieces; that she was a
very large long-boat, new, .ind never afloat; that in her, with a temporary
deck, which could be made in a few hours, we all might either land there,
or go to any other place we should choose; and that if we were on the
coast of Barbary, it would be absolutely necessary for us to have a craft
to get to the Canaries or some other place, having no reason to expect
much mercy from the natives of that country.

This reasoning I thought would have a good effect, and so it seemed
at first, for all was quiet. But very soon a new proposition came, and
that was to cut away the masts, as by their standing there would be danger
of the ship's coming to pieces; and they told me if I would consent to
have them cut away, they would stay till morning. I ordered my second
mate to take the carpenter's ax from the tool-chest on deck and begin
cutting away. When I saw the mast was about half cut off, I told one
of them to get into the mizzen chains and cut the lanyards and let them
go. He got into the chains and cut one lanyard, and raised himself up

very deliberately and said, "It is all nonsense, we will go ashore."

As grating as that expression was^ prudence forbade my making a reply,
or noticing it. They all assembled again under the lee of the long-boat,
the officers excepted, and held a council. We soon saw them getting up
the boat-tackles to the fore and main yards. I began then to reason with
them upon the impropriety of that measure, when the only reply I heard,
was, "We are in duty bound to take care of ourselves, and not stay here
iind drown." I went aft to my mates, who had said but very little during
the time we had been in this situation, aad asked them their opinion of

if^s&ii:^^

BONDAGE AMONG THE ARABS OP THE DESERT.

the measure that was about to be pursued. If I recollect aright, my
second mate, who was a good young man, said he should prefer staying
by the ship. On the contrary, the chief mate, without hesitation, said it was
his opinion that we should take the boat, and land; that he had once been
shipwrecked in the West Indies ; when choosing to stay by the wreck
ratlicr than to leave it, he very narrowly escaped death, and had then
made up his mind, that, in a like situation, he would always leave the
wreck the first opportunity: yet that, in the present case, seeing how
anxious I was to stay by the wreck, he, although of the contrary opinion
iiimsclf, would have been silent if I had prevailed on the crew to have
stayed. He was an excellent seaman, a firm determined man, and had
krpt our men under the best discipline.

Matters by this time were all settled. Go ashore, was the word; the
tackles were soon on the yards, and the boat hoisted out. So great was
the haste on leaving the ship, that neither provisions nor water were put
I hove in one trunk, and took my gold, which had been always under

mv pillow. So, off we pushed, and rowed toward the land, and the nearer
it wc gained, the more hideous was the appearance. We succeeded at
last in reaching the rocks, when two men jumping out, without the boat's
rope, the under-tow was so strong that it carried the boat half way back
to the ship, where she was placed broadside to the sea, and was near
filling. Our oars were so well plied the second time, that we soon reached
the rocks again, when two men having the rope, jumped on them, and
were assisted by the first two, who had acted before out of fear, rather
than from any unfeelingness toward their shipmates; and now assisted to
hold the boat in a situation for us all to get safe on the rocks; which done,
every one with all his strength, hauled the boat as far up as possible.
We then crawled over those slippery rocks, perhaps from ten to twelve
feet high, to a sand bed, a little beyond which appeared a high hill, upward
of a hundred feet in altitude. There we wrung the water from our clothes,
and walked the sand some time, when my mates and myself ascended
this sand hill; it being dark, we could see nothing, nor did we expect
to see anything except the light of fire. After walking a little while on
this mountain of sand, we descended again to the place where our men
had remained, who had forgotten their cares in sound sleep. As to our-
selves, we walked the sand all that night, bemoaning our condition, being
pretty well assured that we were in no other place than the coast of Bar-
bary. The ship was in sight, with all sails standing; the wind blew very
fresh about four points on shore, and we thought it probable that her masts
would go by the board before morning; a light was burning in the cabin.
On the morning of the 4th of April, as soon as the day began to dawn.
I ascended the high mountain of sand, and there remained till near sunrise.
What could I see? A barren sand, without either tree or shrub, or the least
appearance of vegetation, dreary in every respect; and at a distance back,
a long range of mountains extending east and west. Turning my view
toward the ocean, and beholding the ship lying in the surf with her sails
aloft, while thirteen of my shipmates were standing together before my
eyes! I laid myself down on the sand, and gave vent to my grief by a

flow of tears. , , , , , j • • i

As soon as I had composed myself a little I descended, and joined my
crew, who were waiting with the greatest anxiety to know what I had
seen. When I had related my tale, and giving my opinion as to our hopes
of the future, we began to devise means to get back to our ship. Upon
examining our long-boat, we found her garboard streak was staved aad

'**fl«3!9^*)

''-T0mmf

ESERT.

■collect aright, my
A\\d prefer staying
sitation, said it was
, he had once been
stay by the wreck
lath, and had then
I alvays leave the
t case, seeing how
he contrary opinion
m the crew to have
ined man, and had

, was the word; the
out. So great was
nor water were put
1 been always under
land, and the nearer
We succeeded at
lit, without the boat's
B boat half way back
e sea, and was near
that we soon reached
umped on them, and
re out of fear, rather
; and now assisted to
le rocks; which done,
s far up as possible.
' )S from ten to twelve
3d a high hill, upward
ater from our clothes,
and myself ascended
ig, nor did we expect
dking a little while on
[place where our men
d sleep. As to our-
. our condition, being
than the coast of Bar-
; the wind blew very
fobable that her masts
burning in the cabin,
le day began to dawn,
ained till near sunrise.
|e or shrub, or the least
ind at a distance back,
it. Turning my view
the surf with her stiu
[g together before my
vent to my grief by a

Lended, and joined my
jy to know what I had
Lpinion as to our hopes
Lk to our ship. Upon
fstreak waa staved aad

THE SHIP ABANDONED.

s-liattcrod for several feet, and that a hole in anotlior plank had been
l)!()ki;n tlirougli by tlio sharp corner of a rock and tliat slio lay from ten
la litltieii foot bcslow where it was posaibie to repair her; wliile a fine
yaw I of sixteen feet was hanging in the tackles over tiie stern of the ship.
The poor fellow who, the night before, was the ringleader in tlie project
litr laudiii^r at all events, was now the first to exclaim; "Had we done aa
tlic captain advised us, we should now have been in a situation to go any-
wliere in no line a boat as thisP' Upon wliich, 1 took occasion to caution
liiin ami all the others against disobedience; there being then no greater
proof necessary than that before their eyes to convince them all of the
error they had committed.

Our first object was to get back to the ship for a supply of provisions
aiid water, and also of spars and tackles to raise the long boat for repairs;
we feeling in hopes that all could be effected before any discovery of us
should be made by the natives. Marks of horses and asses were visible
on the beach, but, from appearances, it had been some considerable time
since they had been there. One of our sailors said he could swim to the
shi]>, which was at a distance of not more tliau a hundred yards. He
made many attempts, but failed; the difficulty was in getting beyond the
breakers. The next attempt was made by black Sam, who, after two or
tliree hard efforts, succeeded in getting through the breakers, but hia
strougth was so much exhausted that he sunk. Next, two or three of our
meu went in, following the undertow, or recession of the surf; then they
[)lii(i,i(od in and seized hold of Sam, and found no difhculty in returning,
u.s tilt; first surf hove them all up together, and those on the shore helped
them out. lie was entirely helpless and apparently almost gone: we laid
!iim on Mie rocks, face down, and by moderately rolling and moving him
lie was made to discharge much water from his mouth, and in a few hours
recovered so far as to walk a little. Several others attempted it, but all
their atttMnpts proved abortive.

The next plan was to make a rafl, in order to pole off to the outer side
of the breakers. Timber for that purpose was not lacking, as many parts
of a wreck were lying along shore, as far each way as the eye could
discern. We took part of the lower yard of a heavy ship, along with
some pieces of small .'pars, enough for our purpose, and lashed them
together with the boat's rope; when the second mate, a very strong man,
and two good sailors, with each an oar for a pole, launched them off.
However, afler a fair trial, we found it imiiossible to gain the ship. I was
tiion about taking my turn to swim, and to gain the ship by a method I
had seen practiced by the Portuguese at Madeira, when they went off
shore merely for their amusement; that was, to follow the receding water
as low as possible, and dive or dart through the breaker, and when once
got without, the difhculty was surmounted. But my mate, afler observing
to me that we were all so weak with fatigue and want of water, that if
we did not board the ship very soon we never should at all; he proposed
trying himself the experiment first, and, in case of failure, that I should
make the last trial. Accordingly he stripped and followed down, and in
less than five minutes from the time of starting he was at the ship.

It was not late in the afternoon, and a general rejoicing took place.
The rudder was unhung, which served very well as a bridge for him to
pass on to the cabin windows, where he entered her. As soon as ho had>
quenched his burning thirst he came on deck, made the deep sea-line fast
to an oar, and darted it ashore; and that served as a hauling-linc for others
to get off by; three went off by it, with directions how to pass our goods.
5

:0ssm0!^

BONDAGE AMONG THE ARABS OF THJ! DESERT.

on uhoru. Having a cask of wlialo line on deck, I ordered a Hinj,'Io block
to be made fast to tiic mizzcn topmast iicad, arid tlirough it rove tiii^ line,
sending tiin end ashore, and keeping the bite on deck.

They scuttled the water-casks in the hatchway, which were found floating
in the Ii6ld; filled all the jugs and kegs, and put what bread waE> found
between decks in bags, and run them aloil by this line; as they veered
wo hauled: by keeping a taut line our goods were landed dry. The
whole of the provisions saved by us consisted of about forty pounds of
bread, a small quantity of potatoes and onions, and a bag of Indian corn;
our otiier dry provisions were in the lower hold and destroyed by the salt
water. Being placed high on the rocks, we succeeded in landing every-
thing perfectly dry which would be injured by the wot. In tlie same man-
ner we landed our clothes, beds, etc., together with a spare foresail for a
tent. In that alfair of landing our goods we committed an act of imprudence
which I cannot forbear mentioning as a caution to others wlio may be
unfortunately placed in the like circumstances. The mate sent, among
other things, my case, containing six gallons of equal parts of rum, gin,
and brandy, and a hamper of port wine and porter. At the moment, I did
not think it any harm to have this liquor sent ashore : but more of this
matter in its place.

A little after sunset our men landed in the yawl, leaving a rope fast to
the ship with one end to the shore. In the meantime, iiaving erected our
tent, we boiled some meat, and had a good supper prepared. At eight
o'clock we divided ourselves into watches, and set the watch, who were
to sit or stand outside of the tent, and be relieved every two liours, with
orders, in case of any person or persons approaching, to wiikc us up in
the tent, and, if possible, to secure them without noise. All things being
arranged, my mates and myself concluded to begin early in the morning,
and to land every article that should be necessary for repairing the Iroat,
which we thought might be repaired in two days so as to be ready for our
departure; as we had new canvas sufficient for putting on her a canvas-
deck supported by carlings or beams. It was late before we went to sleep.
At dayligiit, on tiiie 6th, the watch called all hands, and we went to work.
A little before breakfast I took a turn on the hill with my glass. The sun
shone on the mountains, which made a very handsome appearance. I had
a strong desire to know whether there were any inhabitants there; if there
wore any, the chance, I thought, was very much against our getting off
before being discovered. I mentioned this thing to my mates, who, with
me, thought well of sending a man on that errand. One soon volunteered
to go; and as soon as breakfast was over he took a bottle of water and
two cakes of bread, and started, with orders to keep a bright lookout,
and in case he discovered any persons, to conceal himself from their view,
and return as soon as he could. We had a compass on shore, by which
we found that the shore lay due east and west; and ten or twelve miles
westward of us a Cape projected into the sea in a very square bluff. —
Not knowing where we were, I proposed for one man to walk westward
and survey that Cape, intending to get the altitude of the sun at noon, to
ascertain our latitude, and if from where we saw the bluff the land shaped
southerly, he should follow it along aa far as only to give time to return
at night. I thought if that was Cape Nun, he would find Nun river.

This second man was soon ready to start, with the same stock of pro-
visions and water, and bearing the same orders as the first one. By this
time we had commenced landing the carpenter's tools, and the materials
for raising the boat, etc Every man seemed disposed to do his duty

^^^^m^%tm-^iim^jm&mmmmi-mv/mmmmMm(&i^^

SERT.

11 it rovo tills lint;.

vere fouud floating
t bread was found
ic; as they veered
landed dry. The
lit forty pounds of
)ag of Indian corn;
stroyed by the salt
d in landing every-
In the same man-
spare foresail for a
II act of luiprudence
others who may be
, mate sent, among
I parts of rum, gin,
Lt the moment, 1 did
a : but more of this

caving a rope fast to
J, having erected our
prepared. At eight
the watch, who were
very two hours, with
na, to wake us up m
se. All things being
jarly in the morning,
or repairing the Iwat,
IS to be ready for our
ting on her a canvas-
fore we went to sleep,
and we went to work,
h my glass. The sun
le appearance. 1 naa
ibltants there; if there
gainst our getting oft

my mates, who, with
One soon volunteered

1 a bottle of water and
keep a bright lookout,
imself from their view,
iss on shore, by which
ind ten or twelve imles

a very square bluff.—

man to walk westward

e of the sun at noon, to

le bluff the land shaped

y to give time to return

lid find Nun river.

the same stock of pro-

, the first one. By this

tools, and the materials

lispoaed to do his duty

PAT AND THE DANE MISBEHAVE.

freely, but so many little accidents happened that we got along very slowly :
what was done before dinner did not amount to much, nor did we think
of a quadrant, our minds being occupied about things of more importance.
In the aflernoon we progressed considerably well, and by night we were
prepared to commence repairing the boat, which was to be begun the
next morning. Some time before night, with the glass I saw a person
on the beach, a long way to the westward, and soon made him out to be
our man; it being then at least three hours sooner than I had expected
him. As he approached nearer, I discovered that he walked quick; and
fearing some bad news, I went on to meet him. As soon as we were
near enough to speak to each other, I asked him what was the matter
with him, for he really looked frightened. He asked me if I knew what
kind of people inhabited this country. I told him I did not, but was
apprehensive they were the Arabs. He said, they are man-eaters! Upon
asking him how he knew it, he replied, about twelve miles from us is that
Cape you see there: I went on it, and there I saw a heap of human bones,
and near them a fire had been made within a few days; and adding, the
Lord have mercy on us! he began to weep. In a short time he collected
himself, when I told him I did not believe these people were man-eaters,
though the fire near human bones certainly indicated something like it,
and that if he told the story in the tent I should despair of getting away;
that our people would fall into a state of despair, and nothing would be
done. He made me a solemn promise not to mcntioti anything of the
kind, and I believe he was true to that promise.

After this, we returned to the tent, where our people were all assembled,
waiting for supper. We observed that Pat had as much to say as any of
them, and that, ever since we landed, he had taken some liberties unbe-
coming a man in his station, and unsuitable to the gloomy condition we
were in. — I examined the liquor-case, and found it had not been opened
since noon, when each man had a small allowance of rum. After supper,
and near dark, we went upon the hill, to look out for the man who had
been dispatched to the mountains, and stayed about the place till quite
dark, but had no sight of him. We became very uneasy about him; some
were of the opinion that he had been devoured by wild beasts, and others
that he had found inhabitants on the mountains who detained him. This
talk lasted half an hour, and we then returned to the tent, where we all
joined in conversation on the subject of our departure; every one agreeing
that the long-boat might be nearly ready in one day more, if every exertion
were made; and of that I had no reason to doubt. The next topic of
discourse was concerning the parts of the wreck, which we had noticed
to be lying along shore. The man from the Cape said he had seen almost
every part of a ship, in his way to and from the Cape, and had observed
particularly that the iron had been taken from the wood; that circumstance
we also had noticed in viewing the yards, cross-trees, etc., which lay
within our ship. We all concluded that the event of that shipwreck could
not have been a long time past, as the blacking on the yards was not entirely
chafed off.

At dawn of day on the 6th, we found no person on the watch; when,
upon examining into this matter, it was found, that Pat and one of the
Danes had been called at twelve to watch till two; and that those appointed
to watch from two to four had not been called. This discovery immedi-
ately led us to the two most unfeeling of mortals, Pat and the Dane, who
were found behind the tent, and in such a condition as to be unfit to be
talked to. Upon which, without the least hesitation, I took my case out

''■^. >>.#KMiaat«ahi

BONDAOK AMONO THE ARABS OF THK DESERT.

Ill^i

': li'i;

of the tent, and turned each bottle up-end down: then I opened the ham
per, and destroyed every bottle of wine and porter; doing this in the
presence of ail, when only one dissented, and he a very sober man. Thus
was ended, as I thought, every opportunity for intoxication in our company.
We all, excepting the two sleepers, commenced our labor, rigging tr.citles,
erecting shears, etc., in order to raise the boat. In the meantime, I took
a lookout on the hill for our absent man, but saw notiiing of him, and
returned to the tent, and called all hands to breakfast, which was prepared
without the assistance of Pat, who had risen, and taken a copious draught
of water; after which he joined the party, declaring most solemnly that
neither he nor his watchmate had tasted a drop of liquor that aight. All
the reply was, a round of such vulgar sailors' blessings as are commonly
bestowed on such occasions. Thinking that a thing of the kind could not
happen with us again, 1 judged it most prudent to quiet the men, by
telling them that although a great crime, it was not an unpardonable one;
that our situation demanding alj our strength, wc had none to waste in
altercations, and so must make the best of it.

I found, dur'ng the morning, that most of the crew thought it advisable
to give the two delinquents a little corporal punishment; but in a moment
as it were, our attention was called to viewing a strange track of man.
When we retired from breakfast, the person who had been at the Cape
the day before, discovered the track of a man without shoes, and calling
to one of our men, he asked him if any of them had been barefooted
yesterday; and was answered in the negative. Upon hearing that question
and the answer, I went to him, and soon was convinced that we had been
visited the night before. We followed the tracks of two men: they had
come down the hill from the southwest, and walked round to the mouth of
the tent, and, after floing around the tent, had returned by the way they
came, walking bacK over the hill nearly in the same line they had come in.
I followed them beyond the hill neqr a quarter of a mile, conjecturing it
likely that they were in ambush, but found it not so, from the shape of the
track; for as soon as they got over the hill they ran, which appeared by
their steps being longer, and the impression of their feet in the sand
deeper. What makes their getting off undiscovered the more remarkable,
they had a dog with them, and we had a hog lying on the sand before the
tent. Had the dog barked, some of us must have heard it. So again,
had the watch done their duty (as probably they would, if there had been
no liquor in the tent) they would have seen those men approaching, and
giving us notice of it, we might have secured them, and kept them in
confinement; that would have doubled our diligence, and in one day more
we might have been at sea.

ft was now nine o'clock, and our man for the mountains still missing.
We called all hands together upon this gloomy occasion. Our poor sailors
aat silent at this meeting; without uttering a word, they all looked up to
me as their counselor. I observed to them that the two men who had
discovered us would probably return in a short time with such numbers
as would overpower us, and then might do with us as was most for their
interest, er as best suited their caprice; that, according to my calculation,
if the Cape we saw was Nun, our distance to St. Cruz, on a straight line,
was not more than a hundred and eighty miles; and allowing one fourth
part for going in such a serpentine line, as we had reason to expect, we
might reach there in ten days by easy marches; and that five bottles of
water and twenty biscuits a man would support nature; more than which
we could not take with conveaience. Every one agreed to the plan

SERT.

opened the ham
iloing this in the
ober man. Thua
n in our company.
ir, rigging tr.cltles,
meantime, I took
(thing of him, and
hich was prepared
a copiojis draught
lost solemnly that
)r that aight. All
i as are commonly
the kind could not
quiet the men, by
unpardonable one;
I none to waste in

bought it advisable
; but in a moment
nge track of man.
been at the Cape
shoes, and calling
id been barefooted
jaringthat question
i that we had been
two men : they had
and to the mouth of
dd by the way they
le they had come in.
nile, conjecturing it
om the shape of the
which appeared by
ir feet in the sand
le more remarkable,
the sand before the
eard it. So again,
id, if there had been
in approaching, and
I, and kept them in
and in one day more

intains still missing,
•n. Our poor sailors
hey all looked up to
le two men who had

with such numbers
.8 was most for their
Dg to my calculation,
uz, on a straight line,
1 allowing one fourth
reason to expect, we
d that five bottles of
re; more than which

agreed to the plan

THE MAN FROM TUE MOUNTAINS.

mimediatoly, and to take our chance of meeting with obstructions on the
way; and the matter being settled, all as one set to work at making knap-
sacks. While tiiat was going on, I took one man with me and buried in
the sand all our muskets, powder, shot, etc. Some of the sailors objected
to that measure, by saying we might have occasion for our guns to shoot
the wild beasts that might annoy us. But I told them that a musket of
ours seen by an Arab might cost us our lives, as it would carry a hostile
appearance at least, and that in our warmth we might be led to make an
improper use of our weapons. They at last pleaded for a pistol. I,
however, buried the whole, and laid a stone over the place.

By this time the man from the mountains made his appearance, coming
along shore from the eastward, and when he joined us we were nearly
ready for a march : we all stopped our business to hear his story. He said
he had traveled at least fitly miles, had ascended the mountain, but had
made no discovery of much consequence. He made ahearty breakfast while
one of his shipmates was fixing a knapsack for him.

During all the time the arrangement was making I was left ignorant
as to what part of the luggage I should carry myself. The sailors had
agreed among themselves that I should walk unencumbered, and that my
part of the burden should be borne by them. Wlien informed of this I
concluded to carry my spyglass and umbrella, and a copper teakettle
lull of water to be used first, and some chocolate and sugar in my pockets
to use in case we should be so fortunate as to find water on our journey'
When It was announced that we were all ready for a march, I changed
my clothes, put on a pair of fine worsted stockings, a pair of new corduroy
pantaloons, a pair of new half boots, a new linen shirt and neck handker-
chief,a silk vest, a nearly new superfine broadcloth coat, and a new beaver
hat; a gold watch I took along with me, and also put in my pocket gold
of the value of 600 dollars. This done, I called my men to me, and gave
them the remainder of my clothing. Black man Jack had previously
taken some fine shirts into his pack for me, wliich he did without my
knowledge or direction. When they had all helped themselves with the
best of my clothing left in the trunk, they discovered two pieces of tabinet
in the bottom of it, and asking me what it was, I told them it was two
gown-patterns which I had bought in Ireland for my wife, and that it was
best to let it alone, for they had luggage enough already. Jack, who was
at a little distance from the trunk, on discovering the matter we were
talking about, rushed forward, and got hold of the pieces, saying, "Master,
my mistress shall wear these govms yet^ I told him he had already too
much to carry, and that his mistress would never see those patterns
Me shall, master, depend on t<," replied Jack, "they are too pretty
to leave Acre,"— and he packed them up. Little did I then think my wife
would ever see either of those pieces; but she did, and that same tabinet
she has occasionally worn to this day. When nearly ready for a start,
my mate wrote up the log-book and 1 finished my journal; corn was put
m the place for the hog to eat, and water to drink. All things were now
prepared, and we on the point of moving, when one of the sailors said,
Let us depart under flying colors;" the others joined him, and we were
detained till they had erected a pole on the hill, and hoisted a verv
nandsome ensign.

At about ten o'clock, we started on our march. After a fatiguing walk
ot two hours, over a deep road in one of the valleys, we all sat down to
rest ourselves. I took that opportunity to furnish every man with one
and the same story to tell in case we should be separated. This Ithought

70 BONDAGE AMONG THB ARABS OF THE DESERT.

necessary, bccauHe contradictory accountB Kiven by us would be likely to
expose .; to greater suffcrinfis than wo mifiht have to endure jf the stones
of us al HhouW prove consistent with each other. Accordingly we agreed
to "ay that the ship was the Oswego, of Liverpool, bound from Cork to
the Cape deVerd islands after a load of salt, and from thence to ISew
York and to give our names as they were, and all call ourselves Engl.sh-
mon ■ I told tJem the reasons for substituting Liverpool lor New York as
To hoinc of our ship, and for calling ourselves Engl.shmen lu^io^Aoi
tnerkans, were, tha^ho English had a considerable trude^^^^^^
narticularly at Mogadore; that some of their ships I had known to Have
oaSatSt C,uzl that I never had heard of but one American vessel
rading there; tha , without doubt, the English had a consul both at St.
Cru and Mogador;, and perhaps at other places on the coast. Moreover
I enjoined tSpon them, in case of separation, that it should be the s udy
of every one I learn the language of those we should fall among to
Cive notice to any Christian when an opportunity offered for he satety
of the whole. I cannot but think the English reader, considering tla-
forlorn condition I was in, will excuse my claiming the protection of his
flag, by assuming a false national name. <-i„:uj „„u

We dined on dry bread. One of our sailors having a leg of bo'ied «« U
nork, 1 persuaded him to throw it away, as it would increase his thirst
We each took from the copper toakettle a small tumbler of water, which
we had aieadybegun to kSow the value of. About two o'clock we began
our march easlward on the hard sand; and traveled till alter sunset, when
we Imd a quiet sleep till morning. On the third day's """ch and tor some
reason which I do not recollect, one man and myself were left a lU t
behind, or did not start with the rest; they were a n""t^«'\ f^ ^ ™'^°^
al>ead ^hen we started. The man was the same one who had been sen
to view the Cape which we had taken for Nun. We did not take their
track, but to shorten the distance, went a little «°!^hward. About fifty
yards from some uninhabited cabins he saw a pile of human bon^s on our
left, and exclaimed, "O Lord protect us; look at these bones! now do
you believe I saw human bones'at the Cape?" We stopped only for a
minute, when, within ten feet of us, there was a pile ot human bones
Having but an imperfect view of them, I can only say there were rnany
to spetk safely, I should think as many as could be contained in a hogs-
head. Yet, considering the agitation of mind I was in, 't would be
nothing strange if the quantity were three times as great, or but halt so

fitreat as it appeared to me. , . . . ^ *.,„„„

* Our men were still at some distance ahead, which gave to us two an
opportunity to converse together concerning that and other things which we
had seen. He told me he had not mentioned what he had seen at the Cape
to any one but myself, and that his opinion as to tae cause of the bones
being^here was not Altered; "and now," said he, "this is, to iny mind
a coSiirmation of the fact that we are among cannibals, as in several places
about these huts there have been fires, but not recently." Our distance
from the ship, by calculation, was now fifty miles. We soon fell into a
quTt sleep, and were awoke by nothing else but the changing of tbe
watch. It so happened that Pat and the Dane were on the watch; those
Uvo who had done us so much injury, and, in the oP'»'o.° "^ f^^J^JJ^^^
least, prevented us from getting away in our boat, by their be. ngdunk
and asleep when we were discovered by the two Arabs «P«ken ot be o e^
who otherwise might have been secured. At the dawn, on he e.ghlh, ^^ e
were awakened by an unusual noise, which started the whole crew. 1 h«

^^ai<Si*«ii>.*».»e':"r «-!»*»»--'

.-li.-te-WKit»'«"-^'''-^('"- -

;rt.

uld be likely to
ire if the stories,
ingly we uyreeil
d from Cork to
thonce to New
rsclvcfl EngUsh-
br New York aa
imen instead of
ie on that coast,

known to have
American vessel
maul both at St.
)ast. Moreover,
,uld be the study
d fall among, to
;d for the safety

considering the
protection of his

leg of boiled salt
crease his thirst,
r of water, which
o'clock we began
alter sunset, when
arch, and for some
were left a little
quarter of a mile
vho had been sent
did not take their
k-ard. About fifty
iman bones on our
se bones! now do
stopped only for a
■ of human bones,
there were many;
jntained in a hogs-
s in, it would be
:eat, or but half so

gave to us two an
ler things which we
ad seen at the Cape
cause of the bones
his is, to my mind,
as in several places
ly." Our distance
iVe soon fell into a
he changing of the
m the watcli; those
pinion of several at
■ their being drunk
)8 spoken of before,
'n,onthe eighth, we
whole crew. The

PAT'S CA.SE APPEARS DESPERATE.

cause of it wiis soon obvious cnougli; the two watchmen were quarrelling
al)OUt the otiicr drink, Strange as it may appear, Pat had carried a bottle
of gin in his pack, which, on a former examination, had passed vory well
for water, the color being the same; all along until this time those watch-
mates were equally concerned in the fraud. Pat was now too drunk to
stand; the other not so drunk, and his story we got, which was as follows .
— When they robbed the case on the beach, they put away in the sand
one bottle, over and above what they had drank, and when we filled our
packs at the sliip, he (the Dane) mnnuged it so as to put that bottle in PatV
knapsack, and Pat promised to keep it until wc should arrive at a place
where we might drink plenty of water, and while on this watch, Pat said
they could finish it without being discovered. They opened the pack (a
deed whicli had never been allowed except all were pr(;sont) and took out
the gin, and along with it a bottle of water, and sipped out of each awhile;
so thirsty they were in sipping, in about e«pial portions, that Pat finished
the water, and tliey then took out another bottle of water. By this time the
operation of tiic gin was so powerful that Pat challenged the wiiolc to
himself. A battle ensued; and, in their struggle for the gin, they overset
the half-packed knapsack on the rocks, and broke several bottles: the
noise that this made awoke us all. Judge of our consternation, having
hcforn this not the least idea of any licpior being in our camp.

Pat was very drunk: the Dane said lie had advised him not to take the
bottle out at that time, hut to wait till we should find water; but Pat in-
sisted that the gin was his, and he would take a drink, and give him one,
and then put it up again; that the taste of the gin created thirst, which
before was very severe, and was what tempted them to steal a little water,
intending himself to drink only a little, and then put all away again; that
Pat swore he would finish it, and drink as much as ho had a mind to;
and that when remonstrance was in vain, he (the Dane) thought he would
drink too, but declared he was very sorry for it. Our men were so exas-
perated, 1 did believe if I had not been there Pat would have been stoned
lo death, and that there was not one of them but would have been willing
to cast the first stone. This was the second grand oficnse; and they all
declared it was more than ought to be borne by human beings. I was
left alone to plead Pat's cause; and it was merely to save his life that I
did it, for I confess my feelings were wrought up to a high pitch against
that most unprincipled and unfeeling rascal : yet if any violence had been
done him, I should have been censured by the community as the supposed
cause of it. Had I been otherwise situated with tiie crew, or in tiie same
situation as the rest of them, it is very probable that Pat would have fared
badly, but not worse than hia deserts. Pat was too drunk to stand, and
after waiting an hour for him to come to himself, a motion was made at
last, and carried without a dissenting voice, to take away what little of
water and bread there was left in his knapsack, and march off and leave
him. I then proposed to them to leave him his share of each; but being
overpowered by numbers, we took our departure, and left the poor object
lying on the ground to die a martyr to gin. We had proceeded not more
than a quarter of a mile when I prevailed on them to stop, and one of
them returned back with me, and we took him up, one under each arm, and
lugged him along to our company, whose wrathful dispositions toward
him were not in the least abated. I told them it would be less cruel to
murder him on the spot than to leave him to linger out his but few days
in misery. They remained inflexible: whereupon one of them gave me a
part of his history, which they had had from himself on the passage, a

-^StiSlfri&K

72 BONDAGE AMONG THB ARABS OF THE DESERT.

lilUo before wo wore wrecked; this wa. it:-In 1799, and the begin
n ng of 1800, he commanded a company, con8i«t.ng o thono svl.o wore
3d the InBurgenUi; he boasted ol^ having destroyed, by cutlmg iho.i
" oats a n»n.be? who adhered to the king', party; that at one tun.-, he
amr£ company, in a dark night, murdered '"f ««"Xm MfoL" d "
of persons whom thoy had caught m a house, "and -— them, >« ""m^^' »
would have done more had I had it in my power;" these murderou. deeds
he had committed in the neighborhood o»' Wexford, in Ireland.

When this horrid tale was ended, they sa.d, this fellow deserves dl he
nunishmont that wc can inflict upon him; and at the same time the coun-
fcnanco of every man of them was, on that occasion, «oc-ry. narked
with revenge, that I thought Pat's case was desperate. lie by H is t"ne
was able to walk. All this morning had been lost to us, and what was
more lo be lamented, was the loss of a great part of our vvatev; we, how-
ever" commenced our march, keeping near to the foot of t 'c "lountain
On this morning I heard more murmuring among our men than all ol .t
out toccther that had been since our landing; and the whole of this, .is 1
fhought, was rbe attributed to Pat's conduct. ARcr dra,rp„g a ong very
Iwfy t iTnoon, and seeing several fresh tracks ou the sand, all leading
wSard as before, wc b.ll^ame more and more in tear ol rneetmg tl e
nat ves" ncl ascen.l'ed to tlie topof a sand hill to take some 1'" ^- -1.-1-
ment and to look out for travelers, the weather being extremely hot, with
"ve V ligh b?eeze. Wo ate a little bread, and drank but a httle water;
L grea was our thirst the appetite craved but little food. Every moiuem
Kvered more discontent; and, with.a view to get a return ot imnnony
in ou 1 tt lo^amp, so much disturbed the night before, proposed for us
aU to take a nap It was agreed to: I then had the handle ot niy un.brcl la
; uck into the sand, and as it was large it served as a canopy for the heads
of five or six of us. The most of them fell asleep in a few inmutes My
/wn anxiety was too great for me even to slumber. 1 lay till tsvo o'clock,
and then awoko them, who appeared all to have been ^^fft'S '^'l-

The first object with me was to prepare and march fo/ward; but therf.

^Doeared a kind of backwardness to making preparations for our departure,

;K as had been uncommon in like cases, and it was attended with in-

Snct murmuring. I had not tiie least conception of the cause, till a

t I?h ,rTy"ng on tt his work of one of the leaders in it-lhe same man

/ho had been spokesman in the affair of cutting away the masts, gc t.ng

/wayT, lon^Ioat, etc. He looked me full in the face, and w.th an

adible voice%poke to me these words, as near as I can recollect: -We

• avo been now throe days since leaving the wreck; we get along very

low and in a very few days our water will all be spent, and then it will

. e tooTite to go back to the wreck where there is plenty of it, and wc are

r:'"ofMre'meTr'r:e^to me that if he could only find a Uving

■.,ring of cool water, he should be willing to lie down by it and die there

ith hunscr- that the value of water he had never known before. Another

■ id In anyo her case he would bo willing to follow me; but as it now

'.■^' he could not consent to go another stop, and die in the burnmg

:,',Ss wh ch were almost insufferable to his feet. Afler spending a whole

■ our in this most painful of all debates, they, nearly all as one were
"reed to go b™ck to the place where there was P«^ty of water, and take

' ;e7r chance of what might follow. Whereupon I advised them all to go

■ ?ck and in case the nafives wore not come down to use every exertion
; repa"r the boat to be ready for sailing; and I said to them that I would

lERT.

and the begin
those who wore

by cuttin},' ll>eii
t al one time, he
inately a number
hem," he said,"!
murderous deeds

rehind.

w deserves all the
no time the coun-
10 clearly marked
Ho by tliis time
us, and what was
r water; we, how-
t of the mountain,
men than uU of it
ivliole of tliis, us 1

i saud, all heading
3ar of mciitin},' tlio
some little refresh-
extremely hot, with
c but a little water;
jd. Every moment
. return of harmony
J, I proposed for us
adle of my umbrella
lanopy for the heads
I few minutes. My
lay till two o''clock,
refreshed.
I forward; but there
ns for our departure,
19 attended with in-
of the cause, till a
n it — the same nian
ly the masts, getting
) face, and with an
can recollect: "We
; wc get along very
icnt, and then it will
•nty of it, and we are

lid only find a living
n by it and die there
wn before. Another
w me; but as it now

die in the burning
tier spending a whole
arly all as one, were
nty of water, and take
.dvised them all to go
to use every exertion

to them that I would

ATTACK KD AND UOIiUllD IIY THE AUAHS.

go on mysolf, and if I siinuld find people friendly to ux, I had money
enough to hire cixtiiels, and would send for ihciii. No Hooiicr was tiiig
said than tin; itiiu-k man .lark (who had be(Mi sitting silent before) .said to
me, "Master, if you go on, I will go loo." Tliat was settled. I liiouglit
we could travel to Ht. C'ruz in five tiays at furthest. Kvery park was
opened for making a division of the water; tlii' rest all agrcieing that wo
should takr; a larger proportion than tliiMnselves. At tiiat moment Sam,
the oth(T black man, said, "If you go. Jack, I too will go." That being
settled, we proceeded on in making the division of water; bread seeming
scarcely thought of, ho thirsty were wo all. When the bottles were aU
counted, there appeared only two bottles and a half to a man, which showed
that nt.'arly half had been destroyed or lost. Before llu- ilivision or appor-
tionment of tlie wat(;r iiad br;en gone through witii, Pat solicited permission
to join me. which 1 then refused to grant him. Upon which, my mate
took m<^ asid(% and oiiserved to me, that if I woidd not take him along, he
must sundy suffer dciath; that they were so exasperated a,','ainst him, that
he (the mate) could not bo able to prevent their taking away his life; that
he knew what had l)e(>n their standing with each other for some time, and
was not willing to be implicated with others in the acts of violence that
might be committed upon the body of that man. I now saw that poor
Pat would be in a bad situation if I were to go off and leav<! him; and
from that consideration alone was I induced to accept of his company.

Wc part(!d at about five o'clock, and among my little company not a
word was uttered for more than half an hour. About half past six I saw
a movement ahead, and so sudden was my stop, that the man next behind
me, not observing it, was near throwing me down. In a moment we were
all huddled together, i sa\{\\.oX\\Qm, Hide yourselves: men ahead! As
we were veering off from the foot-path, those ahead saw us, and stopped;
we were then about a quarter of a mile from each other. VVith my glass
I saw them looking steadfastly at us. Their number appeared to us greater
than it really was, and as we thought they wc^re looking at us to ascertain
our number, wo placed ourselves in a situation to be counted by them.
We stood in that hopeless situation for more than ten minutes, not knowing
nor thinking what ste|).s to take. Jack said to me, "Master, let us run."
1 told him to stand still, for running would be useless, and I believed our
onemies only wanted to know our strength in order to approach us. If
you altar your position, said I, that may lead to our ruin; but if you will
stand firm, I will go to them alone and know our fate. They were all agreed
to do as I had bidden them. When I had advanced only a few paces, one
of them called out, "If they kill you, what shall we do?" I only replied,
be quiet.

I now walked moderately toward these barbarians, with my umbrella under
one arm, and the spyglass in my hand. The nearer I approached them,
the more frightful they appeared, but I knew it could answer me no good
purpose to stop. When I was within a hundred yards of tliem, they all,
as with one motion, dropj)ed their packs, hove off their outer garments,
■in 1 made toward me in a swift run. As soon as they had come within a
ff w yards, I held out my right hand in token of friendship. Of that they
t'lok no notice, but passed by me as swift as it could be possible for men
^0 run. My poor shipmates stood motionless; and when the monsters
were come near enough to grasp them, their attack began. While I waa
walking toward them, in a quick pace, I perceived my three companions
were down on the ground, and the ferocious i)arbarians at work upon them
with their daggers, which glittered in the sun. As they were passing by

»M^ »VM.v.'"r<-#.^

-"■rr'^'^-^.^r

74 nONDMlK AMONl. TilK AUAHS OK THE DKSKKT.

"tt:^ tllofhad pai.l any nttcntion ... uu, th.-y ripped "pon tl.o pack^

mrnmiMm

l^iili

times to obtain tho plunder found on mo, than l snoum umj

iSi'vo wcajon, and that made them so ^^^^^^f^i.^^rr pLTnp
Thov asked us many questions, which wo did not undcrstana, i-cpew'nfe
ovc7s" era! times tL'same words, particularly the words Sa^enaRcn.
etc These words we soon after found out the mean ng of. 1 her ^gure,

fnd foTiciou: look, to say nothing of f,t thttTev^hav: read 'i^
and even exceeded in savageness, anything that I ever have reaa in

""IftoMhaf rcS trial was over, my burning thirst seemed more u.
tokr bio thin before, and as the bottles of water that had been th^o^

■ -"^Mw^'lttifcVt*-;*****

4KKT.

r nocki. Whll">

of my l>«»t>f «■"'""
kTh.n I was com"
otlicr cxprcliit""'
i,«. aiul)t»licii> work
inaiiuMl tor ixnir m
nil nroHc on Ui«^ir
tluMi rnllfil 10 III)
,w.-r.'«l no. l^l'""
[,r in cullinK away
not know a (luicktr

vA open llio packs',
the Hpoil. Having
mU of uiyHolf, nn(
alk«(l partly round
^9 for keeping thsit
lofenil myself. W''
for a fiw ininutcH.
Jero inakinj? toward
: ine, tiger-liko; my
tontion. No soontT
with tho \itmo8t tury
nrtide out; wIk-U one
ihc fob, ami, through
iloons. In a moment
cing upon mo, each
, and took it, pocket
; them longer, by ten
should have been in
hcs badly. AlUhis
ot where I bad drop-
lia mauling was gone
m examined the spy-
doubt, that this glass,
had ever seen, was a
about attacking ine-
indcrstand, repeating
words Sapena, Ratf,
,ingof. Their figure,
,ior. were as savage,
I ever have read in

lirst seemed more in-
hat had been thrown
ind, I took up one ot
■^iv thirst beinf,' not yet

k two thirds of it, when
tie from my mouth, ana
» During this sitting
as to what they should
us, and asked us many
them, to know the

CRUKL TREATMENT.

T»

number of um. By mnking marks on the ground, wn informed tlxMn that
our nutnbrr iitnoiintiMl to ten; not meaning for (hem to inrhult' oiirKelvt>H
ill ih it niiiiilMT. 'I'liry wi!<li('(l to know if the runt of our crew hud guuM;
Hiiii by tlic sli.iki' of the lioiid, we nnHwered, tliey hud not. Tliiir next
iiniuiry Wiis of the pl;i(;<^ where liiy our ship, wliich they ciiih'd Salliiiii,
or. Ill li':ist, we understood i' ho. VVu pointed westward; and ihi'ii pointing
ti> iii<>, th<'\ a-iki'ij nic if I w'<re R,ai.<<,or Rice, which I iiiidrrstood to nicun
I iijitiin or MiMstcr. As well as I couUI make myself understiHxl, i answered
ilii'ir ijiiestion in the atlirmative. Finally, they incpiired for money, and
we I'lulcavored to make tluMU ix'liuvi- llu!r<> was none in tlit; ship. Wlum
tlii^ had /gathered from us all this information, they talked with oiii> another
a few minutes, and tlicii, as fast as thi^y could, they gath(;red all tiie lug-
;,'age togctiier <'X(('|)t tho water, and mad<; ii up in the best manner the
lime would admit of, loaded it into our hacklod knapsacks, and gave each
of us a load. It was now the dusk of the (ivening, and wii wer«!, as wo
.lupposed, from filly to sixty miles from the ship when they gave tho word
Romar, which signifies, (Jo on.

With the word Humar there came a blow, and a push forward. Thoy
endeavored to get us on a run, and for that purpose beat us cruelly; it
was cruel indeed to force us on faster than a moderate walk, oxtremely
fatigued as w(! were when we started. My companions, to save me from
those cruel beatings, managed it so as to fall into the rear in order to got
mo ahead, and so take the blows themselves; but tho Arabs discovering
that management, put a stop to it. Thus driven on, wc continued to travel,
as I should judge, till ten or eleven o'clock, when, through extreme fatigue,
I fell on rny face in the sand, and no sooner did my companions sec it,
than they fell also; upon which our beating was increased to such a de-
gree that I thought we should never rise more. Alter allowing us a short
rest, it seemed that they meant to make up for lost time; the word Bomar
was oftener repeated, followed, of course, with stripes. As that was the
first time I had ever carried a pack, and as mine was heavier than any
of the rest, the endurance of the toil came harder, perhaps, to me than to
my companions. Jack perceived it, and without my once complaining
of the burden I was compelled to bear, he, having the lightest one, and
being much the stoutest man, proposed to me that we should exchange
packs. Accordingly wo stopped for that purpose; but our drivers were
as much bent against that arrangement as we were for it. Jack told them,
by signs, that he waa tho stoutest man, but they insisted that we should
go on as we were; and while that litigation was at tho highest, wc both
dropped our packs, and tho exchange was made by us, but not without
our smarting under the lash.

After this, they pushed us on again with all speed. Wc soon foimd
out their object; six of our men being in sight on the plain about two
miles off. Wc wore goaded on by the two men who had us in their charge,
and our thirst was so burning that we waddled along as fast as wc could,
in hopes of getting some water from our men. Those Arabs were within
half a mile of our men before they were seen by them; they ran at least
five times as fast we could get along. The moment our men saw them
they stopped, expecting, from a view of their ferocious lookp, and of the
guns in their hands, that their own time was short; and having yet some
water left, they drank every drop of it before the Arabs got hold of them.
In an instant they were all down upon the ground, and thought themselves
destined to slaughter; just as myself and my little company had thought
of ourselves, when we wore in the like circumstances. By the time they

7^^

76 BONDAGE AMONG THE AKAbS OF THE DESERT.

were stripped of their treasure, and bad got up, we were near them, when
there was, with them, a general rejoicing; their seemg us ahve g.vngthem
hopes irsoon as ^e could be heard, we cried out for water, and be.ug
answered there was none, we dropped down, not thinking .t possible for us
Sl^e We lay groaning, and crying out for water and at the same time
^u Tmbs were in excruckting pain from fatigue; the merciless oarbanans
u"en gave us what remained in the skin, which was not enough to we
our thmats At last they got us all ten together, which they (the Arabs)
suppo ed,from what I had told them the day before, was our whole num-
bTh appeared from the story of my mates, that, upon parting with us.
?hev had cEkted to walk nearly all the night; that four ot the men
would not aaree to that, as they had rather sleep, and therefore lay down
for hat nupose. The mates thought, that tiiough we did not see nor
hear eaci other, yet we must have been very near those four men about

"" Thifmatter being settled, the word Bomar sounded again in our ears;
such meTodious voices I neverheard before nor since. I do not mean to
be undo stood that their voices were charming as re.specte. ourselves.
We cried for water, they forced us up; we pointed to the ship, in hopes
Ly would go ther^, and let us get along as fast as we could. It was now
about noon- the sun beat down with such extreme heat tiia the sand was
almost insufferable. We marched on, and saw nothing till we were on
?hT hill within fifty rods of the ship. Everything was t aken away except
our ho. wh ch lay dead, and blasted, and noisome to ti.e smell; shot, no
^«.Kth'vThP Arabs the very day we left the wrr>ck. The yuwl lay on the
Jocks' w th hetoars in her,^^! as she was left; the toresail was cut off
a^ ilh up as a man could reach if standing on the bellfry. They
mus h ^passed off to her by swimming. While our captoi^ were
rsvin" themselves with fiUing their skins with bvackish water from an
o?ddl they had dug out of the bank, our four poor tellow-sufferers
mad^ the r appearance on the hill. They looked down witli astonish-
ment, having fiad no knowledge of our bondage, nor of the Arabs being
fihltXco One of the Arabs got .ight of them, and gave a yell. Up-
ward of fifty o? those ruffians r'an u?, the hill, and took them down
Tnd stHpped^hem of their luggage. Those four were P--" ««/ \°J^"',
with us while we stayed, which was about halt an hour. Poor follows.
£v weplb itteTly upon being told that we were to depart and leave them
with but litte hopes of our Iver seeing one another again m this wor d
rnrouble At the sound of the word Bomar, we took o one another an
affectionate leave, promising that whoever of us should h»Pl>en to be
Redeemed from ou bondage, he, or they, would endeavor to obtain he
TedempUon of the rest. Not one of us, while continuing o hreathe he
breath of life, can yet have forgotten, or wdl ever foi get, that trying
n oment Poor Pat was reminded, before we parted of l.is having been
the cause of our distress. He was prudent er.ough to make no reply^
At sunset the remaining ten of us, along with seven Arabs, ascended the
i^ll agaS, a^d for the last time; but whither or where going, that was

our first and deepest concern. „ , . i . i »„ ♦! , ,„oof

After this they dispatched off one of thfeir men, who took to th- west-
wa d on the run Within about an hour he returned and another along
with h?m, who had a camel. On the camel they loaded all the luggage,
Tve out the word Bomar, pointed eastward, and cried out, Swearak
The word Bomar was ver,; familiar to our ears; t^e word Swearah was
new tTus They turned the camel eastward, which to us was a matter

■ -■*ai a .i<>^ ' .jw^»"f %»

,*'.-K*-icBi»«im*-

^^«st;.,^j| •' .^-i*»-*]*-

^Mi^ kjiHi: ^i*Sai«fi.-

;SERT.

; near thein, when
9 alive giving tliem
r water, and being
ig it possible for us
i at the same time
crciless barbarians
lot enough to wet
h they (the Arabs)
ras our whole nuni-
Dn parting with ub.
at four of the men
therefore lay down
ve did not sec nor
3SC four men about

i again in our cars;
. I do not mean to
Gspectec' ourselves.
J the ship, in hopes
could. It was now
■ at that the sand was
iinjl till wo were on
s taken away except
} the smell; shot, no
The yawl lay on the
; foresail was cut off
the bellfry. They
)c our captors were
ackish water from an
poor fellow- sufferers
down witii astonish-
1- of the Arabs being
.11(1 gave a yell. Up-
lul took them down,
cro permitted to talk
hour. Poor fellows!
epart and leave them,
r again in this world
ok of one another an
should happen to be
ndeavor to obtain the
linuing to breathe the
er forget, that trying
,d, of his having been
gh to make no reply.
.r Arabs, ascended the
dierc going, that was

who took to til. west-

led, and another along

laded all the luggage,

cried out, Swearah.

e word Swearah was

ich to us was a matter

JOURNEY OVER THE DESERT. 77

of great joy, as that was the only direction from which we could derive
»ny hope of relief. That sudden hope, or ratiicr siiadow of iuipe, infused
in us such a general joy, that everyone seemed to show some considerable
degree of animation; wiiereas we had been utterly dejected before. We
continued our journey all tliat night. When the sun was about an hour
liigh we made a halt in a valley formed by two sand-drifts. We were
oxtremely tired, having walked all the night witiiout sleep or rest. About
ten o'clock, an Arab that had left us at dayligiit, joined us again, bringing
with him about half a bushel of sweet berries, and a brute animal, such
as we could not name. It was about the size of a half-grown goat; the
iiead, skin, and legs, they took off immediately ; after which they opened
their game, quartered it, laid it on the sand, covered it over with hot sand,
and made a fire upon it with some dry sticks. They reached the guts,
just as they were, for us to cat. We were very liungry, but did notsuffdr
30 much from hunger as from thirst. Tiiis food being warm and moist,
we chesved the guts, after sucking off the fat; little thinking it was to be
our last meal for five days. The meat was soon cooked, and being in
expectation of getting a share of it, we privately buried the remaining
part of the guts in the sand. We begged earnestly for water, but they
took no notice of it. After they had devoured their meal of meat and
sand mixed up together, they hove us the bones, on the whole of which
there was not a single ounce of meat.

We then renewed our journey, traveling all day. Toward night we
each of us got about one pint of the sweet berries ; they were about the
seize of whortleberries, the stone or pit being in quantity full three-fourths
of the whole. We ate them, stone and all, for the stones were not hard
to our teeth. We dug for water, but found none. At dark we got about
half a gill each of the water from the sack ; that drink finished it, and wo
lay down. The Arabs tied up the left fore-leg of the camel, and let him
go. As to feed, there was none. The night was very cold, the contrast
there between night and day being very great. Jack and myself lay close
to the man who had claimed us both, and when I thought him asleep, I
softly hauled the blanket partly off him upon myself. The moment he
missed it, he gave me a hard thump with his fist, and it was a long time
before I got clear of the pain which the blow occasioned. Great as our
guffeiings were, sleep at last closed our eyes.

On the morning of the eleventh, we were awoke at dawn of day by the
Arabs at their prayers. Prayers being over, the camel fhiit lay near us
was loaded, and we were obliged to march, distressed as we were with
hunger and thirst, and every one of us making the outcries of misery.
One of our sailors discovered at that time that he had in his pocket a small
potato, of the size of a large walnut; half of that he privately gave me,
and I thought nothing ever tasted to me more pleasant. After marching
& short time, the leader, my master, called out, Umbar — sit down. We
soon obeyed, and when seated, they took a little meal which had been
concealed from our view, and ate it. We expected some small share, but
got none. My master looked very sternly at me: at that moment he got
sight of my sleeve-buttons, and caught me by the wrist. I saw what he
was after, and gave them up as soon as I could unbutton my sleeves.
Till this time I had not been deprived of any of my wearing apparel,
'•xcept what was in my sailor's packs. He then ordered me to strip, and
necessity obliged me to comply. My coat, waistcoat, shirt, and neck
iandkerchief, were taken from me, and laid by his side. I begged hard
I'n ray clothes, or some part of them, but to no effect: the piece of bread

-;Xteamm

*■ atVi JUi l ^ KKfU -

BONDAGE AMONG THE ARABS OF THE DESERT.

happened to be in the pocket of my pantaloons. Soon after this a general
search of us took place. My fine shirts, which the sailors had on them,
were all taken away; whereas those who fortunately had only their own
shirts on, which were coarser, and some of them not white, were permitted
to wear them. After this business was over, we re-commenced our march,
my clothes lying upon the back of the camel. At that time I was eating
my biscuit, or rather grinding it to powder between my teeth ; in fact,
the power of swallowing was lost to me. This was the first time I ever
had in my mouth any food which I could not, after chewing it, convey to
my stomach ; now I found it could not be done for the want of fluid or
moisture in my mouth and throat. My mouth was so parched up that the
biscuit could render me no service ; not the least morsel found its way
down ; every particle was discharged, or blown from the mouth, whenever
the upper and lower jaw opened.

As soon as the burning sun had retired a little behind the mountains
of sand, we were spurred on with greater haste. When it had sunk be-
neath the horizon, the fresh wind cooled the earth, which became even
cold before dark. Negro Sam, as he was walking by my side, asked me
if I was cold. I told him I was. He then took off his blue jacket, and
reached it to me, and I put it on. After this he complained to his master
that he was cold ; whereupon his master came to me in anger, probably
thinking tiiat I had taken the jacket from Sam by demanding it of him.
Sam made him understand that I was not to suffer. He (the Arab) then
gave Sam my coat, and when it was quite dark we exchanged coats, and
I got my own again. This evenii.g's walk was worse than anything we
had before experienced. About nine o'clock, we all ascended a mountain,
I should suppose from two to three hundred feet high, over craggy rocks;
at every step our joints seemed to be diplocating. When we were on
the top of the mountain, the Arabs called out. Shrub bezef. Wo knew
that shrub was water, and concluded that bezef was plenty. That sound
cheered us all. The camel, which on our march was always driven ahead,
started off at full trot, and all the Arabs after him, except one, who brought
up our rear. The descent of this mountain was ten times worse than th(>
ascent ; our feet slipping or giving way at almost every step, it being too
dark to pick our road. We found it, indeed, almost too much to be borne,
and nothing but the hopes of finding water could have kept us from sinking
under our troubles and sufferings.

When we were nearly half way down the mountain, we began to smell
something, which could be compared to nothing I could think of but bilge
water in the hold of a ship ; the nearer we approached it, the stronger
was the smell. Before we had come to the water, the camel had drank
of it, as also had all the Arabs except' the one in our rear, who, taking a
wooden bowl from one of his companions, dipped up the water and drank
it. From him I took the bowl, dipped it full, and drank every drop. My
mates being by my side, called out, "Captain, you will kill yourself r' I
The bowl contained at least a gallon, and some said five quarts. Several
others of us drank as much as I did myself. The reader may be astonished
at our taking down such a quantity at a draught, and much more so, when
he is informed that the water was so putrid that the smell of it reached I
from a quarter to half a mile ; and that when drinking it, we found it a$l
thick as common gruel used in sickness. After all the rest of us had!
been satisfied. I took another drink, of at least a quart, and then somel
others, if not all, mended their draught; when we all lay down by the!
side of the pond, and slept finely; I think I never enjoyed a fiu^t night^F^

..•*rrf*.»«*wT*»**«(^— »>. -AlV.-).--

lESERT.

, after this a general
ailors had on them,
^ad only their own
[lite, were permitted
jmenced our march,
at time I was eating
, my teeth ; in fact,
the first time I ever
hewing it, convey to
the want of fluid or
) parched up that thfi
TiorBel found its way
the mouth, whenever

lehind the mouiitains
When it had sunk be-
, which became even
by my side, asked mc
F his blue jacket, and
mplaincd to his master
me in anger, probably

demanding it of him.
He (the Arab) then
, exchanged coats, and
orse than anything we
U ascended a mountain,
ligh, over craggy rocks;
„ When we were on
";ubbezef. Wo knew
as plenty. That sound
as always driven ahead,
;xcept one, who brought
en times worse than thP

every step, it being too
St too much to be borne,
ave kept us from sinkmg

itain, we began to smell
ojuidthink of but bilge
cached it, the stronger
er, the camel had drank
1 our rear, who, taking a
i up the water and drank
'^ drank every drop. »>
you will kill yourselfr
.aid five quarts. Several
reader may be astonished
and much more so, when
,t the smell of It reached
rinkingit,wefound»ta

5r all the rest of us had I
t a quart, and then som

, J all lay down by th
,er enjoyed a fiu.r night f

JOY AT MEETING A WHITE MAN.

sleep in all my life. This dny's travel we computed at thirty-five miles.
One of our men, who had been used to driving a team, thought our cal-
culation wa? moderate.

At dawn of day, on the twelfth, we were awoke, as usual, by the voices
of the Arabs saying their prayers. When these were over, they began
to load the camel, which appeared almost double the size he was of the
preceding evening. He refused to drink this morning. Toward evening,
we saw, for the first time, some small shrubs, appearing like our dwarf
thorn bushes. The camel seized hold of the tops and little branches,
which he ate with avidity; they were dry, so that in breaking them with
our hands we could discover very little moisture within the bark. Such
as they were, we chewed the twigs, but could not expect any sustenance
from them. As soon as the camel had eaten what they thought proper,
we were driven on again. The sun was hot, and we were near perisliing,
when on a sudden two of thoin started, and ran off in a north-enstorn
direction, we draj^ging ourselves along after tliem. As soon as they hiid
ascended one of the hillocks, we discovered that they were much engaged,
appearing to be gathering something from the face of the earth. We
doubled our diligence, and soon came to the place, and, to our astonish-
ment, we found about a quarter of an acre of ground thinly covered with
barley in the milk, of about eighteen inches in height. The Arabs all
fell to work to gather and eat ; we followed their example, and the grain
being full of milk, we were able in a few minutes to raise moisture enough
in our mouths and throats to aid us in swallowing.

The next two days of our miserable lives, were spent in traversing a
desolate country, without food or water, and with a burning sun striking
down upon our naked bodies. About noon of the fifteenth, upon our
ascending a rising ground, we beheld, at no great distance, a large num-
ber of tents, to which we were marched in apparent triumph. As soon as
we had approached to within about a hundred yards of those tents, we
were ordered to sit down, and were surrounded with men, women, and
children, to the number of from seven hundred and fifty to a thousand.
The crowd around us prevented all circulation of the air, so that we were
nearly suffocated, and at the same time were ready to peridh with thirst,
and all begging for water, our masters being out of sight. After suffering
for half an hour in this horrid situation, we perceived a great bustle on
the outside of the assembly that surrounded us, the cause of which we
were not long at a loss for. The loud noise drew nearer and nearer to
us, till, very soon, to our astonishment, we heard a voice inquiring in plain
English, "Where are they? Where are they?'''' It was not a dream.
A young man, once white, got through the crowd at last. It was an
English youth of about nineteen, his skin deeply burnt with the sun.
without hat or shoes, and his nakedness covered with only a few rags.
The first words uttered to us by this frightful looking object were " WAo
are you? My friends! my friends f'' the tears running down his cheeks.
I would have risen to salute him, but was too feeble. He sat down by
my side ; we all shook hands with him, and began our conversation. We
told him who we were, and he in return gave us an account of himself;
the Arabs meanwhile interrupting him every now and then, to get our
tale of him. In turn, he satisfied them who had inquired of him where
we were wrecked, how much money and goods we iiad on board, where
it was now, how much those mountaineers (as they called our owners)
had got, and so on. George, for that was his name, freely informed us
as to himself, that he was the steward of a ship called the Martin Hall.

„ri3t^ — ■

^^T^^itV

80 BONDAGE AMONG THE ARABS OF THE DESERT.

of lioudon, cast away upon that coast more than a year before ; that one
of tlie crew was killed by the natives, and the captain he supposed was
drowned; that part of the crew had been marched back,Mn a south-east
f'ircction, to a place they called Elic ; that another part had been earned
to Swcarah, and tiiere ransomed ; that four of liiem yet remamcd among
the wandering Arabs, who had been very cruel to them ; that none of
them but himself belonged to the tribe he was in ; that two boys were
not far off; one other boy he had not heard from lately, but believed he
was distant not many days' march. " This," said George, "is all I can
tell you about our poor unfortunate crew, b\it I have no doubt that some
of them have been murdered, for I heard they did not find a ready sale
for all that were carried to Elic, and that our sailors became turbulent
there, and a quarrel ensued ; the Arabs themselves acknowledged that
several of our men were wounded in the fray: but these cursed monsters
will lie like dogs, and there is no believing them ; what makes me think
they were mur'dered, I have lately beard that some of tiieir shoes and
hats have been seen in that neighborhood." This story of George excited
our utmost attention, thougli it was frequently interrupted by the Arabs
during the whole of the time.

Hitherto not a drop had been given us to drink, and George now told
the Arabs that we were suffering with thirst ; but it only made .aem laugh.
Upon this, he started on through the crowd, and brought us about two
quarts of milk and water. This we divided, I believe very equally, by
Vach of us sipping a little, and then reaching it to his next neighbor.
That delicious beverage occasioned such warm expressions of gratitude
as I had never heard before; each of us, in his own style, ejaculating his
thanks to poor George, and then to our Father in heaven. Though the
quantity was small, still, by taking it in that way, every drop felt in our
famished stomachs as a cordial. No sooner had the inquisitive Arabs
drawn off from us, than I inquired of George where Swearah was? He
said he never could learn, the Arabs having always evaded answering that
?n(iuiry, and seemed angry whenever he put the question to them ; but he
believed it was Mogadore. He then asked me about the coast where the
English had their trade ; observing to me that some of tiie Arabs often
journeyed eastward, and after an absence of two or three weeks, returned
with certain English manufactures, such as combs, loooking-glasses, beads,
scissors, knives, powder, guns, and so on. I replied, as St. Cruz was
nearer, and a port where a trade was carried on by European nations, I
rather thought that that must be Swearah. He said he had never heard
them so much as name St. Cruz ; and I answered it was the Portuguese
name, and, by inquiring, he might find out what the Arabic name was.
George appeared very much delighted with our company, and no doubt
had hopes that we inight be the means of his ransom from slavery.
Speakin" of the ones who then had us in their keeping, he said to me,
"These fellows do not belong here to our tribe, nor anywhere hereabouts;
they were here about ten or twelve days ago ; I remember them very well ;
they got supper here, and went off the next day, traveling westward ; they
are hunters, and poor dogs, depend upon it. I will find out where they
belong, and let you know. Come," he says, "let us go to the tents, and
I will beg some meal and water for you ; and, if my old master will let
me stay with you till night, I shall be glad. I was watching his flock,
and when you had arrived, ho sent for me, and put some one else there
in my place." We all rose up, and on our approaching the tents, George
called out, "There is our chief! he has been gone these three weeks, and

,. ^»,Sfi,,-je^«li«-*t^^«rtiS«L~.N^r-art«M»«««^

5ERT.

before ; that one
no supposed was
k,Mn a south-east
had been carried

remained mnony
,ni ; that none ot"
at two boys were
yr, but believed he
)r^e, "is all I can
o doubt til at some

tind a ready sale
became turbulent
cknowledged that
le cursed monsters
It makes me think
)f tlioir shoes and
r of George excited
pted by the Arabs

il George now told
y made .aem laugh,
(ught us about two
ro very equally, by
his next neighbor.
Bssions of gratitude
tylc, ejaculating his
aven. Though the
[ry drop felt in our
3 inquisitive Arabs
Swearah was? He
adod answering that
ion to them ; but he
the coast where the
of the Arabs often
reo weeks, returned
iking-glasses, beads,
d, as St. Cruz was
European nations, I
le had never heard
was the Portuguese
Arabic name was.
ipany, and no doubt
nsom from slavery,
ping, he said to me,
lywhere hereabouts;
nber them very well ;
ling westward ; they
find out where they
go to the tents, and
old master will let
watching his flock,
some one else there
ng the tenU, George
ese three weeks, and

INTERVIEW WITH AHAMED.

I suspect ho is from Swearah." IIo (the chief) came hastily to us, and
inquired who wc were ; and was told l)y George that ho and ourselvc?
were all brothers. The old man looked smilingly on this occasion, and
George told him wc were suffering for victuals. He replied, "Thoy shall
have some boiled meal directly." By this time the whole male part of
the tribe were assembled round their chief; and George, imdcrstanding
the Arabic, learned from what was said, that he was from Swearah. Afloi
(tcorgc had collected from his master all the information he could upon
tliat subject, he told us the men that were our enslavers were hunters;
that tli(!y belonged to a degraded tribe of Arabs, distant four days' journey,
pointing to the south-east, and about one day's journey from Elic ; and
tliut they were about to start off the next morning for their home, and take
lis along with ihem. We all as one declared ourselves unable to go further,
and that we had rather die on the spot than attempt to advance another
i<tcp. I told George that when these hunters had first found us they
appeared to have made up their minds to put us to death, or at least
siiowod signs of such an intention, by re-priming their gims, etc. At that
moment the hunters were engaged in conversation with many of the tribe,
and George, to satisfy himself as to that matter, went and spoke with
them about it. The old man, who appeared to be the head one of the
gang, acknowledged that at the time of plundering us, it was their intention
to destroy our lives, but, on reconsideration, ho said to them they had
better let us live, in order that we might pilot them to our wreck, and
alter that they could dispose of us as best suited them.

By this time the chief, whose name was Ahamed, and who had been
engaged elsewhere for some time, came to sec us again, bringing with
him another English boy, named Jack ; he was about thirteen or fourteen
years old, covered with rags and vermin; he spoke the Arabic perfectly.
We talked to the chief through him as an interpreter, for a short time,
and then, having found that I was what they called Rais, he took me and
Jack away to a little distance from all the rest of the company, in order
to find out where we had buried our money and goods. Upon my telling
him that we had neither, he refused to believe it. I told him our ship
was bound for the Cape de Verds for a load of salt ; that that article was
very cheap there ; that what money those hunters had taken from us was
sufficient for purchasing a load for our ship. This story of mine he
seemed not to believe ; he thought that all ships carried either money or
goods, or both, and he had learned from the hunters who brought us on,
that the Arabs at the ship found nothing in her but sand. The sand I
told him was ballast, and that a ship could not sail without ballast. Neither
did he believe that. He then said, if I would tell him where our money
wad he would buy us all of these men, and feed us well at his tent; and
nfler the tribe's leaving the wreck, which would be shortly, as he judged
from having learned that they would soon burn her for the sake of her iron;
that then he would go down and take away the buried treasure, and return
and carry us to Swearah. I judged it most prudent to persist in my first
story, thinking if I should tell him there was money in a beef barrel, it
could do us no good, but probably harm, as it might have led off this
chief, and one of us with him perhaps, to the wreck, when, in all proba-
bility, he would find her in ashes. When we were about parting, it being
then in the evening, I entreated him to buy us all, and told him he would
be well paid for all his expenae and trouble.

I returned to the place our men were at^ where I found Larra a fin«
mulatto boy, one that George had ipoken to me about, aged nearly sixteen-.

BONDAGE AMONG THE ARABS OF THE DESERT.

years. lie understood about as much Arabic as George, but neither ol
them near as much as .Tacit. IIo, Jack, (said the two otiier boy's to me,)
always joins witli the Arabs in their prayers, and is more an Arab than a
Christian, and you must be guarded against him, for he is a little treache-
rous lying rascal, and ever prefers the company of these devils iiere to
ours, and has made mischief among us, and if he and ourselves quarrel
togetiicr,they always take Jack^s part, and that makes him the more saucy.
I was glad to find out Jack^s character so early. George and Larra stayed
with us till near midnight ; by them I found that whenever the Arabs
came home after their journeyings, they used to talk of Consul Gwyn,
tashcr Court, tasher Jackson, lasher Foxcrofl, and others. The word
Usher I concluded must mean merchant ; and the proper names being
English, I only wanted to know where Swearah was, to make out a story
that might carry with it some marks of truth.

Before we got a delicious breakfast, we were visited by most of the
tribe, who made their observations concerning our worth, rating some of
us at something considerable^ and others at nothing at all, but concluded
that we were of no great value taken altogether. On the contrary, the
men that had us for sale praised us up, saying we were as good as any
Christian dogs they had ever seen. Some time about ten o'clock next
morning, George and Larra who had been every moment watching
the motions of the Arabs, came in haslo, to inform us we were all for
sale, and that some were actually sold ; observing that Rais and the
blacks, as well as several others, remained unsold, their price being too
high. Larra entreated me to go to their sale and plead for myself, and
mentioned that boy Jack had a great deal to say about us there. I thought
it best, however, to remain quiet awhile, lie (Larra ) continued begging
me to go, and said if I were to be carried ofT, there would b« no chance
of a ransom for George and himself. After the sale was partly, or
mostly gone through with, Ahamed came to me, bringing Jack along with
him, as an interpreter, and taking me aside, lie asked me if I had any
friend in Swearah? I told him I had a number of friends there. "Have
you," said he, "ever been there yourself?" I answered. Yes. "Who do
you know there ?" I answered Consul Gwyn, and a number of merchants.
Court, Jackson, Foxcroft, and some others, English, French, and Spaniards.
"What sort of a man is Consul Gwyn?" said he to me. Being determined
to make no mistake, I answered generally, he is a good man. This vague
answer did not satisfy him, and he told me I must describe him. As 1
thought our all depended upon my correctness in this particular, I felt
embarrassed, and he discovered my embarrassment; when, collecting
myself u little, I told him it was some years since I had seen the Consul.
but, according to the best of my recollection, he was about my own height,
but rather fatter. Turning to Jack, he says, "That is all right," and
locking his fingers together, off at a distance from his own, he says,
"His belly is so big." This fiction of mine Jack believed as much as
Ahamed.

Ahamed then asked me what I would give him over and above what
the Consul would give, if he should buy me? 1 answered, if he would buy
us all, and then set his price, I would think on it. Upon this he said to
me, "The mountaineers will not sell the blacks at any price, for they are
as good travelers as themselves ; they are men that you Christian dogs
have taken from the Guinea country, a climate that suits them best, ;< kI
you were going there to get more of them, and are worse than the Aral ■<■
who enslave you only when it is God's will to send you on our coasi "

ESERT.

:ge, but neither oi
other boya to me,)
ore an Arab than a
! is a little troache-
lese devils here to
i ourselves quarrel
iiim the more saucy.
ge and Larra stayed
henever the Arabs
i of Consul Gwyn,
others. The word
iroper names being
to make out a story

sited by most of the
rorth, rating some of
at all, but concluded
3n the contrary, the
were as good as any
out ten o'clock next
ry moment watching
n us we were all for
g that Rais and the
their price being too
plead for myself, and
It us there. I thought
•a) continued beggmg
fe would bo no chance

sale was partly, or
iging Jack along with
sked me if I had any
ricnds there. "Have
ered, Yes. "Who do

number of merchants.

>ench, and Spaniards.
Being determined

_man. This vague
describe him. As 1
this particular, I felt

•nt; when, coUectmg
had seen the Consul.

i about my own height,

-hat is all right," and

,m his own, he says,
believed as much as

„ over and above what
tweredjifhewouldbuy

1 Upon this he said to
any price, for they are

lat you Christian dogs
at suits them best, Y''
. worse than the Aral";
td you on our coasi

PADDOOK AOREBS TO PURCHASE HIMSELF.

Never, I must confess, did I feel a reproach more sensibly — that a great
many wearing the Christian name did force away from their homes, and
carry into perpetual slavery, the poor African negroes, and thereby made
themselves worse than Arabs, I well knew was but too true. However,
standing on my own defense, I said, in reply, that was not our business :
to which boy Jack answered, "h was our business ;" and in that he spoke
the truth, for the ship he belonged to was engaged in the Guinea trade.

The chief demanded of me again, that I should say how much I would
give him ; but at last he set the price himself, by counting over his fingers
till he came to the number forty. I was at a loss to know what it signified,
when Jack told me he supposed it meant dollars. I agreed to it, and that,
in addition to the sum mentioned, I would give each of his two wives a
looking-glass, comb, beads, and some other things. The next thing with
him was the security. I told him my word was sufficient, and that I had no
other security to give. He then asked Jack in what manner a Christian
took an«oath7 It was some time before Jack understood the question,
and not until he was told by him that a Mohammedan swore by his own
board ; and by the prophet. Jack then said to him, "A Christian swears
by the Bible, and that oath he holds inviolable." Jack went on to compare
the Bible to the Alcoran. As no Bible was to be come at, I told him I
could make oath as well without the Bible as with it; and this satisfying
liim, I then, with an audible voice, called my Maker to witness, that as
soon as we should be ransomed in Swcarah, I would, in addition to what
the Consul should pay for our ransom, give him forty dollars, and for his
two wives two small looking-glasses, two combs, two pair of small scissors,
each a large bunch of beads, and a knife for himself, and as much tobacco
as he could smoke all the way back. When this was gone through with,
he asked Jack if he believed me. He told him our God was the same as
his God, and he might depend on my oath being held as sacred by me,
as his own oath would be held by himself. Thus the matter ended, after
we had been detained about it for a full hour. Ahamed then went to the
mountaineers, and finished the bargain for us all, except the two blacks,
for they would not part with them. How the purchase wan paid, or in
what, we never could find out. This evening the boy Jack paid us a
short visit, when Larra advised him to be more with us, and not keep
company so much with the Arabs. To this Jack replied, he could have
as much meal as he wanted while with them, and that he, Larra, was
always quarreling whenever he was with him. Larra now saw the ne-
cessity of courting his friendship. Whenever they two talked together
about London, Jack used to reproach his own mother there, telling Larra
that she was a bad woman, and he did not wish ever to see her again.
All this I thought made against us, aa it gave romn to mistrust Jack of
being inclined to the side of the Arabs ; I therefore urged upon both of
them the necessity of their harmonizing for our general safety and
welfare.

On the eighteenth, in the morning, there appeared an uncommon stir
in the tribe. The horses were brought up, and rigged out in great style ;
all was glee, male and female running from tent to tent ; our English
boys were in as great surprise as ourselves. For the sake of information,
Larra and George went after Jack, who of course was knowing to the
cause of this great muster. Jack was not to be found then, but soon after
the little villain came, and informed us there was to be a wedding that
day : this quieted our minds. Upon this time he and Larra fell into
(amiliar discourse between themselves aa follows.

M BONDAGE AMOKO THE ARABS OP THK DESERT-

Jack. You, Larra, know Afdallah, that fellow that murdorod his wife
about two weeks ago.

Larra. Oh, yes, I remember all about it.

Jack. Well, he is going to marry that short, thick, yellow girl, that lives
in that tent there ; you know who I mean.

Larra, Oh, yes, I know her.

This conversation between the two boys, excited in mc a curiosity to
know the story of that murder, and Larra related it to me. " AI)out two
weeks ago,'* said Larra to me, "this fellow went into his tent, and asked
his wife where his knife was. She told him she had lent it to such a one,
naming a man belonging to the tribe. Do you not know, he said, that
you have no business to meddle with anything belonging to me ? She
acknowledged she had not; that she was sorry if it had displeased him,
and would go immediately and fetch the knife back. He made no other
reply to her than by saying, I will see if I cannot have a wife who will
obey my commands better ; 1 always told you not to meddle with anything
of n^ine. Having a club in his hand, he struck her upon the breast ; she
fell, and he continued to maul her as long as them was any breath in her
body. Neither man nor woman went near them, although her cries and
screams were heard through the whole tribe. That evening," continued
Larra, "we went to the funeral, and observed what was done there. The
women measured her length, her breadth across her arms, and her whole
thickness, with as much exactness as they could, and then thoy dug a
grave to fit hor, digging if no deeper than the measure of her breadth,
and put her in sideways, all naked ; then the women, standing upon the
body, trod it down with their feet, till the upper part of it was just level
with the surface of the earth ; after which, they all fell to gathering stones
to cover the body with, so as to prevent its being removed by the wild
beasts."

I asked Larra what followed in regard to the murderer. The account
ho gave me was this: — "The next day after the murder was committed,
the chief assembled all the principal men of the tribe to examine into the
case. The murderer was called before the council, and heard in his own
defense ; he voluntarily related the facts as they were, and was then dis-
missed for a few minutes. Upon this, the chief, who always speaks first
in such cases, gave his opinion. "Afdallah," says Ahamed to his coun-
selors, "has not acted agreeably to the law ; he should first have com-
iplained to me of the disobedience of his wife, and if she should persist
therein, he would then have been at liberty to punish ,her according to his
pleasure. For breaking the law in not making his complaint beforehand
to me, he is worthy of punishment ; wherefore, my sentence is, that he be
fined four sheep, seeing his flock is small, and that those sheep be dressed
for our supper tornight." Larra added, "the murderer was sent for, his
sentence was pronounced, and he, without uttering a word, had his flock
brought up, killed the four sheep, and the company ate them — and we,
you know," added he, addressing himself (o Jack, "got the heads." After
Larr« had gone through with his story, I desired him to look ont for the
bride and the bridegroom. He went to the place where the tribe was
assembled, a few rods south of cor tent, where he found the women pre-
preparing the bride for her nuptials : and soon after they all made their
appearance. We then walked toward the crowd, taking a circuit round
their roar, full as nigh them as it was prudent for us to approach. The
couple stopped, fronting a man who officiated in the capacity of a priest ;
ho read over to them a passage engrared on a board, taken originally from

■i <j * ^vMiviMm 'i mm fm r4!'j i m 0i omm ii t i v> i

"~^

SERT.

lurderod his wife

How girl, that liveB

I mc a curiosity to
me. " About two
Ilia tent, and asked
sntitto sucliaone,
mow, he said, that
ging to me? She
lad displeased him.

He made no other
ave a wife who will
leddlo with anything
pon the breast ; she
as any breath in her
lough her cries and
Dvening," continued
19 done there. The
arms, and her whole
ind then they dug a
)ure of her breadth,
1, standing upon the
t of it was just level

II to gathering stones
removed by the wild

derer. The account
irder was committed,
e to examine into the
and heard in his own
■re, and was then dis-
lo always speaks first
Ahamed to his coun-
ould first have com-
if she should persist
.1 her according to his
complaint beforehand
sentence is, that he be
hose sheep be dressed

derer was sent for, his
I a word, had his flock
ly ate them — and we,
rot the heads." After

m to look out for the
where the tribe was

found the women pre-
er they all made their

taking a circuit round

OB to approach. The
.le capacity of a priest ;
d, taken originally from

A WEDDIKO IN THE DESERT. ||

the Alcoran, and Joined their hands, using a ceremony of words that we
could not distinctly hear, by which pronounced them husband and wife.

A tout liad hven previously prepared by the bridegroom ; on it was dis-
played a whito flag or fly ; he took his bride, who had been blindfolded
by the priest, with a piece of cloth tied over her eyes, led hor to his tent,
-^nt her down on a mat, and said to her, "You are at home." Then he
\ fi licr, and returned to the place where the ceremony was performed,
:iiul hud a white cloth, in the form of a turban, tied round hia head ; after
which hn joined with the company, in their singing, shouting, and firing
of ;:,Mins ; most of the company taking part in this merriment. When
night came, the whole company went to his tent, but none of them entered
it, not cv(in himself; instead of which, they formed in a circle in the front
of it, where was prepared a groat feast, consisting of boiled meal and milk,
along witii several sheep, cooked and eaten without spice or sah. Their
feasting continued till after midnight, when the company having retired,
the bridegroom visits his spouse, takes ofi* her blind, shows himself to her
by the light of the fire, to satisfy her that there is no mistake as to the
identity of his person, and then blinds her again, and retires. She con-
tinues in this condition of utter darkness for the term of one week. During
the whole of this week, after the first duy, all the women that choosu it
visit her; one of their number is appointed to cook the victuals, and pur-
form all the other domestic duties, until the spouse is brought out to the
light of day, when she beholds, as hor husband, a capricious vagalK>nd,
and a bloody monster, for the least deviation from whose mandate she
is liable to suflTer death.

On the morning of the 22d, Ahamed, and with him half a dozen of the
tribe, came to our place of residence, and brought along about two yards
of red flannel, and inquired if any one of us was a tailor ? adding, we woro
to march on the next morning, and must make Jack some clothes. Over-
joyed by that piece of information, we, by means of sending Jack for
them among the tribe, were furnished with scissors, thread, and needles —
not indeed equal to what are used at our tailors^ shops ; the thread was
too large for the needle, but by singlmg it we made out with our sewing,
though but badly. In a few hours, however. Jack was rigged up with a
red jacket and trowsers ; but, unexpectedly to us, the little fellow despised
them, and would rather have had his old rags again. The time now hung
very heavy on us all, and we were wishing for to-morrow. Toward night
we found out, for the first time, to whom in reality we severally belonged,
and also discovered by Jack that we had often been bought and sold
among them. As hitherto they had had no labor for us to perform, they
had thought it immaterial whether we should know or not, how we were
disposed of among themselves, or who of them in particular were our
owners. It now appeared that we eight, together with the three English
boys, were owned by about twenty of these Arabs ; and as to myself, I
perceived I was in the hands of the most unfeeling vagabond in the
whole tribe.

George, who had been occupied for several days past in keeping his
master^s herds and flocks, came to us this evening, and told us his master
had been uncommonly good to him for the last day or two ; and now, says
he, I am to have as much meal for to-morrow as I can eat. We informed
him that we were to march off' for some place or other the next morning.
That, said he, is a mistake, for my master told me you were to remam
here several days, and that when you go, I shall go too. Poor George,
however, was left behind. The next morning, to vit, the a3d, Ahamed

l»fl.»r*"-JJl"''l. •

tia B W^g ' . aig S jWr^W^'- 't W • -■UtW ; ■ ! m .' ! i ' > » -vtrr

t *^»)>M^Mi«l>JW-*

BONDAGE AMONG THE ARABS OF THE DESERT.

told us wo were to travel on to Iuh iiold of ^'rain, wlicro he sliuuld Ix with
lis in a week's time. On wc went, and the only object we regiotted
parting with waa hapless George ; him I pitied from my heart.

We were already fancying ourselves half redeemed, when my new
master began to let me know I must obey him in particular. He was one
of the most ugly looking rascals among the whole tribe, and his conduct
was no l)ettor than his looks. W( had been traveling together all the
day, before wo could learn to which of them each of us belonged. 'J'he
dilliculty of our learning it of them, was owing to their ignorance of arith-
metic, and their inability to inform us that we had been disposed of in
joint shares ; for instance, five of them owning three of us. As our
course was northerly, we had hopes of soon seeing the seacoast. Late in
the atlernoon we came in sight of tents, which, as they were placed in a
valley, we had approached near before we discovered them. We came
toward them, undiscovered till within about a hundred yards, when we
all sat down on a sand hill, excepting our principal man, who was Ahamed^a
brother, and he stood up for some time before any of the people of the
tents perceived him. No sooner did they see him and us, than there
seemed among them a great stir, which was made, no doubt, by their looking
for their chief. Soon, however, there came to us a venerable looking old
man, mostly dried up, who accosted our chief man thus: — "Where are
you from? where bound? are these the Christian dogs I have heard so
much of? what are you going to do witii them?" — and so on. The answers
were — "Wo are from the edge of the desert," pointing soulh-wcst ; "we
belong to the tribe of Ahamcd ; wc arc bound to sucli a place," pointing
north-cast, "to cut our grain; these Christians that you see are going
along with us, and when the harvest is over we shall make a market of
them." "All well," says the old man, "come along with me and sup, and
stay the night ; you are welcome."

The venerable looking old Arab having pronounced his cordial invitation,
on we marched ; and by this time the whole tribe was out, men, women,
and children. They all, even the children, had something to say of us ;
but we were now become so used to the scurrilous language of such
people, that we paid no attention to it, but seated ourselves among their
tents on the sand. We begged for water, having had but very little of it
all that day, and our stock being now exhausted. We had eaten only
once, if eating it may be called, for that meal consisted of a little raw
barley-flour wet up pretty thin, so as to be drank rather than eaten ; this
we swilled down clean, and licked the bowl : the whole quantity for us
eleven was what might be a full meal for one large pig. Our appetites
were very keen, and this swill tasted good to us, and lay well on our
stomachs, as did everything else that we had eaten or drank. Many a
time, and even hundreds of times, had we cause to return thanks to God
for this great blessing — a good appetite for whatever food or drink we
could find, and a good digestion of it.

Soon afler we had made a stop at this place, the chief, and many of his
tribe, formed a circle, and began their chat, accompanied with the pipe.
When finding themselves short of tobacco, I heard my name, Raia, called
aloud, and upon my looking toward them, the master of my mates made
a sign to me that they had no tobacco, by putting his finger in the
bowl of the pipe. This application was made to mo in particular, because
at the beginning of our journey, I had been appointed tobacco carrier.
There was about a pound of tobacco, rolled up snug, and put in a small
skin, about the size of a cat's, and which was made in the manner of an

'■M» r" »<» . . « i «B .-^ ffl ' iyti.K i f »j «!ift H » uir ia.Ta Wr . W ' ttWg-- rw?w4S3»^*SB«ft5i«»?^nrtSBe»^^^

!SE"T.

THE ARABS OPINION OP CHRISTIANS.

•r

he
joct

should Ix with
\vc rcgiDttcd
r heart.
)d, when my new
ilar. He was one
3, and his conduct
g together all the
IS belonged. The
ignorance of arith-
sen disposed of in
10 of us. As our
seacoast. Late in
|f were placed in a

them. We came
)d yards, when wo
whowasAhamed'a
f the people of the

and us, than there
ubt, by their looking
!ncrablc looking old
thus: — "Where are
igs I have heard so
oon. The answers
:ig south-west ; "we
li a place," pointing

you see are going
[I make a market of
rith me and sup, and

hiscordial invitation,
IS out, men, women,
ething to say of us ;
IS language of such
rselves among their
1 but very little of it
Wc had eaten only
sted of a little raw
her than eaten ; this
ihole quantity for us
pig. Our appetites
ind lay well on our
or drank. Many a
eturn thanks to God
er food or drink we

lief, and many of his
anied with the pipe,
y name, Raia, called

of my mates made
ig his 'finger in the

particular, because
ted tobacco carrier.

and put in a small
in the manner of an

i>&s^i^»~

old fashioned pouch ; this I reached to him, and taking out as much of it
as lillod his pipe, he returned it to mo. Their conversation was on gene-
ral subjects. Larra, ugreoably to the arrangement previously made
between him and mc, was listening to it, but could gather nothing of
intorcHt relative to our future destiny. Indeed they frequently spoke of
us, hut in such a manner as often reminded me of the old adage. Listeners
seldom hear any good of themselves. That saying was verified here
completely — the heads of tlieir discourse concerning us were, that we
were a poor, miserable, degraded race of mortals, doomed to the ever-
lasting punishment of hell-fire after death, and in this life fit only for the
company of dogs ; that our country was so wretchedly poor, wo were
always looking out abroad for sustenance ; and ourselves so base as to go
to the Coast of Guinea for slaves to cultivate our land, being not only too
lazy to cultivate it ourselves, but too stupid to loarn how to do it ; and
finally, that if all the Christians were ol)ligod to live at homo, their race
would soon be extinct; that those belonging to Christian countries, being
dependent on the other countries for almost everything necessary to sup-
port naturenvith, they make for sale such things as guns, powder, knives,
and so on, all which the world might do well enough without ; and then
they barter these things away to people abroad for the necessaries of life.

Upon the 24th, uncommonly early in tlie morning, we started away, in
an cast-north-east course, and traveled very fast for travelers in our
condition. Before nine o'clock in the morning, we had become very
thirsty, as well as hungry. We had taken along with us no water, and
but little meal; and while we were begging for water, or for victuals, they
snarled out to us, Cooly mackan, shrub mackan — no victuals, no drink —
and hurried us along. By eleven o'clock, the heat of the sun was almost
insufff rable ; we sat down only for a few minutes, and then were driven
on again. We were fast approaching a rocky mountain lying on our right,
appearing to be at least two hundred feet in height. We perceived where
this mountain, seeming to have broken asunder, formed two separate hills,
with a valley between them ; and when wo were at no great distance
therefrom, some of tiie Arabs left us and ran ahead, while others were
forcing us on as fast as possible. When we came abreast of this valley,
to our astonishment we saw a reservoir of water, and the Arabs who had
started ahead of us drinking at it. We soon got to it, and when came
our own turn, which of course was the last, we drank no small quantity,
and all of us sat down at our drinking place. The Arabs then mixed
together some raw meal and water, and ate of it ; after which they gave us
some, and on it wc made a sumptuous breakfast about noon, having eaten
nothing before from the time of our scanty supper, that is in fifteen hours.
Wjien we were about to leave this place, which we all regretted to leave
so soon, one of them took the bowl that we had been drinking out of, and
rubbed the inside of it over with sand, and put it bottom upward upon a
stone which had been left projecting out, just on the inside of the door-
way ; and no doubt it was left there for that purpose. Then commenced
our march, yet not before they had gone through with their long prayers,
which in a great measure consisted of thanksgiving for the benefits of
that fountain.

On the morning of the 26th, we were awakened earlier than usual, no
signs of day being then visible in the firmament. Immediately after the
prayers were over we started on, when the north star was still in sight ;
our course was from north-east to east-north-east. Thirst and hunger
wore sufferings not now to us, but their cravings were now severe indeed.

.B«»w.°e>8ii!a»»a M i 3* '^'*M i i> ^i 'iu jL< j j uc .. -

BONDAGE AMOlfO THE ARABS OP THE DESERT.

Ill

.Mmiit noon wn h.iw adwnllin((, built ofstono ; on approac.irnut whir.li, we
foM-iil it containtid a vory Inrife family, or rather Moviiral fiuailiuH. IJndor
iho wail W(! Hcntcd oursolvoH, and woro viowod by thcin all ; and liid the
rnurtificntidii (if mortititsd wo could bo by anything they could h ly) of
linariii;^ tlir Hiiino kind ot romarks upon U8, that had been niad< Woforo
from tiiiK! to timo, after our leaving Ahimcd's tribe. Wo howev r jjot
of thnin HHitu! boiled meal, the romains of the Arabs^ brcakfiiHt, and in it
waH a little butter ; it was to us a raro diah, though a very scanty ono,
b(!ing not tnore than ^-nuugh for two men. At a aniall diHtaiice from thir
houMe wax a piero of b&iley, of about ten acres. This was the first inhi-
bited building that rrlji^hi be called a house, which wo had seen since
our landing, and this was the first considerable piece of barley either
grown or growing. There was also here a little garden, in which we
saw Honin fiti:; looking pornpions and onions, but could got none of Ihcm.
Upon leaving' this i)lace, we ascended a high hill, covere»l with barley;
on the sutnmit, we discovered at a great distance off, the •ci, and as that
was the clement we were so much accustomed to, the sight of it seemed
to infuse joy into every br(!ast. The Arabs pushed us on till near sunset,
when we were brought to, and were informed that wo now v/^'o on the
ground belonging to Ahamed. and that the piece of grain that now lay
before us was his. L';>on viewing' it, 1 thou<{ht it contained at leafU one
hundred acres, but ad I had not been accustomed to meusaiing land, I
might have been wide from the mark in my calculation ; tliough, at any
rate, it was the largest field of grain I ever saw. Our Arabs informed
(/<! that wo were to stay with them there till that grain was cui and secured;
and now, said they, we will see what Christians can do. I told Larra
the re was some numagemcnt for us to attend to on this occasion ; that
if wo w jre to go to work, and do our best, it would be tiio means ol^ per-
potuaiing our slavery. Ho was of the same opinion. I tiien e.xhorted
all my men to make it seem to these Arabs as if they were unused to that
kind of labor, and that if tiicy should bo compelled to work, they must
take care, while at it, to do their employers no good ; telling them that
the obtainment of our ransom would depend upon our strict adherence
to this plan — and upon that point wo were all agreed.

Early on the moning of the 27th, the sickles that they brought with
them were made ready, and all hands of us were ordered out to work.
On hearing my name in particular called, I told them I never had cut
grain, nor had over done any work of the kind; that I was a shipmaster,
and had been learned nothing else. For this 1 received their curses and
threats, but with a determination not to heed them. In the meantime
Larra said to me, "they are determined to try you ; I heard them say,
if Rais works, his men will, for he is the head devil among them.^' I told
Larra he might tell them from me, that I would not work, that I was in
their power, and they might do with mc as they pleased ; that Ahamed
had promised to carry us all to Swearah, for the purpo.je of our being
ransomed there, and I had pledged myself to make him full compensation
for all his expenses and trouble. To this they replied, that Ahamed had
ordered them to make us work till the grain was cut and secured, and if
I would not work they would shoot me. The boy Jack was present, and
interposed, by observing he heard them say, if I would not begin, and my
men follow me, they would put me to death first, and the others should
share the same fate. I told Jack to tell them they might do as they
pleased ; I would take my chance in regard to the consequences of ray
refusal. I do not wish to 'make myself appear in this case aa the man to

""**?**%*-"

•^'^'^-^f^^^ist^ms^mm..

tESERT.

roacliiiuf wliicli, we
kl fiirrtiliuH. IJndor
rii all ; nnd liid the
lliey could Miy) of
been made boforo
Wo liowcv r |{ot
brcakfiiHt, and in it
a very scanty one,
I diHtaiico from thtt
I WQH tlio first inhi-
vo had seen since
:e of barley either
irden, in which we

pot none of I hem.
verod wilii barley ;
iio <'ci, and aH that
I sijiht of it seemed

on till near sunset,
B now v,"'!) on the
grain that n)w lay
itained at IcafU one

meas.iiinK land, I
on ; tiiough, at any
ur Arabs iufurmod
as c\u and secured;

do. I told Larra
this oroasion ; that

tiio moans of per-

I tiien exhorted

vero unused to that

to work, they must

; telling thcrn that
IT strict adherence

they brought with
dered out to work,
m I never had cut

was a shipmaster,
cd their curses and

In the meantime
I heard them aay,
ong them.^' I told
work, tiiat I was in
sed ; that Ahamed
rpode of our being
(I full compensation
I, that Ahamed had
nd secured, and if
:k was present, and
I not begin, and my

the others should

might do as they
>nsequences of ray
case as the man to

IMAGE EVALUATION
TEST TARGET (MT-3)

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I.I

■-1^ 12.5
1^ 112.2

if 1^

III

1.8

1.25 |U III 1.6

.4 6"

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^ ■ iyji^yfew^;aj;-^^:t^ v'a ^^ gr, ^j: 3?i

PAT SWELLS UP MARVELOUSLY.

bravo all danircrs. The fart was, both myself and my crew were at that
time redticfd to more skeletons, with fatigue of body and troubles of mind,
all which made life the lews desirable to us ; and beside, I thought there
would bo loss danffor of their throats being put in execution on account
ofthf^ al)sonre of Ahamed.

This controversy lasted an hour, and they got my men into the field at
last. Some of them could handle a sickle as well as themselves ; one
of whom (bring the man I wiis fearful would be of the most service to
them) I told to cut his own fingers, as if by accident. They all under-
stood my meaning, and it was not long after my men had been dragged
into the field, before I found they were doing very well, I mean well for
our own purposes. Some by accident, and some intentionally, perhaps, cut
their fingers and hands with their sickles, and made loud complaints; while
others, who were gathering up the grain for binding, did it in such a waste-
ful manner that their work was a real damage to the owner. Upon this
the Arabs took away the sickles from those of them that had been reaping,
and set them to hauling the grain up by the roots. They did so, but laid
it in the worst form that was poasiblo. By managing things in this way,
they beat the Ishmaelites, and got the victory. Our poor fellows suffered
very much for a short time ; but at last they were all driven out of the
field, wheri we all assembled together at the place where the reapers had
begun their business. Being myself strongly impressed with the belief
that our obstinacy in this case was the only way to obtain our freedom, I
thought it my duty to exhort them all to stand "firm in the resolution we
had taken. I was the more thoroughly convinced of the necessity of this
course of conduct, by two circumstances ; the one was, there were at that
time immense fields of standing grain, which required a great many labor-
ers, and the other circumstance was, the plague, as I had repeatedly
heard, had swept off" the inhabitants, which made laborers scarce. Ilence
I concluded that if we should make ourselves serviceable to our oppressors,
we should be kept by them, at least long enough to answer their present
purpose, and, perhaps, several of us for life.

Soon afler the Arabs had started off" to their work the second time, Pat
was missing. We all wondered (for none of us could tell) what had
become of Pat. In about two hours he returned, marvelously changed
in looks, and especially as to his bulk ; for he had eaten such a quantity
of stirabout, as he called it, that his body, about the waist, was swollen
to double the size it was when he left us. His story was this ; while
there was going on with us the conversation about working in the barley-
field, he took himself off", first going round a little knoll, then keeping
himself in a valley till he thought he was far enough off" to be out of his
taskmasters' view, and finally ascending the highest hill then in sight,
where ho saw a large house in the next valley, and the men, at that instant,
going from it into the grain-field. As soon as he could do it with safety,
he descended the hill, and when near the house, he saw the women, and
stopped. They looked at him, and, probably having a knowledge of our
being in the neighborhood, were not alarmed. He durst net approach
them nearer, for fear of giving alarm to the men. In that situation, he
thought to draw their compassion toward him by making to them signs
of hunger ; but that was of no avail. Whereupon he mounted a large
:4tone, and fell to singing and dancing. This tooK with them; in a moment,
as it were, they all came about him, women and children, some bringing
him milk and others stirabout. He ate all that was first brought himfand
craved more, which they continued to furnish him with as long as he

BONDAGF, AMONG THE ARABS OF THE DESERT.

danced and sung, and that was as long aa lie could oat and move. After
his iic was ovnr, lio took as mucli with him as ho could carry m his hands,
and lea tlicin, and came back by the way ho wont, undiscovered by the
Arubsof the otlior sex. . , , , ■

Some of our men were desirous of trying their luck by the same means,
but tlynking it imprudent, I dissuaded them from it. Ilavmg all that day
received nothing to eat, and anticipating, as we then did, anotuer coh
nigiil's lodging, we all fell to work (as loose stones were plenty there,) and
built a stone wall, three or four feet high, and perhaps ten feet long, as
a lee to defend us from the cold of the night-wind. We had it nearly
completed as the Arabs came in sight ; when each dropping his sickle,
they ran to us in a great passion, abused us as usual, and not only hove
our wall down, but threatened us with severe boatings in case we should
presume to set ourselves about that work again. In vaiu did we rernon-
strato against this cruel treatment of theirs, in not only keepmg us without
food and drink, but exposing us unsheltered to the cold night-wmds; it was
in vain we told them we could not live under such extreme hardships.
Their only reply was, "go to work, and then you may eat." And agam,
it was in vain to tell them that we could not work on the land, that
the sea was our element. They were deaf to all wo could say, and not
the least relief would they afford us. At length they went to their work
a^ain, and when once out of sight, we feeling our situation to be truly
dTstrossing, hold a sort of council, to devise what steps were necessary to
bo taken by us before it should be too late. A part of us no doubt had
some inclination to go into the field to work; but at last we were unan-
imously of the opinion that our best plan was to movo off to the eastward
in a body, and abide its consequences. Things being thus arranged, 1
took the lead, and all the rest followed. We had proceeded about eighty
rods from the field when they discovered us, and, in a moment, each drop-
pin<T his sickle, theyran for their guns, and seizing these weapons, they
ran^ftor us, calling aloud for us to stop. We paid no attention to them,
but moved on as fast as possible. The hindermost one got a knock from a
musket, as several of the rest of us did after him, and, finally, we were
stopped, and held a parley with them. They threatened us with death,
but we were now past the fear of that; our lives had become burthensome
to us, by means of our sufferings, and of our ceaseless dread of perpetual
slavery. They ordered us back, but we refused, at all hazards, pleading,
earnestly and repeatedly, the promise made to me by Ahamed. When
they found we would not go back, they said we should be put where they
could alwavs find us, and then marched us on. After we had walked
through the' fields about two miles, we came to a large habitation ; there
we wore stopped, under the walls, when one of them went in at the gate-
way. As the gate was open, the whole of the residents there soon came
out to look at us, and the stuff thai was made use of by their tongues, it
is not only improper to mention, but indecent. However, with a woman
who occupied an inner room, a bargain was made, that she should keep
us till Ahamed should come, at a given sum, by the day. This matter
being settled, the Arabian reapers returned to their field. We soon found
that a part of this establishment belonged to Ahanied,-and that Salear,
wliich was the name of the woman, was his sister.

During our stay here we were visited every day by one or more of our
masters, the reapers, who, when going back, never omitted, as I can
recollect, to give our keepers a charge not to let us ramble abroad, for
fear, as they said, of notice of it being given to some one, who they

DESERT.

Bt and move. After
Id carry in his hands,
andiscovercd by the

by the same moans.

Having all that day
m did, anotiicr cold
ire plenty there,) and
ips ten feet long, at*
I. We had it nearly
dropping his sickle,
d, and not only hove
IS in case we should
1 vain did we remon-
y keeping us without
d night-winds; it was

extreme hardships.
ly eat." And again,
rk on the land, that
e could say, and not
y went to their work
situation to be truly
ps were necessary to
t of us no doubt had
t last we were unan-
ro off to the eastward
iing thus arranged, 1
oceeded about eighty
1 moment, each drop-

these weapons, they
no attention to them,
ne got a knock from a
and, finally, we were
itened us with death,
become burthensome
ss dread of perpetual
all hazards, pleading,
by Ahamed. When
lid be put where they
After we had walked
rge habitation ; there
n went in at the gate-
lents there soon came
>f by their tongues, it
>wever, with a woman
that she should keep
le day. This matter
ield. We soon found
nedj'and that Salear,

)y one or more of our
er omitted, as I can
IS ramble abroad, for
some one, who they

LA8T FAREWELL OF SALEAR.

suspected would, in such case, rob them of their property, by stealing us
away. On the 29th of April, we having then been two or three days
ia tlii.s horrible place, Ahamed arrived here, bringing with liim Bob,
aiioliier Knglisli boy, belonging to the Martin Hall. The poor boy was
rediiciHl to a mere skeleton. There was such a rejoicing between him
and tin; other two boys, his shipmates, as it would be difficult to describe.
Tlioy fawiK'd around him, and asked him twenty questions in the time he
could answer one. We mixed with them, and heartily partook of their
joy — at this happy meeting even Ahamed seemed pleased. Bob said it
must have been six months since he had heard a word from any of the
crow, and lie had supposed them all dead.

The next morning, Ahamed appearing in a little better humor than
the evening before, I asked him when he intended to carry us toSwearah?
He answered, as soon as his barley should e all cut and secured, all
which was nearly done already. Upon this, he soon went off, and returned
to us again about noon, and with iiim came several Arabs, to whom, as it
seemed, he was selling tobacco. As I was much attached to tobacco, I
begged him for a small piece to chew. He refused at that time, but a
little piece he gave to Larra, who put it in his mouth, which displeasing
Ahamed, he said, "Christians are bad in everything; tobacco is made to
smoke, and nobody but a Christian dog would cat it."

On the morning of the first of May, I took a seasonable opportunity to
mention to Ahamed, that as his grain was all secured, he now would be
at leisure to march us on to Swearah. Salear being present at the time,
she told her brother that I had promised to send her on from that place a
looking-glass, a comb, and a large handkerchief. He looked at me with
a smile, and asked me if I really intended to give her the things she
mentioned? I told him I did ; and, moreover, that I would give her some
beads and rings for her fingers. "Now I believe you," replied Ahamed ;
"you shall go soon, and you shall ride the horse I bought for Bob, as Bob,"
added he, "is growing stronger every day." Salear, since the time I had
promised her some presents from Swearah, had been a little more accom-
modating toward me. In the dusk of tbe evening, I found Ahamed with
her, and the boy Jack sitting by their side, and I ventured to place myself
among them. She reminded t»e of the promise I had made her, of the
glass, and those several other things which the women there so highly
value ; and I at the same time solemnly declared to her that I would fulfill
that promise. Upon this, Ahamed made some inquiries of me with regard
to the manufactories of my own country, which I answered as well as I
could ; and I took the liberty to (ell him how much better he would be
treated than we had been, if by accident he should be thrown on our
shore ; that in such an event, instead of being held in bondage, and sold
from tribe to tribe, our Sultan would have him conducted bacK to his
native country in safety ; whereas he still held us in slavery, and several
persons had been here already in order to purchase us for market in the
interior ; and all this, notwithstanding he could get a great price for our
ransom from our Consul, who was distant only a few days journey.

He heard me out, and then warmly retorted upon me as follows : "You
say, if I were in your country, your people would treat me better than I
treat you : there is no truth in you ; if I were there, I should be doomed
to perpetual slavery, and be put to the hardest labor, in tilling your ground;
you are too lazy to work yourselves in your fields, and therefore send
your ships to the negro coast ; and in exchange for your useless trinkets,
with which you cheat the poor negroes, you take away ship loads of them

y k

If ill
'\ tl

93 BONDAGE AMONG THE ARABS OF THE DESERT.

to voiir country, from which never one returns ; and had your own ship
osclpel oTshore,you yourself would now hetak.ngort the poor noj-rocs
to evSas ing slavery." After this unpleasant discourse was ended we sat
^lent for some time" and then Ahamed said to me, "In a day or two we

''oL\'hrilg'o7'JhI third of May, we wore awakened ear.y, and
found hem al in a hurry at preparing for a departure At about e.ght
oWk w^ took our leave of this horrid place, when Salear foUowo^d us
f„r l,7vard and with her last farewell, bawled out to me, " Rais,
JemoL ir Ty things "To which I brieflly answered. / should not forget
i "• nor d SVever^forget her,nor ever shall I. She was about the ughes
fookinTwoman I ever saw; about four feet and s.xmches h.gh,sq".b o
S mund, ill shaped, petulant, crabbed, savagely ferooous, and all th s
n the very worst sense of the words. Her dress was nothing but a nearly
worn oit hrck, which she wrapped around her, so as to extend Iron.
considerab?y ab^ve her knees to considerably be bw her breasts, wh.ch
wereenonnously large. Her cheek-bones were h.gh, her eyes smal and
black her color that of dark copper; her teeth were fine, and were the
S cleai thing we discerned about her. We all had reason enough to
Scmber hor Forget you! no, no, Salear, I can never forget you I
mrnTedhcoU, Lrfe that had been bought for Bob, and we took the
So" path leading down the valley. By noon Bob complamed of ut.gue^
Z could not kip up with the company, and to lum I gave up the old
horse and made out mvself to get along tolerably well on foot.

At dusk wc got into a good path, and were walking along very mode-
ratdyf Aharedfjack, and mysSlf, ahead of the rest, -hen the old man
said if he got as much money for us as he ought, he should be nth. 1
replied to him, that he should be well paid, and that no danger was to be
repiiea lo "''»' ^j. j. jni,i„tea silence, he accosted me

rn'K foUowi„"g ller "Tlfere is no confidence to be placed in (^hris-
?ans fo ^Xnever they come on shore on our coast, and are not imme-
d.a^cl'v dTscovered by us, they bury their money in the sand, as you yourself
Save Inrrprevent it from falling into the hands of the true beln.vors.
ThTs ca^do you no good, and it is our property. We pray earnestly to
the Altn"ghW God to send Christians ashore here ; he hears our prayers,
and often sends us some good ships; and if you d.d as you ong ht o do,
we should have the full benefit of them." I then asked h.m it .t over
happened that the crews of the ships coming ashore there had all pev.shed
or been destroyed? To that question he answere.l, "It Aa» happened, and
U was tL w 1 of God. If they had been spared, they would I'^vo secreted
E treasure, whereas by destroying the whole of them, wc got a 1 they
the.r treasure, wn .r y j ^ ^^ ^^ ^^^ following story : "Once,"

S A1..:^S, " h^re Tame ashore a very large ship. It being some tune
Tefore he c ew were discovered, they had landed all the.r property, and
had CO ered themselves with their saijs. When they w-- d.-overed, a
«mall" ribe went down to take them into their possession, but they hred
arour men and some of them they killed. Exasperated by bemg fired

= L *<Vl»*i' -^

.t/^^'JiV^ -^»^ -^

lESERT.

had your own ship
rt' tlio poor n(«f<roe8
8 was ended, we sat
In a day or two we

'akened early, and
9. At about eight
Salear followed us
out to me, " Rais,
I should not forget
VTia about the ugliest
ches high, squab, or
rocious, and all this
nothing but a nearly
as to extend from
her breasts, which
her eyes small and
J fine, and were the
td reason enough to
lever forget you. I
»b, and we took the
Tiplained of latigue,
n I gave up the old
ell on foot,
ig along very mode-
, when the old man
e should be rich. 1
no danger was to be
(nee, he accosted me
» be placed in (/hris-
it, and are not immc-
sand, as you yourself
)f the true believers.
We pray earnestly to
le hears our prayers.
I as yo\i ought to do,
asked him if it over
here had all perished.
It has happened, and
' would have secreted
them, we got all they
iwing story : "Onco,"
It being some time
ill their property, and
•y were discovered, a
ession, but they fired
eratcd by being fired
many were killed on
r, fell back, and sond-
iw endeavored to show
red the property, and
to an understanding
had with them in that
by force. As soon ms

AHAMED'S STORY— SWARM OF LOCUSTS,

our men came within gun-shot, they were fired at by them ; the fire was
returned, and all fought hard, but our men, not being able to get at tiicrn
with their long knives, were repulsed the second time. They then sent
up again, and I, getting information of it, went down, with all my fighting
men. There were now three tribes of us, and we had more men tiian the
Christians ; and as my tribe was the largest, the conunand of the whole
was given to me. We got down in the night, and having been running
for three days, I thought it best not to attack them till the morning, judging
tiiat when they should see our numbers they would yield to us. At day-
light I saw thom, and made signs to them to lay down their arms, upon
which their camp seemed all in confusion. At the moment we were
prepared to attack them they formed themselves in a close body, and
began to march oft" eastward. We formed ourselves in three divisions,
according to our tribes, and the chief of each tribe led on his own men.
My tribe, together with one of the other two, got in their front, and the
remaining tribe was on their side. Wo all began our attack at once, and,
after fighting a long time, we had killed half of tiiose dogs, and then the
remnant left alive laid down their arms. We now all dropped our guns,
and fell upon them with our long knives, and every one of them we killed;
and their whole number we found to be upward of five hundred.

"After we had gone through with slaughtering them, we stripped them
all, and left their bodies lying on the ground, and went back to the ship,
and found that they had landed great quantities of goods. In the ship
we found guns, iroii, sails, powder, and many other things valuable to us;
they had in the ship large guns, sucii as they have, you know, upon the
walls of Swearah. When we had collected all these things together, and
burnt the ship, we sent for our camels, and carried theui home, and sold
them about the country. We got a great deal of booty, but we lost more
than a hundred of our men killed in battle." When he had done, I
aaked him if they had landed casks, and whether they had built stone
huts, and covered them with their sails, and several other questions I put
to him relative to what we had seen near the harbor. He remained silent
till he had heard me through, and then turned me off with this short
answer — "that is none of your concern." Nevertheless, I ventured to
inquire of him as to the time wjien that affair happened. But his reply
to me was the same as before, nor could I ever afterward get one word
more from him about it. Whenever I attempted it, he would turn to Jack,
and ask him what it wasybr that 1 wanted to know concerning that matter?
Upon inquiry, I found that Jack had never heard this story before, nor
had either of the two other English boys. For myself, I was fully satisfied
that the crew of the frigate which was wrecked on that coast not very
long before, had all been murdered, and all my companions in misfortune
were of the same opinion.

The fourth and fifth of May, we rose early, and traveled late ; always
suffering under our privations, but meeting with no adventures of cou-
■equence. On the sixth of May, so early in the morning that the stars
were still viaible in the sky, we proceeded on in a south-east course.
About sunrise we discovered that the ground ahead was very black, and
could not conjecture the cause ; but we soon came to it, and found there
a swarm of locusts traveling southward. The edge, or side of them, was
as straight as a line ; they were thicker than they could all stand together
on the ground; so numerous were they that they crawled over one another's
backs, all struggling hard to get along. The feet of our camel crushed
them at every step, and at every step their blood gushed out in a manner

u » » v » >»M ii M ii.i ri i 'nij>»i ii n ,'i g | > 'i '- ''> " '

BONDAGE AMONG THE ARABS OF THE DESERT.

shocking to behold ; the moment tlic camel lifted up his foot, his footstep
was filled with living locusts crawling over the carcasses of the crushed
ones. Whether we looked to the north or to the south, we could see no
end to them; they covered the ground for about half a mile in width ; the
eastern side of them was as straight as the western. We saw no ' traggling
ones, nor did they fly ; they were about three inches in length, and we
concluded that they were young ones that had not the use of wings. This
was the only swarm of locusts that wo sow. All the while we were passing
over them, the Arabs were muttering over something to themselves.

Not long after we changed our course to the east-north-east, when I
had an opportunity of talking with Ahamcd, and I endeavored to convince
him (of what I bad often tried in vain to convince him before) that there
was not the least doubt but the Consul would be happy to see us, his
brethren, in Swearah, and would immediately pay for our ransom; that
it was not Aw money which would be paid for us, but money belonging
to our Sultan, who always took care of liis subjects. Ahamed's reply was,
"If I were sure of that^ you should have your freedom in a few days."
As wc advanced the country appeared better ; the soil, and the fields of
grain, nearly resembled what we had seen before ; the land, whenever
we had an opportunity to examine it, appeared a fine gravel ; the trees
were more common, and, in many places, were some small groves, also
many fig trees, though with but little fruit. Very soon after wc came to
a place v/here a great number of tents were struck. We viewed them,
and found, by our Arabs, that the inhabitants had mostly died of the plague,
and that when the tribe became reduced to a very few, those few survivors
took all the furniture and turned it upside down, hauled out the tent poles,
and let the whole fall to the ground, where it remained untouched ever
after ; that such was tlieir law, that when a whole family died of that
disease, no one might take their bowl to dip with, even though he were
perishing for water, nor could their flocks be taken possession of by any
process, but were left to run at large, till some one unknowing to whom
they had belonged, takes them under his own keeping, and makes pro-
clamation of it for a given time, after which, if none should have appeared
to claim them, they are to belong to the present possessor. Upon our
removing but a few rods from this scene of desolation, we discovered
their garden^ and getting over the fence, each of us took away a pompion,
and was eating of it with greediness, when the Arabs perceiving it, they
with great haste deprived us of all that we had not yet swallowed, which
was but a little, for we had nearly eaten a raw pompion each. The curses
they so liberally heaped upon us for this offense were but little regarded.
One of the boys lagged behind, and got one large piece which had been
taken from us, a share of which fell to me, and it tasted really well.
Late in the afternoon we came to a tribe of about fifty tents, where we
stopped.

The Arabs were well received here, but as to ourselves, nowhere had
we been so much ridiculed. The were not sparing of their vile epithets,
so common to these people, who had ever viewed us as a poor degraded
set of beings, hardly fit to live in the world. The women were foremost
in insolence and abuse, and their children not far behind them. Here
wc got water, aud a little raw meal. Ahamed here bought three asses,
to assist us along in our journey ; one he gave me, and the other two were
used among us alternately, as the needs of our men required. On the
morning of the eighth, we started on early. The women ridiculed us as
wc passed along, and bawled out to us, "You swinish looking dogs, go

^\1u^mm.^c.^^''■*•-

! DESERT.

> his foot, his footstep
masses of the crushed
luth, we could bce no
fa mile in width; the

We saw no ' trag^ling
168 in length, and wo
B use of wings. Tills
while we were passing
ig to themselves,
istnorth-east, when I
ideavored to convince
lim before) that there

happy to see us, his
for our ransom; that
but money belonging

Ahamed's reply was,
3dom in a few days."
soil, and the fields of
; the land, whenever
ine gravel ; the trees
ne small groves, also
oon after we came to
It. We viewed them,
ftly died of the plague,
w, those few survivors
lied out the tent poles,
lined untouched ever
e family died of that
even though he were

possession of by any
! unknowing to whom
ping, and makes pro-
should have appeared
possessor. Upon our
lation, we discovered
took away a pompion,
abs perceiving it, they
yet swallowed, which
on each. The curses
ire but little regarded,
piece which had been

it tasted really well.

fifty tents, where we

arselves, nowhere had
r of their vile epithets,
us as a poor degraded
women were foremost
behind them. Here
re bought three asses,
and the other two were
len required. On the
vomen ridiculed us as
nish looking dogs, go

THE CHRISTIAN DOGS ARE FED.

to your own country, wn <lo not wnnt yon horo." TJiosn of us who rodo
on the assos were beiiind the rest, and afior us in particular thes(! women
ran, and in a few minutes dismounted us, taking the asses away, and
laughing immoderately all the time. We cried out for help, and the Arabs
diHcovoring the sad plight we were in, came back to uh, and, with much
porauaHion, regained for us our beasts, at the .saiiu! time iilamiiij; iis for
being i)ehind. There was now in our view a lar^'c; town, or city, covering,
1 should suppose, two or tiirco acres of ground. Tiie walls appoarod
from ten to twenty feet high ; on the north side wiis a large breach in liio
wall ; the Arabs were looking at it, and talking alxml it, while Jack and
myself were both sitting on the animals wc roilc, and Aliamed perceiving
UH looking that way, asked Jack if there were such large cities in Kiiglaiid?
The boy told him there were nnjch larger ones there. Upon which Alia-
med went on to say, this city was destroyed, and every soul put to death ;
that ho was at tiio siege, witii all his tribe, and lie oxiiltingly added, '"wo
spared none, not even the children!" I asked him the cause of tliat mas-
sacre; to wiiich ho replied, "It contained bad mc.n ; wicked men, who
feared not God, and did not live like true mussuhneii."

About noon wc took a short turn to the left, over a high hill, and there
wo saw the sea, and, in a valley not far distant, a great number of tents.
No sooner did wo seo these tents, then Ahamed called out to us, in Arabic,
"There is my brother! you shall now have enough to eat." We ap-
proached to within the usual distance, and all sat down except Ahnmed.
As soon as the two brothers met, each put his right hand upon tho
head of the other, then each kissed his right hand, and then they shook
hands ; and all this before a word was uttered by either of them. When
this ceremony was finished, the chief then says to his near kinsman,
"Doarbrother, are you well? from whence arc you ? where are you going?
how did you leave your children?" and, last of all, he inquires, "how
are your wives?" To this Ahamed answers, "Dear brother, I am directly
from home ; I am bound off to find a market for these Christians ; my
children are all well ; one of my wives is sick ; we have traveled a long
way to-day without food , these Christian dogs have been complaining
of hunger, and I promised them they should have victuals enough upon
our arrival here." The other then says, "All is well ; to-night they shall
have as much as they can eat ; go to my tents." This was a strange sight ;
two brothers, after a long absence, meeting together, going throun'' !»s
much ceremony as if they were utter strangers, gravely and stea ' Vy
looking one another full in the face, and with eyes seemingly so pio. ■ ;j
as to pry into the depths of each other's hearts : — all this was very singu.ar,
and at the same time there appeared in it something of dignity or grandeur.

I took this opportunity to beg for victuals, and Ahamed's brother told
me he had ordered his wife to cook for us as much as we could eat, and
that it was now boiling ; he then left us. As soon as he was gone, one
of the boys went to his tent, and found, sure enough, a pot boiling. Our
hunger was so great that every minute seemed to us an hour. At last,
being informed that our meal was cooked, one of our boys went for it, and
found one potful only ; that was turned out into a large bowl, and brought
us boiling hot. We could not wait for it to cool, but instantly began to
eat it, hot as it was. Reader, if you have ever seen a hog run his nose
into a trough of hot swill, and observed the queerness of his behavior
upon it, you may figure to yourself the appearance we made while eating
this meal in our tent. We soon found the bottom of the bowl, and scraped
it out clean with our fingers.

IIONDAOK AMONG THE ARABS OF THE DE3F,RT.

Whfin this bowl wan finished, thn two brolhors camo to our tnnt, and
asked us if we liail liad oiioufih? The hoys answoriMl, Wo havo had but
one polful, and liiat is not half «;nou<.'h. llo turned Irorn ns, and went
to his tent, which was not ten j)ac,e8 otV, and, in a very inoderato tone of
voice, spoke to liis wife thus: "Did I not tfdl you to boil for these Chris-
tians both pots?" She replied, "You did, but 1 thoiiKht one wau as much
as they deserved." Witiiout uttering anotiior word, he took up a heavy
club, and struck her over the breast. Slio fell, and he continued to beat
her till wo coidd no longer hear her groans. Ahamed stood motionless.
Wc besought him to intercede with his brother for her, but he shook his
head, and said nothing. When this old man had done beating his wifo,
ho called to a wt)man in the next tent, and ordered her to boil a pot of
meal for us, and added, "I will see if my orders cannot bo obeyed."
Upon this, he, together with Ahamed, walked back to the place where
the men of his tribe were sitting on the ground, and ho seemed as little
discomposed as if he had been beating a dog. I s(Mit in one of the boys to
see if she was dead, who stayed some time, and I heard him talking there
with the woman that was cooking. When I hud called him back, he
said she was still alive, that her head was considerably swollen, and that
her neck and breasts wore bruised very much ; and that the women there
observed, "She will die soon, and to-night we will bury her."

Presently our pot of stirabout was done, and she, the cook, called one
of the English boys to bring away the bowl. He went, and took it to our
tent, whore we agreed to let it cool, the craving of our appetite being now
somewhat allayed. The boy found the wounded woman still alive, but
said slio was much more swollen than when he had seen her before. When
this food was so far cooled as to be eatable, wc fell to, and ate the whole,
and sent the bowl back to the tent, with a message, in these few words,
We have had enough. The old chief, I suppose, saw tho bowl returned,
and he and Ahamed came and inquired of us if we had had enough ; and,
after being answered afiirmatively, ho walked to his tent, and, with appa-
rent indifference, asked the women if his wifo was dead. Receiving for
answer that she was not dead, but could not live long, he and Ahamed
both went back again to the other men.

On the morning of the ninth, wc were slow about moving ; and did not
start till sunrise. At the moment of our departure 1 sent one of the boys
to see whether the woman, so cruelly beaten by Ahamed's brother, was
living or dead. He returned, and said they could perceive life in her
yet, but he was told by the one that had cooked for us tho day before,
that she was almost gone, and would die very soon ; that she was swollen
to a great size. I think it beyond doubt that she died that very morning.
As we advanced, the country looked still better and better ; the grain-fields
seemed alive with reapers ; it was not uncommon for us to see forty or
fifty of thorn in a single field. About noon, when we were upon one of
the highest of these hills, Ahamed cried out thrice, as loud as he could
hallo, "St. Cruz! St. Cruz! St. Cruz!" and then, pointed to me a space
where the mountains of the Atlas were fallen away, I could plainly discern
what appeared to me a white speck, which he said was St, Cruz. Aha-
med now seemed very lively, as did also most of the rest of them. When
an opportunity was left me to question him, I asked him what the distance
was to St. Cruz, and whether any Christian ships wore there? To this
he replied, that St. Cruz was in sight, and not far off, that there were no
ships there, nor had been for a long time ; that all the ships went to
Swearah. That ia Mogadore, said I to him. "Yes," be answered, "you

DESERT.

inn to our tout, and
[|, Wo havo had but
il IVoin na, niul wont
ry tnodorato tono of
boil lor these Chris-
'ht ono wasj ns inucli
, ho look ii|> a hoavy
Ih) continnod to beat
nd Hlood inotionlcas.
lor, but b(! sliook his
jno beating liis wifo,

hor to boil a pot of
cannot be obeyed."

to the place where
1 he seemed as little
tin ono of the boys to
ard him talking there
called him back, he
biy swollen, and that
that the women there
ury her."

, the cook, called one
:nt, and took it to our
ir appetite being now
/oman still alive, but
en her before. When
o, and ate the whole,
, in those few words,
w the bowl returned,
ad had enough ; and,
tent, and, with appa-
dead. Receiving for
3ng, he and Ahamed

moving ; and did not
[ sent one of the boys
hamed^s brother, was

perceive life in her
or us the day before,
; that she was swollen
ed that very morning,
letter; the grain-fields
for us to see forty or
we were upon one of
, as loud as he could
toiatcd to me a space
I could plainly discern

was St. Cruz. Aha-
I rest of them. When
him what the distance
were there? To this
off, that there were no
all the ships went to
s," be answered, '*you

nORIHD srSPENSK.

«mI1 it HO ; were you over there?" Yes. "Woro you over at St. Cruz?"
No. "Who do you know in Swo;irah?" (.'orisiil (iwyii, taslior (*(Mirt,
Jarksoii. I'oxcron, and inaiiy otliorn, some French, ami some Spaiiiiudit!
Turitinj,' to Aliaincd, who w;is all attention to thi.s convorsation. In- .^aid
to him, "Me has beiju at Sweariih, and has friends there." lie then
conrludiMl with asking me irc.'onsiil (iwyn had money enough to ran.soui
so many of his brothers? Without hesitation, I told him he eould raiisoni
ten times our number if they were brought to him; and I enchnivored to
make him understand that the Consul did not pay this money (Vom his own
purse, lint it was money belonging to our Sultan, who placed it at his
disposal tor that pur|)ose, and, in case that he (the Consul) should at any
time be short of money, it was only for him to borrow of the rich merchants
till our Siiltau should send him more. This explanation of mine seemed
to be satisfactory to him, and our conversation was here closed. On the
morning (»f the tenth, we were awakened by the sound of the voices of the
Arabs at prayer. We saw no appearance of any habitation till near night ;
and having traveled over heavy sand, and the weather extremely hot, we suf-
fered for water, but none could be found. At length Aliamed told us
we should soon come to a small tribe of his acquaintance, and there we
should faro well. It was beginning to be dusk, when, on our rising a hill,
wc saw St. Cru/, which did not appear twenty miles ofl", though in that
wc wore mistaken.

At about eight o'clock wo arrived at the tribe which Ahamed had
spoken of, which consisted of about thirty. We got hero but a poor
supper, which consisted of a little raw meal and bad water. When we
lay down to sleep, wo found ourselves watched in a manner little diflbrent
from what had been usual, the Arabs lying on the outside of us. Wc
slept not well: being not far from the sea, and the wind blowing strong
all the night, we lay extremely cold. We had one comfort, however, and
a very groat one; we now were beginning to think ourselves nearly out
of danger, and that rendered our sufferings the more tolerable. The
length of this day's travel must, as we thought, have exceeded thirty miles.
On the morning of the eleventh, we started on half an hour before day-
light, and took a south-east course, and traveled fast. At the dawn of
day we saw St. Cruz far on our left. About noon, we found we were at
least eight miles from the town, and were hidden from it by some high
sand-hills on our front. Here we discovered a few huts a little on our
right, and the Arabs proposed to go to them ; while we, on the contrary,
begged hard to go directly on to St. Cruz, at which we might arrive in
two or three hours. Their demur about proceeding directly forward,
gave us considerable uneasiness. The Arabs at last gave us peremptory
orders to march to the huts, and did it with apparent anger ; and, as wo
were not sure of our being then within the emperor's territory, it was a
dictate of prudence that we should obey.

I soon foiind an occasion of talking with Ahamed, and asked him when
we were going on? at the same time reminding him that we had been
tiero two hours, and were pretty well refreshed. He looked me full in
the face, and piercingly, as if he could read my heart, and asked me what
was my haste? I pretended I was not in much haste, and told him it was
much more comfortable traveling now than it was in the morning, as the
sun was fast lowerinp. and the wind blowing fresh, and we felt ourselves
very inuch refreshed. He said to mo, "Not long ago you were hungry,
and since that you have had nothing considerable to eat ; and now, hungry
as you are, you are desirous to inarch off, though there are two pots of

,111
I' T

|plp^inaniijriiii|||giKis»|iirjisiBiii

PONDAOE AMONG THE ARABS OF TUE DKSERT.

victuiU l.ollin" for y.-i." At Ww ino.nont of Ahamo.rH l.-avini; mr a

M «i o irnv h.U .-amo „all..,.i..« .l.-w. t!,o lull ... .1... o I.t .,.!.■

, h r V .v. W" nil 1>'"1'1I'"' "»""' '•'"•' "'"' '''^'l''''''^ '""'J'' '"" ^*
llvVVll ..-0 von :...• .l..|.T...in..(l to <-arry tl..-s.- nlavs t.j Sss.;ar:,h ;-
IH a V.M.th.-rr v..Hl.T.lay,a.ul i.t.-n.lc.d tohav ^cmm, you la.s ,..;- ,t ; l.u
v,u to k 1..' l...v"r road, nn.l «o I miHHo.l you: this ...orn.nK I lynrd
o. o au ,.l n.l...lto l.av. sen you bcforn you ha.l rro.«nd this wat.,r-
,w .'r i L no. too late yet. You may now r.st aHHuro.l hat tl.o (.,ns

• not a .so.n Ih-s- Cluiitians. But a low clays ago, an old man, a f «nd
• „i . r -diroctlv frotn Swoarah ;-ho told mo ho sawHcvcra Chr 8-

ia I ;" n that town, whom the Consul rofuH.-d to rauHcun, n.ul^ that ho
\ral) who canlo.l them to that market could «ot no pay for th.-m at all
i.ut f V will only r<.-croHS the river in time, you may sell every one 9f
V , s '.'u a^.laco south of hero, and which is within three days' march^
^Z .« .0 has' taken off ho many of our men. that there are not enough
,f then l.lVtocut and harvest Buch abundant crops as our Cod .n his
„oor"s hath hestowed upon US, and these men 1 know can soon learn

"' Qui Arabian masters said but little in reply to this harangue, but with
us t no wu' a «oneral vociferation against it. At no t.mo before this,
11 1 ^,<irrcdu. interfere in their conversation ; but now we were driven
fo eX nit?o and pleaded as for onr lives. The English boys took the

ad s^Si^^^^ in Arabic, they refuted all that the tellow hud

is ad they asserted that I was well known m Swearah, and had
friends there enough to redeem us all. In this condition of horrid sus-
Snse wo wore lofTfor half an hour, when Ahamed came back, and told
Es that none of our masters had consented to sell to the fellow, cxcep
ThVowner of Ilussoy, my mate, and that ho (Hussey's master) had agreed
o sen h m and tuWome himself. I tri^d to find out the pr.ce ..e was
La for but could not. My poor companion, llusscy, shed tears in

b 'ndt'c e'lS tie restof uslproared in S-at d^trc.s A. to A amc^^^
ill he said on the occasion was, "I cannot help it." After a short siltncc,
mv r^ate put on his manly resolution, and said, "Let it be so ; I must go,
buyout e'paration will belery short ; I will be ,n St. Cruz m the morning^J
To nart with him in this manner was more than we could bear. Boy Jack
was'^o tTbe tr^ ed, but as he understood the Arabic much better than
. dJher of the o her boys, I thought it best to make use of h.m as my mouth ;
^°l„l„ 1 /Jirpcted him to go to Ilussey's master, and tell him if he
accordingly I directed h,m to ^ow y j^^^^^ ^hat the Consul

rSte away ove?the hill, and out of our sight, in as great a rage as it was
nosaible for a barbarian or savage to show.

"^On the morning of the twelfth, the sun was fully up before we had got
fairiv und™ iav For several miles, and to within two or three miles of
s"irZ%7^rHned the downward course of the 'i'e^ a^jj^on we
Uinied S the right, in a direction for that city, which had a formidable
InMarancr It WM situated on the peak of a very high hill, formed by
Xe for defensTand on the side that met our view were embrasures
jSguns ; \iZ natural for u. to conclude that this was the emperor s

: DKSKRT.

imod'j^ li'iiviii!; nir. a
lill oil tlx' ollii-r m'kU'
iindy ln'iird liiin fay.
lavcii »<> Swfiiriili; — I
.i, you last iii^'lil ; t)iit
thin inoniiii),' I h<'artl
(I rro!*!*"'*! this wiittT —
nHiircd that llio ( 'oimiil
ro, an old man, a fi iond
' hu 8aw Bovcrul Cliris-
o rnnHoin, and that the

pay for tln-in at all ;
mny sell every one 9f
thinthrco days' march,
it ihorc are not enough
■ops as our («od in his

1 know can soon learn

this harangue, but with
U no time before this,
)ut now wo were driven
3 Knglisli boys took the
all that the fellow hud
vn in Swearah, and had
condition of horrid sus-
led came back, and told
ill to the fellow, except
ley's master) had agreed
find out the price he was
Ilusscy, shed tears \n
istress. As to Ahamcd,
" After a short silence,
Let it be 80 ; I must go,
}t. Cruz in the mornmg.
e could bear. Boy Jack
Arabic much better than
use of him as my mouth ;
istcr, and tell him if he
ly honor that the Consul
m for, and that over and
arrival at Mogadoro. In
;k did his duty faithfully,
, till after Ahamed, the
erpreter, had had a long
•e-crossed the river, and
as great a rage as it was

Uy up before we had got
lin two or three miles of

the river, and then we

which had a formidable

ery high hill, formed by

ir view were embrasures

this was the emperor s

PROSPECTS OF LinERTY.

frontier town. When wo had come within two or throo hundred yards
of thn Inwnr town, wo saw a man skipping down ovrr the rnckM, and ad-
vancing toward the lower town with great spood, having a gun in his hand.
Ah Honn as ho had cnme within call, ho ordered us to stop ; we all stopped
at a littlo distance from thn nearest houses, and he demanded of uh who
wo wore. On receiving from the Arabs an answer to this (juestion, he,
demanded the name of our chief. To which Ahamed answered tliat he
was chief, and he gave him his name, and my namo was called for
next. Upon which he said to me, "You are to appear before the governor
immediately." My bosom swelled with joy at these words. I called to
Larra, and bado him follow mo. I forgot my inability to jump, and to
rim, and how, in my fccbin and emaciated condition, I made tho ascent
so quick, is beyond my power to tell. When we had arrived at the gate
of tho battery, which was in a very short time, Larra observed to me,
"Captain, tho water runs off your face," which wns a circumstance that
I had not perceived before. Wo entered, I directly following tho soldier,
Larra next, and Ahamcd last.

In this room of refuge, where we had so happily arrived at last, were
sitting on a bench three well-looking men, of much lighter color and
stouter frame than tho Arabs, and one of them was holding in hi.s hand
a long spyglass. They ordered us to sit down, and wo did so; seating
ourselves in the middle of the room, which was probably from twdvo to
sixteen feet square, while Ahamcd (not chief now) squeezed himself up
in one corner. Looking, as I did, all around the room, I saw a door back
of us that was shut. Wo sat silent, for near a quarter of an hour, these
men all the time fixing their eyes upon us. At last, Larra breaking
silence,askcdmeifIthought anyone of these men was the governor. I told
him I thought he was not there. Then one of them asked mo in English
if I were an Englishman? and upon my replying that I was, he said,
"You and the boy both look like Spaniards." I answered him, including
Larra with myself, we aro English. Speaking very slow and distinctly,
he asked me to what part of England our ship belonged? where wo were
bound, and what after? how large a ship she was? how many poles she
had? what goods were on board? and how much money we had with us? In
answer to these queries, I told him the ship belonged to Liverpool, was
bound to the Cape de Verd islands for a load of salt, that she was a con-
siderably large ship, but not very large, that she had three poles, (masts,)
had no goods, and but a little money, barely enough to buy a load of salt.
Ho asked me if there was no salt in Liverpool? I told him we had large
quantities of it there, but that the salt which we were going after was of
anotll^r kind, made in a hot climate by the heat of the sun, and that we
were to carry it to a foreign country, far away to the westward, where it
was worth more money than the Liverpool salt. "Well," he said, "the
next time you come along this coast keep further off; ships with three
poles should not come so near; formerly, when we had trade at St. Cnii,
the large ships always laid off a great way from shore." At that moment
we heard a noise without, when the IMoor thil had been questioning me,
instantly says, "The governor is coming.'* As he entered the room, I
arose, and addressed him in English, jast as I should have done if he
had understood that language, the Moor in the taneantime interpreting to
him what I said. He returned my salatation, and invited me to sit down,
which I did.

He was a stout, portly, well-looking man, about six feet high and nearly
fifty years old, of a light copper color, with a short bushy beard, and wore

I :".": ' . ' r

100

nONDAOE AMONG THE ARABS OF TUP. DKRERT.

a clean white haick, and neat morocco slippors ; his pleasinf,', imnly look
prepossessed mo in iiis favor; all his qiieHtions to me were [MMlincnt .md
distinct. The Moor told him in Arahic the suhatance of the int(Mro;,Mti()ii.'
which he had put to me, and tlirn tlii' jjnvernor wi^iit onto ask me hiinscif
scvei ill (picstions al)ont my shipwreck, the cause of it, the time it nappfMrd.
and wlicther the Arabs there present had any of the i;old tliat 1 liad lost
Atlor I had, by and tiiroiigh Larra, answered all tiuse >|nestioiis to his
satisfaction, ho asked me how this Aral) (Aliaincil) liad treated inr-?
Without waiting for a reply, he (•ontinuod on, and said, "These Arabs
are all a set of tiiicves, robbers, and murderers, and from time immcino-
ria! they have been at war with tiic Moors as well as w itii all others within
their reach, and if they have not treated you well, I will keep you licire a
few days, wlien I shall be going myself to Swearaii, and will take you
along with me and deliver you up to the Consul." Ahamed trembled, as
I could plainly perceive. I then answered the question he had put to me
regarding our treatment by Ahamed, telling him that Ahamed and his
companions had bought us of a hunting party, and had paid a considerable
sum for us, and had not treated us so well as perhaps tiiey ought, but I
had no doubt they would do better in this respect for the time to come,
and being so near Swearah, I preferred going on with them. lie then
asked if I was hungry? I am both hungry and very thirsty, was my reply.
Upon this he turned to the soldier that stood behind him, and ordered
some drink for me, telling him not to be long after it. In a few minutes
he returned, with some sweet milk mixed with water, of which we drank
freely. I was about to reach the kettle to Ahamed, but the governor
forbade it, saying, ^^That fellow don't drink from my kettle^ The kettle
was of copper, and scoured to a high polish. After Larra had drank, I
set it down, and then came the victuals. It was a dish of coscoosoo, which
is a favorite dish with Moors ; on it lay a whole quarter of a fat goat, the
sight of which ajtonished me. The quantity of fo.>d in this aish was
greater than our whole company of eleven had eaten for three days together.
The smell was to us as deliciously fragrant as can possibly be described.
I looked ^t it for some time, when the governor and Larra both speaking
to me at the same moment, said, "Captain why do you not eat?" The
truth was, I was afraid to eat ; for so keen was my appetite, that had I
fully gratified it with feeding on such an excellent dish, I do believe,
empty as my stomach ;hen was, it would not only have been the means
of my going no further, but would have killed mc outright. When we
began to eat, all their eyes were fixed upon us. I ate in a manner as
sparing as I could possibly bring myself to, and finding Larra inclined to
be ravenous, I repeatedly told him not to eat like a hog. One of the
Moors who understood that expression, interpreted it to the governor,
who laughed heartily, which did not, however, disturb Larra at all, but
ne still bolted it down with all speed. In the dish lay a knife, with which
I cut off some of the meat, and ate it, and drank a little milk and water,
and so quitted it, while feeling nearly as hungry as when I had begun. At
first the governor urged me to eat more, but when I mentioned to him
the state of my stomach, he said, "You have been prudent."

The governor was absent about half an hour, when he came to the door,
with nearly a dozen thin loaves of bread, which he reached to me, and I
do think they were the whitest I ever saw. I took them, and stowed them
away about me, and returned him thanks for this noble present. He took
the street, and walked back to the battery, which probably was his audience
chamber. There he addressed himself to Ahamed in these words : "You

n DKSERT.

is iileasing, mini y look
mo wore jMMliiKiiit ;incl
CO of llie iiiU'iroijiitiou!-
lit OH to ask nic hiiiisclC
it, thctiiiioit h!ii)p(.'.ii'il.
Ilie t,'old that 1 luid lost

tlx so v|uostioiis 1o liin
neil) iiail treated mo?
id said, •■Thoso Aial)s
iid from time iinmcmo-
as witli ail others witliin
, I will keep you hcsro a
irah, and will take you
Ahamcd troiublcd, aa
lestiou lie had put to me
I that Ahamed and his

had paid a considerable
>rhap9 they oujfht, but I
ct for the time to come,
,n with them. He then
ry thirsty, was my reply,
chind him, and ordered
tor it. In a few minutes
ifater, of which we drank
lamed, but the governor
; my kettle.'' The kettle
(\.fter Larra had drank, I
, dish of coscoosoo, which
quarter of a fat goat, the
[>f fo.>d in this aish was
E;n for three days together,
an possibly be described,
and Larra both speaking
' do you not eat?" The
s my appetite, that had I
ellent dish, I do believe,
inly have been the means
1 mc outright. When we
us. I ate in a manner as
I finding Larra inclined to
t like a hog. One of the
jreteu it to the governor,
>r, disturb Larra at all, but
lish lay a knife, with which
nk a little milk and water,
r as when I had begun. At

when I mentioned to him
jeen prudent."
, when he came to the door,
zh he reached to me, and I
ook them, and stowed them
lis noble present. He took
h probably was his audience
amed in these words : "You

AIIAMED SWEARS BY HIS BEARD.

101

I command to fake these Ciiristians to Swearah, and deliver them over to
their Consul without any unnecessary delay ; in three days after this you
are to arrive there ; use them in the best manner you possibly can ; and
now depart." The governor was standing when he uttered this mandate.
Ahamcd was sitting when I left him, nor had h«', according to Larra's
account, stirred an inch sinco that time ; but upon hearing the orders of
the governor, he fell upon his knees, or rather advanced on them, up to
the governor, and kissed the hem of his garment. When I joined the
men who had been my companions in distress, I found them feasting
sumptuously ; they had fine, white, fresh loaves of bread, with dry dates
and water, set bcforo them, and no doubt by the governor's order. In-
stantly upon my appearance, every one of them was desirous of knowing
from me what reception I had met with ; but so overcome was I at our
good fortune, that I could only tell them we were safe. We were then
all life and spirits, thanking God for our deliverance thus far. The Arabs
with the camels had been detained by the governor's order, as a party
connected with us, and they were in great haste to proceec on. We were
very quickly provided with such kinds of saddles, or riding-seats, as could
be procured, which were mean at best. Some us had none, but luckily
for myself, I got some rubbish quilted on behind the hump, so high as to
form a tolerable seat.

When it was near noon of the second day after we had left St. Cruz,
we met with six or eight men together, who were traveling westward.
Whether they were Arabs or Moors we did not know ; in some respects
these two kinds of people appear alike; their color does not differ a great
deal, and some of the wild Arabs shave their heads like the Moors. Our
Arabs had some talk with these travelers, which none of us took notice
of, as our minds were at rest as regarded our reaching Swearah. They
separated, and we walked on, and presently Ahamed seemed to bo agitated
with something, and muttered to himself as he went along, but none of us
regarded it. At length, while he, Larra, and myself, were close together,
he broke out in a passion, and expressed himself thus: "I swear by my
beaid (taking hold of it with his hand) I will carry you no further than
that house," pointing to one that was near by. "I have heard, by a man
I can believe, the Consul will not ransom any more Christians, and I am
sorry I ever brought you here ; by the expense of my purchasing you of
the mountaineers, and the provision I have made for you, you have de-
stroyed all my substance. You told me the Consul would redeem you,
and now 1 find I am cheated, and you shall go no further."

Larra, with all dispatch, interpreted to me this complaint and threat
of Ahamed, and added, "he has taken the oath tiiat is most sacred among
the Mohammedans," — meaning his swearing by his beard. By this time
we had arrived at the gate of a large dwelling, and we were marched into
the yard, which contained perhaps half an acre ; in the rear of which was
a small cabin about twelve by twenty feet. Having arrived at this prison
of ours, Ahamed said to me, "Here you are to remain until the money
for your ransom be paid down." I attempted to reason with him, but he,
and all the rest of them, were as cross as curs.

The Arabs were now very peevish, and what seemed to occasion their
uncommon peevishness at this time, they could not devise what measures
to take with us. We suspected they were trying to collect strength to get
us back into their own territory. Soon after this, a lusty Moor with a
clean haick and morocco slippers, whom we suspected to be a magistrate,
came into the yard. He approached us, calling out Christiano, as usual,

:|l

^' t' M H";' ;>;_; . o j ii . 'ijay.f i' i " "

102

BONDAGE AMONG THE ARABS OP THE DESERT.

and speaking to the Arabs ; and, according to my arrangement in the
morning, I accosted him in the following words — We are here in the
Sultan's tcnitory, held by these Arabs, and from your hands we ask
justice. \ our Sultan and our Sultan are on the most friendly terms. We
ask nolhiiii! from these men but our freedom, which we are willing to pay
for ; they liave been told that our Consul is unable to pay a suilicient
raiisom for us all, but in that they have been misinformed. To keep us
here .starving will never help them."

Aftor I had gone through with what I had to say, he asked me if I could
write ? I answered that I could. He then turned to the Arabs, who had
heard our talk, and proposed to them to let me write a letter, and have it
sent to the Consul, adding, "You will know then whether the stories they
have told you be true or false." The Arabs consented that I should send
a letter if I would hire a Moor to carry it, which I agreed to. Accordingly
a man was sent for, who demanded four dollars for that service, and I
promised to pay it. Upon this, he said he would be ready as soon as he
could get his horse, and that would be as soon as I could write my letter.
A sheet of paper, a reed, (by the way, the Moors always use reeds for
pens,) and some ink, were immediately procured for me, and a large flat
stone was my writing-table. Our good Moor lent me a sharp knife, with
which I made a tolerable pen. Ahamed satjopposite to me. It was agreed
upon that Ahamed should dictate my letter, and I called for Larra to in-
terpret it, but he insisted that Jack should be the interpreter, to which 1
consented. Ahamed began to dictate, and did it in short sentences, and
I wrote about as fast as he spoke, but not a single sentence of what he
told me to write. The substance of what he dictated to me was, that
myself and crew were down in the country, held captives by the Arabs,
who would not carry us to Swearah till our redemption money wp.s 3ent
them in advance ; that agreeably to our contract, for which they liad my
solemn pledge of honor, our ransom was to be four hundred dollars for
each of us, and forty dollars over and above for myself; that the men
who held us captives had been kind to us, but were unable to give us
much to eat ; that we were very sickly, and needed help immediately, and
that the bearer would bring the money, and the Consul might send a man
to see it paid.

I directed my letter to the British Consul at Mogadoro, or any other
humane man into whose hands it might fall, and stated in it that we were
a short day's march eastward of St. Cruz, and, according to my calculation,
seventy miles south-west of Mogadore, but that I was unable to name the
place we were at ; that we had been wrecked on the coast of Barbary ;
that my crew here were eight in number, and that beside we had with us
tliree of the Martin Hall's crew ; that we were in a suffering condition,
and that the Arabs here were devising means to get us back, beyond St.
Cruz, to a region where wo should be doomed to drag out our existence
in barbarian slavery ; and finally, that I wished the bearer might be
detained till he could release us, since, in the event of his returning
without the money, we should be dragged back before aid could be ailbrded
us. adding my belief that he had a full knowledge of these merciless
savages, and would take such measures for us as humanity should dictate.
When I had done writing my letter, the Arabs, very unexpectedly, ordered
me to read it. My mate, who was looking over my shoulder, secmg my
embarrassment, said to me, "Read on, you can do it well enough" — and
luckily for me, I made out to read it to their satisfaction. Ahamed then
told Jack to read it, and well knowing he could not, I reached him the

3ESERT.

arrangement in the
Vc are here in the
your hands we ask
friendly terms. We
re are willing to pay
I to pay a sutiicient
mied. To keep ua

3 asked me if I could
the Arahs, who had
a letter, and have it
tlier the stories they
sd that I should send
ed to. Accordingly
r that service, and I
ready as soon as he
ould write my letter.
Jways use reeds for
r me, and a large flat
e a sharp knife, with
o me. It was agreed
lUed for Larra to in-
itcrpreter, to which I
short sentences, and
sentence of what he
;ated to me was, that
iptivcs by the Arabs,
tion money wp.s 3ent
r which they had my
hundred dollars for
lyself ; that the men
e unable to give us
lelp immediately, and
Bul might send a man

gadore, or any other
ed in it that we were
ing to my calculation,
,s unable to name the
le coast of Barbary ;
eside we had with us
a suffering condition,
us back, beyond St.
rag out our existence,
the bearer might be
ent of his returning
aid could be aflbrded
of these merciless
[nanity should dictate,
mexpectedly, ordered
shoulder, seoing my
well enough" — and
ction. Ahamed then
>t, I reached him the

BLASTED HOPES.

103

lettor, and Jack, upon looking at it, said it would do very well, as also
said our old friend the Moor. Though I had folded the letter up before
the Moor was ready to start, yet he demanded some tobacco in addition
to his stipulated pay, saying I had detained him too long. That I promised,
and then had to open the letter and write tobacco at the bottom. Now he
tliouglit it would do, and said he would return on the third day. We all
went to the gate to see him off, and he started upon a full gallop, on a fine
bay horse, and was very soon out of sight. The Moors departed. My
excellent friend, the Moor, said to me, "You now will soon gain your
freedom," and left us, after I had returned to him my cordial thanks for
his kindness to us. We all now returned to our lodging-place, rejoicing
at this most flattering prospect of soon obtaining our freedom.

In a single hour these hopes of ours wore blasted. To our astonish-
ment the Moor came running into the yard, with the letter open in his
liand. Upon our going out of our cabin to know the cause of his return,
he told us he had ridden but a little way when ho met with one of his
acquaintances, who desired to know where he was bound, and on what
business; and, upon his telling him, he wanted to see the letter, which
having examined, he said it was good for nothing. We, on our part,
contended that the letter was a good one. In the meantime our faithful
friend came to us, in apparent anger, and demanded the cause of our
messenger's return ; and being told the story of it by the Arabs, and I
still insisting upon it, that the letter was good, he took our part, and said
the man who had examined it was a liar, and then walked out of the yard.
Soon after i took Larra with me, and wo went to Ahamed, who was sitting
under the wall of our enclosure. I told him he was acting contrary to his
own interest in thus detaining us here, and recommended it to him to
send on some man or other with the letter which the Moor had brought
back, assuring him that immediate attention would be paid to that letter
on its arrival at Swearah. Ahamed replied, "That letter is good for
nothing." Let me me read it to you again, said I to him. "No," he
answered, "that will do no good, for it sha'n't be sent on again." After
a little pause, he asked me if I would send a man up for the money? I
readily told him I would if he would send a man and horse with him.
This proposition he agreed to, and the arrangement made between us was
satisfactory to all the Arabs.

Our two envoys were moving toward the gate, when our friendly Moor
met them, and demanded to know whither they were bound. "They are
bound to Swearah," replied Ahamed, "to bring the money for the ransom
of these Christians." The Moor then told them to stop, and they did so,
and he addressed himself to Ahamed as follows : "Are you so ignorant
as to suppose the Consul will believe the story you are about to send him?
depend upon it, he will not. I know him, and know that he is a wise
man. If you should send Rais, he would believe him, and the money
would be in safe hands." Then turning to me, he said, " Is it not so?"
I told hi'n this was a plan of their own forming, and that I had consented
to it from a belief that any kind of eflbrts to obtain our freedom would
be better than to stay here and not act at all. Ahamed, looking me full
in the face, said, " Will you go?" Yes, I answered. "Will you pay the
expenses?" I gave him the same answer. "Well," he rejoined, "I will
go also, provided you will return with rae in case you can't get the money."
That I promised to do. "We must have two horses," he said, "and take
urns to ride." I agreed to it ; and also agreed with the same Moor that
we had engaged before, to furnish another horse, for the additional pay

•il

.^«K£Kacu«^|P|^e^ '-af£i.jti* r^mimf mm l,i *^ iii^i* > w ^ , i i tw <w v-.»M»«<^..*tiua^^<w-'>

^^■'.'^'J-^ '^

'MW I

1 04 BONDAGE AMONG THE ARABS OF THE DESERT.

nf four dollars and a knife. Accordingly another horse was provided in
Jast^ and in the meantime Ahamed was much engaged w.th h,s corn-
pSons the Arabs. As to my men, they came round me, rejo.ong that
tho limp nf our deliverance was so near at hand.

\,o"rfour o'clock of our second day's travel, my two companions
sud^lt y S-ppeared, while descending a steep sand-h.U, and ihe next
momen my hoVse took down the same hill, when, m an mstant, here
Te^ed to mv view the sea, and the town of Mogadore far on the right,
'Si only a"^w m^les dista'nt from it three large brigs ly.ng a anchor^
Here the two men made a full stop, and Ahamed said to me. Do you
know that place? Seethe ships there!" So great were my emotions a
tSsudden change of my condition, that I was quite overcome, and lost
even the power o^f speech. When they saw the tears J?"«h'"g P-'^^^y
from mv eves, they laughed, I suppose at my weakness; for the Arabb
confide? weep ng as befeath the dignity of a man, though "ot disgraccfu.
Tawomrn These men stood till I had collected the "™fly ?"*'«" J

Sen asked me if I knew the place, and the^^hips, and wha na, n t,
belonsred to? I told them the place was Mogadore, and 1 had no ooutn
bu the sCs belonged to my own country. Here we made a stop, and
Ahamed ad tha? we could Lt enter the town, because its people were
«J^eep I made use of all the Arabic 1 was master of to persuade him

Thefr conversation seemed wholly on the occurrences relating to ou
sh ; recMhTsUuation we were in^ in the desert, the money we had coj
,hem, and the disposition of our masters to restore us to our hrothers m
Swearah Our visitors told him there was no danger but tiie l.onsui
swearan. yur visuma uTmo " thov said, "he was not so rich as

ru? Kc^trafidrmTo'thef; ti:;re S h^'tas good. After listening
^o Sr'c'onrersaln a long time and being very -7, .f*^ f^'^d
was soon awakened by the smell of broiled beef, on wluch the Arab ana
Z Moor with six or eight beside, were feasting sumptuously. As soon
i th^rmeal wa h"nished, mine was brought me, which was a wonderful

^s for one man,though the quan.ty ^-Xt^arL^^ S^^^^

ctitTd% ut:tTrrprl^^^^^^^^^

rhotbead from the oven, sixteen hard hoiled eggs, an^al^ pound
..flMittP.- As I was beginning, Ahamed said to his company, ^ow see
S m eat " Y first Lke^ the b^ead, and ate a little of it. I pf ed some
She meat to pieces, and ate of tha, about two «"-- j^I j^J^^^^^^^^fe'
^nd finding it hard boiled, laid it down, and after eating ^f ^ y "^^ J^
bread, and% little butter, I left off, while my appetite *;« J* ^^ ™^^^

gave them to understand that eating more plentifully might mjure me
this did they reject, but they carefully scraped off the butter on tne

«J«Bfl6SS!i;'te!ii»«*«~«?'>

)ESERT.

rso was provided in
aged with his com-
1 me, rejoicing that

ny two companions
i-hill, and the next
in an instant, there
re far on the right,
gs lying at anchor,
lid to me, "Do you
ere my emotions at

overcome, and lost
rs gushing proiusely
less ; for the Arabb
ough not disgraceful
the manly part, and
nd what nation they
, and I had no doubt
ve made a stop, and
ause its people were

of to persuade him
terms, by saying, we
;hind us, where wa»
Ibout nine o'clock 1
own in this agreeable
ked all round me, af
without the doorway
noes relating to oui
le money we had cost
us to our brothers in
nger but tiie Consul
3 was not so ricli as
ood. After listening
iary, I fell asleep, but
1 wliich tlie Arab and
imptuously. As soon
'hich was a wonderful
; so great as had been
9 now set before me
!d, about three pounds
ggs, and half a pound
s company, "Now see
! of it ; I pulled some
nces ; I broke an egg,
ting moderately of the
stite was still craving
if of bread still warm,
lid between my mats,
dish. They asked me
m I was not sick, and
fully might injure me.
nd ate all I had left,
h my fingers ; not only

the butter on the side

j^" - <

"^V,

"E*.

WlWuV ©eUuct eV IfWi ^tt.vVcv>.

^ " Diismenibcred and vosisto.l. these poor fellows were soon 'vten under the eyes of Dillon. There now remained upon the
rock only Dillon, Burhart and Wilson, — three men against mny thousand assailants. Tliinking they now should have it
thPtr own way. the savages r.ecommonoo.l tho attack with gren fury."— Pa^e .'.(>.

;.r;/

)

g.-'j— u-A jiiM- fcrx u -

•*"I**>^«**W«#*W*'^

wmmmm

INTERVIEW WITH AN ENGLISH CONSUL.

105

I had taken it from. I fell asleep before they had dispersed, and awoke
a little before daylight. It was in vain that I urgtul Ahamed lo go on ;
he objected to it, that the Consul was asleep. After the sun was con-
siderably up, Ahamed, at my repeated solicitations, brought me the
horse, and I mounted, and took along the beach, near the edge of the sea,
where the ground was firm for traveling. We were soon at the city gate,
and were detained there but a few minutes, just to give time for Ahamed
to answer several questions that were put to him ; which done, we were
permitted to enter. As soon as we had passed through the gate, I looked
around me, and devoutly exclaimed, O Lord, protect me within these
walls! Having turned round several corners, into narrow straight streets,
we came at last to a very large double door, at which Ahamed knocked
several times, but received no answer. I asked him if this was the Con-
sul's? But before he had time to reply, a man came running up to us,
and inquired of me, in good English, who I was? Upon my telling him,
he says, "Come along with me, and I will show you the way to the Consul's
We soon came to the Consul's door, on which I gave three distinct knocks,
when its latch was raised, and the door I pushed open, which led me into
the yard that was in the center of the buildings. Hearing men talking
above, and there being a stone stairway on the left, I ascended, and at
the head of the stairs I saw six or eight well-looking sailors, wiio, the
moment they got their eyes on me, rushed forward, knowing of course
that I was a shipwrecked seaman. After bidding me welcome, in their
peculiar way, their inquiry of me was, if I had seen any of the Martin
Hall's crew? and when I told them that three of that crew were with my
men, and that another of them I had seen, who had been left with the
wild Arabs, their joy on the occasion was expressed in their own way,
but was as sincere no doubt as if they had expressed it in the most refined
language. When these emotions had a little subsided, I asked for the
Consul, and one of them, after telling ine he was asleep, ran to his door,
and called out, "Mr. Gwyn, Mr. Gwyn, an English captain is here from
the Arab coast, and the Arabs with him."

I heard him answer something, and in one minute open came his door,
and he presented himself to me with nothing on but his shirt and breeches.
Never can I forget the cordial reception he gave me. "My good friend,"
he said, "how happy am I to see you ! Wait a little till I dress myself."
He returned, leaving mc with the sailors, who I found were of the Martin
Hall's crew. They all huddled around me, like so many children around
an adored parent, asking the same questions over and over again. Soon
the venerable old gentleman. Consul Gwyn, came to us, dressed, and in
a truly friendly manner shook hands with me the second time, and then
said, "Come with me, my breakfast is ready." While I was following
him to his room, he made a stop, and asked me to what part of England
my ship belonged? Upon this I told him that I had been carrying on a
piece of deception, but which I believed had injured no man; that I had
all along called myself an Englishman, with a view of gaining my freedom,
as I was fearful there was no American Consul here ; and that in fact I
was an American, belonging to the State of New York, and my ship also
belonged there. He paused but a moment only, when he said, "Very
well ; you are a Christian, and that is enough." I hastily asked him if I
were safe from the Arabs? He answered, "Yes, you are in no danger."
I will do everything in my power for you, but I am poor, and cannot
advance money for your ransom ; but beyond doubt there arc gentlemen
here who will do it." I told him I waa in fear of my men being dragged

'.**'-*.

....a^..^t-ma,t,„.....>.:.l,-.v^..j(g,g^|l,,^f,^,..^. j|ff.j|^L

106 BONDAGE AMONG THE ARABS OF THE DESERT.

como hero with h.m, ho would ^^^^J" r,'itpTod £ Consul to him, "shall
him, and pay it there." ^''f"%'"«"7' '7„ " ^^er will pay money for

servant, and said to him, uo \o "'"«" '. ggggion of the Arabs,

ten of my brothers are on this side of St. J^^»;^^"J°f hir^^enty soldiers
who refuse to bring them up ; and that I *1«™3 "^^^^tj^ely iLtened to

and have ransomed frotn slavery a nun u language."

„H,ti Of .heir ■?»"■"';«• 2m le,^.o .d.«rT™«Scie.. .«m for .h«

r wV°hr» S:s '»™ -fo"" -™'5' '-" "" '■"-*•" •'•''■"'"•

out of the window into the yard. It was J/l^^ J ""^f^'t^^ l^^,^ After

i;,,a^aaca ^''jfe** ^ * ' "' '■ ■W'tniV"**"'^ '*'*

DESERT.

called for Ahamod,
nil intorrogatod liini
d doscriljod it in tha
r the wliolo of I hem
rould pav the rausoni
ido?

sked mo what I had
oiniao I had made in
knowlodgod that my
'Very well, that shall
»or, and I add<^d to it
V addrcssinji,' liiinsolf

and before tin- ni^^ht
"ore the gates d' this
eeping." "I \^ i'l do
for their ransom, and
J mo that if I would
carry tho money with
Consul to him, "shall
ir will pay money for
•ice, I must see them
Ahamed continued

impatient, called his
tell him from mc, that
ssession of the Arabs,
if him twenty soldiers

attentively listened to
street door, he begged
tiimself, and bring the
(vas after he had gone,
/ related.

I were by no means at
Quiet your mind," he
more than thirty years,
tish subjects: I know
mow their language."
t with him, in order to
We went to the house
ntlemen on the terrace -
■a acquainted with the
a sufficient sum for the
sppsition to relieve us,
al at Tangier, and told
n immediate statement

I Courts , and returned
I fell i'.io a fine sleep,
F my situation. Having
ig from my bed, nor did
i the room and looked
ream. I got my shoes,
n for two hours. After
morning, and arose very
I appearance, at an hour

IN MOQADORE.

107

oarlior than usual. According to his custom, he called upon his servanr
for broakfust, but, before it was ready, we had a long conversation logeihtr,
ruliitivi; to the situation I was in.

After brrakfast, wo repaired to tho counting-house of tho two Courts,
who insliinlly agreed to pay our ransom. They provided for mo a courier
to curry a letter to tho Consul-General, and to that gentleman [ wrote an
account of my situation, stating to him all tho particulars, and requesting
him to point out to mo tho course I should pursue — observing that 1
consulorcd myself subject to his direction. If I recollect aright, the
courii>r, who went on foot in preference to riding, was to have thirty dollars
for this service, and was to return in twenty-four days. Ho accomplished
the undertaking by the time agreed on, and brought mo an answer from
that worthy character, couched in such tender and soothing language, as
made an impression on my mind, which time can never ellaco. His con-
gratulations with me on my release from cruel bondage, and his thanks
to the Courts for their humane interference in my behalf, seemed spon-
taneously to have flowed from the warmest of hearts. It was on the
afternoon of tho twentieth or twenty-first, when, from the terrace, I disco-
vered my men. I went out to meet them, and tho English sailors all
followed me. As soon as we had come together, I hastily told tliem we
were all safe ; that though we had no American Consul hero, wo had
friends enough. Joy was seen in every countenance. Wo all marched
off together to the Consul's house, where their names and ages were all
taken down ; and having received a message from the governor, ordering
us to repair to the Battery gate, we all went to it. Consul Gwyn was
asked a few questions concerning us, the first of which was, whether wo
were Englishmen? He replied, we were not, but, what was the same thing,
we were his brothers, and he wished to ransom and keep us. Tho
governor asked me a few questions, particularly as to the place where
we were wrecked, how many of our men had been left in the hands of
the Arabs, and so forth. He then turned to the Arabs, and told them to
bring all the Christians up as soon as they were wrecked, and not suffer
them to perish in the desert; which injunction the Arabs promised to
obey — and the governor then dismissed us.

As soon as we had left the Battery, we went to the \v/o Courts, who
provided a room to lodge our men in ; and our next attention was about
our ransom. William, the younger of the two brothers, had been in this
country for many years, and was well acquainted with the language, and
with the nature and dispositions of the Arabs ; and with him we had a
long conference relative to the amount of the sum that should be paid for
our ransom. "Giving a great ransom," said he, "for Christian captives,
and showing a strong desire to relieve them, is what has always had a
direct tendency to retard their deliverance ; for when the Arabs find that
a great price is given for Christian slaves, their avarice is excited, and
their rich men buy them up to speculate upon. There have been in-
stances," continued he, "when, it being known that a large sum was offered
for a certain number of Christiana, they were bought up for the purpose
of speculation, and the purchaser having come up here, and then getting
a better offer, returned home, sold them to other speculators, who kept
them for a still greater price, and detained them so long that some of
them died of hard usage and of grief." On the other hand, he said, if
their ransom was very small, tho inducement to bring them would be
alike small ; and he therefore thought it best to pursue a middle course.
The Arabs were constantly at our heels for their pay, and were full of

. it^f»r*y . a <iali« ft <iiU.

>^^<*«>.^»Wr'MM .W-f«M«a'>&'

108 BONDAGE AMONO THE ARABS OP THE DESERT.

nromiscs to brinK on our other men. The Consul and myself left thorn,
and w.ml to dino with a very respectable English merchant by the name

When we returned homo, after dinner, I found Ahamed waiting for me.
He had bccomo very much alarmed, for ho had just found ou» that we
were not Knglishmen, but belonged to another country. I suspect that
Jack had told him of this, with a view to alarm him, and r roate dissatis-
faction in his mind. 1 confessed the fact, but through the same hoy
Jack I explained to him, that though we were inhabitants of another
country, yet wo wore the same kind of people with the English. "You
may see yourself," I told him, "that wo speak the same language, and
that iiiv friends here, as I told you before in the desert, take the same
care of me as if I wore an Englishman, and tasher Courts you may
depend will pay you off to-morrow." But notwithstanding what I said,
he went away with the appearance of some jealousy that a trick was to
bo played upon him. The next morning I arose very early, and after
walking upon the terrace for an hour, I took a walk to the market-place,
Where 1 luckily met with a Mogadore Jew, whom I had seeri at my
friend Jackson's. While I was talking with him, Ahamed hove m sight,
walkin" toward us quickly. 1 told the Jew that the Arab coming was
Ahamcfd, and begged of him to act aa my interpreter with him, which he
readily consented to do. We sat down under a wall, and there talked
together an hour, and, during that time, I fully explained to Ahamed the
particulars as to what country I belonged, how it became separated from
the government of England, the harmony subsisting between the two
countries, and the cause of my telling him that I was English. Ahamed
heard me with the greatest attention, so that it seemed as if every \vord
was imprinting itself in his mind ; and after I had done he replied, "You
did very right in telling me that story, for if you had said that you were
not English, but from some other country, we should have had nothing to
do with you, as not expecting that anybody would pay your ransom, ond,
in that case, the mountaineers would have carried you back to their homes,
and there you must have died:" he added, "what you have now told me,
accounts for tasher Courts employing themselves in this matter, and 1
hope they will do justice to us." Upon my telling him that that would
be done, ho asked mo to name my country again, which I did several
times, but he could not pronounce it well, though he came near it, calling
it Amerk. Finally, ho asked me if I had not forgotten my promises to
his wives, and to Salear? A Moor's shop being directly opposite, I bor-
rowed a little money of the Jew, and went directly to it, and bought every
little article that I had promised, and some other things beside, the whole
costing, I believe, three dollars. Ahamed was remarkably well pleased
with them, and hastened off, as I supposed, to his comrades.

After this interview with the Arab, I returned home, whore 1 found
the Consul waiting breakfast for me. At the table the conversation was
confined to our ransom, about which I felt very uncomfortable, as the
amount of it might affect our men who were yet behind. I he Consul
recommended it to me to leave it with the two Courts to act according to
their own judgments, saying they were both judicious men, and that
William understood well these sort of people, and their language. Agree-
ably to his advice, I kept at home, and the Courts paid them off, with
such an amount as they thought proper. The Arabs craved more of
course As soon as this business was settled, Ahamed came to my room,
and acknowledged the receiptof all that I had promised him, but blamed the

K8EUT.

mysfilf left thorn,
;hant by tho name

rted waiting for mc.
found oa* that we
ry. I BUripoct that
and rroatr dissatis-
ufjh the same hoy
ibitants of onotiier
ho English. "You
lame langufiKC, and
Bert, take the same
3r Courts you may
landing what F paid,
f that a trick was to
cry early, and after
lo the markel-l»lace,
I had seen at my
lamcd hove in sight,
le Arab coming was
r with him, wliicii he
rH, and there talked
ained to Ahamed the
came separated from
ng between the two
18 English. Ahamed
med aa if every word
[one he replied, "You
d said that you were
d have had nothing to
my your ransom, and,
u back to their homes,
ou have now told me,
in this matter, and 1
E» him that that would
which I did several
came near it, calling
rotten my promises to
rectly opposite, I bor-
to it, and bought every
ings beside, the whole
larkably well pleased
;omrades.

home, where I found
the conversation was
uncomfortable, as the
behind. The Consul
ts to act accordmg to
icious men, and that
eir language. Agree-
s paid them off, with
^rabs craved more of
med came to my room,
ed him, but blamed the

THE STRANOKR'S STORY.

109

Courts (whom I thought blamclegs) for not giving a higiier ran.'^om for us.
Being one day at my friend Jackson's table, at dinni^r, the (Joiisiii sick
at horu)! the while, and none there! but wo two, a good-looking Moor, or
Jew, (1 cannot recollect which.) came in, having buitiness with Jackson.
He took a seat along side of him, and for some time they both serined
much engaged in conversation, in the Arabic. When their business
seemed to be gone through with, he (the strangtir) looked very attentively
toward me, and began a conversation, of which, I found, from a f(!W words
I caught, that [ was tho subject, but could not conjecture as to the scopo
of it. 'I'hey both laughed heartily, and, in conclusion, Jackson turnttd to
mo, and asked me if i had in my ship a keg of dollars in a barrel of iieeff
1 answered yes ; and then he rehearsed to me this man's story, as follows:
"Aa I was down tiie Arab country on buHiness,(said this Moor, or Jow,)
I hoard of tiie wreck of a ship, and I concluded to go to it, thinking there
might be an opening for a speculation. When I had arrived, I found
there two or three hundred Arabs, the whole of those Arabs that tirst took
possession of the wreck and crow having gone into the interior to sell
their plunder and slaves. As to the cargo, tiiey informed mo there were
no goods, but that they found in the bottom of the ship an earth, wliich
thoy did not know the uso or value of, but thought, as it was in a ship, it
must be valuable somewhere, and they wished me to look at it. I did so,
and I found that they had divided it into littlo heaps, of which each of
them had one to his share. On seeing this, 1 laughed at them heartily,
and told them it was ballast, and of no moro value than the sand they
stood on. They were mortified in tho extreme, and said they had been
at work for several days in getting it ashore, and that in small quantities, as
thoy had to dive for every pound of it. They told me they had got out
most of tho salted provisions, and were then finishing that job. About
ten barrels of the salted provisions were then lying on tho beach, which
they were dividing, allowing one barrel to a certain number of men.

When the barrels were opened for a subdivision, such of them as
contained pork wero rejected with abhorrence, and their owners were
greatly mortified ; but every barrel of beef was divided among its joint
owners by pieces. One of them, as he was taking the pieces out of one
of the barrels, came to a keg, standing endwise, which was so heavy that
lie could not lift it by its hoops. This exciting curiosity, and many of
them, by turns, trying to lift it, in the confusion tho barrel was overset,
and the keg rolled out of it. They soon got a stone and stove it to pieces,
and, in so doing, the dollars flew out, the noise of which rallied together
the whole gang, and it was then with them, catch who can. Each con-
tended for his share so ferociously, and their cimeters were employed
with such effect, that a great number were severely wounded, and some,
it was thought, would die of their wounds. There being some barrels
yet unopened, they all, as one, stove them to pieces, with stones, and
searched them for more dollars, and, upon their finding none, a party
awum to the ship, and searched there for more barrels, but in vain. The
right owners of the barrel containing the dollars claimed the whole of
them ; upon which a council was called, and the chief presided ; their
pleas were able on both sides, but as I came off soon, I did not learn the
result."- — Thus ended this stranger's story, as given me by my friend
Jackson, and thus it fared with my hidden treasure.

A very lamentable instance of apostacy took place at Mogadore while
I was there, and with one of the Martin HalPs boys. The boy Jack, of
whom I have so frequently made mention, was often missing from the

BONDAGE AMONO THE ARABS OP THE DESERT.

ConflurR hnuNo, nnd whcnfvor iiomn ono was sent in nmrch of him, hn
wan fniind in Hornu Mooriiih honnn, nvidnntly prcforrin^ their rnmpany.
Th<) ConMul H*T>(1 to adrnuniith him, and point out to him tho evil tRndoncy
of kcopin(( Hiich company, but all to no purpose. At last ho was miniiin);
a whole ni^ht, and in the mornin)^ followinf; he wa« found in tho company
of Mevornl Moors, one of whom claimed him as his adopted son; nud, at
tho Name time. Jack declared tiiat he had embraced tho Mohammedan faith;
iliat ho had been circumcised, and had gone through their other cercmonicH;
and he claimed protection from the one whom ho called his adopted father.
This information was carried to tho Consul, who was in much trouble on
tho occasion. One way only was Icfl to reclaim or recover him out of
their hands, and that was to make an application to the governor for that
purpose, and accordingly an application was made. Tho governor's reply
was, "You shall have all the indulgence that our laws permit, which is
this: examine tho boy in my presence, from day to day, for throo luc-
nesHive days, and if you can within that time persuade him to return to
his former religion, you may receive him back ; otherwise, as he has
voluntarily come among us, and gone through our ceremonies, wo are in
duty bound to retain him.'' The boy being sent for, and examined by
the Consul, who did it in tho Arabic language, he declared that he loved
and esteemed his adopted father; that ho had become a Mohammedan, and
would never change from it. After the Consul had finished his part of
the examination, the governor commenced, by asking Jack why ho had
changed his faith f Ilis reply was, he did it because he believed the con-
dition of the Mohammedans was preferable to that of tho Christians ; that
if he should continue in the religion he was then of, ho should see God,
and be saved ; whereas the Cliriutians were all to be damned. This
lesson had, beyond doubt, lieen given him by his adopted father. The
governor then asked him if ho knew tho prayers, and tho meaning of
them? He declared that he did, and went on to repeat them. Finally, he
asked him if he understood the prayer of Ramadam? Ho said he did, and
repeated it, without missing a word, though it is a very long one. The
governor then dismissed him, and after he was gone, observed to the
Consul, "The boy is safe." The Consul continued every day throughout
the afore-mentioned term of three days, in his endeavors to reclaim the
boy, but at last was obliged to let him go. This story I had from Consul
Gwyn's own mouth at the time. When the three days had expired, a
groat rejoicing took place, a grand procession was formed, and boy Jack,
mounted on a horse, moved round the city in great style, the followers
singing and .shouting in a merry mood, gratified with the grand acquisition
they had made, in bringing a poor ignorant Christian boy into the saving
light of Mohammedanism ! I saw Jack frequently afterward, but he always
avoided me when it was in his power, and not only me, but all those
belonging to the two other crewa.

One day about this time, while Consul Gwyn, John Foxcroft, and
myself, were sitting together, engaged in conversation, a wild Arab, and
one of tho worst-looking kind, came up staire , with a bundle, and wished
to know if the Consul would buy some handsome cloth he had. In un-
rolling the bundle, out rolled the two gown patterns of tabinet, which I
had bought for my wife in Cork. The thoughts of my wife, and of the
poor black man who had taken the patterns in his pack, saying, '^Mialrus
skaU have these yet,''^ rushed so powerfully on my mind, and excited
such violent emotions, that I could not refrain from turning aside, and
giving vent to my anguish by a flow of tears. Foxcrofl proposed to buy

■*«^ < N y * a^wKw^y ifji »f f * m m

LKAVE IHOOADORK.

3E8ERT.

1 nmrch of him, \w
inK their company,
im tho evil tomloncy
lant ho WBB misBing
und in tho company
idoptod aon ; ami, at
I Mohammedan faith;
)ir other corcmonicn;
id his adopted father.
I in much trouble on
recover him out of
the governor for that
The governor'ii reply
fiwa permit, which i«
9 day, for three iuc-
lade him to return to
otherwise, as he has
ercmonics, wo are in
or, and examined by
loclarod that ho loved
n a Mohammedan, and
A finished his part of
ing Jack why ho had
B he believed the con-
)f the Christians ; that
>f, ho should see Ood,
to bo damned. This
[adopted father. The
I, and tho meaning of
eat them. Finally, he
iT Ho said he did, and
very long one. The
'one, observed to the
,i every day throughout
doavors to reclaim the
ory I had from Consul
J days had expired, a
formed, and boy Jack,
lat style, the followers
h the grand acquisition
Ian boy into the saving
lerward, but he always
mly me, but all those

^, John Foxcroft, and
Ition, a wild Arab, and
Ti a bundle, and wished
J cloth he had. In un-
Ims of tabinet, which I
Tof my wife, and of the
Uck, saying, '^Mii^w
Imy mind, and excited
lorn turning aside, and
Ixcrofl proposed to buy

111

the (lark rolorrd pioro for IiIm w ifr. and rat)<-<l Hor in ; tho Consul, on tho
contrary, took a fancy to llii< li|/ht colored pli . r. i r wuistcoat patterns.
While FoxcroiVs wiln wnn makinjj h»r observation!) iif)on tht! tnbinct, I
told Iter tliu prici* of it in li Innd. and lltii' 1 hud boii^lit llit^ri! the two
pieces for my wifo. lI|K»n which 'ho two goiitltrfif'n immrdiolcly ofTcrod
to rclinqulHli the Itnr^nin to me, Iiut b^in(^ short of cash, i ^|ci|in(;d it, and
desired tlintn to proceed in the purchase- Kucli took a piecu, aiif' paid
tho Arab for it, according to my rocollcctiofi. two dollars. I did not ex-
pect to hear or sec any rnoro of it ; but the next morninp, in taking out a
clean shirt from my trunk, I discovered that some pernuii hud been to it,
and, upon examination, I found that the light ctdored gown pattirn had
been placed at the bottom in such a maimer as might prevent me from
diHCovering it. It is needless to mention what look place respecting it,
aAurward ; HutTico it to repeat, my wife got her gown, and wears it to
this day.

Some timo about the middle of July, a PortiigiicHo schooner arrived
from l<isbon, chartored by the house of the Bulkloys of that place. Hhe
brought some goods suitable for that market, in order to take in a return
cargo of the products of this country, and was consigned to (be bouse
of William and Alexander Court. The schooner was loaded with dis|)atch,
with what skins had been procured for her, and as to the rest, was filled
with wheat. She being the first vessel that was to sail, I engaged our
passage to Lisbon in her. When she was nearly ready for departure, tho
Consul sent for Pat, who had let\ our men^s lodging-placu long before,
and was harbored by a countryman of his in town, a cooper by trade: bo
sent for him to inform him that he was to go with us to Lisbon. Pat
refused to come, and sent word back that he durst not go with us, for that
tho mate and some others of our crew had threatened to kill him when-
ever they had him in their power. The Consul desired mo to speak to
him, and toll him ho must go. I did so; but he declared that he was
afraid of his life, and had no doubt but we would destroy him before he
could roach Europe. My promises to tho contrary had no good otTect
upon him, and ho remained behind. When the timo had come for us to
leave the port, (I think it was the twenty- seventh of July,) our stores
having been all previously put on board, and notice being sent to the
governor, we, with all our baggage, accompanied by the Consul and
many of my Mogadore friends, went to the beach. Our captain, who was
an easy, slow kind of man, declined going to sea before the next morning,
although the wind was fair, and the weather fine. His accommodations
were small, but yet they were very comfortable, nor was he wanting in
disposition to render our situation pleasant. I could not persuade him
to go to sea till the afternoon, when wo got under weigh and lefl the port,
going round to tho west of Mogadore island. The vessel was a very dull
sailer, and the winds being moderate and light, we had been at sea twenty
days when we mado the rock of Lisbon, right ahead, with a fair wind.

On the twenty-seventh of September, in the morning, according to the
best of my recollection, we were examined by the health officer, and
permitted to land. After we had gone through with some little ceremony
at an office at Belem, we were once more at our liberty on a Christian
shore. A captain Hand, of Charleston, was at Belem with his boat, who

fave mo a passage to Lisbon, where we arrived about eleven o^clock.
immediately visited the American Consul, who treated me with great
kindness, and sent a servant to show me to my lodgings, where I had
scarcely got seated, when a gentleman accosted me to know who I was.

•12 BONDAGE AMONG THE ARABS OF THE DESERT.

On my telling him of my situation, which was done with great brevity,
he asked me if I wished to go homo? and, upon my answermg that I did,
he said to me, "I have a good ship which will be ready to sail fr Balt,-
tnoro in two days; in her you are welcome to a passage.' His kmd
Sffer I readily accepted, and told him F would call on our Consul, who
had offered me money, and to furnish my stores. His reply was, "My
Bood Sir, I did not offer you a half-way passage ; my stores t.re all laid
in of which you are to partake with me ; go on board as soon as you
nlLase." 1 could scarcely find words to reply to this generous man
His name was Norman, and his ship was the Perseverance, of Baltimore ;
,he was a fine coppered ship, of 340 tons. I now furnished myself with
some thick clothes, and repaired on board the Perseverance. I think we
left the river Tagus on the second or third of October Although our ship
was a fast sailerT yet by reason of our having had either light or contrary
winds, we did not arrive at Baltimore till about the eighteenth of November.
I arrived at Hudson, among my dear friends and relatives, after an absence
of one year, to a day; that is to say, from the first of Deceinber 1800, to
the first of the same month, 1801.

a^MwMunMMnwaMiM

jr-^^ -»^i*.^'-tMf —

««e^r

HE DESERT.

one with great brevity,
ny answering that I did,
! ready to sail for Balti-
a passage." His kind
ill on our Consul, who
. His reply was, "My
; my stores j^re all laid
n board as soon as you
to this generous man
severance, of Baltimore ;
iw furnished myself with
rseverance. I think we
iber. Although our ship
1 either light or contrary
eighteenth of November,
elatives, after an absence
rat of December 1800, to

THE ABANDONMENT

ALEXANDER SELKIRK.

m SOLITUDE FOR SEVERAL TE4R3.

a.t^'^^h.^r^ "^ °°*°"''W »'i«i"«l »f Defoe', celebrated
I "„ ' f "'"»"" Crusoe, wan bora in the year 1676, in the villu/e «f
Largo, on the sonthern ooaet of the county if Fife ii Scotland Th.
name of Sellt.rk (or Selcraig, «hich waa the old modi of Tpemi i^

SLid"eraWrerert";o'thora.'d"'"«- *" -"""'"i"" °^ "'^-^ -

wbj Mrs Se"ldrk ThonW n """"l''''.''^^/'''''''^^'^ wa8a%pecial reason
7hl .l-Aur ^°"'*' P'^'*''® * ^^^^ and PJ'ant mother. Not onlv was

ai=S;r;sr"c-:f--sf^

.ccoun.„fit.b.i„g.LacoJ.town,:!tr."i3;^°aS,te

ar t„r. r'T"^""" '!'"°S I*'" ">e birthplace and proper,, rf
^Jir Andrew Wood, ^ diatuiguiBhed Scottish admirBl «(■ ,k/ „ J-

century, whose nautical fame^and habi^Sit havt";roduced conX^^^^
« scnoc., or to the effect on his mmd of the perpetual spectacle of th*

m«^ 'LVifT ^V' T^ ^r'''" «""»"'» association with Zl«^ Ssher!
men, Se kirk early determined to follow a seafaring life Eiff out of
. d„,K,smon to let the boy have his own will, or X'^inf^e ,i?e ofl

(113)

r- ^'**=!>^5ii.'*qr3«S^.==lSJ*

114

ABANDONMENT OF SELKIRK.

sailor the likeliest way to the attainment of the great fortunes which sho

ant^c , alerfor her sL, his mother favored his ">tent.on;l„s father

however, opposed it strenuously, and was anxious, now that h sother sons

wore al settled in life, that his youngest should rernam at homo and

^s St him in his own trade. This, and young Selkirk's wayward and

Suae conduct, .cem to have kept him and h.s father perpetual y at

war and a desce;dant of the family used to show a walku.g-st.ck winch

he ;id man is said to have applied to the back of h.s refractory son, with

hP nffir-naSon "A whip for he horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for

S: oo rTback." Withstanding the boy's resUess character respect

for hfs father's wishes kept him at home for a considerable time : a father 8

malediction being too aiful a thing for even a seventh son to brave with

'The first thirteen years of Selkirk's life coincide with the hottest period
of the rel gious pefsecutions in Scotland. He was about three years
of age at the time of the assassination of Archbishop Sharp, w.ch took
placf at not a very great distance from Largo ; and the chief ;«bject of
Interest, during his boyhood, in Fife, as in the other counties of Scotland
wt the P03itio'n of th^ chur'ch, then filled bvEp'scopdian and indulged
clercv sreatlv to the disgust of the people. What part old Selkirk and
hislmnrmay have taken during the time when it was dangerous tojhow
«tt«rhment to Presbytery— whether they professed themselves Covenan-
?Ir/ orwhether as i more probable, they yielded a reluctant attendance
aUhe parth chirch-Lno? be ascertained ; but the following entry m
tparTrecords of Largo, referring to the year 1689 1^^^^^^^
the revolution had sealed the restoration of Presbytery in Scotland,
will show S if they did attend the parish church, it was no out of
rukewarmness to the popular cause, or afiection for the established c lergy-

man^Sbath • 1689.-Which day, the minister bemg obstructed in

Srduty, and kept out of the church by a great mob, armed with staves and
ELgeoSeaded by John Selkirk, divided what money there was among
U^^Soriid retired from his charge." John Selkirk, who hus signalized
hiSbrheSng the mob for the^xpulsion of the conforming clergyman,
wTthe eldestbrfther of our hero, who, however, is reported himself to
to^ave testSed Ws enthusiasm by flourishing a stick with the other boys.
SofTe first youths in Largo to experience the stricter discipline
of XsUry whose restoration he had celebrated, was A e.xander
aelWrk H 9 h^gh spirits, and want of respect for any control, led him,
ft would annear to beguiltl of frequentmisbehavior during divine service;
foruierSrthe tlenty^-fi^^ of August, 1696, is the following entry
in the parish records :-" Alexander Selcraig, son of Joh° Selcr^'g' ''IJ^ '
cUed to appear before the session for indecent conduct in church. This
seems tJ have been more than our hero, now in h.s nineteenth year, could
submU to The elder's son to appear before the -ssion axid be rebuked
fer lauffhine in church! Within twenty-four hours after this terrible
duSthe'cung shoemaker was gone ; he had !«« Lar^,»^ th« ff-
of kirk-sessions behind him, and was miles away at sea. Wh*" the k.rfc

Jeilon met, they were obliged to be content '"^^"'ffiiSer SS
paragraph in the record :~« August twenty^seventh.-Alexander!^^^^
Sailed out-did not appear, having gone to «a." Resolved, h^^^^^
that he should not escape the rebuke which he bad merited, they aaa,
" Continued until his return." . . . - j . j: j »»« ».iis

The return which the kirk-session thus looked ^''^Jj' J«» ~i J,*
place for mx years, during which we haw no account of Selkirk s

i.» . m w . y

ABANDONMENT OP SELB3RK.

116

at fortunes which sho
ntention ; liis father,
low that his other sons
remain at homo, and
clkirk's wH;yward and
i father perpetually at
a walking-stick which
is refractory son, with
the ass, and a rod for
3S8 character, respect
Brable time : a father's
enth son to brave with

with the hottest period
vas about three years
lop Sharp, which took
d the chief subject of
r counties of Scotland,
icopalian and indulged
t part old Selkirk and
was dangerous to show
1 themselves Covenan-
I a reluctant attendance

the following entry in
1689, immediately after
resbytery in Scotland,
rch, it was not out of
r tho established clergy-
ster being obstructed in
I, armed with staves and
money there was among
Lirk, who thus signalized
! conforming clergyman,
r, is reported himself to
ick with the other boys.
I the stricter discipline
brated, was Alexander
or any control, led him,
or during divine service;
, is the following entry
I of John Selcraig, elder,
nduct in church." This
is nineteenth year, could
session, and be rebuked
lours after this terrible

left Largo and the land
at sea. When the kirk-
j inserting the following
th.— Alexander Selcraig
»." Resolved, however,
) bad merited, they add,

I forward to, did not take
ao Account of Selkirk^s

adventures, although the probability is, that he served with the buccaneers,
who then scoured the South Seas. To have persisted in calling the younc
sailor to account for a fault committed six years before, would have been
too great severity. The kirk-session, accordingly, do not seem to have
made any allusion to the circumstance which had driven him to sea • but
It was not long before a still more disgraceful piece of misconduct 'than
the former brought him under their censure. The young sailor, coming
home, no doubt, with his character rendered still more reckless and
boisterous than before by the wild life to which he had been accustomed
at sea, was hardly a fit inmate for a sedate and orderly household, and
quarrels and .listurbances became frequent in the honest shoemaker's
cottage. In the spring of 1702, Selkirk seized an opportunity of going to
England ; and a short time afterward we find him engaged to Srocied
with the celebrated Dampier on a buccaneering expedition to the South

The object of Dampier's voyage was either to capture some of the
Spanish vessels, which annually carried to the old world the products of
the gold and silver mines of the new, or to seize and put to ransom some of
the cities of the Spanish Main. Beside his own vessel, the "St. George,'^
Dampier had with him the " Cinque Ports," commanded by Captain
Stradling, on board of which Selkirk acted as sailing-master. After
several months of ill-luck and misfortune, the two commanders quarreled,
and finally agreed to separate— Selkirk remaining with the latter.

For three months the Cinque Ports kept cruising along the shores of
Mexico, Guatemala, and Equatorial America, like a villainous vulture
watching the horizon for its prey. No ships, however, appeared to reward
the greedy activity of the crew ; and at length, in the end of August,
Stradling resolved to turn southward, and make for Juan Fernandez, to
take in provisions and refit. Meanwhile, as was natural among so many
menof savage character cooped up idle in a vessel, all was dissension on
board. Stradling and Selkirk especially were, to use a common phrase,
at daggers-drawing ; now in loud and angry dispute below, now scowling
sullenly at each other on deck. Selkirk resolved to leave the vessel as
soon as an opportunity offered. Accordingly, when, the beginning of
September, they came in sightof Juan Fernandez, two men, left by Dampier
on a previous occasion, who had been living on the island since the be-
ginning of March— made their appearance, heahhy and strong as ever,
and delighting their old companions with an account of how they had
spent the seven months of their solitary reign, eating fruit in abundance,
chasing goats, and hunting seals, the idea flashed across his mind that he
would take their place, and, leaving the vessel to sail away without him,
remain the possessor of Juan Fernandez. By what process of imagination
he flattered himself that such a life would be agreeable ; whether hO
finally adopted his resolution in a fit of unthinking enthusiasm, such as
sometimes leads to strange and whimsical acts, or whether his difierencea
with Stradling, and his disgust with his situation on board the Cinque
Forts, were really such that escape by any method seemed advisable,
cannot now be known ; but at all events, the conclusion was, that when
the vessel was ready to leave the island, Selkirk signified his intention
ot remaining. Stradling made no objections; a boat was lowered, Selkirk
descended into it with aU his effects, three or four men rowed him ashore
under the direction of the captain, the crew of the Cinque Ports lookiag
on from the detk. Selkirk leaped on the beacb, his effects were lifted
out after hira by the sailors, and laid in a heap ; they shook hands with

116

ABANDONMENT OF SELKIRK.

him heartily, the captain standing in the boat, and bidding them make
hasto. The sailors jumped in, and the boat was pushed off. Poor
Selkirk! he had felt a bound, an exultation of spirit at the moment of
stepping on shore ; but now, as the boat was shoved off, and the men sat
down to the oars with their faces toward him, pride, anger, resolution, all
gave way ; the horrors of his situation rose at once to his view, and
rushing into the suri up to the middle, he stretched out his hands toward
his comrades, and implored them to come back and take him on board
again. With a jeering laugh the brutal commander bade him stick to his
resolution, and remain where he was, adding that it was a blessing for
the crew to have got rid at last of so troublesome a fellow. The boat
accordingly went off to the ship, and in a short time the Cinque Ports was
out of sight. Selkirk remained on the beach beside his bundles, gazing
after her till it grew dark.

Juan Fernandez, the island on which our poor Scotchman was thus
cast ashore, is situated in latitude 33 degrees 40 minutes south, and
longitude 79 degrees west, about four hundred miles west of the coast
of Chili. The name is properly applied to a group of islands consisting
of two larger and a few smaller ; and the name now given to that in-
habited by Selkirk, and which is the largest of the group, is Mas-a-tierra.
The island was first discovered in 1672, by a Spanish navigator, who
conferred on it his own name of Juan Fernandez ; and for a short time
it was inhabited by a small colony of Spaniards, who ultimately abandoned
it, however, to settle on the mainland. Afterward, as we have already
seen, it became a resort of such buccaneering vessels as required, during
their cruises on the west coast of America, to put in to some safe harbor
to victual and refit. Once or twice, by accident, the island had become
the residence of a castaway buccaneer, who was afterward picked off by
a passing ship. Thus, says a voyager whom we shall have yet to quote
more at large, " Ringrose, in his account of the voyage of Captain Sharp
and other buccaneers, mentions one who had escaped ashore on this island
out of a ship, which was cast away with all the rest of the company, and
■ays he lived five years alone, before he had the opportunity of another
ship to carry him off. Captain Dampier also talks of a Mosquito Indian
that belonged to Captain Watlin, who, being a hunting in the woods when
the captain left the island, lived there three years alone, till Captain
Dampier came hither in 1684, and carried him off." Whatever amount
of truth there may be in these particular statements as to Juan Fernandez,
it is certain that Selkirk^s solitary residence on this island was by no means
the first inst:>nce of the kind. It does not appear to have been an un-
common thing for a buccaneer in those days to be either cast ashore on a
desert island by the chances of shipwreck, or to be purposely left upon
one by his captain out of savage ill-will, or as a punishment for mutinous
conduct. Perhaps, if the records of old voyages were thoroughly searched,
instances might be found of the kind as extraordinary as Selkirk's, if not
more so. The magic touch, however, of the hand of a genius has
conferred a celebrity on the history of the Fifeshire mariner which
distinguishes him from all other Crusoes.

To proceed with our description of Juan Fernandez. The island is
of an irregular form, from ten to twelve miles long, and about six broad,
its area being about seventy square miles — somewhat less than that of
the island of Bute. '* The aouth-west side,'' says the voyager already
quoted, " is much the longest, and has a small island about a mile long
lying near it, w'.th a few visible rocks close under the shore. On this

ter M #*>wi» ^mM n mi

ABANDONMENT OF SELKIRK,

117

idding them make
pushed off. Poor
at the moment of
ff, and the men sat
iger, resolution, all
9 to his view, and
It his hands toward
take him on board
ide him stick to his
was a blessing for
fellow. The boat
e Cinque Ports was
his bundles, gazing

kotchman was thus
minutes south, and
!s west of the coast
of islands consisting
)w given to that in-
roup, is Maa-a-tierra.
inish navigator, who
and for a short time
ultimately abandoned
, as we have already
is as required, during
I to some safe harbor
e island had become
erward picked off by
all have yet to quote
age of Captain Sharp
I ashore on this island
of the company, and
iportunity of another
)f a Mosquito Indian
jg in the woods when
8 alone, till Captain
" Whatever amount
ls to Juan Fernandez,
(land was by no means
; to have been an un*
lither cast ashore on a
3 purposely left upon
lishment for mutinous
thoroughly searched,
iry as Selkirk's, if not
ind of a genius has
ishire mariner which

tnde*' The island is
and about six broad,

^hat less than that of
the voyager already
ad about a mile long
the shore. On this

side begins a ridge of high mountains, that run across from the south-west
to the north-west of the island ; and the land that lies out in a narrow
point to the westward appears to be the only level ground in it. On the
north-east side it is very high land, and under it r^re the two bays where
ships always put in to recruit. The best bay is all deep water, and you
may carry in ships close to the rocks, if occasion require. The wind
blows always over the land, and at worst along shore, which makes no
sea. Near the rocks there are very good fish of several sorts, particularly
large crawfish under the rocks, easy to be caught ; also cavalloes, gropers,
and other good fish, in so great plenty anywhere near the shore, that I
never saw the like but at the best fishing season in Newfoundland.
Pimento is the best timber, and most plentiful on this side of the island,
but very apt to split, till a little dried. The cabbage-trees abound about
three miles into the woods, and the cabbage is very good ; most of them
are on the top of the nearest and lowest mountains. The soil in these
hills is of a loose black earth ; the rocks are very rotten, so that, without
great care, it is dangerous to climb the hills for cabbages ; beside, thei o
are abundance of holes dug in several places by a sort of fowls called
puffins, which cause the earth to fall in at once, and endanger the breaking
of a man's leg. Our summer months are winter here. In July snow and
ice are sometimes seen ; but the spring, which is in September, October,
and November, is very pleasant. There is then abundance of good herbs,
as parsley, purslain, etc. To these descriptions, written about the year
1712, we may add an extract from the account given in I-ord Anson's
voyages in 1741, in order that our readers may have a pretty distinct idea
of the appearance of the island, which, for four years and a half, was to
be the home of Selkirk. " The woods," says the author of Anson's
voyages, "cover most of the steepest hills, and are free from all bushes
and underwood, offering an easy passage through every part of them ;
and the irregularities of the hills and precipices in the northern part
of the island trace, by their various combinations, a number of romantic
valleys, most of which have a stream of the clearest water running through
them, tumbling in cascades from rock to rock. Some particular spots
occur in these valleys where the shade of the contiguous woods, the
loiliness of the overhanging rocks, and the transparency and frequent falls
of the streams, present scenes of wonderful beauty."

For many days afler the departure of the Cinque Ports, Selkirk remained
lingering about the spot where he was put ashore, unable to abandon the
hope that Stradling would relent and come back for him. His constant
occupation was gazing out into the sea. As soon as morning dawned he
began his watch, sitting on his chest ; and his deepest grief was when
the evening came on, so that he could see no longer. Sleep came upoi,
him by snatches, and against his exertions to remain awake. Food he
did not think of, till extreme hunger obliged him ; and then, rather than
go in search of the fruits and game which the woods afforded, he con-
tented himself with the shell-fish and seals' flesh, which he could obtain
without removing from the beach. The sameness of the diet, the want
of bread and salt, and the sinking sickness of his heart, caused him to
loathe his food, so that he ate but at long intervals. Weary, and with
aching eyes, he lay down at night, leaning his back against his bundles,
listening to the crashing sound of rocks frequently falling among the
woods, and to the discordant bleating of the shoals of seals along the shore.
The horrors of his situation were augmented during the dark by super-
stitious alarms. Amid the murmur of the waves he could fancy he heard

118

ABANDONMENT OP SELKIRK.

bowlings and whistlings, as of spirits in the a.r: .f he turned h.s head o
fhe black and wooded masses behind him, they seemed peopled and in
notion -and as he again turned it to the shore phanto™ «talked past
SSen he cursed himself for the folly of the resolution wh.ch had brought
h^m here ; often, in the frenzy of fear, he would start up with the horrible
deTerm nation of suicide ; but a rush of softer feeling would co.ne and
fhen he became calm. At length this gentler state of mind grew habitual;
thoughts and impressions which had been familiar to h'min childhood
13 came up; and the years which he had spent with brawling and
femcious shipLtes, in the lawless profession of a privateer, were swept
out of his memory like a disagreeable dream. „„„„,

With the return of equanimity, Selkirk began to consider the means
of rendering his residence on the island endurable. It was the month
of Octoberia season corresponding in that locality to the middle of sprng
with us-and all was blooming and fragrant. The possibility of starving
was not one of the horrors which his situation presented ; and when he
recovered calmness of mind sufficient to take a viewof his solitary domain,
he found himself in the midst of plenty. Beside the fish and seals which
Jwarmed round the shores of the island, there were mnumerable fruits
and vegetables in the woods, among which was the »«v«j;:f"l'"g .^f'^g^^^^
Tree: and hundreds of goats skipped wild among he hills. Almost all
he means of ordinary physical comfort were within his reach ; and he
had ™nly to exert his stren'gth and ingenuity to make the -?land y.eld hira
!t« resources How he proceeded to do this; the various shifts and
devices wS he fdl upJn to supply his wants, and to add gradually to
h'sstoJe of comforts ; the succession of daily steps and con r.vances by
which,in he course of four years and a half, he raised himself from
ToiTaraUve helplessness to complete dominion over the resources of his
S territory and, along with this, the various stages which his feelings
wit thrS'frorJ'the afony and stupefaction of the first night which he
Tpent on the sland, to the'pevfect freedom and happiness which ho
Eately attained-we have not sufficient materials to be able to describe
""detail It is needless to say that the matchless narrative of Defoe s
aUost entirely a fiction, so far as the details of his hero's dailv life in
tie desert island are concerned. Alexander Selkirk did not d.sp lay such
a genius for mechanical contrivances as Robinson Crusoe ; or, at least if
he did, no record of his contrivances has been preserved. Ihe is and
was n^t visited by cannibal savages as is the case m the romance ; no
Faithful Friday appeared to cheer the hours of the solitary ; nor is there
«y journal preserved, from which we learn whether ever such an inciden
Srred as the discovery of the mysterious foot-pr.nt m the sand All
these ornaments of the story the world owes to Defoe, whose object was
not to write the history of Selkirk, or any other known castaway, but to
describe bv the force of imagination, the life of an ideal hero on an ideal
St is and At the same time, there is no doubt that Defoe's narrative
fills up our conception of Selkirk's long residence m h.s island with
detai"^ Buch as must actually be true ; and, at all events, there is a corres-
pondence in some points between it and Selkirk's own account of his
manner of life, furnished after his return to England to Sir Richard Steele
and others, through whom it was made public. The particulars of this
narrative, so far as it extends, we proceed to relate.

The stores which Selkirk had brought ashore consisted. i.;=side his
clothing and bedding, of a firelock, a pound of gunpowder a quantity
of bullet*, a flint and steel, a few pounds of tobacco, a hatchet, a knife, a

"^ ' [fj w ^ ' m * ^" ^*'**:

m » t mM ■ • f o '^ i' u^ t JuA 't/ltgm

ABAlTDONMBirT OP SELKIRK.

119

turned his head to

ed peopled and in
itoms stalked past.

which had brought
up with the horrible
g would cnine, and
mind grew habitual;
him in childhood

with brawling and
ivateer, were swept

consider the means
It was the month
the middle of spring
DBsibility of starving
inted ; and when he

his solitary domain,
fish and seals which

innumerable fruits
3ver-failing cabbage-
le hills. Almost all

his reach ; and he

the island yield him
various shifts and

to add gradually to
and contrivances by
raised himself from

the resources of his
es which his feelings
e first night which he
happiness which ho
to be able to describe
narrative of Defoe ia
! heroes daily life in
c did not display such
rusoe ; or, at least, if
iserved. The island

in the romance ; no
solitary ; nor is there
ever such an incident
int in the sand. All
iae, whose object was
own castaway, but to
deal hero on an ideal
that Defoe's narrative
e in his island with
snts, there is a corres-
3 own account of hia
to Sir Richard Steele
he particulars of this

consisted, jaside his
unpowder, a quantity
I, a hatchet, a knife, a

.*is; ■ ^. ' f;".:?^^i^w;^ila l

kettle, a flip-can, a Bible, some books of devotion, and one or two con-
rerning n.^'igation, and his mathematical instruments. Such were the
few implei.Qnts and substances from the great civilized world which
Soikirk had to help him in the task of subduing to his own convenience
seventy square miles of earth and wood. Yet, in the possession of that
small package, what strength lay in his hands, and how superior was he
to the savage children of nature! Within the small compass of his chest
was wrapped up the condensed skill and wisdom of ages, the ingenuity and
industry of hundreds of men who had long gone to their graves. The
flint and steel, the firelock, the gunpowder, the knife and hatchet, what
power over nature was there not compact in these articles! — the mathe-
matical instruments, of what knowledge were they not the symbols! — and,
above all, the Bible, and the books which accompanied it, what wealth
of conversation, what health of spirit, did they not bring with them!

The first object that occupied his attention, beside the daily supply of
such food as was necessary for his subsistence, was the construction of a
dwelling to serve him as a shelter from the weather. Selecting a spot at
gome distance from the beach, he cut down pimento wood, and in a short
time built a hut in which he could reside. To this he afterward added
another. They were both constructed during the first eighteen months
of his residence ; but the task of improving them, and adding to their
neatness, was a constant occupation to him during his stay on the island.
The largor of his two huts, which "was situated near a spacious wood,
he made his sleeping-room, spreading the bedclothes he had brought
with him upon a frame of his own construction ; and as these wore out,
or were used for other purposes, he supplied their places with goat-skins.
The smaller hut, which he had erected at some distance from the other,
was used by him as a kitchen, in which he dressed his victuals. The
furniture was very scanty, but consisted of every convenience his island
could afford. His most valuable article was the pot or kettle he had
brought from the ship to boil his meat in ; the spit was his own handiwork,
made of such wood as grew upon the island; the rest was suitable to his
rudely constructed habitation. The pimento wood, which burns very
bright and clear, served him both for fuel and candle. It gives out an
agreeable perfume when burning. He obtained fire, after the Indian
method, by rubbing two pieces of pimento wood together until they ignited.
This he did, as he was ill able to spare any of his linen for tinder, time
being of no value to him, and the labor rather an amuiiement!'' The
necessity of providing for his wants had the effect of diverting his thoughts
from the misery of his situation ; yet every day, for the first eighteen
months, he spent more or less time on the beach, watching for the ap-
pearance of a sail upon the horizon. At the end of that time, partly
through habit, partly through the influence of religion, which here
awakened in full force upon his mind, he became reconciled to his
situation. Every morning after rising he read a portion of Scripture,
■ong a psalm, and prayed, speaking aloud, in order to preserve the use
of his voice ; he afterward remarked that, during his residence on the
island, he was a better Christian than he had ever been before, or would
probably ever be again. He at first lived much upon turtles and crawfish,
which abounded upon the shores — his powder, with which he could shoot
the goats of the island, having soon been exhausted, he afterward
found himself able to run down the goats, whose flesh he either roasted
or stewed, and of which he kept a small stock, tamed, around his dwelling,
to be used in the event of his being disabled by sickness. One of thr*

tmmmimir^m

120

ABAXTDONMENT OF SELKIRK.

greatest incooTeniences which afflicted him for the first few months waa
the want of salt ; but he gradually became accustomed to this privation,
and at last found so much relish in unsalted food, that, after being restored
to society, it was with equal difficulty that he reconciled himself to take it
in any other condition. As a substitute for bread, he had turnips, parsnips,
and the cabbage-palm, all of excellent quality, and also radishe., and
water-cresses. When his clothes were worn out, he supplied their place
with goat-skins, which gave him an appearance much more uncouth than
any wild animal. He had a piece of linen, from which he made new
shirts by means of a nail and the thread of his stockings ; and he never
wanted this comfortable piece of attire during the whole period of his
residence on the island. Every physical want being thus gratified, and
his mind soothed by devotional feeling, he at length began positively to
enjoy his existence — often lying for whole days in the delicious bowers
which he had formed for himself, abandoned to the moat pleasant
sensations.

Among the quadruped inhabitants of the isle were multitudes of rats,
which at the first annoyed him by gnawing his feet while asleep. Against
this enemy he found it necessary to enter into a treaty, offensive and
defensive, with the cats, which also abounded in his neighborhood.
Having caught and tamed some of the latter animals, he was soon freed
from the presence of the rats, but not without some disagreeable conse-
quences in the reflection that, should he die in his hut. his friendly
auxiliaries would probably be obliged, for their subsistence, to devour
his body. He was, in the meantime, able to turn them to some account
for his amusement, by teaching them to dance and perform a number of
antic feats, such as cats are not in general supposed capable of learning,
but which they might probably acquire, if any individual in civilized life
were able to take the necessary pains. Another of his amusements was
hunting on foot, in which he at length, through healthy exercise and habit,
became such a proficient, that he could run down the swiftest goat.
Some of the young of these animals he taught to dance in company with
his kittens ; and he often afterward declared that he never danced with a
lighter heart or greater spirit than to the ound of his own voice in tho
midst of these dumb companions.

Selkirk was careful, during his stay on the island, to measure the lapse
of time, and distinguish Sunday from the other days of the week. Anxious,
in the midst of all his indifi"erence to society, that, in the event of his
dying in solitude, his having lived there might not be unknown to his
fellow-creatures, he carved his name upon a number of trees, adding the
date of his being left, and the space of time which had since elapsed.
When his knife was worn out, he made new ones, and even a cleaver
for his meat, out of some hoops which he found on the shore. He several
times saw vessels passing the island, but only two cast anchor beside it
Afraid of being taken by the Spaniards, who would have consigned him
to hopeless captivity, he endeavored to ascertain whether these strangers
were so or not before making himself known. In both cases he found
them enemies ; and on one of the occasions, having approached too near,
he was observed and chased, and only escaped by taking refuge in a tree.

As Selkirk was only about thirty years of age, and as he found his
constitution, which was naturally good, improved and fortified in a won-
derful degree by his mode of life, the only cause which he could fear
as likely to cut short his days, and prevent him from reaching the old age
which he might expect to attain to in bis island, provided no ship appeared

iii »j ; «ii; < iii ^M iii« i i i ii W^I| i 4iT; ii » y in ft i n

iiiii ■■fxtmiiiMiiin

,ii ii, i ,, j «|ii i i >.Hti » )'3 ;

ABANDONMENT OF SELKIRK.

t few months wu
to this privation,
ler being restored
himself to take it
turnips, parsnips,
Iso radishes., and
pplied their place
ore uncouth than
ch he made new
gs ; and he never
lole period of his
lius gratified, and
9gan positively to
delicious bowers
le moat pleasant

nultitudes of rats,
I asleep. Against
aty, offensive and
lis neighborhood.
le was soon freed
aagrceablc conse-
hut, his friendly
stence, to devour
I to some account
form a number of
pable of learning,
al in civilized life
1 amusements was
exercise and habit,
the swiftest goat.
I in company with
ver danced with a
I own voice in the

measure the lapse
) week. Anxious,
1 the event of his
te unknown to his
r trees, adding the
ad since elapsed,
nd even a cleaver
here. He several
t anchor beside it
ive consigned him
ler these strangers
)th cases he found
proached too near,
ig refuge in a tree.
i as he found his
fortified in a won-
lich he could fear
aching the old age
d no ship appeared

131

to carry hini off, was the occurreaice of some accident, such as micht very
possibly befall him m his expeditions through the woods. Only one such
accident occurred during his stay on the island: it had nearly proved
fatal, however. It has already been mentioned that, in many parts of
the island, the soil was loose, and undermined by holes, and the rock
weathered a most to rottenness. Pursuing a goat once in one of these
dangerous places, the bushy brink of a precipice, to which he had fol-
lowed It, crumbled beneath him, and he and the goat fell together from
a great height. He lay stunned and senseless at the foot of the rock for
a great while— not less than twenty-four hours, he thought, from the
change of position in the sun— but the precise length of time ho had no
means of ascertaining. When he recovered his senses, he found the
goat lying dead beside him. With great pain and difficulty he made his
way to his hut, which was nearly a mile distant from the spot; and for three
days he lay on his bed, enduring much suffering. No permanent injury,
however, had been done him, and ho was soon able to go abroad again
J<our years and four months had elapsed since Selkirk was left by
Stradlmg on the island of Juan Fernandez. It was now the month of
January, 1709; his reckoning enabled him to know the lapse of time, at
least withm a week or two. Four times had the January summers of
Juan Fernandez passed oyer his head, and already he was looking forward
to the coming of the fifth autumn and winter. The whole island was
now familiar to him, with its appearances and productions at various
seasons. Custom had reconciled him to it; had almost brought him to
regard it as his home ; had almost made him cease to remember with
regret the world from which he was an outcast. Occasionally, indeed,
such thoughts as the poet has supposed must have occurred to him oven
now, after so long a period of acquaintance with solitude.

" I am monarch of all I survey.

My right there in none to dispute :
From the center, all round to the sea,

I am lord of the fowl and the brute.
Oh, solitude ! where are the charms,

That sages have seen in thy face?
Better dwell in the midst of alarms.

Than reign in this horrible place,

I am out of humanity's reach,

I must finish my journey alone.
Never hear the sweet music of speech ;

I start at the sound of my own.
The beasts thai roam over the plain.

My form with indifference see ;
They are so unacquainted with man,

Their tameness is shocking to me.

Society, friendship, and love.

Divinely bestowed upon man.
Oh, had I the wings of a dove.

How soon would I taste you again I
My sorrows I then might assuage

In the ways of religion and truth,
Might learn from the wisdom of age,

And be cheered by the sallies of yonth.

***»-TyiT^ - ^ t^ite^ ft ji^4#»i<

»i^i*i* * i M ■ *M«B : - y 'W » 'iiw

122

ABANDONMENT OP SELKIRK.

Religion I what treiwure untold,
Resides in that heavenly word I
More precious than uilver and gold,

Or all that thin earth can afford.
But the Bound of the church-going bell

These yalleys and rocks never heard,
Never sighed at the sound of a knell,

Or smiled when a Sabbath appeared.

Ye winds, that have made me your sport,

Convey to this desolate shore
Some cordial endearing report

Of a land I shall visit no more.
My friends, do they now and then send

A wiah or a thought after me t
Oh ! tell me I yet have a friend.

Though a friend I am never to see I

How fleet is a glance of the mind!

Compared with the speed of its flight.
The tempest itself lags behind,

And the 8wift-win;?ed arrows of light!
When I think of my own native land.

In a moment I seem to be there ;
But, alas 1 recollection at hand

Soon hurries me back to despair.

But the sea-fowl is gone to her nest.

The beast is laid down in his lair ;
Even here is a seasoR of rest,

And I to my cabin repair.
There's mercy in every place :

And mercy, encouraging thought I
Gives even affliction a giace.

And reconciles man to his lot."

hut '" **^«J«.f/' f^Xwd had gained a supreme influence over h.m:

restoration «>««"'?• ^j . ,, <„ker chances had failed, con-

.ird^Se°^p£i>!^;rt4mge.ce^^^^^^^^^^

aSd r^^/o"ffi ^SiC!."?woi5'Le been dialppoimed.

■ty'-gr ^ii| ; ^% ' iiJ,-?. '{i fflB? i ! S ^aa^^

ABANDONMENT OF SELKIRK.

123

1
1.

1.
Kirt,

jht,

ghtl
I.

Iven the idea of dying
found some day, at the
bring to his moldering
lly. The religious im-
le influence over him;
n soul, the solitary man,
1 tenderhearted. How
many years before, had
jister-in-law, and his old
iVhether the change of
1 we are about to relate
m his solitude, and his

chances had failed, con-
s situation would reach
ue Ports, and that some
ly a passing visit to Juan
te. If Selkirk, however,
have been disappointed.

The Cinque Ports never reached England. Old, crank, and worm-eaten,
she fuiuuiorcd oft" tlio coast of Barbacoa not long after setting sail from
Juan Fernandez. Out of the wliole crew, only Captain Stradiing and
six or seven of his men were saved ; and these were long detained
pristHK^rs among tiio Spaniards at Lima. They were in captivity during
the wimie time of Selkirk's residence on his island; and long after he
had returned to England, most of them wore captives still. Stradiing at
lengtii obtained his liberty, but his ultimate fate was never known.

Deliverance was to roach Selkirk from another quarter. Dampier who
had jtarted company with the Cinque Ports, about five months bclbre
Selkirk had been abandoned by Stradiing, had continued his voyage
through the South Seas in search of Spanish vessels. Various c ucccss
had attended him for several months ; a considerable portion of his crew
forsook him ; and, at length, crossing the Pacific to the East Indies, he
and his companions fell into the hands of the Dutch, who seized his ship
and all that he had. The expedition planned by him, had turned out a
total failure. " Dampier returned naked to his owners, with a melancholy
relation of his misfortunes, occasioned chiefly by his own strange temper,
which was so self-sufficient and overbearing, that few or none of his
officers could endure it. Even in this distress he was received as an
eminent man, notwithstanding his failings ; and was introduced to Queen
Anne, having the honor to kiss her hand, and to give her majesty some
account of the dangers he had undergone. The merchants were so sen-
sible of his want of conduct, that they resolved never to trust him any
more with a command,"

The bad success of Dampier's expedition, however, did not prevent
the fitting out of another with similar designs against the Spaniards of
the South Seas ; and about the middle of tho year 170d, two vessels, the
Duke and the Ducheaa, the property of Bristol merchants, set sail for the
Spanish main, having, in all, three hundred and thirty-three men on board.
The Duke, a vessel of thirty guns, was commanded by Captain Woodes
Rogers, a very able and prudent man; the Duchess, of twenty-six guns,
by Captain Stephen Courtney. Poor Dampier, who could not be intrusted
with the command, and whose poverty obliged him to accept some occu-
pation of the same kind as that which he had all his life been accustomed
to, was glad to sail in the Duke in the capacity of pilot to the expedition.
Great care had been taken in the manning of both vessels, and regulations
had been drawn up before sailing, to prevent disputes.

Captain Rogers, whose proceedings during the voyage it is not neces-
sary for us to detail, pursued the same track as the former expedition;
and after cruising along the Brazilian coast, rounded Cape Horn in the
month of December 1708, bearing for Juan Fernandez, to take in water.
The crews came in sight of the island on the thirty-first of January, 1709,
little anticipating the surprise which awaited them. What occurred as
they approached, is thus related by Captain Rogers himself in the account
which he published of the voyage:— "About two o'clock, p. m., on the
thirty-first of January, we hoisted our pinnace out : Captain Dover, (second
captain of the Duke,) with the boat's crew, went in her to go ashore,
though we could not be less than four leagues off". As soon as the pinnace
was gone, I went on board the Duchess, the crew of which weio astonished
at our boat attempting to go on shore at so great a distance from land :
it was against rny inclination, but to oblige Captain Dover, I consented to
let her go. As soon as it was dark, we saw a light ashore ; our boat was
then about a league from the island. She stopped, and bore away again

-^?■'ii\^'f&,'~■'^>: Ve*3*-.'i

-■^-- ^■■■'^'*'y , -'•j,''tf \ H. ,m i

ABANDONMENT OP HKLKIRK.

•i'

for thn ship at noon an iihfi law tho lif^lit. Wn put nut li^hta for thn Iwut,
though noiiin wnro of opiiiion that tlio lif;ht wn vaw wum not on tlio iNlunil,
but tli<< l)oat*M li^tit ; but aa iii{;ht caiiin on, it appcaiod too lar);o for that.
W« firfd onn «|UBrtffr-(ie('k g»n aiid Rnvnral iiiunkntH, Hhowinf; li^htH io
our mi/.Kcn and forr-nhrouda, that our Itoat ini({ht Hnd un, while wo plird
in thn leo of the ialand. About two in the niornin^ our iMiat rnnn* on
board thn Ducheaa: wo waro )(lnd it got wnll ofl', bccauoo it bn^^nn to blow.
We wftra oil ronvincnd that thu li^ht waa on thn ahore, and dcsif^ned to
make our ahipa ready to enff^n*^, aa wo Ijolinved it to come from French
ahipa at anchor, and that wo niuat either H){ht them or want water.

"The next day wo ittood alon(( tho Houtli end of the ialnnd, in order to
lay in, with the first Houtheriy wind, whicii Captain Dotiipier tohi (ik
generally blowa there all day long. In the niornini;, beinf; puHt the iMiund,
wo tacked, to lay it in cIoho aboard tho land ; ami about ten oMock, ran
close aboard tho laiivH that beginfi to mako the north-east side. Tlie flaws
cume heavy oft' the aiioro, and we were forced to rcof our topsails when
we opened tho middle bay, where we expected to find the enemy, but
saw all clear, and no ships in that nor the other bay. We gues.^ed thoro
liad been ships there, but that they had gon« away on sight of uk. We
sent our yawl ashore about noon with Captain Dover, Mr. Fry, nnd six
men, all armed: meanwhile we and tho Duchess kept turning to get in.
Our boat did not return, so we iont our pinnace, with the men armed, to
gee what was the occasion of the yawPs stay ; for we were afruid that
the Spaniards had a garrison there, and might have seized it. Wo put
out a signal for our boat, and the Duchess showed a French Knsign.
Immediately our pinnace returned from the shore, and brought abun-
dance of crawfish, with a man clothed in goat-skins, wiio looked wilder
than the first owners of them.''

Selkirk, tho man whose appearance caused such surprise, had seen
the aails of the vessels at a distance, but had avoided making any signals
which could indicate his presence till he ascertained them to be English.
As soon a.s he had aPiuied himself on this point, his joy was extreme.
When night came on . he iiindled a large fire on the beach, to inform the
Btrangers that a human bf.ing was there. It was this signal which had
alarmed the crews oflhe vessels, and deterred the pinnace from landing.
During the night, hope having bari:hcd all desire of sleep, he employed
himself in killing goats, and preparing a feast of fresh meat for those whom
he expected to be his deliverers. In the morning he found that the
vessels had removed to a greater distance, but ere long ho saw the boat
leave the side of one of them and approach the shore. Selkirk ran joy-
fully to meet his countrymen, waving a linen rag to attract their attention ;
and having pointed out to them a proper landing-place, soon had the
satisfaction of clssping them in his arms. Joy at fir^t deprived him of
that imperfect power of utterance which solitude had left him, but in a
little time he was able to offer and receive explanations. Dover, the second
captain, Fry, the lieutenant, and the rest of the boat party, af\er partaking
of Selkirk's hospitality, invited him on board ; but so little eager was he
to leave his solitude, that he was not prevailed upon to do so till assured
that Dumpier had no situation of command in the expedition — his former
experience of Dampier's mode of conducting a ship having given him no
great confidence in him. When he was told that Dampier was only pilot
on board, he made no further objection. He was then, as we have seen,
brought on board the Duke, along with his principal effects ; and on the
same day, by tho recommendation of Dampier, who said he had been tho

'^^s^ss^^^tjssJEGT.v^s^sr

It liRhtH for tho lioHt,
uH not on tli« inlaiHl,
nil loo lttrj»«' for lliat.
tH, HliowiiiK I'Kl't" '"
1 UK, whilu wti plird
ij{ our boat cnnu' on
lUHc it bojjnn to blow,
ore, iiml jlrninnoil to
o con>« from Fren< li
i)r want wator.
\w iMlnnd, in ordnr to
lin Unmi»i«'r told (ih
bcinR paHt the i»lund,
nlK)ul ten o'clock, ran
iiant Hide. The flnwB
ccf our toimnilH v\lion
} find the enemy, but
f. Wo ^uc!<.^e(l there
f on wiRht of »iH- We
ver, Mr. Fry, imd flix
tept turning ti> Kct in.
rith the men armed, to
r wo were afraid that
ve Bcized it. We put
wed a Frencli Knsign.
re, and brought abun-
ns, wlio looiied wilder

ich surprise, had seen
led making any signals
cd them to bo English.
, his joy was extreme,
le beach, to inform the
this signal which had
) pinnace from landing,
lof sleep, he employed
sh meat for those whom
ning he found that the
B long he saw the boat
lore. Selkirk ran joy-
, attract their attention ;
ig-place, soon had the
firtii deprived him of
had left him, but in a
)ns. Dover, the second
party, after partaking
I 80 little eager was he
i)on to do so till assured
expedition — his former
lip having given him no
Dampier was only pilot
, then, as we have seen.
ipal effects ; and on the
lo said he had been tho

ABANDONMENT OP SELKIRK.

125

best man in the ('inqun Ports, h<! wan engaged h a iuitlr. *' At his first
coming on lM)ar(i un,'' snys (/aptain Rogers, "ho had su much for^^ot Ida
language, for want <)f use, that svo could Hcarceiy understand hint, for ho
•eeinod to speak I * worda by halvos. Wo otVered him a dram, but he
would not tour!) i< -wing drank nothing but water since he ramo on tho
ialand ; and it wn >ine time Ix^fore he could relish our victuals."

For a fortnight the two vessels remained at Juan Fernandez refitting,
recruiting their sick, and taking in water and provisions. In this they
wore greatly asHinted by Selkirk, or tho '^governor,'' as they used to call
him ; who, beside giving them all tho information necessary respecting
the island, made it a daily practice to catch several goats for the use of
tho sick. •' He took them," says Rogers, *» by speed of foot ; for his way
of living, and continual exercise of walking and running, cleared him of
ail gross humors, so that ho ran with wonderful swillnosa through the
woods, and up the rocks and hills. We had a bulldog, which we sent
with several of our nimblest runners to help lim in catching goats; but
he distanced and tired both the dog and the men, caught the goats, and
brought them to us on his back. Being forced to shift without shoes, his
feet had become so hard, that he ran everywhere without annoynnce ;
and it was some time before he could wear shoes after wo found him ;
for, not being used to any for so long, his feet swelled when ho came first
to use thcia again.'' Beside giving these particulars, Captain Rogers
details at some length Selkirk's modo of life during tho four years and
four months he had spent on tho island, concluding —

" We may perceive, by this story, tho truth of the maxim, that noces*
•ity is the mother of invention, since this man found means to supply his
wants in a very natural manner, so as to maintain his life, though not so
conveniently, yet as etfectually as wo are able to do with thu help of our
arts and society. It may likewise instruct us how much a plain and
temperate way of living conduces to tho health cf the body and the vigor
of the mind, both which we are apt to destroy by excess and plenty,
especially of strong liquor, and the variety as well as the nature of our
meat and drink ; for this man, when he came back to our ordinary method
of diet and life, though he was sober enough, lost much of his strength
and agility. But these reflections are more proper for a philosopher and
divine than a mariner."

In the middle of February, 1709, the Duke and Duchess set sail from
the island, to cruise along the western coast of America in quest of prizes,
in which they were very successful, taking two prizes in a very short
time. The second of these was fitted out a.i a privateer, to sail in company
with the Duke and Duchess ; and Selkirk was appointed to command her.
During the remainder of the expedition, he acted in a prominent capacity,
under Rogers, in the various enterprises, both on sea and on shore, in which
the little fleet engaged. The occupation was certainly one by no means
calculated to give play to the more amiable qualities of human nature;
but even in the sacking of coast towns, and expeditions of plunder into
the interior, which for months formed his chief employment, our hero
teems to have mingled humanity in as high a proportion as possible
with the execution of his duty. The expedition of Rogers was as re-
markable for steadiness, resolution, and success, as that of Dampier's
had been for quarreling and indecision ; and it excites a curious feeling
of surprise when we learn that the church of England service was regu-
larly read on the quaiter-decks of these piratical vessels, and all hands
piped to prayers before everj action Selkirk proved himself, by his

'^TTSW^-.i

nHtp^WftH ••^Mbai^w,

126

ABANDONMENT OF SELKIRK.

steadiness, decent manners, and religious turn of mind, a most appropriate
meml er of the corps commanded by Rogers, and was accordingly 'nuch
valued by his superiors. At the beginning of the ensuing year, the ves-
sels began their voyage across the Pacific, with the design of returning
by ihe East Indies^ and in this part of the enterprise Selkirk acted as
sailing-master. They did not, however, reach England till October, 171 1,
when Selkirk had been absent from his country for eight years. Of the
enormous sum of £170,000 which Rogers had realised by plundering the
enemy, Selkirk seems to have shared to .the amount of about eight
hundred pounds.

His singular history was soon made known to the public; and imme-
diately after iiis arrival in London, he became an object of curiosity not
only to the people at large, but to those elevated by rank and learning.
Sir Richard Steele, some time after, devoted to him an article in the
paper entitled "The EnglJdhman," in which he tells the reader that, as
Selkirk is a man of good sense, it is a matter of great curiosity to hear
him give an account of the different revolutions of his mind during the
term of his solitude. "When I first saw him," continues this writer, "I
thought if I had not been let into his character and story, I could have
discovered that he had been much separated from company, from his
aspect and gesture; there was a strong but cheerful seriousness in his
look, and a certain disregard of the ordinary things about him, as if he
had been sunk in thought. When the ship which brought him off the
island came in, he received them with the greatest ii.difference with re-
lation to the prospect of going off with them, but with great satisfaction
in an opportunity to refresh and help them. The man frequently be-
wailed his return to the world, which could not, he said, with all its
enjoyments, restore him to the tranquillity of his solitude. ' I am now
worth eight hundred pounds,^ he said, ' but shall never be so happy as
when I was not worth a farthing.' Though I had frequently conversed
with him, after a few months' absence he met me in the street, and
though he spoke to me, I could not recollect that I had seen him •.familiar
converse in this town had taken off the loneliness of his aspect, and quite
altered the air of his face?^ What makes this latter circumstance the
more remarkable is, the fact of nearly three years having elapsed between
his restoration to society and the time when Sir Richard Steele first saw
him.

Beside Sir Richard Steele's paper, various short accounts of Selkirk's
adventures appeared within a year or two after his return to England.
Defoe's romance of Robinson Crusoe was not published till the year 1719,
when the original facts on which it was founded must have been nearly
forgotten. There is no record of any interview having taken place
between Selkirk and Defoe, so that it cannot be decided whether Defoa
learnt our hero's story from his own mouth, or from such narratives as
those published by Steele and others. v

It was a fine Sunday morning in the spring of 1712 ; the kirk bells of
Largo had for some time ceased ringing, and the parishioners were as-
sembled in church, when a handsomely dressed stranger knocked at the
door of old John Selkirk's dwelling. No one was within, and the
stranger bent his steps toward the parish church. He entered, and sat
down in a pew near the door. His late entrance, the fact of his being a
stranger, and his fine gold-laced clothes, attracted attention to him, and
divided the interest of the congregation with the clergyman's sermon.
The service proceeded: not far from the place where the stranger had

* ^ iB ^ i ^ * I I

"S?^*

[RK.

fmind, a most appropriate
id was accordingly 'nuch
he ensuing year, the ves-
i the design of returning
erprise Selkirk acted as
Ingland till October, 1711,
for eight years. Of the
•ealised by plundering the
) amount of about eight

to the public; and imme-
an object of curiosity not
ed by rank and learning,
to him an article in the
B tells the reader that, as
jf great curiosity to hear
IS of his mind during the
' continues this writer, " I
r and story, I could have
from company, /rowi his
beerful seriousness in his
hings about him, as if he
rhich brought him off the
atest ii difference with re-
mt with great satisfaction
The man frequently be-
not, he said, with all its
his solitude. ' I am now
hall never be so happy as
had frequently conversed
let me in the street, and
at I had seen h\m: familiar
as of Ms aspect, and quite
lis latter circumstance the
irs having elapsed between
ir Richard Steele first saw

short accounts of Selkirk's
er his return to England,
mblished till the year 1719,
led must have been nearly
rview having taken place
be decided whether Defoe
or from such narratives aa

of 1712; the kirk bells of
1 the parishioners were as-
3d stranger knocked at the
one was within, and the
irch. He entered, and sat
nee, the fact of his being a
acted attention to him, and
I the clergyman's sermon.
ice where the stranger had

ABANDONMENT OF SELKIRK.

127

stationed himself, was the pew where old John Selkirk, his wife, and
others of the family were sitting, and toward this pew the stranger con-
tinued to direct his eyes. The occupants of the pew returned the glance
as discreetly as they could ; old Mrs. Selkirk especially several times
eyed the stranger with curiosity over her Bible. At length the glances
became a fixed gaze; the old woman's face grew pale; and crying, "It's
Sandie ! — it's Sandie !" she tottered up to the stranger, and flung herself
into his arms. The clergyman stopped ; the congregation rose in a bustle
of excitement, and quiet was not lestored until the whole Selkirk family
left the church in a body, to give full scope at home to their mutual
congratulations and inquiries.

"For a few days," says his biographer, Mr. Howell, who ascertained
the particulars by industrious inquiry, " Selkirk was happy in the company
of his parents and friends; but from long habit, he soon felt averse to
mixing in society, and was most happy when alone. For days his relations
never saw his face from the dawn until late in the evening, when lie
returned to bed. It was his custom to go out in the morning, carrying
with him provisions for the day; then would he wander and meditate
alone through the secluded and solitary valley of Keil's Den. The romantic
beauties of the place, afhd, above all, the stillness that reigned there,
reminded him of his beloved island, which he never thought of but with
regret for having left it. When evening forced him to return to the haunts
of men, he appeared to do so with reluctance; for he immediately retired
to his room, up stairs, in his brother's house, where he resided. Here
he was accustomed to amuse himself with two cats that belonged to his
brother, which he taught, in imitation of a part of his occupations on his
solitary island, to dance and perform many little feats. They were ex-
tremely fond of him, and used to watch his return. He often said to his
friends, no doubt thinking of himself in his youth, that 'were children as
docile and obedient, parents would all be happy in them.' But poor
Selkirk himself was now far from being happy, for his relations often
found him in tears. Attached to his father's house was a piece of ground,
occupied as a garden, which rose in a considerable acclivity backward :
here, on the top of the eminence, soon after his arrival in Largo, he con-
structed a sort of cave, commanding an extensive and delightful view of
the Forth and its shores. In fits of musing meditation, he was wont to
sit here in bad weather, and even at other times, and to bewail his ever
having left his island. This recluse and unnatural propensity, as it
appeared to them, was cause of great grief to his parents, who often
remonstrated with him, nnd endeavored to raise his spirits. But their efforts
were made in vain; and he sometimes broke out before them in a passion
of grief, and exclaimed, 'Oh my beloved island! I wish I had never left
thee! I never before was the man I was on thee; I have not been such
since I left thee; and I fear never can be again!' Having plenty of money,
he purchased a boat for himself, and often, when the weather would permit,
he made little excursions, but always alone; and day after day he spent
in fishing in the beautiful Bay of Largo, or at Kingscreig Point, where
he would loiter till evening among the romantic cliffs catching lobsters —
his favorite amusement, as they reminded him of the crawfish of Juan
Fernandez. The rock to which he moored his boat is still shown."

Selkirk at length resolved to abandon this mode of life; and the exe-
cution of his design was probably hastened by an attachment he had formed
to a young girl named Sophia Bruce^ whom he often met, tending her
mother's cow. in his wanderings through Keil's Den. " He never," says

iM!<aH>««!l!WBtMaM>MMnH

128

ABANDONMENT OP SELKIRK.

Mr. Howell, "mentioned the attachmentto his friends; for he felt ashamed,
after his discourses to them, and the profession he had made of dislike
to human society, to acknowledge that he was on the point of marrying.
BuUomarry he was determined, though as firmly resolved not to remam
at home to be the subject of their jests. He soon persuaded he "b ect
Sf his choice to elope with him, and bid adieu to the romant c glen.
Without the knowledge of their parents, they both set out tor London.
He left his chest and all his clothes behind; nor did he ever claim them
again; and his friends knew nothing and heard nothing of h™ for muij
years. At the time of this sudden departure from Largo, Selkirk wa»
neorlv forty years of age. . .t ., . •

In L.-^ndon Selkirk seems to have lived some time. Nothing, how-
ever, is known of his movements till 1717,, in which year we find h.m
executing a will and power of attorney, by the haiids of a notary m
Wapping,in favor of Sophia Bruce, the object of his affection; being
then on the point of again going to sea. The only °»her known particulars
respecting Selkirk's life came to light in the year 1^24, when a ga ly^
dressed lady, named Frances Candis, presented herself at Largo as the
widow of Alexander Selkirk, and claimed tlie property which had been
left him by his father, including the house of Craggy Wall, mentioned in
the forecome will. She produced documents which proved her marriage
with SefkTkl a will, also, dated the twelfth of December H^O, entu ing
her to the property; and lastly, an attestation of the death of her husband,
Lieutenant Alexander Selkirk, on board his majesty's ship Weymouth in
the year 1723. From the second of these documents, it is inferred that
Sophia Bruce had died some time between 1717, when the first will was
executed in her favor, and 1720, when the second w'»/^« Jrawn up in
favor of Frances Candis. Having had her claims adjusted, Selkirk s
widow took her departure from Largo after a few days. So far as can Imj
ascertained, Selkirk left no children either by her or by Sophia Bruce.
The house in which Selkirk lived, during his last residence at Largo, is
still occupied by \\w descendants of his brother John, who preserve his
chest and his coc...n«t shell cup. His flip-can exists m the possession
of another relation, and his gun has for some years been the property of
Major Lumsden of Lathallan, near Largo. "The A'P-can," says Mr.
Howell, "holds about a Scottish pint, [two quarts,] and is made of brown
stoneware, glazed. On it is the following inscription and posy-^ailors
being in aU ages notoriously addicted to inscribing rhymes on such

articles: —

• Alexander Selkirk, this is my one.

When you take me on board of Bhip,
Pray fill me full with punch or flip.

The handle of the jug is gone; its mouth is broken in two places; and
a crack in the stoneware is patched with pitch, probably put on by Selkirk s

own hands." , . . , , -j .«j — -

The island of Juan Fernandez, which may also be considered as a
relic of Alexander Selkirk, has passed through the hands of a succession
of owners since he quitted it. For upward of thirty years after his
departure it remained in the condition in which he had >eft it— an uninhabi-
ted island, where ships, sailing along the western coast of South America,
occasionally put in for water and fresh victuals. Once or twice, indeed,
the chances of shipwreck gave it one or two inhabitants, who did not
remain long. In 17B0, the Spaniards again formed a aetUement on it.

. ->;VS i=;aii.-i*>I>-.

m^T

?Tiffr!^SS^

ABANDONMENT OF SELKIRK.

129

for he felt ashamed,
ad made of diBlike
point of marrying,
olved not to remain
erauaded 'he object
the romantic glen,
let out for London,
he ever claim them
ins of him for many
Largo, Selkirk wai

me. Nothing, how-
;h year we find him
ands of a notary in
his affection; bemg
tier known particulars
1724, when a gaily-
jrself at Largo as the
perty which had been
ty Wall, mentioned m
\ proved her marriage
ember 1720, entitlmg
death of her husband,
y's ship Weymouth m
ents, it is inferred that
when the first will was
will was drawn up in
IS adjusted, Selkirk's
lays. So far as can be
or by Sophia Bruce.
[ residence at Largo, is
ohn, who preserve his
xists in the possession
[3 been the property of
U flip-can," says Mr.
' and is made of brown
lion and posy-flailoni
ibing rhymes on auch

khip,
lip?

Len in two places; and
[ably put on by Selkirk'"

„ be considered as a
I hands of a succession
I thirty years after his
Lad left it— an uninhabi-
toast of South America,
fOnce or twice, indeed,
Lhabitants, who did not
aed a settlement on it.

and built a fort. Both were destroyed by an earthquake in the following
year; but another town was built at a greater distance from the shore.
It continued to be inhabited for about twenty years, but was then aban>
doned, as the former Spanish settlement in the island had been. Early
in the present century, the Chilian government began to use Juan Fer-
nandez as a penal settlement, transporting their state criminals to it; but
in consequence of the expense, it was soon given up; and when Lord
Cochrane visited the island in 1823, there were but four men stationed
on it, apparently in charge of some cattle. The following description is
given of the island by a lady who accompanied Lord Cochrane and a
party on shore : — " The island is the most picturesque I ever saw^ being
composed of high perpendicular rocks, wooded nearly to the top, with
bcautiiul vaiieys, exceedingly fertile, and watered by copious streams,
which occasionally form small marshes. The little valley where the town
is, or rather was, is exceedingly beautiful. It is full of fruit-trees and
flowers, and sweet herbs, now grown wild; near the shore, it is covered
with radish and sea-side oats. A small fort was situated on the sea-shore,
of which there is nothing noiji^isible but the ditches and part of one wall.
Another, of considerable size Tor the place, is on a high and commanding
spot. It contained barracks for soldiers, which, as well as the greater
part of the fort,- are ruined; but the flag-staflT, front wall, and a turret are
standing; and at the foot of the flag-staff lies a very handsome brass gun,
cast in Spain, a. d. 1614. A few houses and cottages are still in a tole-
rable condition, though most of the doors, windows, and roofs have been
taken away, or used as fuel by whalers and other ships touching here.
In the valleys we found numbers of European shrubs and herbs — ' where
once the garden smiled.' And in the half-ruined hedges, which denote
the boundaries of former fields, we found apple, pear, and quince trees,
with cherries almost ripe. The ascent is steep and rapid from the beach,
even in the valleys, and the long grass was dry and slippery, so that it
rendered the walk rather fatiguing; and we were glad to sit down under a
large quince-tree on a carpet of balm, bordered with roses, now neglected,
and feast our eyes with the lo/ely view before us. Lord Anson has
not exaggerated the beauty of ;he place, or the delights of the climate.
We were rather early for its fruits, but even at this time we have gathered
delicious figs, cherries, and pears, that a few days more of sun would
have perfected. The landing-place is also tho watering-place. There a
little jetty is thrown out, formed of the beach pebbles, making a little
harbor for boats, which lie there close to the fresh water, which comes
conducted by a pipe, so that, with a hose, the casks may be filled without
landing with the most delicious water. Along the beach some old guns
are sunk, to serve as moorings for vessels, which are all the safer the
nearer in shore they lie ; as violent gusts of wind often blow from the
mountain for a few minutes. The height of the island is about three
thousand feet."

The isle of Juan Fernandez, of late years, has been much visited by
vessels in the California trade. An American traveler J. Ross Browne,
visited the island in 1849, and has given his impressions in a charming
little book, half fiction and half truth, under the title of '* Crusoe Life,
a Narrative of Adventures in the Island of Juan Fernandez," from which
we take the following extract.

At the dawn of day I was on deck, looking eagerly toward the island.
I may as well confess at once that no child could have felt more delight
than 1 did in the anticipntion of MOMthing illusive and enchanting. My

».,

180

ABANDONMENT OP 8KLKIRK.

heart throbbed with impatience to aee wiiat it was that cast so strange a
fascination about that lonely spot. All was wrapped in mist ; but the
air was filled with fresh odors of land, and wrfls of sweetness more deli-
cious than the scent of new-mown hay. The storm had ceased, and the
soA-echoed bleating of gnats, and the distant baying of wild dugs were
all the sounds of life that broke upon the stillness. It seemed as if the
sun, loth to disturb the ocean in its rest, or reveal the scene of beauty that
lay slumbering upon its bosom, would never rise again, so gently the light
stole upon the eastern sky, so softly it absorbed the shadows of night. I
watched the golden glow as it spread over the heavens, and beheld at
last the sun in all his majesty scatter away the thick vapors that lay around
his resting-place, and each vale was opened out in the glowing light of
the morning, and the mountains that towered out of the sea were bathed
in the glory of his rays.

Never shall I forget the strange delight with which I gazed upon that
isle of romance; the unfeigned rapture I felt in the anticipation of ex-
ploring that miniature world in the desert of waters, so fraught with the
happiest associations of youth; so remote from all the ordinary realities
of life; the actual embodiment of the most absorbing, most fascinating of
all the dreams of fancy. Many foreign lands I had seen; many islands
scattered over the broad ocear, rich and wondrous in their romantic
beauty; many glens of Utopian loveliness; mountain heights weird and
impressive in their sublimity ; but nothing to equal this in variety of outline
and undefinable richness of coloring; nothing so dreamlike, so wrapped
in illusion, so strange and absorbing in its novelty. Great peaks of reddish
rock seemed to pierce the sky wherever I looked ; a thousand rugged
ridges swept upward toward the center in a perfect maze of enchantment.
It was all wild, fascinating, and unreal. The sides of the mountains were
covered with patches of rich grass, natural fields of oats, and groves of
myrtle and pimento. Abrupt walls of rock rose from the water to the
height of a thousand feet. The surf broke in a white line of foam along
the shores of the bay and its measured swell floated upon the air like the
voice of a d-<^tant cataract. Fields of verdure covered the ravines ; ruined
and moss-covered walls were scattered over each eminence; and the
straw huts of the inhabitants were almost embosomed in trees, in the
midst of the valley, and jets of smoke arose out of the groves and floated
off gently in the calm air of the morning. In all the shore, but one spot,
a single opening among the rocks, seemed accessible to man.

No longer able to control our enthusiasm, we sprang into the boat and
pushed off for the landing. We first went up to a bluff, where we spent
an hour, in exploring the ruins of the fortifications, built by the Chilians,
in 1767. There was nothing left but the foundation and a portion of the
ramparts of the principal fort, partly imbedded in banks of clay, and
nearly covered with moss and weeds. It was originally strongly built of
large stones, which were cast down in every direction, by the terrible
earthquake of 1835; and now all that remained perfect was the front wall
of the main rampart and the groundwork of the fort. Not far from these
rains we found the convict-cells, which we explored to some extent.
y The cells are dug into the brow of a hill, facing the harbor, and extend
under ground to the distance of several hundred feet, in the form of pas-
ties and vaults, resembling somewhat the Catacombs of Rome. During
me penal settlement established here by the Chilian government, the
convicts, numbering sometimes many hundreds, were confined in these
gloomy dungeons, where they were lubjected to the most barbaroiu

•i^imi ^ *^ m^

iL«lfev

ABANDONMENT OF SELKIRK,

131

; cast 80 strange a
in mist; but the
eetness more deli-
id ceased, and the
of wild dags were
It seemed as if the
icene of beauty that
, so gently the light
ladows of night. I
rens, and beheld at
pors that lay around

ie glowing light of
the sea were bathed

h I gazed upon that
3 anticipation of ex-
, so fraught with the
he ordinary realities
r, most fascinating of
i seen; many islands
us in their romantic
in heights weird and
is in variety of outline
reamlike, so wrapped
3reat peaks of reddish
1; a thousand rugged
maze of enchantment,
of the mountains were
,f oats, and groves of
Um the water to the
lite line of foam along
upon the air like the
led the ravines; ruined
h eminence; and the
jomed in trees, in the
the groves and floated
le shore, but one spot,
ole to man.

frang into the boat and
bluff, where we spent
1, built by the Chilians,
>n and a portion of the
in banks of clay, and
finally strongly built of
frection, by the terrible
irfect was the front wall
Irt. Not far from these
ed to some extent,
the harbor, and extend
feet, in the form of pas-
.jnbsofRome. During
Chilian government, the
[were confined in these
to the moat barbarooi

treatment. The gates or doors by which tiio entrances were secured,
had all been torn down and destroyed ; and the excavations were now
occupied only by wild goats, bats, toads, and diffurent sorts of vermin.
Rank fern hung upon the sides; overhead was dripping with a cold and
deathlike sweat, and slimy drops cjurscd duwn the weeds, and the air
was damp and chilly: thick darkness was within in the depths beyond;
darkness that no wandering gleam from the light of day over reached —
lor heaven never smiled upon those dreary abodes of sin and sorrow.
A few of the inner dungeons, for the worst criminals, were dug still deeper
under ground, and rough stairways of earth led down into them, which
were shut out from the upper vaults by strong doors. The sii:e of those
lower dungeons was not more than five or six feet in length, by four or
five in height; from which some idea may be formed of the sufferings
endured by the poor wretches confined in them; shut out from the light
of heaven, loaded with heavy irons, crushed down by dank and impene-
trable walls of earth, starved and beaten by their cruel guards; with no
living soul to pity them in their woe, no j^ope of release save in death.
We saw, by the aid of a torch, deep^oles scratched in one of the walls,
bearing the impression of human fiilgers. It might have been that some
unhappy murderer, goaded to madness by such cruel tortures of body and
terrible anguish of mind, as drive men to tear even their own flesh when
buried before the vital spark is extinct, had grasped out the earth in his
desperation, and left the marks in his death agonies upon the clay tmt
entombed him, to tell what no human heart but his suffered there, no
human ear had heard, no human eye had witnessed. Tlie deep, startling
echo breaking upon the heavy air, as we sounded the walls, seemed yet
to mingle with his curses, and its last sepulchral throb was like the dying
moan of the maniac.

Some time before the great earthquake, which destroyed the fortifications
and broke up the penal colony, a gang of convicts, amounting to three
hundred, succeeded in liberating themselves from their cells. Unable
to endure the cruelties inflicted upon them, they broke loose from their
chains, and rushing upon the guards, murdered the greater part of them,
and, finally, seized the garrison. For several days, they held complete
possession of the island. A whale-ship, belonging to Nantucket, hap-
pening to come in at the time for wood and water, they seized the captain,
and compelled him to take on board as many of them as the vessel could
contain. About two hundred were put on board. They then threatened
the captain and ofliccrs with instant death, in case of any failure to land them
on the coast of Peru, whither they determined to go, in order to escape
the vengeance of Chilian government. Desirous of getting rid of them
as soon as possible, the captain of the whaler ran over for the first land
on the coast of Chili, where he put them ashore, leaving them ignorant
of their position until they were unable to regain the vessel. They soon
discovered that they were only thirty miles from Valparaiso; but short as
ihe distance was from the Chilian authorities, they evaded all attempts to
capture them, and eventually joined the Peruvian army, which was then
advancing upon Santiago. The remainder of the prisoners left upon the
island, escaped in different vessels, and were scattered over various parts
of the world. Only a few out of the entire number engaged in the mas-
sacre were ever captured: sentence of death was passed upon them, and.
they were shot in the public fAaza of Santiago. ^

Turning our steps toward the settlement of the present residents, we
passed a few hours very agreeably iu rambling about among their rustic

''"fSSSg^^"

•E*>'WM'^ "^ ^■—

|«| ABANDONMENT OF SELKIRK.

.bodes The total number of inhabitants at this period (1849,) is sixteen:
S^istlnK of Wlliam Pearce, an American, and four or five Ch.l.an men,
S^"h thei? wives and children. No others have lived permanently upon
The island for several years. There are in all son^ six or seven hut*,
nleaSv surrounded by shrubbery, and well supplied with water from
J spring: These habitations are built of the straw of w.ld oats, 'nterwoven
ZugS wattles or long sticks, and thatched with the same; ^nd w^^th^^^^^
from desien or accident, are extremely picturesque. The roots project
80^ to fSra an agreeable shade all round; the doorways "e covered ,n
by "sort of projecting porch, in the style ol the French cottages along
2e vahey of thi Seine j small out-houses, erected upon posts, are scat-
S?ed aSu° eacS inclosure ; and an air of repose «nd f'««d«m from ^jJd^^
care pervades the whole place, though the <^oJ^^;.^^'^Za L^iZZh
mode of living are evidently of the most primitive kind. Seen througn
Se green sSbberies that aLund in every direction, the bngj^t^ y^^^^^^^^
the Cottages, and the smoke curling up m the still a. , have » J"y/;»»«j?;f J'
effect- and the prattling voices of the children, mingled with the lively
ki ^;J:„ nf th« Wine and the various pleasant sounds of domestic life,
IilgWlflt:d'on\'\otink:that\he feclusion of these islanders from

%t?rlfl tirenftre'jJfeL'aTbreezes from the ocean, withcut
ma?a'^-U of anl^hiTgo produce disease, beautifully diversified in scenery,
S.tsusSpSrof'beiSg made a convenient «topping-p^«je for v^^^^^^^^
bound to the great Northwestern Continent, it would be difficult to find a
more desirabll place for a coiony of intelligent and •nd«8»riou8 people,
X wou d cultfvate the land, build good houses, and turn to "dvantag*
lu the gifta of Providence which have been bestowed upon the island.

! #

'•"'ii

t [!H i i iiii Ui i im i i ii« i i mu i L jj.J» r ,"!' i lf"U«TJ ' ."5? ' l^ j'B"^ ■..

f» mf '

I'"WUI,IIII|I»-»1»P»WW1

I (1849,) is sixteen:
)r five Chilian men,
I permanently upon
1 six or seven huts,
ed with water from
ild oats, interwoven
same; and whether
The roofs project
ways are covered in
inch cottages along
pon posts, are scat-
reedom from worldly
m of the houses and
lind. Seen through
the bright yellow of
have a very cheerful
igled with the lively
ids of domestic life,
hese islanders fioro

the ocean, withcut
iversified in scenery,
ing-place foryvessels
I be difficult to find a
1 industrious people,
nd turn to advantage

upon the island.

THE NABRATIVE

i' j

COLONEL ETHAN ALLEN,

TH« HIBO or TIOOMDEBOOA, WHO ArTBE HE rilt IMTO TH* BANDS OF TBI awnT AT
MONTRBAL, WAS OONriNBO, DUBINO A 0ON8U>BBABLK PKBIOO OF HI! OAPTiriTT. A PBHOnB
OW BOABD OF •-■»»«■■■

BRITISH SHIPS OF WAR.

Ever since 1 arrived at a state of manhood, and acquainted myself with
the general history of mankind, I have felt a sincere passion for liberty;
so that the first systematical and bloody attempt at Lexington, to enslave
America, thoroughly electrified my mind, and fully determined me to take
part with my country.

While I was wishing for an opportunity to signalize myself in its behalf,
directions were privately sent to me from the then colony, now State of
Connecticut, to raise the Greeu Mountain Boys ; and, if possible, with
them to surprise and take the fortress Ticonderoga. This enterprise I
cheerfully undertook ; and, after first guarding all the several passes that
led thither, to cut ofl" all intelligence between the garrison and the country,
made a forced march from Bennington, and arrived at the lake opposite
Ticonderoga, on the evening of the ninth day of May, 1776, with two
hundred and thirty valiant Green Mountain Boys ; and it was with the
utmost difliculty that I procured boats to cross the lake. However, I
landed eighty-five men near the garrison, and sent the boats back for the
rear-guard, commanded by Col. Seth Warner; but the day began to dawn,
and I found myself under a necessity to attack the fort before the rear
could cross the lake ; and, as it was viewed hazardous, I harangued the
officers and soldiers in the manner following: "Friends and fellow-soldiers
you have, for a number of years past, been a scourge and terror to arbi-
trary power. Your valor has been famed abroad, and acknowledged, as
appears by the advice and orders to me from the General Assembly of
Connecticut, to surprise and take the garrison now before us. I now
propose to advance before you, and in person conduct you through the
wicket-gate ; for we must this morning either quit our pretensions to
valor, or possess ourselves of this fortress in a few minutes ; and, inas-
much as it is a desperate attempt, whjch none but the bravest of men dare
undertake, I do not urge it on any contrary to his will. You that will
undertake, voluntarily, poise your firelocks."

The men being at this time drawn up in three ranks, each poised his
firelock; I ordered them to face to the right, and, at the head of the center
file, marched them immediately to the wicket-gate aforesaid, where I
found a sentry posted, who instantly snapped his fusee at me. I ran
immediately toward him, and he retreated through the covered way ii^
the parade within the garrison, gave a halloo, and ran under a bonS
proof. My party, who followed me into the fort, I formed on the parade
m such manner as to face the two barracks which faced each other. The

(133)

184

ETHAN ALLEN'S NARRATIVE.

frarrison being ealeep, except the sentries, wo gave three huzzas which
greatly surprised them. One of the sentries made a pass at one of my
officers with a charged bayonet, and slightly wounded him. My first
thought was to kill him with my sword ; but, in an instant, I altered the
design and fury of the blow to a slight cut on the side of the head ; upon
which he dropped his gun, and asked (juarter, which I readily grnntod
him, and demanded of him the place where the commanding officer slept ;
he showed me a pair of stairs in the front of a barrack, on the west part
of the garrison, which led up to a second story in said barrack, to which
I immediately repaired, and ordered the commander, Capt. Delaplace,
to come forth instantly, or I would sacrifice the whole garrison ; at which
the captain came immediately to the door with his breeches in his hand,
when I ordered him to deliver to me the fort instantly. He asked me by
what authority I demanded it. I answered him, " In the name of the
great Jehovah and the Continental Congress." The authority of the
Congress being very little known at that time, he began to speak again ;
but I interrupted him, and with my drawn sword over his head, again
demanded an immediate surrender of the garrison ; to which ho then
complied, and ordered his men to be forthwith paraded without arms, as
he had given up the garrison. In the meantime some of my officers
had given orders, and in consequence thereof, sundry of the barrack
doors were beat down, and about one third of the garrison imprisoned,
which consisted of the said commande>-, a Lieut. Feltham, a conductor
of artillery, a gunner, two sergeants, and forty-four rank and file ; about
one hundred pieroa of cannon, one thirtcen-inch mortar, and a number
of swivels This surprise was carried into execution in the gray of the
morning of the tenth day of May, 1776. Col. Warner, with the rear
guard, crossed the lake, and joined me early in the morning, whom I sent
off, without loss of time, with about one hundred men, to take possession
of Crown Point, which was garrisoned with a sergeant and twelve men ;
which he took possession of the same day, as also upward of one hundred
pieces of cannon. But one thing now remained to be done, to make
ourselves complete masters of Lake Champlain. This was to possess our-
selves of a sloop of war, which was then laying at St. John's ; to effect
which, it was agreed, in a council of war, to arm and man out a certain
schooner, which lay at South Bay, and that Captain (now General) Arnold
should command her, and that I should commana the batteaux. The
necessary preparations being made, we set sail from Ticonderoga in quest
of the sloop, which was much larger, and carried more guns and heavier
metal than the schooner. General Arnold, with the schooner, sailing
faster than the batteaux, arrived at St. John's ; and by surprise possessed
himself of the sloop before I could arrive with the batteaux. He also
made prisoners of a sergeant and twelve men, who were garrisoned at
that place. ,

Early in the fall of the year, the little army, under the command of the
Generals Schuyler and Montgomery, were ordered to advance into Canada.
I was at Tic-ondcroga when this order arrived; and the General, with most
of the field-officers, requested me to attend them in the expedition. I was
first ordered by the General to go, in company with Major Brown and
certain interpreters, through the woods into Canada, with letters to the
C^adians, and to let them know that the design of the army was only
against the Engl'sh garrisons, and not the country, their liberties, or
religion. This was soon accomplished, and on the morning of the 24th
day of September, I set out with my guard of about eighty men, from

ETHAN ALLEN'S NARRATIVE.

186

eo huzzas which
laas at one of my
d him. My first
lant, I altered the
)f the head ; upon
I readily granted
iding officer slept ;
L, on the west part
barrack, to which
, Capt. Delaplace,
garrison ; at which
eches in his hand,

He asked me by
a the name of the
,e authority of the
an to speak again ;
rer his head, again
; to which ho then
3d without arms, as
ome of my officers
dry of the barrack
arrison imprisoned,
eltham, a conductor
rank and file ; about
lortar, and a number
n in the gray of the
irner, with the rear
lorning, whom I sent
n, to take possession
ant and twelve men ;
ward of one hundred
o be done, to make
is was to possess our-

St. John's ; to effect
ad man out a certain
now General) Arnold

the batteaux. The

Ticonderoga in quest
ore guns and heavier
the schooner, sailing
Ijy surprise possessed
e batteaux. He also
lo were garrisoned at

If the command of the
J advance into Canada,
he General, with most
the expedition. 1 was
ith Major Brown and
la, with letters to the
of the army was only
itry, their liberties, or
le morning of the |4th
bout eighty men, from

^^SS^^--

Longale, to go to Lapraier ; from thence I determined to go to Gen. Mont-

fomery's camp ; but had not advanced two miles before I met with Major
Irown, who proposed, that " Provided I would return to Longale, and
procure some canoes, so as to cross the river St. Lawrence, a little north
of Montreal, he would cross it a little to the south of the town, with near
two hundred men, as he had boats sufficient ; and that we would make
ovrselvcs masters of Montreal.''

This plan was readily approved by me and those in council ; and in
consequence of which 1 returned to Longale, collected a few canoes, and
added about thirty English Americans to my party, and crossed the river
in the night of the 24th. My whole party, at this time, consisted of about
one hundred and ten men, near eighty of whom were Canadians. I then
reconnoitered the best ground to make a defense, expecting Col. brown's
party were landing on the other side of the town, he having tiic day before
agreed to give three huzzas with his men early in the morning, which
signal I was to return, that we might each know that both parties wore
landed ; but the sun by this time being near two hours high, and the sign
failing, I began to conclude myself to be in a premunire, and would
have crossed the river back again, but I knew the enemy would have
discovered such an attempt.

The town of Montreal was in a great tumult. Gen. Carlton and the
royal party made every preparation to go on board their vessels as I was
afterwards informed, but a spy escaping from my guard to the town,
occasioned an alteration in their policy, and emboldened Gen. Carlton to
send the force, which he had there collected, out against me. I had
previously chosen my ground, but when I saw the number of the enemy
as they sallied out of the town, I perceived it would be a day of trouble,
if not of rebuke ; but I had no chance to flee, as Montreal was situated
on an island, and the river St. Lawrence cut of}' my communication to
Gen. Montgomery's camp. The enemy consisted of not more than forty
regular troops, together with a mixed multitude, chiefly Canadians, with
a number of English who lived in the town, and some Indians ; in all to
the number of near five hundred. The reader will notice that most of
my party were Canadians ; indeed it was a motley parcel of soldiery which
composed both parties. However, the enemy began the attack from
wood-piles, ditches, buildings, and such like places, at a considerable
distance, and I returned the fire from a situation more than equally ad-
vantageous. The lire continued for some time on both sides ; and I was
confident that such a remote method of attack could not carry the ground
provided it should be continued until night, but near half the body of the
enemy began to flank round to my right; upon which I ordered a volunteer,
by the name of John Dugan, to detach about fifty of the Canadians, and
post himself at an advantageous ditch, which was on my right, to prevent
my being surrounded. He advanced with the detachment, but instead
of occupying the post, made his escape, as did likewise Mr. Young upon
the left, with their detachments. The enemy kept closing round me, nor
was it in my power to prevent it, by which means my situation, which
was advantageous in the first part of the attack, ceased to be so in the
last ; and being almost entirely surrounded with such vast, unequal num-
bers, I ordered a retreat, but found that those of the enemy who were of
the country, and ^ir Indians, could run as fast as my men, though ihe
refyulars could noV Thus I retreated near a mile, and some of the enemy,
with the savages, kept flanking me, and others crowded hard in the rear.
In fine I expected in a very short time to try the world of spirits, for I

^K*. . „...^--,^, _ _

188

ETHAN ALLEN'8 NARRATIVE.

waa apprehcnaivo that no quarter would be given to me, and therefore
had determined to sell my life as dearly as I could. One of the onemy^s
officers boldly pressing in the rear, discharged his fusee at me ; the ball
whistled near me, as did many others that day. I returned the salute,
and missed him, om running had put us both out of breath. I then saluted
him with my tongue in a harsh manner, and told him that inasmuch as
hia numbers were so far superior to mine, I would surrender, provided I
could be treated with honor, and be assured of good quarter for myself
and the men who were with me ; and ho answered I should. Another
officer coming up directly afler, confirmed the treaty : upon which I ngreed
to surrender with my party, which then consisted of thirty-one ctfoctive
men, and seven wounded. I ordered them to ground their arms, which
they did. The officer I capitulated with, then directed me and my party
to advance toward him, which was done. I handed him my sword,
and in half a minute after, a savage, part of whose head was shaved,
being almost naked and painted, with feathers intermixed with the hair
of the other side of his head, came running to me with an incredible
swif\ness ; he seemed to advance with more than mortal speed ; as he
app^ached near me, his hellish visage was beyond all description — snake
eyes appear innocent in comparison witii liis ; his features distorted ;
malice, death, murder and the wrath of devils and damned spirits are
the emblems of his countenance ; and in less than twelve feet of me,
presented his firelock.

At the instant of his present, I twitched the officer tu whom I gave
my sword between me and the savage ; but he flew round with great
fury, trying to single me out to shoot me without killing the officer ; but
by this time I was near as nimble as he, keeping the officer in such a
position that his danger was my defense. But in less than half a minute
1 was attacked by just such another imp of hell. Then I made the officer
fly round with incredible velocity for a few seconds of time, when I per-
ceived a Canadian (who had lost one eye, as appeared afterward,) taking
my part against the savages ; and in an instant an Irishman came to my
assistance with a fixed bayonet, and drove away the fiends, swearing " by
Jasus he would kill them." This tragic scene composed my mind. The
escaping from so awful a death made even imprisonment happy ; the
more so as my conquerors on the field treated me with great civility and
politeness. The regular officers said that they were happy to see Col.
Allen. I answered them, that I should rather chose to have seen them
at Gen. Montgomery's camp. The gentlemen replied that they gave full
credit to what I said, and as I walked to the town, which was, as I should
guess, more than two miles, a British officer walked at my right hand,
and one of the French noblesse at my left ; the latter of which, in the
action, had his eyebrow carried away by a glancing shot, but was never-
theless very merry and facetious, and no abuse was oflfered me till I came
to the barrack-yard at Montreal, where I met Gen. Prescott, who asked
me my name, which I told him. He then asked me whether I was that
Col. Allen who took Ticonderoga. I told him I was the very man.
Then he shook his cane over my head, calling many hard names, among
which he frequently used the word Rebel, and put himself into a great
rage. I told him he would do well not to cane me, for I was not accus-
tomed to it, and shook my fist at him, telling him that^at was the beetle
of mortality for him, if he oflfered to strike ; upon wlMi Capt. M'Cloud,
of the British, pulled him by the skirt, and whispered to him (as he
afterward told me) to this import: that it was inconsistent with his honor

ETHAN ALLKN'S NARRATIVE.

137

), and therefore
B of the cneiny'i
at me ; the ball
rned the salute,
I then saluted
lat inasmuch as
nder, provided 1
irtor for myself
hould. Another
m which I ngreed
irty-one effective
heir arms, which
me and my party
him my sword,
load was shaved,
ed with the hair
ith an incredible
lal speed; as he
escription — snake
iatures distorted ;
imned spirits are
yrelvo feet of me,

to whom I gave

round with great
ig the officer ; but

officer in such a

than half a minute
1 1 made the officer

time, when I per-
i afterward,) taking
shman came to my
ends, swearing "by
sed my mind. The
mment happy; the
h great civility and

happy to see Col.
to have seen them
i that they gave full
ich was, as I should
[ at my right hand,
er of which, in the
hot, but was never-
fered me till I came
Prescott, who asked
whether I was that
was the very man.

hard names, among
limself into a great
for I was not accus-
tjhat was the beetle
A Capt. M'Cloud,
ered to him (as he
istent with his honor

to strike a prisoner. Ho then ordered a scrjeant^a command, with fixed
bayonets, to come forward and kill thirteen Canadians, which wore
includiid in the treaty aforesaid.

It cut iiio to the hoart to see the Canadians in so hard a case, in conie-
quonco of their having been true to me; they were wringing thoir hands,
.saying tiieir prayers, as I concluded, and expected immediate death. I
therefore stepped between the executioners and the Canadians, opened
my cluiiios, and told Gen. PrcHcott to thrust his bayonet into my breast,
for 1 was the solo cause of tiie Canadians taking up arms. The guard in
the meantime, rolling their eyeballs from the General to me, as though
impatient, waiting his dread coiiiinands to sheathe their bayonets in my
hoart. I could, however, plainly discern that he was in a suspense and
quandary about the mutter. This gave mo additional hopesof succeeding,
for my design was not to die, but save the Canadians by a finesse. The
General stood a minute, when he made me the following reply: "/ will

not execute you now : hut you shall grace a halter at Tyburn, j/e."

General Prescott then ordered one of his officers to take me on board
the Gaspee schooner of war, and confine me, hands and feet, in irons,
which was done tiie same afternoon I was taken.

The action continued an hour and three quarters by the watch, and I
know not to this day how many of my men were !:>lled, though I am cer-
tain there were but few. If I remember right, seve.t were wounded ; the
latter were all put into the hospital at Montreal, and those that were not,
were put on board of ditferent vessels in the river, and shackled together
by pairs, viz., two men fastened together by one handcuflf being closely
fixed to ono wrist of each of them, and treated with the greatest severity,
nay, as criminals.

I now come to the desciption of the irons, which were put on me. The
handcuff was of a common size and form, but my leg irons, I should
imagine, would weigh thirty pounds ; the bar was eight feet long, and
very substantial ; the shackles which encompassed my ancles, were very
tight. I was told by the officer who put them on, that it was the king's
plate, and I heard other of their officers say, that it would weigh forty
weight. The irons were so close upon my ancles, that I could not lie
down in any other manner than on my back. I was put into the lowest
and most wretched part of the vessel, where I got the favor of a chest to
ait on; the same answered for my bed at night; and having procured some
little blocks of the guard, who, day and niglit, wiih fixed bayonets, watched
over me, to lay under each end of tiio largo bar of my leg irons, to pre-
serve my ancles from galling, while I sat on the chest, or lay back on the
aame, though most of the time, night and day, I sat on it ; but at length
having a desire to lay down on my side, which the closeness of the irons -
forbid, I desired the captain to loosen them for that purpose, but was
denied the favor. The captain's name was Royal, who did not seem to
be an ill-natured man ; but oftentimes said, that his express orders were
to treat me with such severity, which was disagreeable to his own feelings;
nor did he ever insult me, though many others, who came on board, did.
One of the officers, by the name of Bradley, was very generous to me ;
he would often send mo victuals from his own table ; nor did a day fail,
but that he sent me a good drink of grog.

The reader is now invited back to the time I was put into irons. I
requested the privilege to write to General Prescott, which was granted.
I reminded him of the kind and generous manner of my treatment to the
prisoners I took at Ticonderoga; the injustice and ungentleman-like

^{i

1.38

ETHAN AIXRN'H NARRATIVB.

usaf(o, which I had mot with from him, nnd dnmandod f^nntlemnn-liko
unnfrr, hut received no answer from him. I Bonn nHor wrott; to (■ciKirnl
(/iiriton, which met the some miccoHS. In the mcanwiiile many of thoHO
who wore permitted to nee me wore very inHulting. I was confined in
the manner I have related, on hoard the (iaiipoo schooner, nimut Hix weeks;
during which time I was obliged to throw out plenty of extravnunnt
language which answered certain purposes, at that time, better than to
grace a history. To give an instance, upon being insulted, in n fit of
anger I twisted off a nail with my teeth, which I took to be a ten-penny
nail ; it went through the mortice of the bar of my handcuff, an<l at the
same time I swaggered over those who abused me ; particularly a Doctor
Dace, who told me that I was outlawed by New York, and deserved '!eath
for several years past; was at last fully ripened for the halter, and in a
fair way to obtain it.

When I challenged him, he excused himself in consequence, as he
said, of my being a criminal. But 1 flung such a fluod of language at
him that it shocked him ond the spectators, for my anger was very great.

I heard one say," him, can he oat iron?" Aflerthat a small padlock

was fixed to the handcuff instead of the nail ; and as they were mean-
spirited in their treatment to me, so it appeared to me, that they were
equally timorous and cowardly. I was sent with the prisoners taken with
mo to an armed vessel in the river, which lay off against Quebec, under
the command of Captain M'Cloud of th" British, who treated me in a
very generous and obliging manner, and according to my rank ; in about
twenty-four hours I bid him farewell with regret ; but my pood fortune
still continued. The name of the captain of the vessel I was put on
board, was Littlejohn; who, with his officers, behaved in a polite, generous,
and friendly manner. I lived with them in the cabin, nnd fnred on the
best; my irons being taken off, contrary to the order ho Iwi' received
from the commanding officer ; but Captain Littlejohn swore that a brave
man should not be used as a rascal on board his ship.

Having enjoyed eight or nine days' happiness, from the polite and
generous treatment of Captain Littlejohn and his officers, I was obliged
to bid them farewell, parting with them in as friendly a manner as we had
lived together, which, to the best of my memory, was the eleventh of
November. When a detachment of General Arnold's little army appeared
on Point Levy, opposite Quebec, who had performed an extraordinary
march through a wilderness country, with design to have surprised the
capital of Canada, I was then taken on board a vessel called the Adamant,
together with the prisoners taken with me, and put under the power of
tn English merchant from London, whose name was Brook Watson ; a
man of malicious and cruel disposition, and who was probably excited
in the exercise of his malevolence by a junto of tories, who i<iflilcd with
him to England ; among whom wore Colonel Guy Johnson, Coioi ui Closs,
and their attendants and associates, to the number of about tiiirty. A
small place in the vessel, enclosed with white oak plank, was assigned
for the prisoners, and for me among the rest. I should imagine that it
was not more than twenty feet one way and twenty-two the other. Into
this place we were all, to the number of thirty-four, thrust und handcuffed,
two prisoners more being added to our number, and were provided with
two excrement tubs. In this circumference we were obliged to eat and
perform the office of evacuation, during the voyage to Ex-i^'iand ; and were
insulted by every blackguard sailor and tory on board, in the cruelest
manner; but what is the most surprising is, that not one of us died in

ETHAN ALLEN'S NARRATIVE.

1.39

dnd jfnntlemnn-like
or wroto to (Jniornl
\iW\\o many of tlioao
I wan c-.ontiiKMl in
iRr,nlM>ut Hix wooks;
?nty of oxtravni»nnt
time, brttor tlian to

insulted, in n fit of
k to be a tcn-pnnny
handcuff, and nt the
particularly a Doctor
, and deserved 'loath

the halter, and in a

conseqtienco, as he

(luod of lanjjuaKe at

mgnr was wry jjrcnt.

r that a small padlock

as they were mcan-

me, that they were

1 prisoners taken with
gainst Quebec, under
who treated inc in a
to my rank ; in about
but my pood fortune
vessel 1 was put on

1 in a polite, pcnerous,
ibin, and fnred on the
rder ho h;i received
hn swore that a brave
dp.

I, from the polite and
officers, I was obliged
lly a manner as we had
, was the eleventh of
I's little army appeared
rmed an extraordinary

to have surprised the
el called the Adamant,
lUt under the power of

was Brook Watson; a
» was probably excited
tories, who sailed with
Johnson, Coioi.ul Closs,
ter of about thirty. A
ik plank, was assigned

should imagine that it
ity-two the other. Into
, thi ust ..nd handcuffed,
md were provided with
were ( Sliced to eat and
e to E:^ ^'land ; and were

board, in the cruelesl
it not one of us died in

the passape. When I was firHt ordered lo go into the filthy rnrlnnure,
through asinall sort of door, I positivoly refuNrd, and endeavored to rcnson
the bet'ore-nnmiMl Krook VVutson out of a conduct so derogatory to every
sentiment of honor and humanity, but all to no purpose, my men being
forced in the den already ; and the rascal who had the charge of Iho
prisoners, corniniinded me to go immediately in among the rrst. lie
furthi^r addcci, that the place was good enough for a rebel ; that it was
impertinent for a capital offender to talk of honor or humanity — that
anything short of a halter was too good for me — and that, that would be
my portion soon atler I landed in England — for which purpose only I was
sent thither. About the same time a lieutenant among the tories insulted
mo in a greivous manner, snying that I ought to have been executed for
my rebellion against Now York, and spit in my face ; upon which, though
I was hnndcull'od, I sprung at him with both hands, and knocked him
partly down, but he scrambled along into the cabin, and 1 at\er him —
there he got under the protection of some men with fixed bayonets, who
wore ordered to make ready to drive me into the place before mentioned.

I challenged him to fight, notwithstanding the impediments that wero
on my hands, and had the exalted pleasure to see the rascal tremble for
fear. I lis name I have forgotten, but Watson ordered his guard to get
me into the place with the other prisoners, dead or alive ; and 1 had
almost as leave die as do it, standing it out till they environed me round
with bayonets. Therefore, rather than die, I submitted to their indignities,
being drove with bayonets into the filthy dungeon, with the other prisoners,
where we were denied fresh water, except a small allowance which was
very inadequate to our wants — and in consequence of the stench of tho
place, each of us was soon followed with a diarrhcoi) and fever, which
occasioned an intolerable thirst. When we asked for water, we were
most commonly, instead of obtaining it, insulted and derided — and to add
to all the horrors of the place, it was so dark that we could not see each
other, and wero overspread with body lice. Wo had, notwithstanding
these severities, full allowance of salt provisions, and a gill of rum per
day — tho latter of which was of the utmost service to us, and probably
was tho means of saving several of our lives. About forty days we ex-
isted in this manner, when the Land's-End of England was discovered
from the mast-head — soon ailer which the prisoners were taken from
their gloomy abode, being permitted to see the light of the sun, and breathe
fresh air, which to us was very refreshing. The day following wc landed
at Falmouth. A few days before I was taken prisoner,! shifted my clothes,
by which I happened to be taken in a Canadian dress, viz: a short fawn-
skin jacket, double-breasted, an under vest and breeches of fagathy,
worsted stockings, a decent pair of shoes, two plain shirts, and a red
worsted cap. This was all the clothing I had, in which I made my
appearance in England. When the prisoners were landed, multitudes
of the citizens of Falmouth, excited by curiosity, crowded together to see
us, which was equally gratifying to us. I saw numbers of people on the
tops of houses, and the rising adjacent grounds were covered with them of
both sexes. The throng was so great that the king's officers were obliged
to draw their swords, and force a passage to Pendcnnis Castle, which was
near a mile from the town where we were closely confined, in consequence
of orders from General Carlton, who then commanded in Canada.

My personal treatment by Lieutenant Hamilton, who commanded the
castle, was very generous. He sent me every day a fine breakfast and
dinner from his own table, and a bottle of good wine. Another aged

!;i!i

-rtt^^Ajt^r^ rt^ £^al^M.^ i^ ^.^.^ . , ^ .

140

ETHAN ALLEN'S NARRATIVE.

gentleman, whose name I cannot recollect, sent me a good supper. But
there was no distinction in public support between me and the privates —
we all lodged on a sort of Dutch bunks, in one common apartment, and
were allowed straw. The privates were well supplied with fresh provisions,
and with me took effectual measures to rid ourselves of lice. Among
the great numbers of people who came to the castle to see th»; prisoners,
some gentlemen told me that they iiad come fifly miles on purpose to see
me, and desired to ask me a number of questions, and to make free with
me in conversation. I gave for answer, that I chose freedom in every
sense of tiie word. Then one of them asked me what my occupation in
life had been? I answered him, that in my younger days I had studied
divinity, but was a conjuror by profession. He replied that I conjured
wrong at the time I was taken ; and I was obliged to own, that I mistook
a figure at that time, but that I had conjured them out of Ticonderoga.
This was a place of great notoriety in England, so that tho joke seemed
to go in my favor. It was a common thing for me to be taken out of close
confinement, into a spacious green in the castle, or rather parade, where
numbers of gentlemen and ladies were ready to see and hear me. I
often entertained such audiences with harangues on the impracticability
of Groat Britian's conquering the then colonies of America. At one of
these times I asked a gentleman for a bowl of punch, and he ordered his
servant to bring it, which he did, and offered it to me, but I refused to
take it from the hand of his servant. He then gave it to me with his own
hand, refusing to drink with me in consequence of my being a state
criminal. However, I took the punch and drank it all down at one draught,
and handed the gentleman the bowl. This made the spectators as well
as myself merry. Two clergymen came to see me, and inasmuch as they
behaved with civility, I returned them the same. We discoursed on
several parts of moral philosophy and Christianity — and they seemed to
be surprised that I should be acquainted with such topics, or that I should
understand a syllogism or regular mood of argumentation. I am appre-
hensive my Canadian dress contributed not a little to the surprise, and
excitement of curiosity.

'J'he prisoners were landed at Falmouth a few days before Christmas,
and ordered on board of the Solebay frigate, Captain Symonds,the eighth
day of January, 1776, when our hand irons were taken oft". This remove
was in consequence (as I have since been informed) of a writ of habeas
corpus, which had been procured by some gentlemen in England, in order
to obtain me my liberty. The Solebay, with sundry other men of war,
and about forty transports, rendezvoused at the cove of Cork, in Ireland,
to take in provisions and water. When we were first brought on board.
Captain Symonds ordered all the prisoners, and most of the hands on board,
to go on deck, and caused to be read in their hearing a certain code of
laws, or rules for the regulation and ordering of their behavior ; and
then, in a sovereign manner, ordered the prisoners, me in particular, off
the deck, and never to come on it again ; for, said he, this is a place for
gentlemen to walk. So I went off, an officer following me, who told me,
that he would show me the place allotted for me, and took me down to
the cable tier, saying to me, this is your place. Prior to this I had taken
cold, by which I was in an ill state of health, and did not say much to the
officer ; but stayed there that night, consulted my policy, and found I was
in an evil case. I felt myself more desponding than I had done at any
time before. However, two days after I shaved and cleaned myself au
well as I could, and wont on deck. The captain spoke to me in a great

ETHAN ALLEN'S NARRATIVE.

141

e a good supper. But
me and the privates —
)innion apartment, and
d with, fresh provisions,
elves of lice. Among
le to see the prisoners,
niles on purpose to see
, and to make free with
;hose freedom in every
what my occupation in
ger days I had studied
replied that I conjured
1 to own, that I mistook
3m out of Ticonderoga.
o that the joke seemed
to be taken out of close
or rather parade, where
see and hear me. I
3 on the impracticability
)f America. At one of
nch, and he ordered his
L to me, but I refused to
ave it to me with his own
ce of my being a state
t all down at one draught,
de the spectators as well
ne, and inasmuch as they
me. We discoursed on
ity — and they seemed to
ch topics, or that I should
imentation. I am appre-
little to the surprise, and

w days before Christmas,
ptain Symond8,the eighth
; taken off. This remove
rmed) of a writ of habeas
emen in England, in order
sundry other men of war,
) cove of Cork, in Ireland,
!re first brought on board,
most of the hands on board,
hearing a certain code oi
g of their behavior; and
jners, me in particular, off

said he, this is a place for
Following me, who told me,

me, and took me down to
Prior to this I had taken
ind did not say much to the
my policy, and found I was
ing than I had done at any
ved and cleaned myself as
,tain spoke to me in a groat

rage, and said, " Did T not order you not to come on deckT* I answered
him, that at the same time he said, that it was the place for gentlemen
to walk. That I was Colonel Allen, but had not been properly intro-
duced to him. He replied, " you, sir, be careful not to walk the

same side of the deck thai i Jo." This gave me encouragement, and
ever after that I walked in ipe iianner he had directed, except when he,
at certain times afterward, c'lred me off in a passion: I would then
directly afterward go on again, telling him to command his slaves, that I
was a gentleman, and had a right to walk the deck ; yet when he expressly
ordered me off, I obeyed, not out of obedience to him, but to set an
example to his ship's crew, who ought to obey him.

It was but » few nights I lodged in the cable tier, before I gained an
acquaintance with the master-of-arms. His name was Gillegan, an Irish-
man, who was a generous and well disposed man, and in a friendly manner
made me a proffer of living with him in a little berth, which was allotted
hirr between decks, and enclosed with canvas ; his preferment on board
was about equal to that of a serjeant in a regiment. I was comparatively
happy in the acceptance of his clemency, and lived with him in friendship,
until the frigate anchored in the harbor of Cape Fear, North Carolina,
in America.

Nothing of material consequence happened until the fleet rendezvoused
at the cove of Cork, except a violent stirm which brought old hardy
Bailors to their prayers. It was soon rumored in Cork that I was on board
the Solebay, with a number of prisoners from America — upon which a
number of benevolently disposed gentlemen, contributed largely to the
relief and support of the prisoners, who were thirty-four in number, and
in very needy circumstances. A suit of clothes from head to foot,
including an overcoat, or surtout, and two shirts, were bestowed on each
of them. My suit I received in superfine broadcloth, sufficient for two
jackets, and two pair of breeches, overplus of a suit throughout, eight
fine Holland shirts and socks ready made, with a number of pairs of silk
and worsted hose, two pair of shoes, two beaver hats, one of which was
richly laced with gold. The Irish gentlemen furthermore made a large
gratuity of wines of the best sort, old spirits, Geneva, loaf and brown sugar,
coffee, tea and chocolate, with a large round of pickled beef, and a number
of fat turkies, with many other articles, for ray sea-stores, too tedious to
mention here. To the privates they bestowed to each man two pounds
of tea, and six pounds of sugar. These articles were received on board,
at a time when the captain and first lieutenant were gone on shore, by
permission of the second lieutenant. To crown all, they sent me by
another person fifty guineas, but I could not reconcile the receiving the
whole to my own feelings, as it might have the appearance of avarice ;
and therefore received but seven guineas only.

Two days after the receipt of the aforesaid donations, Captain Symonds
came on board, full of envy toward the prisoners, and swore by all that is
good, that the damned American rebels should not be feasted at this rate
by the damned rebels of Ireland ; he therefore took away all my liquors
before mentioned, except some of the wine which was secreted, and a
two gallon jug of old spirits which was reserved for me, per favor of
Lieutenant Douglas. The taking my liquors was abominable in his sight:
he therefore spoke in my behalf, until the captain was angry with him,
and in consequence, proceeded and took away all the tea and sugar which
had been given to the other prisoners, and confiscated it to the use of
the ship's crew. Our clothing was not taken away, but the privates were

iial

ml-

»f«R-

-^'

,.- ETHAN ALLEN'S NARRATIVE.

forced to do duty on board. Soon after this there came a boat to the 8ide
Ke ship, and Captain Symonds asked a gentleman that was •« 't, m "ly
hllrfn?" what his business was, who answered that he was sent to dehvei
soTc'ea store to Colonel Allen, which, if I remember right, he said
wP^o sent f o n Dublin; but the captain damned him very heartdv ordered
E away from the slip, and would not suffer him to del.ver the stores.
I was furthermore infonned, that the gentlemen in Cor': re<iuested of
rrotain Svmonds that I might be allowed to come into the city, and that
fherwould be responsible I should return to the frigate at a g'ven t.me»
whi'ch w s denied' them. We sailed from England f c.ghth day of
January and from the cove of Cork the twelfth day of February. Just,
before we sailed%e prisoners with me wore divided, and put on board

^' Welia?:;; Sd maT/days before a mighty storm arose, which la-ted
twrnty-four hours without' intermission. The wind blew with relentlew
fury and no man could remain on deck, except he was lashed fast for
;;7;a;es roUed over the deck by turns, with a forc.We rap.d'ty, and every
soul on board was anxious for the preservation of the.r ^ve«- f Jer the
storm abated, I could plainly discern that the prisoners were better used
for some considerable* time. Nothing of consequence happned after
his till we had sailed to the island of Madeira, except a c«rta.n tavor
wMch received of Captain Symonds, in consequence of an app hcat.on
Tmade to him, for the privilege of his tailor to make a suit of c othes of
the cloth bestowed on me in Ireland, which he generously granted.

The reader will doubtless recollect the seven guineas I received at the
coveof Cork. Thesewould haveenabled me to purchase of the purser what
TwLtLd, Lad not the captain strictly forbid it, though I '"f^ sundry J
plication; to him for that purpose ; but his answer »» "^e' >yh«n I was sick,
was, that it was no matter how soon I was dead, and that he was "o ways
rnxious to preserve the lives of rebels, but wished them all dead ; and
?ndTd that'was the language of most of the ship's "«*• J -P-J^^^^«^.
not only with the captain but with other gentlemen on board on the un
Reasonableness of such usage ; inferring, that ""'^"'"^Vnffendlr thTi
ment in England did not proceed against me as a capital offendf/' ^J^f/
Xould not ; for that they were by no means empowered by any author ty,
S civil or military, to do so; for the English government had ac^^^^^^^^^^
me by sending me back a prisoner of war to America, and that they shouia
Seat^r^e as such. I further drew an inference of impolicy on them,
provided they should, by hard usage, destroy my ife : '»f™»«J " >
Eht, if living, redeem one of their officers; but the «»?»»•» !fP»'«^'
Sat he needed no directions of mine how to treat a rebel ; that he
British would conquer the American rebels, hang the Congress, and such
^promoted the rebellion, me in particular, and retake the.r own pn oners
so that my life was of no consequence in the scale of their policy. 1
"ave him foV answer, that if th'ey stayed till t^ey conquered Arnenc.
before they hanged me, / should die of old age, and desired that till such
in event tJok place, he would at least allow me to purchase of the P«rs«^
for my own rtioney, such articles as I greatly needed; but he 'rould not
permi? it, and when I reminded him of the generous and cm usage tha^
5.eir prisoners in captivity in America met with, he said tb« J was nrt
owing to their goodness, but to their timidity ; for, said he, they expert
to bo conquered, and therefore dare not misuse our prisoners, and m fart
Sis was the language of the British officers till General Burgoyne wa.
iken ; and not olUyof the officers, but of the whole British army. The

ETHAN ALLEN'S NARRATIVE.

143

me a boat to the Bide
that was in it, in my
le was sent to delivei
ember right, he said
irery heartil", ordered
to deliver the stores.
[\ Cor': requested of
into the city, and that
igate at a given time,
id the eighth day of
y of February. Just
led, and put on board

rm arose, which lasted
1 blew with relentless
e was lashed fast, for
ble rapidity, and every
their lives. After the
iners were better used
Liencc happened after
except a certain favor
ence of an application
ke a suit of clothes of
nerously granted,
lineaa I received at the
chase ofthe purser what
ugh I made sundry ap-
to me, when I was sick,
nd that he was no ways
■d them all dead; and
I crew. I expostulated
Bn on board, on the un-
asmuch as the govem-
a capital offender, they
wered by any authority,
(vernraent had acquitted
ca, and that they should
3 of impolicy on them,
ny life ; inasmuch as I
(ut the captain replied,
treat a rebel ; that the
the Congress, and such
take their own prisoners;
jcale of their policy. I
ley conquered Americ*
md desired that till such
) purchase of the purser,
leded ; but he would not
rous and civil usage that
I, he said that it was not
for, said he, they expect
Dur prisoners, and In fact
1 General Burgoyne WM
rhole British army. The

surgeon of the Solebay, however, whose name was North, was a very
humane and obliging man, and took the best care of the prisoners who
were sick.

The third day of May we cast anchor in the harbor of Cape Fear, in
North Carolina, as did Sir Peter Parker's ship of fifty guns, a little back
ofthe bar, for there was no deptli of water for him to come into Ihe harbor.
These two men-of-war and fourteen sail of transports and others, came
after, so that most ofthe fleet rendezvoused at Cape Fear, for three weeks.
The soldiers on board the transports wore sickly, in consequence of so
long a passage — add to this, the smallpox carried off many of them:
they landed on the main and formed a camp, but the riflemen annoyed
them, and caused them to move to an island in the harbor — but such
cursing of riflemen I never heard. A detachment of regulars was sent
up Brunswick river ; as they landed, were fired on by those marksmen,
and they came back next day, damning the rebels for their unmanly way
of fighting, and swearing that they would give no quarter, for they took
sight at them, and were behind timber, skulking about. One of the
detachments said they lost one man — but a negro man who was with
them, and heard what was said, soon after told me that he helped to bury
thirty-one of them.

The prisoners who had been sent on board different men-of-war at the
cove of Cork, were collected together, and the whole of them put on board
the Mercury frigate, Captain James Montague, who set sail from this port
for Halifax, about the twentieth of May. I now found myself under a
worse captain than Symouds ; for Montague was loaded with prejudices
against everybody and everything that was not stamped with royalty ;
and being by nature underwitted, his wrath was heavier than the others,
or at least his mind was in no instance liable to be diverted by good sense,
humor or bravery, of which Symonds was by turns susceptible. In this
passage the prisoners were infected with the scurvy, some more and some
less, but most of them severely. The ship's crew was to a great degree
troubled with it, and I concluded that it was catching. Several of the
crew died of it on their passage. I was weak and feeble in consequence
of so long and cruel a captivity, yet had but little of the scurvy. The
purser was again expressly forbid by the captain to let me have anything
out of his store — upon which I went on deck, and in the handsomest
manner requested the favor of purchasing a few necessaries of the purser,
which was denied me. He further told me, that I should be hanged as
soon as I arrived at Halifax. I tried to reason the matter with him, but
found him proof against reason. He afterward forbid his surgeon to
administer any help to the sick prisoners. I was every night shut down
in the cable tier, with the rest ofthe prisoners, and we all lived miserably
while under his power. But I received some generosity from several
of the midshipmen, who in a degree alleviated my misery. But they
were obliged to be private in the bestowment of their favor, which was
sometimes good wine bitters, and at others a generous drink of grog.
Sometime in the first week of June, we came to anchor at the Hook off
New York, where we remained but three days ; in which time Governor
Tryon, Mr. Kemp, the old Attorney General of New York, and several
other perfidious and overgrown tories and land-jobbers came on board.
Tryon viewed me with a stern countenance as I was walking on the
leeward side ofthe deck with the midshipmen — and he and his companions
were walking with the captain and lieutenant on the windward side of
the aame, but never spoke to me. What passed between the officers of the

'1^

»• I

n^&i.'

.^ ETHAN ALLEN'S NARRATIV-J.

.hip and these visitors I know not; b«t this J Jcno^^ -^ *'-^™«"*

ul the principal officers was more je^ere "tft^^^^^^^^^ ,here the ship's

We arrived at Halifax not fa; from the JJ'daie^i , ^^^ ^^^^^^^

crew which was infested w.th the sj^"^' ^«;« 'Sy covered with earth. .
trenches dug, into wh.ch ^J^/^^jXn for thS elief. The prisoners
Indeed every proper measure was taken wr in^ ^^^^ ^ ^,

were not permitted any sort f^ '"^^tn ^f^I^K s^^^^^^ '^'^'^

which lay in the harbor, "^^^^^^l^" °„d coSntly set over them, night

men-of-war and their »«"^"«' ^^ ^^^^^Xr, except the guard who
and day. The sloop we had «hoUy to ourselveB, i^ ^_^^ ^^^^^^

occupied the fo'^^"'^* ' J^^^^ rTre tSan one third of the common
It seemed to me that we had not more than on f^-^^^^^s^y,e

allowance. We were all ««'^«„VeicI a pS I «i^"«^ '^^ «'^''
divided our scanty allowance ^^ «''*^^;;/^fl,e than an even share,
fate with the rest, and though they offered m^e^^^^^.^^ ^.^^^^^^^ ^^.^^^

I refused to accept it, '^ '^ ZoImv y^ith the rest, and set an example
my opinion, I ought to partake « J«f y^^^^^^ I sent letter after

of virtue and fortitude to o^^^'^l^.^^^rrue care of us, and also to his
letter to Captain Montague, who sull ^ad the care o , ^.^^^^^^^ .

lieutenant, but could obtam no answer m^^^^^^^^

and, to add to the ca amity, near a to^^^^^ doctors, to procure, .f

ill of the scurvy. I wrote P'^^te letters ^^^ ^^.^^ ^^^

possible, some remedy for *»>« «l^«'^^^ J^^^ed the sloop we were m,
came by in a boat so c ose .^^f^^^'^^^fj'iest manner to him, but he never
and I uttered my ^^"V" f S ^e^ an^ though I continued
so much as turned his head, or maO« me auy ^^^^^^^

Bpeakingtillhegotoutofheanng. Ourcau^^^ ^^^ ,^

able. Still I kept writing to the c«Ptam, tm • j^^ ^^^ ^^^,

they told me, not to bring "^"^^ 'ff "Jro^Sie men almost dead ot

s;— iis^Kj^sT^SsS :r^: tsz^

?t^;itXct?d 1.r ffiTh^l- ^or them, was all the money
he had in the world. . <• .Ua Mprrurv came privately on board

Meanwhile the doctor's mate "^ *^«h Xs^^^'* °^ '™ drops, which
the prison sloop, and presented me with a large v^ ^^j^^^

proved to be good for the ^^JJ^/'.^S^'Sf^'p^^^^^^^

fngredients were requisite J*' Xm;d exertion o^Lanity-and, in my

to the disease. This was a well-tiined exe^^^^^ The guard

opinion, was the means of saving J« ^'^^J^^^^^Hith the feelings of com-
whichwas set over «s, was by this time toucn complaint to

passion; and I finally trusted <>°« "^ ^Vundm^
Lvernor Arbuthnot of Hahfax, which hj fo«^* ™«, ^^^^ „ officer and
and which had the desired effect-for «J« «»J«' ^^ of the complaint.
Burgeon on board the prison sloop, to ^^7'^^^ ][^ ^f lieutenant, and

Thf officer's name was ^''^^^^^^X^'i^ '^'^^y '^''^^ "^^^^
treated me in a friendly and P°V*^„"*°° ^V with ; and with the surgeon

cruel and unmanly usage the PJ'^J^^J'^tU^ho, either by hi. order
made a reportof matters to Governo^AAutbn^^^^ ^ ^ ^ j^

, or influence, took us »«t day from the P^ J F ^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^

The sick were taken to the hoBp^td,M^^^^^

were employed in the •^•"SVfntVd Sem, they all deserted the king's
recovered from the Bc^lT^J^VrHaS M long as the remainder of
employ, and were not heard of •» HaWto, m long

■* *»■ -aw. ,-iiMi,^. , *A*-^>|

ETHAN ALLEN'S NARRATIVE.

145

11 k

,that my treatment

16, where the ship's
n shore, and shallow
covered with earth.,
ief. The prisoners
ut on board a sloop
ounded with several
set over them, night
tcept the guard who
nched with hunger,
hird of the common
r and faintness— we
I shared the same

than an even share,
al distress, which, in
t, and set an example
I sent letter after
of us, and also to his
redress of grievances ;
lers were dangerously
lectors, to procure, if

The chief physician
the sloop we were in,
,rtohim,buthenever
er, though I continued
,n became very deplor-
irdered the guards, as

to him. In the mean-
tie men almost dead oi
noe of Indians coming

ate them at once, and
em, was all the money

ime privately on board
)l of smart drops, which
tables and some other
ps gave at least a check
f humanity— and, in my
reral men. The guard
riththe feelings of com-
a letter of complaint to
means to communicate,
rnor sent an officer and
truth of the complaint,
rank of lieutenant, and
was really angry at the
|i; and with the surgwn
who, either by his order

1 sloop to Halifax gaol,
idians who were effecUve,
t their countrymen were
jy all deserted the king's
long «* the remainder of

the prisoners continued there, which was till near the middle of October.
We were on board the prison sloop about six weeks, and were landed at
Halifax near the middle of August. Several of our English American
prisoners, who were cured of the scurvy at the hospital, made their escape
from thence, and after a long time reached their old habitations. I had
now but thirteen with me of those that were taken in Canada, and remained
in gaol with me in Halifax, who, in addition to those that were imprisoned
before, made our number about thirty-four, who were all locked up in
one common large room, without regard to rank ; and as sundry of them
were infected with the gaol and other distempers, the furniture of this
spacious room consisted most principally of excrement tubs.

As to the article of provisions, wo were well served, much better than
in any part of my captivity. Notwithstanding which I had not been more
than three weeks in this place before I lost all appetite for the most
delicious food by the gaol distemper, as sundry of the other prisoners.
A doctor visited the sick, and did the best, as I suppose, he could for
them, to no apparent purpose. I grew weaker and weaker, as did the
rest. Several of them could not help themselves. At last I reasoned in
my own mind, that raw onion would be good. I made use of it, and
found immediate relief by it, as did the sick in general. In a few days
after this the prisoners were ordered to go on board of a man-of-war,
which was bound for New York. This was about the twelfth of October,
and soon after I had got on board, the captain sent for me in particular
to come on the quarter-deck. I went, expecting the same rigorous
usage I had commonly met with, and prepared my mind accordingly ; but
when I came on deck, the captain met me with his hand, welcomed me
to his ship, invited me to dine with him that day, and assured me that I
should be treated as a gentleman, and that he had given orders that I
should be treated with respect by the ship's crew. This was so unex-
pected and sudden a transition that it drew tears from my eyes — which
all the ill usage I had before met with was not able to produce — nor could
I at first hardly speak, but soon recovered myself, and expressed my
gratitude for so unexpected a favor, and let him know that I felt anxiety
of my mind in reflecting that his situation and mine was such that it was
not probable that it would ever be in my power to return the favor.
Captain Smith replied, that he had no reward in view, but only treated
me as a gentleman ought to be treated ; he said, this is a mutable world,
and one gentleman never knows but that it may be in his power to help
another.

I dined with the captain agreeable to his invitation, and oftentimes with
the lieutenants, in the gun-room, but in general ate and drank with the

gentlemen, who were prisoners with me, where I also slept. Captain
urk having been taken prisoner, was added to our company, (he had
commanded an American armed vessel,) and was generously treated by
the captain and all the officers of the ship. We now had in all near thirty
prisoners on board, and as we were sailing along the coast, if I recollect
right, off Rhode Island, Captain Burk, with an under officer of the ship,
whose name I do not recollect, came to our little berth, proposed to kill
Captain Smith and the principal officers of the frigate and take it ; adding
that there was 36,0002 sterling in the same. Captain Burk likewise
averred that a strong party out of tho ship's crew was in the conspiracy,
and urged me and the gentlemen that were with me to use our influence
with the private prisoners, to execute the design, and take the ship, with
the cash, into one of our own ports. Up<m which I replied, that we had
10

1^
1,11':

>«

^tatftfmm^v*^'^

•MMaMi^- .'/'.A-

146

ETHAN ALLEN'S NARRATIVE.

been too well used on board to murder the officers ; that I could by no
means reconcile it to my conscience, and that in fact it should not be done ;
and while I was yet speaking, my friend Level confirmed what I had
said, and further pointed out the ungratefulness of such an act ; that it
did not fall short of murder ; and, in tine, all the gentlemen in the berth
opposed Captain Burk and his colleague. But they strenuously urged
that the conspiracy would be found out, and that it would cost them their
lives, provided they did not execute their design. I then interposed
spiritedly, and put an end to further arguments on the subject, and told
them that they might depend upon it, upon my honor, that I would faith-
fully guard Captain Smithes life. If they should attempt the assault, I
would assist him, for they desired me to remnin neuter, and that the same
honor that guarded Captain Smithes life, would also guard theirs ; and it
was agreed by those present not to reveal the conspiracy, to the intent
that no man should be put to death in consequence of what had been
projected ; and Captain Burk and his colleague went to stifle the matter
among their associates. I could not help calling to mind what Captain
Smith said to me, when I first came on board: "7^t« is a mutable world,
and one gentleman never knows *but that it may be in his power to help
another.^^ Captain Smith and his officers still behaved with their usual
courtesy, and I never heard any more of the conspiracy.

We arrived before New York the latter part of October, where we
remained several days, and where Captain Smith informed me, that he
had recommended me to Admiral Howe and General Sir William Howe,
as a gentleman of honor and veracity, and desired that I might be treated
as such. Captain Burk was then ordered on board a prison ship in the
harbor. I took my leave of Captain Smith, and, with the other prisoners,
was sent on board a transport ship, which lay in the harbor, commanded
by Captain Craige,who took me into the cabin with him and his lieutenant.
I fared as they did, and was in every respect well treated in consequence
of directions from Captain Smith.

Some of the last days of November, the prisoners were landed at New
York, and I was admitted to parole with the other officers. The privates
were put into the filthy churches in New York, with the distressed prisoners
that were taken at Fort Washington ; and the second night serjeant Roger
Moore, who was bold and enterprising, found means to make his escape
with every one of the remaining prisoners that were taken with me, except
three who were soon after exchanged. So that out of thirty-one prisoners,
who went with me the round exhibited in these sheets, two only died
with the enemy, and three only exchanged: one of them died after he
came within our lines ; all the rest, at different times, made their escape
from the enemy. I now found myself on parole, and restricted to the
limits of the city of New York, where I soon projected means to live in
some measure agreeable to my rank, though I was destitute of cash. My
constitution was almost worn out by such a long and barbarous captivity.
The enemy gave out that I was crazy, and \wholly unmanned, but my
vitals held sound, (nor was I delirous any more th. n I have been from my
youth up ; but my extreme circumstances at certain times, rendered it
politic to act in some measure the madman,) and in consequence of a
regular diet and exercise my blood recruited, and my nerves in great
measure recovered their former tone, strength and usefulness, in the
course of six months.

I next invite the reader to a consideration of the scene of inhumanity
exercised by General Sir William Howe, and the army under his command.

wy » ig n.i i m ii g i» a > i ■**<■ -■ ' I ■» -■* - 1 J * ^ii» ^ ■■ ■ ■*"* » -p*

!«**• j t '< , ^'a»w*w*<Mn»»ife»»'«fc*» WJ iiHU nii i L i ni^ -

ETHAN ALLEN'S NARRATIVE.

147

at 1 could by no
)uld not be done ;
mcd what I bad
h an act ; that il
men in the berth
trenuously urged
,d cost them their
then interposed
subject, and told
;hat I would faith-
upt the assault, I
and that the same
lard theirs ; and it
racy, to the intent
nf what had been
to stifle the matter
nind what Captain
is a mutable world,
his power to help
6d with their usual

:y.

October, where we
formed me, that he
Sir William Howe,
1 1 might be treated
a prison ship in the
the other prisoners,
harbor, commanded
n and his lieutenant,
ated in consequence

were landed at New
icers. The privates
5 distressed prisoners
night Serjeant Roger
IS to make his escape
laken with me, except
f thirty -one prisoners,
iheets, two only died
f them died after he
es, made their escape
and restricted to the
scted means to live m
lestitute of cash. My
id barbarous captivity,
y unmanned, but my
1 1 have been from tny
tain times, rendered it
in consequence of a
id my nerves in great
ind usefulness, in the

le scene of inhumanity
my under his command.

toward their prisoners. The private soldiers who were brought to New
York wore crowded into churches, and somclimcH environed with slavish
flessian guards, a people of strange lauguagt who were sent to America
for no otlier design but cruelty and desolation; and at others, by merciless
Britons, whose mode of communicating ideas being intelligible in this
country, served only to tantalize and insult the helpless and perishing;
but above all the hellish delight and triumph of the tories over them, as
tiiey were dying by hundreds. This was too much for me to bear as a
spectator ; for 1 saw the tories exulting over the dead bodies of their
murdered countrymen. I have gone into the churches, and seen sundry
ot the prisoners in the agonies of death, in consequence of very hunger,
and others speechless and near death, biting pieces of chips ; others
pleading, for Grod's sake, for something to eat, and at the same time
shivering with the cold. Hollow groans saluted my ears, and despair
seemed to be imprinted on every one of their countenances. The filth
id these churches, in consequence of the fluxes, was almost beyond de-
scription. The floors were covered with excrements. I have carefully
sought to direct my steps so as to avoid it, but could not. They would
beg, for God^s sake, for one copper, oi' morsel of bread. I have seen in
one of these churches seven dead at the same time, lying among the
excrements of their bodies.

It was a common practice with the enemy to convey the dead from
their flithy places in carts, to be slightly buried, and I have seen whole
gangs of tories making derision, and exulting over the dead, saying, there

goes another load of rebels. I have observed the British soldiers

io be full of their blackguard jckes and vaunting on those occasions, but
they appeared to me less malignant than tories. The provision dealt out
to the prisoners was by no means suflicient for the support of life. It
was deficient in quantity, and much more so in quality. The prisoners
often presented me with a sample of their bread, which I certify was
damaged to that degree that it was loathsome and unfit to be eaten.
Their allowance of meat, as they told me, was quite trifling, and of the
basest sort. I never saw any of it, but was informed, bad as it was, it
was swallowed almost as quick as they got hold of it. I saw some of them
sucking bones after they were speechless ; others who could yet speak,
and had the use of their reason, urged me in the strongest and most
pathetic manner, to use my interest in their behalf.

I was in one of the churchyards, and it was rumored among those in
the church, and sundry of the prisoners came with tiieir usual complaints
to me, and among the rest a large-boned, tall young man, as ho told me
from Pennsylvania, who was reduced to a mere skeleton ; said he was
glad to see me before he died, which he had expected to have done last
night, but was a little revived; he furthermore informed me, that he and
his brother had been urged to enlist into the British, but had both resolved
to die first ; that his brother had died last night, in consequence of that
resolution, and that he expected shortly to follow him ; but I made the
other prisoners stand a little ofi*, and told him with a low voice to list ; he
then hdked, whether it was right iu the sight of God? I assured him that
it was, and that duty to himself obliged him to deceive the British by
enlisting, and deserting the first opportunity. Upon which he answered
with transport that he would list. I charged him not to mention my name
as his adviser, lest it should get air, and I should be closely confined in
consequence of it. The integrity of these suflfering prisoners is hardly
credible. Many hundreds, I am confident, submitted to death, rather

»11

it.- '

j^g BTHAN ALLEN'S NARRATIVE,

than enliBt in the British service, which, 1 am informed, they most generally
were pressed to do. admitted to parole in New York, with

Near the last o November » *" ""'^"jVday of January, 1777, was
many other American f^''^'<^:^^tl^!f^lrvT^ouerB to be quartered
with them directed by the British ''^^''^XorvSconXimeA. On the
on the westerly part of Long I"»a«d, and our PJ^'« <^°J ,,^,^ ,^^ ^^ ^e^
third day of May 1778, 1 ^Z^^f^ZVu^^VVL^^X Campbell's
York, in which I was «""^«''.*° ^^i^" j the general and

quarters, where I '««„^^.'"!'^«ij°rer9 and treated for two days in .
several other of the B"t'ffi«^^^S'' Archibald Campbell (who was
polite manner. The next day ^''l^^f^^'r^^^^^
Schanged for me) came to this pl»«« "'"^"^^^^ijie^ me in a handsome
then American commissary of P"«"»«"',^;'l„'', " .iinentleman in his
manner, saying that he neve' ^asmoregladjo see ^^^^^^

life. So we took a g ass of ^ «« S"!"' JJ° ijoudinot, and a number

M.«B..i. B.,.. whe'« 1 Vr^u,'',Lm r.L r„t frith' de.d,l.J
of abode.

.Li • "

itf i .lff-'-'-^' i-^'^^ " ' ^ *' '* "^ ^ ' "* '* ''* '^

^.^^,..;,SJ«.#Ht>.* ^^tf ^<''«»''' '*^ '< *'-* ''

ey most generally

» New York, with
nuary, 1777, was
rs to be quartered
ntinued. On the
he har'r jr at New
neral Campbell's
the general and
for two days in t
impbell (who was
Mr. Boudinot, the
me in a handsome
^ gentleman in his
was accompanied
not, and a number
il to Elizabethtown
, landed on liberty
he acclamations of

lital of the Green
last day of May to
from the dead, and
ion were fired that
rders, and fourteen
in, my usual place

«»«ni»tr^«a««««M»w«««**«*

INCIDENTS

WAR WITH TRIPOLI:

TO WHICH IS ADDED A N ABBATITI Or THB OUUaATBD

CHASE OF THE CONSTITUTION BY A BRITISH SQUADRON.

Thr depredations committed on American com.Tierce in the Mediter-
ranean, by the piratical corsairs of the Barbary powers induced Congress
to authorize the formation of a naval force for its protection. In the month
of August, 1801, Captain Sterrett,of the United States schooner Enterprise,
of twelve guns, and ninety men, fell in, off Malta, with aTripolitan cruiser
of fourteen guns, and eighty-five men. In this action the Tripolitans
thrice hauled down her colors, and thrice perfidiously renewed the conflict.
Fifly of her men were killed and wounded. The Enterprise did not lose
a man! Captain Sterrett^s instructions not permitting him to make a
prize of the cruiser, he ordered her crew to throw overboard all their guns
and powder, etc., and to go and tell their countrymen the treatment they
might expect from a nation, determined to pay tribute only in powder and
bali. On her arrival at Tripoli, so great was the terror produced, that
the sailors abandoned the cruisers then fitting ou*. and not a man could
be procured to navigate them.

The Tripolitan cruisers continuing to harass the vessels of the United
States, Congress determined, in 1803, to fit out a fleet that should
chastise their insolence. The squadron consisted of the Constitution,
44 guns; the Philadelphia, 44; the Argus, 18; the Siren, 16; the Nautilus,
16; the Vixen, 16; and the Enterprise, 12. Commodore Preble was
appointed to the command of this squadron, in May, 1803, and on the
thirteenth of August, sailed, in the Constitution, for the Mediterranean.
Having adjusted the difficulties which had sprung up with the emperor
of Morocco, he turned his whole attention to Tripoli. The season was,
however, too far advanced for active operations.

On the thirty-first of October, the Philadelphia, being, at nine o'clock
in the morning, about five leagues to the westward of Tripoli, discovered
a sail in shore, standing before the wind to the eastward. The Philadel-
phia immediately gave chase. The sail hoisted Tripolitan colors, and
continued her course near the shore. The Philadelphia opened a fire
upon her, and continued it till half past eleven; when, being in seven
fathoms water, and finding her fire could not prevent the vessel entering
Tripoli, she gave up the pursuit. In beating off, she ran on a rock, not
laid down in any chart, distant four and a half miles from the town. A
boat was immediately lowered to sound. The greatest depth of water
was found to be astern. In order to back her off, all sails were then
laid aback; the topgallant-sails loosened; three anchors thrown away
from the bows; the water in the hold started; and all the guns thrown

(149)

ill

rt.i i ri i,i.-v) > ji . -^ j> i

-il!!U,IJHLl.ilJ!Llf

-??«(■

150 INCIDENTS IN THE WAR WITH TRIPOLI.

overboard, excepting a few abatt to defend the ship against the attacks
of the TripolitaJ gunboats, then firing at her. All this, however, proved
?ne fcctuar as did also the attempt to lighten her forward by cutl.ng
awnv 1 cr ft remast. The Philadelphia hal already withstood the nttaci^
,,r the numerous gunboats for four hours, when a large reinforcement
•on n.r out of Tripoli, and being herself deprived of every means of

cSnce and dofens'e, she was forced J" »»"''«', ''^"^/"[i^^tersi?
TriDolitans immediately took possession of her, and made prisoners ol
ihe'officers and men, in numbeV three hundred. Forty-e.ght hours after-
ward, "he wind blowing in shore, the Tripoliians got the tr.gato otf, and

'° On th" 'stet emft December, 1803, Commodore Preble after
making his preparations and disposing of his force .n d.fferen ways,
S for Tr noli, with the Enterprise in company, off which place he now
u Src. fo he'fiTst time. The twenty-third of the month, the Enter-
So 12, Lieutenant Commandant Decatur, fell in with and captured a
ketch, called the Mastico, witli seventy flouls on boaril.

In a letter of the date of the fifth of December, 1803, Cap ain Ba.n-
bridge suggested the possibility of destroying the Philadelphia, wh ch
hiD was slowly fitting for sea, there being little doubt ot her being sent
tl^s^cmS, as soon as the mild season should return. Commodoro
p"ebTe listened 'to the suggestion, and being much '" ;h« --^iimion
commander of the vessel that was most in company w tiithe Constilution,
LruTenant Stephen Decatur, he mentioned the project to that spirted
officer The expedition was just suited to the ardor and temperament of
\lr Decatur, and the possession of the Mastico at once atforded the
m^anfof "ar'r bg it intS effect, The ketch wa. accordingly ^p^^^^^^
named the Intrepid, and taken into the service, as a tender. About tms
imrL ieutenanf C;minandant Stewart, of the Siren, the pffifer who was
then second in command in the Mediterranean, and who had just arrived
ftom below, offered to cut out the Philadelphia with h.s own br g; but
Cc.mmodore' Preble was pledged to Mr. Deca.ur, -^0, a first^had pro-
Dosed to run in with the Enterprise and carry the ship. Ihe more
llxpetienced Preble rejected the propositions of both these ardent young
men, substituting a plan of his own. i r m, n«,.<itiir to

^fl;^is:stco;«"^Tro!SeS^

S 804, nd i v" rect'ed the different gentlemen named to report
themselves to Lieutenant Commandant Decatur, of the Enterprise. As
. tw^ intended hat the crew of the schooner should furnish the entire
crr^Tof the ketch, it was not thought proper to add any men to this craft.
In short the duty was strictly assigned to the Enterprise so far as her
in snort, me «iuiy « o.,„- u lu„ officers required. On the afternoon of
thTttr; coT;ing "r^drrrTheThad^ received, Messrs. Izard
iforri Laws, DavisV and Rowe, midshipmen of the Constitution, went
on boa^d the schooner, and reported themselves for duty to her commander.
Vll hands' were now called in the Enterprise, when Lieutenant Com-
mand^«rDrcatur acquainted his people with the destination of the ketch,
ndaskld for volunteers. Every man and boy in the schooner presented
ieft as readyTand willing to go. Sixty-two of the most active men

.1.

ainst the attacks
however, proved
rward by cuUinff
hstood the attack
{e reinforcement
' every moans of
)ut sunset. The
ade prisoners of
eight hours after-
le frigate off, and

ore Preble, after
in different ways,
hich place he now
month, the Enter-
h and captured a

)3, Captain Bain-
liladelphia, which
of her being sent
urn. Commodore
the society of the
li the Constitution,
3ct to that spirited
d temperament of
once atforded the
>rdingly appraised,
nder. About this
lie officer who was
\\o had just arrived
his own brig; but
), at first, had pro-
ship. The more
these ardent young

i of Mr. Decatur to
isigned to the com-
y, however, to leave
of a few gentlemen
. and orders to tha«
dated February the
en named to report
:he Enterprise. As
J furnish the entire
ly men to this craft,
•prise, so far as her
3n the afternoon of
eived, Messrs. Izard,
e Constitution, went
;y to her commander,
n Lieutenant Com-
jnation of the ketch,
3 schooner presented
;he most active men

INCIDENTS IN THE WAR WITH TRIPOLI.

151

were selected, and the romaindtr, witli n few olFicers, were loft to take
care of the vtsnel. As the orders to de.-ttroy the frigate, anil not to at-
tempt to bring her out, were peremptory, the combustibles, which had
been prepared for this purpose, were immediately sent on board the
Intrepid, her crew followed, and that evening the ketch sailed, under the
convoy of the Siren 16, Lieutenant Commandant Stewart, who was properly
the senior officer of the expedition, though, owing to the peculiar nature
of the service, Mr. Decatur was permitted to conduct the more active
part of tlie duty, at his own discretion.

The party in the ketch consisted of Lieutenant Commandant Decatur;
Lieutenants Lawrence, Bainbridge, and Thorn ; Mr. Thomas M'Donough,
midshipman, and Dr. Heerman, surgeon; all of the Enterprise; — Messrs.
Izard, Morris, Laws, Davis, and Rowe, midshipmen, of the Constitution ;
and Salvatore Catalano the pilot, with sixty-two petty officers and common
men, making a total of seventy-four souls.

On the sixteenth, about noon, calculating that they were abreast of the
town, and the wind and weather being, in all respects, favorable, both
vessels kept away, the ketch leading some distance, in order that the
enemy might not suppose her a consort of the Siren's although tiie latter
was so much disguised, as to render it impossible to recognize her.
The wind was fair, but light, and everything looking favorable; Mr. Decatur
now seriously made his dispositions for the attack. Apprehensive that
they might iiave been seen, and that the enemy had possibly strengthened
the party on board the frigate, Lieutenant Commandant Stewart sent a
boat and eight men from the Siren, to the ketch, under the orders of one
of his midshipmen, Mr. Anderson, which reinforcement increased the
numbers of the intended assailants to eighty-two, all told.

As the ketch drew in with the land, the Philadelphia became visible.
She lay not quite a mile within the entrance, riding to the wind, and
abreast of the town. Her foremast, which had been cut away while she
was on the reef, had not yet been replaced, her main and mizzen-topmasta
were housed, and her lower yards were on the gunwales. Her lower
standing rigging, however, was in its place, and, as was shortly afterward
ascertained, her guns were loaded and shotted. Just within her, lay
two corsairs, with a few gun-boats, and a galley or two.

It was a mild evening for the season, and the sea and bay were smooth
as in summer. Perceiving that he was likely to get in too soon, when
about five miles from the rocks, Mr. Decatur ordered buckets and other
drags to be towed astern, in order to lessen the way of the ketch, without
shortening sail, as the latter expedient would have been seen from the
port, and must have awakened suspicion. In the meantime the wind
gradually fell, until it became so light as to leave the ketch but about
two knot's way on her, when the drags were removed.

About ten o'clock the Intrepid reached the eastern entrance of the bay,
or the passage between the rocks and the shoal. The wind was nearly
east, and, as she steered directly for the frigate, it was well abaft the
beam. There was a young moon, and as the bold adventurers were
slowly advancing into the hostile port, all around them was tranquil and
apparently without distrust. For near an hour they were stealing
slowly along, the air gradually failing, until their motion became scarcely
perceptible.

Most of the officers and men of the ketch had been ordered to lie on
the deck, where they were concealed by low bulwarks, or weather-boards,
and by the different objects that belong to a vessel. As it is the practice

162

INCIDENTS IN THE WAP WITH TRIPOLI.

of ihoso seas to carry many moii even in tho amalloat craH, tho appearance
of ton or twelve would excite no alarm, and this number was visible.
Tho comtnauding officer, himself, stood near the pilot; who was to net as
interpreter. Tho quartermaster at the holm, was ordered to stand directly
for the frigate's bows, it being the intention to lay the ship aboard in
that place, as tho mode of attack which would least expose the assailants
to her fire.

The Intrepid was still at a considerable distance from the Philadelphia,
when tho latter hailed. Tho pilot answered that the ketch belonged to
Malta, and was on a trading voyage; that she had been nearly wrecked,
and had lost her anchors in the late gale, and that her commander wished
to ride by the frigate during the night. Tiiis conversation lasted some
time, Mr. Decatur instructing the pilot to tell the frigate's people with
what he was laden, in order to amuse them, and the Intrepid gradually
drew nearer, until there was every prospect of her running foul of the
Philadelphia, in a minute or two, and at the very spot contemplated. But
the wind suddenly shifted, and took the ketch aback. The instant the
southerly puff struck her, her head fell off, and she got a stern-board, the
ship, at tho same moment, tending to the new current of air. Tho effect
of this unexpected change was to bring tho ketch directly under the
frigate's broadside, at the distance of about forty yards, where she lay
becalmed, or, if anything, drifting slowly astern, exposed to nearly every
one of the Philadelphia's larboard guns.

Not the smallest suspicion appears to have been yet excited on board
the frigate, though several of her people wore looking over the rails;
and, notwithstanding the moonlight, so completely were the Turks
deceived, that they lowered a boat, and sent it with a fast. 8ome of the
ketch's men, in the meantime, had got into her boat, and had run a line
to the frigate's forechains. As they returned, they met tho frigate's boat,
took the fast it brought, which came from the after part of the ship, and
passed it into their own vessel. These fasts were put into the hands of
the men, as they lay on the ketch's deck, and they began cautiously to
breast tho Intrepid along side of the Philadelphia, nrithout rising. As
soon as the latter got near enough to the ship, tlie Turks discovered her
anchors, and they sterilly ordered the ketch to keep off, as she had
deceived them ; preparing, at the same time, to cut the fasts. All this
passed in a moment, when the cry of "Amorikanos" was heard in the
ship. The people of the Intrepid by a strong pull, brought their vessel
along side of the frigate, where she was secured, quick as thouglit. Up
to this moment, not a whisper had betrayed the presence of the men
concealed. The instructions had been positive to keep quiet until com-
manded to show themselves, and no precipitation, even in that trying
moment, deranged the phn.

Lieutenant Commandant Decatur was standing ready for a spring, with
Messrs. Laws and Morris quite near him. As soon as close enough, he
jumped at the frigate's chain-plates, and while clinging to the siiip him-
self, he gave the order to board. The two midshipmen were at his side,
and all the officers and men of the Intrepid arose and followed. The
three gentlemen named were in the chains together, and Lieutenant
Commandant Decatur and Mr. Morris sprang at the rail above them,
while Mr. Laws dashed at a port. To the latter would have belonged
the honor of having been first in this gallant assault, but wearing a board-
ing-belt, his pistols were caught between the gun and the side of the
lK>rt. Decatur's foot slipped in springing, and Mr. Charles Merris

POLL

ran, tho appearance
numhor wan visible.
itt who wan tu act u
irod to stand directly
tho sliip aboard in
ixpose the osHailantu

:>ni the Philadelphia,
le ketch belonged to
een nearly wrecked,
r commander wished
3rsation lasted some
'rigato^a people with

Intrepid gradually
running foul of the

t contemplated. But
;k. The instant the
got a stern-board, the
[It of air. Tho efl'ect

1 directly under the
f&rda, where she lay
losed to nearly every

yet excited on board
tking over the rails;
sly were tho Turks
a fast. Some of the
it, and had run a line
met the frigate's boat,
part of the ship, and
put into the hands of
y began cautiously to
,, (vithout rising. As
Turks discovered her
keep off, as she had
Lit the fasts. All this
is " was heard in the
I, brought their vessel
uick as thought. Up
presence of the men
keep quiet until com-
, even in that trying

3ady for a spring, with
n as close enough, he
iging to the ship him-
men were at his side,

and followed. The
ther, and Lieutenant
the rail above them,
would have belonged
, but wearing a board-
1 and the side of the

Mr. Charles Merris

mt^ ■ -^ ■■». ■•

INCIDENTS IN THE WAR WITH TRIPOLI.

153

first stood upon the quartordock of (hn Philadelphia. In an inntont
Liuutenaut ('ommandiint Ducntur and Mr. Laws were at bin sidt!, wiiilf
head.s and l)odics appeared coming over the rail, and tiirough tiic port
in all directions.

The surprise appears to have been as perfect, as the assault was rapid
and earnest. Mo.st of the Turks on deck crowded forward, and all ran
ov(?r to tho starlH>ard-side, as tii)!ir enemies |iuured in on t'le liirlxiard,
A fesv were ai\, but as .soon us charged, they leaped into the sea. Indeed,
tiie constant plunges into the water, gave tho assailants the assurance
that their enemies were fust lessening in numbers by flight. It took but
a minute or two to clear the spar-deck, though there was more of a
struggio below. Htill, so admirably nianuged was the attuck, and so
complete the surprise, that the resistance was but trifling. In lesH than
ten minutes Mr. Decatur was on tiie (juarter-deck again, in undisturbed
possession of his prize.

There can bo no doubt that this gallant officer now felt bitter regrets,
that it was not in his jiower to bring away the siiip ho had so nobly re-
covered. Not only were his orders on this point peremptory, however,
but the frigate had not a sail bent, nor a yard crossed, and she wanted her
foremast. It was next to impossible, therefore, to remove her, and the
command was given to pass up tho combustibles from the kelcli.

The duty of setting tire to tho prize, appears to have been executed
with as much promptitude and order, as every other part of the service.
The officers distributed ihemselves, agreeably to tho previous instructions,
and the men soon appeared with tho uecesdary means. Each party acted
by itself, and as it got ready. So rapid were they all in their movements,
that the men with combustibles had scarcely time to get as low as the cock-
pit and after store-rooms, before the fires were lighted over their heads.
When tho officer entrusted with the duty last mentioned, had got through,
he found the after-hatches filled with smoke, from the fire in the ward-
room and steerage, and he was obliged to make his escape by the forward
ladders.

The Americans were in the ship from twenty to twenty-five minutes,
and they were literally driven out of her by the flames. The vessel had
got to be so dry in that low latitude, that she burnt like pine; and the
combustibles had been as judiciously prepared, as they were steadily
used. The last party up, were tho people who had been in tho store-
rooms, and when they reached the deck, they found most of their
companions already in tiie Intrepid. Joining them, and ascertaining
that all was ready, the order was given to cast ofl". Notwithstanding the
daring character of the enterprise in general, Decatur and his party now
ran the greatest risk they had incurred that night. So fierce had the
conflagration already become, that the flames began to pour out of the
ports, and the head-fast having been cast off, the ketch fell astern, with
her jigger flapping against the quarter-gallery, and her boom foul. The
fire showed itself in tho window, at this critical moment; and beneath,
was all the ammunition of the party, covered with a tarpaulin. To in-
crease the risk, the stern-fast was jammed. By using swords, however,
for there was not time to look for an ax, the hawser was cut, and the
Intrepid was extricated from the most imminent danger, by a vigorous
shove. As she swung clear of the frigate, the flames reached the rigging,
up which they went hissing, like a rocket, the tar having oozed from the
ropes, which had been saturated with that inflammable matter. Matches
could not have kindled with greater quickness.

154

INCIDENTS IN THE WAR WITH TRIPOLI.

The sweeps were now manned. Up to this moment, everything had been
done earnestly, though without noise, but, as soon as they felt that they
had got command of their ketch again, and by two or three vigorous
strokes had sent iier away from tiu; frigate, the people of the Intrepid
ceased rowing, and as one man, they gave three cheers for victory. This
api>earcd to arouse the Turks from their siupor, for the cry had hardly
ended, when the batteries, the two corsairs, and the giilley, poured in
their fire. The men lay hold of the sweeps again, of wiiich the Intrepid
had eight of a side, and favored by a light air, they went rapidly down
the harbor.

The spectacle that followed, is described as having been both beautiful
and sublime. The entire bay was illuminated by the conflagration, the
roar of cannon was constant, and Tripoli was in a clamor. The
appearance of the ship was, in the highest degree, magnificent ; and, to
add to the effect, as her guns heated, they began to go oflf. Owing to
the shiil of wind, and the position into which she had tended, she, in
some measure, returned the enemy's fire, as one of her broadsides was
discharged in the direction of the town, and the other toward Fort English.
Tlie most singular eflfect of this conflagration was on board the ship, for
the flames having run up the rigging and masts, collected under the tops,
and fell over, giving the whole the appearance of glowing columns and
fiery capitals.

Under ordinary circumstances, the situation of the ketch would still
have been thought sufficiently perilous, but after the exploit they had just
performed, her people, elated with success, regarded all that was now
passing, as a triumphant spectacle. The shot constantly cast the spray
around them, or were whistling over their heads, but the only sensation
they produced, was by calling attention to the brilliant jets dPcau that
they occasioned as they bounded along the water. But one struck the
Intrepid, although she was within half a mile of many of the heaviest
guns for some time, and that passed through her topgallant sail.

With sixteen sweeps, sind eighty men elated with success, Decatur was
enabled to drive the little Intrepid ahead with a velocity that r( udered
towing useless. Near the harbor's mouth, he met the Siren's boats, sent to
cover his retreat, but their services were scarcely necessary. As soon
as the ketch was out of danger, he got into one, and pulled aboard the
brig, to report to Lieutenant Commandant Stewart, the result of his
undertaking.

The Siren had got into the offing some time after the Intrepid, agree-
ably to arrangements, and anchored about three miles from the rocks.
Here she hoisted out the launch and a cutter, manned and armed them,
and sent them in, under Mr. Caldwell, her first lieutenant. Soon after
the brig weighed, and the wind having entirely failed outside, she swept
into eight fathoms water, and anchored again, to cover the retreat, should
the enemy attempt to board the Intrepid, with his gun-boats. It will
readily be supposed that it was an anxious moment, and as the moon rose,
all eyes were on the frigate. After waiting in intense expectat' jn near
an hour, a rocket went up from the Philadelphia. It was the signal of
possession, and Mr. Stewart ran below to get another for the answer
He was gone only a moment, but when he returned, the fire was seen
shining through the frigate's ports, and in a few more minutes, the flames
were rushing up her rii^ging, as if a train had been touched. Then
followed the cannonade, and the dashing of sweeps, with the approach
of the ketch. Presently a boat was seen coming along side, and a man,

FRIPOLT.

ent, everything had been
n as they felt that they
f two or three vigorous
people of the Intrepid
heers for victory. This
, for the cry had hardly
i the galley, poured in
n, of wiiich the Intrepid
they went rapidly down

ving been both beautiful
)y the conflagration, the
■as in a clamor. The
ee, magnificent ; and, to
an to go off. Owing to
she had tended, she, in
e of her broadsides was
;her toward Fort English.
IS on board the ship, for
collected under the tops,
of glowing columns and

of the ketch would still
■ the exploit they had just
garded all that was now

constantly cast the spray
s, but the only sensation

brilliant jets d'cau that
ter. But one struck the
of many of the heaviest
r topgallant sail,
ivith success, Decatur was
1 a velocity that rendered
it the Siren's boats, sent to
:ely necessary. As soon
ne, and pulled aboard the
Itewart, the result of his

after the Intrepid, agree-
ree miles from the rocks,
manned and armed them,
9t lieutenant. Soon after
r failed outside, she swept

cover the retreat, should
ith his gun-boats. It will
lent, and as the moon rose,

1 intense expectat' m near
»hia. It was the signal of
t another for the answer
Bturned, the fire was seen
N more minutes, the flames
lad been touched. Then
sweeps, with the approach
ling along side, aud a man.

INCIDENTS IN THE WAR WITH TRIPOLI.

155

in a sailor's jacket, sprang over the gangway of the brig. It was Decatur,
himself, to announce his victory!"

After the destruction of the Philadelphia frigate, Commodore Preble
was, during the spring and early part of the summer, employed in keeping
up the blockade of the harbor of Tripoli, in preparing for an attack upon
the town and in cruising.

" Wiien the American commander assembled his whole force before
Tripoli, on the twenty-fifth of July, 1804, it consisted of the Constitution
44, Commodore Preble; Siren 16, Lieutenant Commandant Stewart;
Argus IG, Lieutenant Commandant Hull; Scourge 14, Lieutenant Com-
mandant Dent; Vixen 12, Lieutenant Commandant Smith; Nautilus 12,
Lieutenant Commandant Somers; Enterprise 12, Lieutenant Commandant
Decatur; the two bomb-vessels, and six gunboats. In some respects this
was a well appointed force for the duty required, while in others it was
lamentably deficient. Another heavy ship, in particular, was wanted,
and the means for bombarding had all the defects that may be anticipated.
The two heaviest brigs had armaments of twenty-four pound carronades;
the other brig, and two of the schooners, armaments of eighteen-pound
carronades ; while the Enterprise retained her original equipment of
long sixes, in consequence of her ports being unsuited to the new guns.
As the Constitution had a gun-deck battery of thirty long twenty-iburs,
with six long twenty-sixes, and some lighter long guns above, it follows
that the Americans could bring twenty-two twenty-fours and six twenty-
sixes to bear on the stone walls of the town, in addition to a few light
chase-guns in the small vessels, and the twelve-pounders of the frigate's
quarter-deck and forecastle. On the whole, there appears to have been
in the squadron, twenty-eight heavy long guns, with about twenty lighter,
that miglit be brought to play on the batteries simultaneously. Opposed
to these means of offense, the bashaw had one hundred and fifteen guns
in battery, most of them quite heavy, and nineteen gun-boats that, of
themselves, so far as metal was concerned, were nearly equal to the
frigate. Moored in the harbor were also two large galleys, two schooners,
and a brig, all of which were armed and strongly manned. The Ameri-
can squadron was manned by one thousand and sixty persons, all told,
while the bashaw had assembled a force that has been estimated as high
as twenty-five thousand, Arabs and Turks included. The only advanta-
ges possessed by the assailants, in the warfare that is so soon to follow,
were those which are dependent on spirit, discipline, and system.

On the third of August, 1804, the squadron ran in and got within a
league of the town, with a pleasant breeze at the eastward. The enemy's
gun-boats and galleys had come outside of the rocks, and were lying
there in two divisions; one near the eastern, and the other near the
western entrance, or about half a mile apart. At the same time, it was
seen that all the batteries were manned, as if an attack was not only
expected, bi" Invited.

At half-past twelve, the Constitution wore with i,er head offshore, and
showed a signal tor all vessels to come within hail. As he came up,
each commander was ordered to prepare to attack the shipping and bat-
teries. The bomb-vessels and gun-boats were immediately manned, and
•^uch was the high state of discipline in the squadron, that in one hour,
everything was ready for the contemplated service.

On tiiis occasion. Commodore Preble made the following distribution
of that part of his force, which was manned from the other vessels of
his squadron:

C * :

Ht&SBSS

;156 iNGiDENTS IN THE WAR WITH TRIPOLI.

One bombard was commanded by Lieut. Commandant Dent, of the
Scourge. The other bombard by Mr. Robinson, first lieutenant of the
Constitution.

FIRST DIVISION OF 0UN-B0AT8.

No. 1. Lieut. Com. Somers, of the Nautilus.
«' 2. Lieut. James Decatur, of the Nautilus.
« 3. Lieut. Blake, of the Argus.

SECOND DIVISION OF GUN-BOAT8.

No. 4. Lieut. Com. Decatur, of the Enterprise.
« 6. Lieut. Bainbridge, of the Enterprise.
" 6. Lieut. Trippe, of the Vixen.
At half-past one, the Constitution wore again, and stood toward the
town At two, the gun-boats were cast off, and formed in advance,
covered by the brigs and schooners, and half an hour later, the signal
was shown to engage. The attack was commenced by the two bombards,
which began to throw shells into the town. It was foUovyed by the bat-
teries, which were instantly in a blaze, and then the shipping on both
sides opened their fire, with reach of grape. .

The eastern, or most weatherly division of the enemy's gun-boats, nine
in number, as being least supported, was the aim of the American gun-
boats But the bad qualities of the latter craft were quickly apparent,
for, as soon as Mr. Decatur steered toward the enemy, with an intention
to come to close quarters, the division of Mr. Somers, which was a little
to leeward, found it difficult to sustain him. Every eftort was made by
the latter officer, to get far enough to windward to join in the attack, but
finding it impracticable, he bore up, and ran down alone on five of the
enemv to leeward, and engaged them all withm pistol-shot, throwing
showers of grape, cannister, and musket-balls among them. In order to
do this, as soon as near enough, the sweeps were got out, and the boat
was backed astern to prevent her from drifting in among the enemy.
No. 3 was closing fast, but a signal of recall being shown from the Con-
stitution, she hauled out of the line to obey, and losing ground, she kept
more aloof, firing at the boats and shipping in the harbor, while No. 2,
Mr. James Decatur, was enabled to join the division to windward. No.
6 Mr. Bainbridge, lost her latine-yard, while still m tow of the Siren, but.
though unable to close, she continued advancing, keeping up a heavy
fire, and finally touched on the rocks. .... u .

Bv these changes. Lieutenant Commandant Decatur had three boats
that dashed forward with him, though one belonged to the division of Mr.
Somers, viz. No. 4, No. 6, and No. 2. The officers in command of these
three boats, went steadily on, until within the smoke of the enemy. Here
they delivered their fire, throwing in a terrible discharge of grape and
musket-balls, and the order was given to board. Up to this moment, the
odds had been as three to one against the assailants, and it was now, it
possible increased. The brigs and schooner could no longer assist.
The Turkish boats were not only the heaviest and the best in every sense,
but they were much the strongest manned. The combat now assumed
a character of chivalrous prowess and of desperate personal eflorts, that
belongs to the middle ages, rather than to struggles of our own times.
Its details, indeed, savor more of the glow of romance, than of the sober
severity that we are accustomed to associate with reality.

Lieutenant Commandant Decatur took the lead. He had no sooner
discharged his shower of musket-balls, than No. 4 was laid along side

=ii;<*«v-' ■*'>»>.**■

TRIPOLI.

mmandant Dent, of the
1, first lieutenant of the

lTB.

ll^autilus.
Nautilus.

AT8.

Enterprise,
terprise.

n, and stood toward the
ind formed in advance,
m hour later, the signal
:ed by the two bombards,
was followed by the bat-
n the shipping on both

enemy's gun-boats, nine
m of the American gun-
\ were quickly apparent,
enemy, with an intention
omers, which was a little
Ivery eftbrt was made by

I to join in the attack, but
lown alone on five of the
thin pistol-shot, throwing
imong them. In order to
ere got out, and the boat
ag in among the enemy,
sing shown from the Con-
d losing ground, she kept

the harbor, while No. 2,
ivision to windward. No.

II in tow of the Siren, but.
cing, keeping up a heavy

Decatur had three boats
iged to the division of Mr.
cers in command of these
noke of the enemy. Here
3 discharge of grape and
. Up to this moment, the
ailants, and it was now, if
r could no longer assist,
nd the best in every sense,
rhe combat now assumed
erate personal efl'orts, that
ruggles of our own times,
•omance, than of the sober
ith reality.

lead. He had no sooner
No. 4 was laid along side

INCIDENTS IN THE WAR WITH TRIPOLI.

157

the opposing boat of the enemy, and he went into her, followed by Lieu-
tenant Thorn, Mr. M'Donough, and all the Americans of his crew. The
Tripolitan boat was divided nearly into two parts, by a long open hatch-
way, and as the people of No. 4 came in on one side, the Turks retreated
to the other, making a sort of ditch of the open space. This caused an
instant of delay, and, perhaps, fortunately, for it permitted the assailants
to act together. As soon as ready, Mr. Decatur charged round each
end of the hatchway, and after a short struggle, a portion of the Turks
were piked and bayoneted, while the restsubmitted, or leaped into the water.
No sooner had Mr. Decatur got possession of the boat first assailed,
than he took her in tow, and bore down on the one next to leeward.
Running the enemy aboard, as before, he went into him, with most of his
officers and men. The captain of the Tripolitan vessel was a large pow-
erful man, and Mr. Decatur personally charged him with a pike. The
weapon, however, was seized by the Turk, wrested from the hands of
the assailant, and turned against its owner. The latter parried a thrust,
and made a blow with his sword at the pike, with a view to cut off its
head. The sword hit the iron, and broke at the hilt, and at the next
instant the Turk made another thrust. Nothing was left to the gallant
Decatur, but his arm, with which he so far averted the blow, as to receive
the pike through the flesh of one breast. Pushing the iron from the
wound, by tearing the flesh, he sprang within the weapon, and grappled
his antagonist. The pike fell between the two, and a short trial of strength
succeeded, in which the Turk prevailed. As the combatants fell, however,
Mr. Decatur so far released himself as to lie side by side with his foe on
the deck. The Tripolitan now endeavored to reach his poniard, while
his hand was firmly held by that of his enemy. [Some accounts state
that he had drawn his dirk, and had raised his arm to strike.] At this
critical instant, when life or death depended on a moment well employed,
or a moment lost, Decatur drew a small pistol from a pocket, passed
the arm that was free round the body of the Turk, pointed the muzzle
and fired. The ball passed entirely through the body of the Mussel-

in<

man, and lodged in the clothes of his foe. At the same instant, Decatur
felt the grasp that had almost smothered him relax, and he was liberated.
He sprang up, and the Tripolitan lay dead at his feet.

[During the continuance of this terrible struggle, the crews of each
vessel impetuously rushed to the assistance of their respective com-
manders. Such was the carnage in this furious and desperate battle,
that it was with difficulty Decatur could extricate himself from the killed
and wounded, by which he was ■ surrounded. In this affair an American
sailor, Reuben James, of Delaware, manifested the most heroic self-devo-
tion. Seeing a Tripolitan officer, aiming a blow at Decatur's head while he
was struggling with his prostrate foe, and which must have proved fatal,
had not the generous and fearless tar, who had been deprived of the use of
both his hands, by severe wounds, rushed between the saber and his
commander, and received the blow on his head, by which his skull was
fractured.]

An idea of the desperate nature of the fighting that distinguished this
remarkable assault, may be gained from the amount of the loss. The
two boats captured by Lieutenant Commandant Decatur, had about eighty
men in them, of whom fifty-two are known to have been killed and wounded;
most of the latter very badly. As only eight prisoners were made who
were not wounded, and many jumped overboard, and swam to the rocks,
it is not improbable that the Turks sufiered still more severely. Lieutenant

' 1

i ;]

i^ thimm *.i*ihi<.fa f»r ■,

158

INCIDENTS IN THE WAR WITH TRIPOLI.

Commandant Decatur himself being wounded, he secured his second
prize, and hauled oft' to rejoin the squadron; all the rest of the enemy 8
division that were not taken, having, by this time, run mto the harbor, by
passins through the openings between the rocks. • , .

While Lieutenant Commandant Decatur was thus employed to wmdward,
his brother, Mr. James Decatur, the first lieutenant of the NaiiUlus, was
nobly emulating his example in No. 2. Reserving his fire like Wo. 4,
this young officer dashed into the smoke, and was on the point of boardmg,
when he received a musket ball in his forehead. The boats met and
rebounded; and in the confusion of the death of the commanding officer
of No. 2, the Turk was enabled to escape, under a heavy fire from the
Americans. It was said, at the time, that the enemy had struck before
Mr. Decatur fell, though the fact must remain in doubt. It is, however,
believed that he sustained a very severe loss. .....

In the mean time, Mr. Trippe, in No. 6, the last of the three boats that
were able to reach the weather division, was not idle. Reserving his
fire, like the others, he delivered it with deadly effect, when closing, and
went aboard of his enemy in the smoke. In this instance, the ooats also
separated by the shock of the collision, leaving Mr. Trippe, with Mr. J.
D. Henley, and nine men only, on board the Tripolitan. Here, too,
commanders singled each other out, and a severe personal combat occurrti .
while the work of death was going on around them. The Turk was young,
and of a large atheletic form, and he soon compelled his slighter but
more active foe to fight witli caution. Advancing on Mr. Tnppe, he
would strike a blow and receive a thrust in return. In this manner, he
cave the American commander no less than eight saber wounds in the
head, and two in the breast; when, making a sudden rush, he struck a
ninth blow on the head, which brought Mr. Trippe upon a knee. Rally-
ing all his force in a desperate effort, the latter, who still relamed the short
pike with which he fought, made a tiirust that passed the weapon through
his gigantic adversary, and tumbled him on his back. As soon as the
Tripolitan officer fell, the remainder of his people submitted.

The boat taken by Mr. Trippe, was one of the largest belonging to the
bashaw. The number of her men is not positively known, but, |>ving and
dead, thirty-six were found in her, of whom twenty-one were either killed
or wounded. When it is remembered that but eleven Americans boarded
her, the achievement must pass for one of the most gallant on record.
All this time the cannonade and bombardment continued without ceasing.
Lieutenant Commandant Somers, in No. 1, sustained by the brigs and
schooners, had forced the remaining boats to retreat, and this resolute
officer pressed them so hard, as to be compelled to ware w'thin a short
distance of a battery of twelve guns, quite near the mole. Her destruc-
tion seemed inevitable, as the boat came slowly round, when a shell tell
into the battery, most opportunely, blew up the platform, and '^fo^^J^*'®
enemy out, io a man. Before the guns could be again used the boat had
got in tow of one of the small vessels.

There was a division of five boats and two galleys of the enemy, that
had been held in reserve within the rocks, and these rallied their retreating
countrymen, and made two efforts to come out and intercept the Americana
and their prizes, but they were kept in check by the fire of the frigate and
small vessels. The Constitution maintained a very heavy fire, and
Bilenced several of the batteries, though they re-opened as soon aa she
had passed. The bombards were covered with the spray of shot, but
continued to throw shells to the last

''.»'^ ;;»-»«■;» fyf^i-^^^

i,.,:^.-5-si»S>««aws8r

RIPOLI.

le secured his second
de rest of the enemy's
run into the harbor, by

employed to windward,
It of the Nautilus, was
)g his fire like No. 4,
n the point of boarding.
The boats rnet and
le commanding officer
• a heavy fire from the
emy had struck before
doubt. It is, however,

; of the three boats that
t idle. Reserving his
[feet, when closing, and
instance, the boats also
It. Trippe, with Mr. J.
politan. Here, too,
rsonal combat occurrtt .
The Turk was young,
polled his slighter but
ing on Mr. Trippe, he
n. In this manner, he
ht saber wounds in the
dden rush, he struck a
pe upon a knee. Rally-
10 still retained the short
sed the weapon through
back. As soon as the
3 submitted,
largest belonging to the
ly known, but, living and
ty-one were either killed
sven Americans boarded
most gallant on record,
mtinued without ceasing,
tained by the brigs and
etreat, and this resolute
id to ware within a short
the mole. Her destruc-
round, when a shell fell
platform, and drove the
I again used the boat had

lUeys of the enemy, that
ise rallied their retreating
1 intercept the AmericanB
the fire of the frigate and
a very heavy fire, and
re-opened as soon as she
h the spray of shot, but

INCIDENTS IN THE WAR WITH TRIPOLI.

159

f,f,«y»,-;^>,=^-*'?J''»'S««****'W'**^'^''

At half past four, the wind coming round to the northward, a signal
was made for tiie gun-boats and bomb-vessels to rejoin the small ves-
sels, and another to take them and the prizes in tow. The last order
was handsomely executed by the brigs and schooners, under cover of a
blaze of tire from the frigate. A quarter of an hour later, the Constitution
herself hauled oft", and ran out of gun-shot.

Thus terminated the tirst serious attack that was made on the town and
batteries of Tripoli. Its effect on the enemy, was of tlie most salutary
kind; the manner in which their gun-boats had been taken, by boarding,
having made a lasting and deep impression. The superiority of ti»e
Christians in gunnery, was generally admitted before, but here was an
instance in which the Turks had been overcome, by inferior numbers,
hand to hand, a species of conflict in which they had been thought parti-
cularly to excel. Perhaps no instance of more desperate fighting of the
sort, without defensive armor, is to be found in the pages of history. Three
gun-boats were sunk in the harbor, in addition to the three that were taken,
and tlie loss of the Tripolitans by shot, must have been very heavy.
About fitly shells were thrown into the town, but little damage appears to
h->ve been done in this way, very few of the bombs, on account of the
perfect materials that had been furnished, exploding. The batteries
'were a good deal damaged, but the town suffered no essent.al injury.
On the part of the Americans, only fourteen were killed and wounded
in the aflfair, and all of these, with the exception of one man, belonged
to the gun-boats. The Constitution, though under fire two hours, escaped
much better than could have been expected. She received one heavy
shot through her mainmast, had a quarter-deck gun injured, and was a
good deal cut up aloft. The enemy had calculated his range for a more
distant cannonade, and generally overshot the ships. By this mistake,
the Constitution had her main-royal yard ohot away.

Among those who greatly distinguished themselves on this occasion,
was Lieutenant Richard Somers, between whom and Decatur existed a
noble friendship that was well fitting the chivalrous nature of their dis-
positions. The mystery connected with his death a month later, has
lent a romantic interest to his memory. The circumstances as far as
known, are here detailed.

After several unsuccessful enterprises to force the enemy to terms, it
was resolved to fit up the ketch "Intrepid" in the double capacity of
fire-ship and infernal, and to send her into the inner harbor, of Trijwli,
there to explode, in the very center of the vessels of the Turks. As hor
deck was to be covered with a large quantity of powder, shells, and
missiles, it was hoped the town would suffer not less than the shipping
The panic created by such an assault, made in the dead of night, it was
fondly hoped would produce an instant peace; and more especially the
liberation of the frigate Philadelphia, whose officers and crew were
thought to have been reduced to extreme suffering by the barbarity of
their captors. .

The imminent danger of the service forbade the commodore ordermg
any of his officers upon it; and Somers, with whom the conception of this
daring scheme is supposed to have originated, volunteered to take the
command.

"On the afternoon of the fourth of September, Somers prepared to
leave the Nautilus, with a full determination to carry the ketch into
Tripoli that night. Previously to quitting his own vessel, he felt that it
would be proper to point out the desperate nature of the enterprise to the

IHlmw Wi4Ftim>*<y*;t*^fl{gi-g.^^

»-hMl..l^ 1^ l> JfaMll II

wvufmmm

160

INCIDENTS IN THE WAR WITH TRIPOLI.

four men he had selected, that their services might be perfectly free and
voluntary. He told them that he wished no man to accompany him, who
would not prefer being blown up to being taken ; that such was his own de-
termination, and that he wished all who went with him to be the same way
of thinking. The boats now gave three cheers in answer; and each man
is said to have separately asked to be selected to apply the match. Once
assured of the temper of his companions, Somers took leave of his officers ;
the boat's crew doing the same, shaking hands, and expressing their
feelings, as if they felt assured of their fate in advance. Each of the four
men made his will verbally; disposing of his effects among the shipmates,
like those about to die. Several of Somers' friends visited him on board
the Intrepid before she got under way. Among them were Stewart and
Decatur, with whom he had commenced his naval career in the United
States. These three young men, then about twenty-six years of age
each, were Philadelphia-bred sailors, and had been intimately associated
in service for the ladt six years. They all knew that the enterprise was
one of extreme hazard, and the two who were to remam behind felt a
deep interest in the fate of him who was to go in. Somers was grave,
and entirely without any affectation of levity or indiflerence; but he
maintained his usual tranquil and quiet manner. Afler some conversation,
he took a ring from his finger, and breaking it into three pieces, gave
each of his companions one, while he retained the third himself.

Two boats accompanied the ketch to bring off the party just af\er settmg
fire to the train. In the whole there were thirteen men, all volunteers.
About nine o'clock in the evening Lieutenant Reed was the last to
leave the ketch for his own vessel. "When he went over the side of
the Intrepid, all communication between the gallant spirits she contained
and the rest of the world ceased. At that time everything seemed
propitious. Somers was cheerful, though calm; and perfect order and
method prevailed in the little craft. The leave-taking was affectionate
and serious with the officers, though the common men appeared to be

in high spirits." . . , , i .

The ketch was seen to proceed cautiously into the bay, but was soon
obscured by the haze on the water. " It was not long before the enemy
began to fire at the ketch, which by this time was quite near the batteries,
though the reports were neither rapid or numerous. At this moment,
near ten o'clock. Captain Stewart and Lieutenant Carrol were standing
in the Siren's gangway, looking intently toward the place where the ketch
was known to be, when the latter exclaimed, «Look! see the light! At
that instant a light was seen passing and waving, as if a lantern were
carried by some person in quick motion along a vessel's deck. ln«n "
sunk from view. Half a minute may have elapsed, when the whole lir-
mament was lighted with a fiery glow; a burning mast with its sails was
seen in the air; the whole harbor was momentarily illummated; the awful
explosion came, and a darkness like that of doom succeeded. The whole
was over in less than a minute; the flame, the quaking of towers, the
reeling of ships, and even the bursting of shells, of which most fell in
the water, though some lodged on the rocks. The firing ceased, and
from that instant Tripoli passed the night in a stillness as profound as
that in which the victims of this explosion have lain from that fatal hour

tA this ^^

In the American squadron the opinion was prevalent, that Somers and
his determined crew had blown themselves up to prevent capture; bu«
subsequent light has rendered it more probable that it was accidental, or

il.

,„-^i,*>^p. _-.-»..>

)LI.

perfectly free and
company him, who
ich was his own dc-
to be the same way
ver; and each man
^ the match. Once
eave of his officers;
d expressing their
. Each of the four
nong the shipmates,
isited him on board
n were Stewart and
areer in the United
ty-six years of age
ntimately associated
t the enterprise was
remain behind felt a

Somers was grave,
indiflerence; but he
er some conversation,
o three pieces, gave
bird himself."
3arty just after setting
i men, all volunteers.
Reed was the last to
ent over the side of
t spirits she contained
e everything seemed
nd perfect order and
iking was affectionate

men appeared to be

the bay, but was soon
ong before the enemy
[uite near the batteries,
,U8. At this moment,
Carrol were standing
place where the ketch
>k! see the light!' At
r, as if a lantern were
easel's deck. Then it
fd, when the whole fir-
Imast with its sails was
illuminated; the awful
■ucceeded. The whole
quaking of towers, the
V of which most fell m
The firing ceased, and
Ullness as profound as
lain from that fatal hour

valent, that Somers and
to prevent capture; bu«
iiat it was accidental, or

CHASE OF THE CONSTITUTION.

occasioned by a hot shot from the enemy.

161

"Thus perished Richard

Somers, 'one of the bravest of the brave.' Notwithstanding al! our
means of reasoning, and the greatest efforts of human ingenuity, there
will remain a melancholy interest around the manner of his end, which,
by the Almighty will, is forever vailed from human eyes, in a sad and
solemn mystery.''

THE CHASE OP THE UNITED STATES FRIGATE CONSTITUTION
BY A BRITISH SQUADRON.

The Constitution 44, Captain Hull, had gone into the Chesapeake, on
her return from Europe, and shipping a new crew, on the twelfth of July,
1812, she sailed from Annapolis, and stood to the northward. So rapidly
was her equipment procured, that her first lieutenant joined her only a
fortnight before she sailed, and a draft of a hundred men was received
on the evening of the eleventh. Friday, July the seventeenth, the ship
was out of sight of land, though at no great distance from the coast, with
a light breeze from the N. E., and under easy canvas. At one, she
sounded in 22 fathoms; and about an hour afterward, four sail were
made in the northern board, heading to the westward. At three, the
Constitution made sail, and tacked in 18^ fathoms. At four, slie dis-
covered a fifth sail to the northward and eastward, which had the appear-
ance of \ vessel of war. This ship subsequently proved to be the
Guerriere 38, Captain Dacres. By this time, the other four sail were
made out to be three ships and a brig; they bore N. N. W., and were all
en the starboard tack, apparently in companjr< The wind now became
very light, and the Constitution hauled up her main-sail. The ship in
the eastern board, however, had so far aliered her position by six, as to
bear E. N. E., the wind having hitherto been fair for her to close. But
at a quarter past six, the wind came out light at the southward, bringing
the American ship to windward. The Constitution now wore round with
her head to the eastward, set her light studding-sails and stay-sails, and
at half' past seven, beat to quarters, and cleared for action, with the
intention of speaking the nearest vessel.

The wind continued very light at the southward, and the two vessels
were slowly closing until eight. At ten, the Constitution shortened sail,
and immediately after she showed the private signal of the day. After
keeping the lights aloft near an hour, and getting no answer from the
Guerriere, the Constitution, at a quarter past eleven, lowered the signal,
and made sail again, hauling aboard her starboard tacks. During the
whole of the middle watch the wind was very light, from the southward
and westward. Just ' as the morning watch was called, the Guerriere
tacked, then wore entirely round, threw a rocket, and fired two guns.
As the day opened, three sail were discovered on the starboard quarter
of the Constitution, and three more astern. At five a. m., a fourth vessel
was seen astern.

This was the squadron of Commodore Broke, which had been gradually
closing with the American frigate during the night, and was now just out
of gun-shot. As the ships slowly varied their positions, when the mists
were entirely cleared away, the Constitution had two frigates on her lee
quarter, and a ship of the line, two frigates, a brig and a schooner astern.
The names of the enemy's ships, have already been given; but the brig
was the Nautilus, and the schooner another prize. AU the strangers had

nfcM^iln I >j*^—

1«2

OHASB OF THE OONSTITUTIOIT.

Engliah colors fljing. It now fell quite calm, aad the Constitution hoisted
out her boats, and sent them ahead to tow, with a view to keep the ship
out of the reach of the enemy's shot. At the same time, she whipt up
one of the gun-deck guns to the spar-deck, and run it out aO, as a storn-
chaser, getting a long eighteen off the forecastle also for a similai purpose.
Two more of the twenty-fours below were run out at the cabin windows,
with the same object, though it was found necessary to cut away some
of the wood-work of the stern frame, in order to make room.

By six o'clock the wind, which continued very light and baffling, came
out from the northward of west, when the ship's head was got round to
the southward, and all the light canvas that would draw was set. Soon
after, the nearest frigate, the Shannon, opened with her bow guns, and
oontinued firing for about ten minutes, but perceiving she could not reach
the Constitution, she ceased. At half past six. Captain Hull sounded in
86 fathoms, when finding that the enemy was likely to close, as he was
enabled to put the boats of two ships on one, and was also favored by a
little more air than the Constitution, all the spare rope that could be found,
and which was fit for the purpose, was payed down into the cutters, bent
on, and a kedge was run out near half a mile ahead, and let go. At a
signal given, the crew clapped on, and walked away with the ship, over-
running and tripping the kedge as she came up with the end of the line.
While this was doing, fresh lines and another kedge was carried ahead,
and, though out of sight of land, the frigate glided away from her pursuers,
before they discovered the manner in which it was done. It was not long,
however, before the enemy resorted to the same expedient. At half past
seven, the Constitution had a little air, when she set her ensign, and fired
a shot at the Shannon, th« nearest ship astern. At eight, it fell calm
again, and further recourse was had to the boats and the kedges, the
enemy's vessels having a light air, and drawing ahead, towing, sweeping,
and kedging. By nine, the nearest frigate, the Shannon, on which the
English had put most of their boats, was closing fast, and there was every
prospect, notwithstanding the steadiness and activity of the Constitution's
people, that the frigate just mentioned would get near enough to cripple
her, when her capture by the rest of the squadron would be inevitable.
At this trying moment the best spirit prevailed in the ship. Everything
was stoppered, and Captain Hull was not without hopes, even should he
be forced into action, of throwing the Shannon astern by his fire, and of
maintaining his distance from the other vessels. It was known that
the enemy could not tow very near, as it would have been easy to sink
his boats with the stem-guns of the Constitution, and not a man in the
latter vessel showed a disposition to despondency. CMHcers and men
relieved each other regularly at the duty, and while the former threw
themselves down on deck to catch short naps, the people slept at their
guns.

This was one of the moat critical moments of the chaae. The Shannon
was fast closing, as has been just stated, while the Guerriere was almost
as near on the larboard quarter. An hour promised to bring the struggle
to an issue, when suddenly, at nine minutes past nine, a light air from
the southward struck the ship, bringing her to windward. The beautiful
manner in which this advantage was improved, excited admiration even
in the enemy. As the breeze was seen coming, the ship's sails were
trimmed, and as soon as she was under command, she was brought close
up to the wind, on the larboard tack ; the boats were all dropped in along
side ; those that belonged to the davits were run up, while the others were

i'v-

vr.x ';

CHASE OF THK CONSTITUTION.

163

3on8titution hoisted
«r to keep the ship
time, she whipt up
t out afti as a storn-
>r a similai purpose,
the cabin windows,
y to rut awny some
I room.

t and baffling, came
id was got round to
raw was set. Soon

her bow guns, and
she could not reach
ain Hull sounded in
V to close, as he was
IS also favored by a
I that could be found,
into the cutters, beat
id, and let go. At a
f with the ship, over-
j the end of the line,
e was carried ahead,
ay from her pursuers,
one. It was not long,
jedient. At half past
'. her ensign, and fired
At eight, it fell calm
and the kedges, the
ad, towing, sweepmg,
hannon, on which the
t, and there was every
y of the Constitution's
lear enough to cripple
n would be inevitable,
the ship. Everything
lopes, even should he
srn by his fire, and of
It was known that
lave been easy to sink

and not a man in the
•y Officers and men

lile the former threw
people slept at their

chase. The Shannon
Guerriere was almost
pd to bring the struggle
t nine, a light air from
dward. The beautiful
icited admiration even
, the ship's sails vrere
, she was brought close
re all dropped in along
S,whUe the others were

just lif\ed clear of the water, by purchases on the spare outboard Hpars,
where they were in readiness to be usnd at a moment's notico. As the
ship catno by the wind, she brought the Guerriere nearly on her luc-bcam,
when that frigate opened a fire from her broadside. Wliilc the shot of
this vessel were just falling short of them, the people of the Constitution
were hoisting up their bouts with as much steadiness as if tiie duty viw
porforiiiing in a friendly port. In alwut an hour, however, it fell nearly
calm again, when Captain Hull ordered a quantity of the water started,
to lighten the ship. More than two thousand gallons were pumped out,
and the boats were sent ahead again to tow. The enemy now put nearly
all his boats on the Shannon, the nearest ship astern; and a few hours
of prodigious exertion followed, the people of the Constitution being
compelled to supply the place of numbers by their activity and zeal.
The HJiips were close by the wind, and everything that would draw wa(>
set, and the Shannon was slowly, but steadily, forging ahead. About
noon of this day, there was a little relaxation from labor, owing to the
occasional occurrence of cat's-paws, by watciiing which closely, the ship
was urged through the water. But at quarter past twelve, the boats were
again sent ahead, and the toilsome work of towing and kedging wu
renewed.

At one o'clock, a strange sail was discovered nearly to leeward. At
this moment the four frigates of the enemy wore about one point on the
lee-quarter of the Constitution, at long gunshot, the Africa and the two
prizes being on the lee-beam. As the wind was constantly baffling, any
moment might have brought a cliange, and placed the enemy to windward.
At seven minutes before two, the Belvidera, then the nearest ship, began
to fire with her bow-guns, and the Constitution opened with her stern-
chasers. On board the latter ship, however, it was soon found to be
dangerous to use the main-deck guns, the transoms having so much rake,
the window being so high, and the guns so short, that every explosion
lifted the upper deck, and threatened to blow out the stern-frame. Per-
ceiving, moreover, that his shot did little or no execution, Captain Hull
ordered the firing to cease at half past two.

For several hours, the enemy's frigates were now within gunshot,
sometimes towing and kedging, and at others endeavoring to close with
the puffs of air that occasionally passed. At seven in the evening, the
boats of the Constitution were again ahead, the ship steering S. W. ^ W.,
with an air so light as to be almost imperceptible. At half past seven,
she sounded in 24 fathoms. For hours the same toilsome duty was
going on, until a little before eleven, when a light air from the southward
struck the ship, and the sails for the first time in many weary hours were
asleep. The boats instantly dropped along side, hooked on, and were
all run up, with the exception of the first cutter. THte topgallant studding-
sails and stay-sails were set as soon as possible, and for about an hour,
the people caught a little rest.

But at midnight it fell nearly calm again, though neither the pursuers
nor the pursued had recourse to the boats, probably from an unwillingnen
to disturb their crews. At two, ▲. v., it was observed on board the Con-
stitution that the Guerriere had forged ahead, and was again off their
lee-beam. At this time, the topgallant studding-sails were taken in.

In this manner passed the night, and on the morning of the next day,
it was found that three of the enemy's frigates were within long gunshot
on the lee-quarter, and the other at about the same distance on the lee-
beam. The Africa and the prizes were much further to. leeward.

'ii.

164

0HA8E OF THE CONSTITUTION.

A little after (l;iylij.'hf, the CJiierricrc, linvinp «lrnwn ahond ("iiffiricntly to
be forwnrd of tlx! ('onstitution^H bmm. tackiMl, when the luttor Hliip did
the sainc!, in ordor to proHJirvo her iwsitiori to windward. An hour later
tho yEoliis puKHed on the contrary ta<;k, ho near that it was thought by
Boino who observed the movement, that shu ou^lit to have opimod her
fire; but, as that vessel waa merely a twelve-pounder frif;ate, and she was
still at a considerable di!<tance, it is quite probable her commander acted
judiciously. By this time, there was sutlicicnt wind to induce Captain
Hull to hoist in his first cutter.

The scene, on the morningof this day, was very beautiful, and of great
interest to tho lovers of nautical exhibitions. The weather was mild and
lovely, the sea smooth as a pond, and there was quite wind enough 1r.
remove the neces.sity of any of the extraordinary means of getting ahead,
that had been so freely used during the previous eight-and-forty hours.
All the English vessels had got on the same tack with the Constitution
again, and the five frigates were clouds of canvas, from their trucks to
tho water. Including tho American ship, eleven sail were in sight, and
shortly af\er a twelfth appeared to windward, that was soon ascertained
to be an American merchantman. But tlio enemy were too intent on
tho Con.stitution to regard anything else, and though it would have been
easy to capture the ships to leeward, no attention appears to have been
paid to them. With a view, however, to deceive the ship to windward
they hoisted American colors, when the Constitution set an English ensign.
by way of warning the stranger to keep aloof.

Until ten o'clock the Constitution was making every preparation for
carrying sail hard should it become necessary, and she sounded in 25
fathoms. At noon the wind fell again, though it was found that while
the breeze lasted, she had gained on all the enemy's ships; more, however
on some, than on others. Tlie nearest vessel was the Belvidera, which
was exactly in the wake of the Constitution, distant about two and a half
miles, bearing W. N. W. The nearest frigate to leeward, bore N. by
W. ^ W. distant three or three and a half miles; the two other frigates
were on the lee-quarter, distant about five miles, and the Africa was hull
down to leeward, on the opposite tack.

This was a vast improvement on the state of things that had existed
the day previous, and it allowed the officers and men to catch a little rest,
though no one led the decks. The latitude by observation this day, was
38° 47' N., and the longitude by dead reckoning 73° 67' W.

At meridian the wind began to blow a pleasant breeze, and the sound
of the water rippling under the bows of the vessel was again heard.
From this moment the noble old ship slowly drew ahead of all her pur-
suers, the sails beinir watched and tended in the best manner that consum-
mate seamanship could dictate, until four p. m. when the Belvidera was more
than four miles astern, and the other vessels were thrown behind in the
same proportion, though the wind had again got to be very light.

In this manner both parties kept passing ahead and to windward, as
fast as circumstances would allow, profiting by every change, and resorting
to all the means of forcing vessels through the water, that are known to
■eamen. At a little before seven, however, there was every appearance
of a heavy squall, accompanied by rain; when the Constitution prepared
to meet it with the coolness and discretion she had displayed throughout
the whole affair. The people were stationed, and everything was kept
fast to the last moment, when, just before the squall struck the ship, the
order was given to clew up and clew down. All the light canvas was

mn*'

OHASE OF THE CONSTITUTION.

165

wm\ Miffiricntly to
ihc lutlisr sliip <1>"
rtl. An hour hter

it wuH tlioujilit by
» have opiiiH'd ^^^
riRBlo, anct she was
r coininan(W!r acletl

to induce Captain

lutiful, and of great
iather was mild and
ito wind enough tr.
09 of getting ahead,
i»ht-aiid-forty hours
vith the Constitution
from liicir trucks to
,\\ wore in sight, ant
,as soon asccrtaineU
V were too intent on
1, it would liave been
nppeara to have been
he ship to windward
set an English ensign.

every preparation for
nd she sounded in XS
was found that while
ships; more, however
, the Belvidera, which
t about two and a hall
, leeward, bore N. by
the two other frigates
nd the Africa was hull

lings that had existed
en to catch a little rest.
,Bervation this day, was

73° 67' W.

L breeze, and the sound

Essel was again heard.
iv ahead of all her pur-
Bstmannerthatconsum-
, the Belvidera was more

■e thrown behind in the
to be very light.
,ad and to windward, as
•ry change, and resorting
witer, that are known to
re was every appearance
,e Constitution prepared
lad displayed throughou
and everything was kept
mall struck the ship, the
j^U the light canvas was

furled, a second reef was taken in the mizzon-topsail, and the ship was
brought under short sail, in an incredibly littlu time. The English vessola,
obourving this, began to let go and haul dowu without waiting for the wind,
anil when they were shut in bj the rain, ihey were steering in ditfercnt
directiuHH to avoid the force of thu expected squall. The Constitution,
on the other hand, no sooner got its weight, than she sheeted home and
hoiHted her fore and main-t()|)^'allant sails, and while the enemy moat
probably beiieveil her to be borne down by the pressure of the wind,
steering free, she was (lying away from them, on an easy bowline, at the
rate of eleven knots.

In a little less than an hour u(\er the squall struck the ship, it had
entirely passed to leeward, and a sight was again obtained of the enemy.
The Belvidern, the nearest vessel, had altered her bearings in that short
period two points more to leeward, and she was a long way astern. The
next nearest vessel was still farther to leeward, and more distant, while
the two remaining frigates wore fairly hull down. The Africa was barely
visible in the horizon!

All appi'ehensions of the enemy now ceased, though sail was carried
to increase the distance, and to preserve the weather-gage. At half past
ten the wind backed further to the southward, when the Constitution,
which had been steering free for some time, took in her lower studding-
sails. At eleven the enemy fired two guns and the nearest ship could
just be discovered. As the wind battled, and continued light, the enemy
still persevered in the chase, but at daylight the nearest vessel was hull
down astern, and to leeward. Under the circuiiistancos it was deemed
prudent to use every exertion to lose sight of tiie English frigates; and
the wind falling light, the Constitution's sails were wet dowu from the
skysails to the courses. The good eti'ects of this care were soon visible,
as at six a.m., the topsails of the enemy's nearest vessels were beginning
to dip. At a quarter past 8, the English ships all hauled to the northward
and eastward, fully satisfied, by a trial that had lasted nearly three days,
and as many nights, under all the circumstances that can attend naval
maneuvers, from reefed topsails to kcdging, that they had no hope of
overtaking their enemy.

Thus terminated a chase, that has become historical in the American
navy, for its length, closeness, and activity. On the part of the English,
there were manifested much perseverance and seamanship, a ready imi-
tation, and a strong desire to get along side of their enemy. But the
glory of the affair was carried otf by the officers and people of the Con-
stitution. Throughout all the trying circumstanccsof this arduous struggle,
this noble frigate, which had so lately been the subject of the sneers of
the English critics, maintained the high character of a man-of-war. Even
when pressed upon the hardest, nothing was hurried, confused, or slovenly,
but the utmost steadiness, order, and discipline reigned in the ship. A
cool, discreet, and gallant commander, was nobly sustained by his officers;
and there cannot be a doubt that had the enemy succeeded in getting any
one of their frigates fairly under the fire of the American ship, that she
would have been very roughly treated. The escape itself, is not so much
a matter of admiration, as the manner in which it was effected. A little
water was pumped out, it is true ; and perhaps this was necessary, in
order to put a vessel fresh from port on a level, in light winds and calms,
with ships that had been cruising some time; but not an anchor was cut
away, not a boat stove, nor a gun lost. The steady and man-of-war like
style in which the Constitution' took in all her boats, as occasions offered;

. 8T0RY OF AK EN0U8H BAILOR BOY.

iho order and "Pi^i'T '''^ j^hu^h -he l^e W «,„,i,aii«n among

criticiitnB as any people liTing.

AND THE BEITISH WIOATE IdAOBDONUK
B..«. L.^-, .n EngU.h ..iloj boy .bow.. o» bo.,d of tU. Bn.;*

whole range of maritiino narrative. .^ ^^^^^^ ^^ ^-^^ -^ „

Sunday (December ^T^^ty-fiJ^, 1812,) came, ^^^^^^ ^

stiff bree/e. We "^"''"y »";?« "„,t;\Se Sre crew on the spar-dec^^
After breakfast it was common to """f Vj^^; ^^^^^ sometimes in blue
dressed as the fancy of »''« ^^P^J.^u am hue trowsors, at other
jackets and white tifowsers, or t* "« J'V^'^J;' J^'^^ite trowsers; with our
imes in blue jackets. »f=^^'°i;7;«,;,;",t,f^,d our black glossy h.t.orna-
bright anchor-butlons glancing m »''« «"»' "J^^^ „f ^ur ship painted on

muiner. . ^ u a i.r<i.kfaflt before the men at the mast-head

■ ^e had scnrcclv finished breakfast oetort

.houted, " Sail, ho!" exclaiming, " Mast-head there !"

1 The captain rushed upon deck, exciairamfe,

I KSir?"

I « Where away is ^^e «aiir' ^^^jj^^^^ ^ut the captain

j The precise answer to this quesuou ■ «

I proceeded to ask,

"What does she look likeT j. ^ ,ookout.

i " Sir?" . •. , ; ■•'!

"What does she look like?" ^ i«

i « A large ship, sir, standing toward us . etraining their eyes

i ri:'b".rof-.p;=^^^^^

]

STORY OF AN ENGLISH BAILOR BOY.

167

iiiralion nmong
,, no lcn» than
w th U»e world
n tl»eir nauiicw

HE BATTLK

STATES

AN.

uA of tUe British

at voBScl by the

ho battle, which,

,al Service bore

, anything in the

; brought with it a
this sacred day.
, on the spar-derk,
oinetimcB in b no
irowsors; al other
irowscrs; will* our
•k glossy hats orna-
ur ship painted on
oad by the captain-,
wore destined to
in a very different

at the mast-head

•head there

lect, but the capUin

e lookout.
»Mwt-head there!'

retraining their eyes
wring their opinions

^eep silence fore and

lo, to his question of
kigate, bearing down

br ship was a Yankee
of "AH hands clear

the ship for action, ahoy !'* The drum and fife boat to quartern, bulk-
heads were knoikod away, tlio guns wfrn rolcuMcd froui thoir conrmetiKint,
the whole dread paraphcrnulin of battle was |iro<hici<d, and allcr thii lapse
of a few miniiteM of hurry and confusion, every man and l)oy was at liiw
post, ready to do his beat aervice <ur his country, except the band, who,
claiming exetnption from the aHTray, safely Btowod themselven away in
the cable'tior. We had only one aick man on the list, and he, at the
cry of battle, hurried from his cot, feeble as he was, to take hin post
of danger. A few of the junior midHhipmon were ntationed below on
the berth-deck, with orders, given in our hearing, to shoot any man who
attempted to run from his quarters.

As the approaching ship showed American colors, all doubt of her
character was at an end. " Wo must fight her," was the conviction of
every breaHt. Every possible arrangement that could insure huccobm was
accordingly made. The guns were shotted, the matches lighted; for
although our guns were all furnished with (irRt-rate locks, they were also
provided with matches, attached by lanyards, in case the lock should miss
fire. A liciitrnant then passed through the ship, directing the murines
and boarders — who wore furnished with pikes, cutlasses, and pistols —
how to proceed if it should be necessary to board the enemy. He was
followed by tiio captain, who exhorted the men to fidelity and courage,
urging upon tlu-ir consideration tho well known inottoof the brave Nelson,
" England expects every man to do his duty." In addition to ail these
preparations on deck, some men were stationed in the tops with small
arms, whoso <iuty it was was to attend to trimming the sails, and to use
their muskets provided wo came to close action. There were others, also,
below, called sail-trimmers, to assist in working the ship should it be
necessary to shift her position during tho battle.

My station was the fifth gun on the main-dtck. It was my duty to
supply my gun with powder, a boy being appointed to each gun in the
ship, on the side we engaged, for this purpose. A woolen screen was
placed before the entrance to the niagaxine, with a hole in it, through which
the cartridges were passed to the boys; we received them there, and
covering them with our jackets, hurried to our respective guns. These
precautions are observed to prevent the powder taking fire before it
reaches the gun.

Thus we all stood, awaiting orders, in motionless suspense. At last we
fired three guns from tho larboard side of the main-deck; this was followed
by the command, *< Cease firing; you are throwing away your shot!^

Then came the order to " wear ship,'' and prepare to attack the enemy
with our starboard guns. Soon ofter this I heard a firing from some other
quarter, which I at first supposed to be a discharge from our quarter-deck
guns, but it proved to be the roar of the enemy's cannon. |

A strange noise, such as I had never heard before, next arrested my
attention; it sounded like the tearing of sails just over our heads. This
I soon ascertained to be the wind of the enemy's shot. The firing, after
a few minutes' cessation, recommenced. The roaring of cannon could
now be heard from all parts of our trembling ship, and mingling as it did
with that of our foes, it made a most hideous noise. By and by I heard
the shot strike the sides of our ship; the whole scene grew indescribably
confused and horrible; it was like some awfully tremendous thunder-
storm, whose deafening roar is attended by incessant streaks of lightning,
carrying death in every flash, and strewing the ground with the victims
of its wrath ; only in our case the scene was rendered more horrible than

■ tl

168

STORY OF AN ENGLISH SAILOR BOY.

It I

I. L

that, by the presence of torrents of blood which dyed our decks. Though
the recital may be painful, yet as it will reveal the horrors of war, and
show at what a fearful price a victory is won or lost, 1 will present the
rcader^with things as they met my eye during the progress of this dreadful
_ I was busily supplying my gun with powder, when I s;.w blood
suddenly fly from the arm of a man stationed at our gun. I saw notliing
striice him; the efliect alone was visible; in an instant the third lieutenant
tied his handkerchief round the wounded arm, and sent the poor fellow
below to the surgeon.
" The cries of the wounded now rang through all parts of the ship.
These were carried to the cockpit as fast as they fell, while those more
fortunate men who were killed outright were immediately thrown overboard.
As I was stationed but a short distance from the main-hatchway, I could
catch a glance at all who were carried below. A glance was all I could
indulge in, for the boys belonging to the guns next to mine were wounded
in the early part of the action, and I had to spring with all my miglit to
keep three or four guns supplied with cartridges. I saw two of these
lads fall nearly together. One of them was struck in the leg by a large
shot; he had to sufi'er amputation above the wound. The other had a
grape or canister shot sent through his ankle. A stout Yorkshireman
lifted him in his arms and hurried with him to the cockpit. Ho had his
foot cut off, and was thus made lame for life. Two of the boys stationed
on the quarter-deck were killed. They were both Portuguese. A man
who saw one of them killed, afterward told me that his powder caught
fire and burnt the flesh almost off his face. In this pitiable situation the
agonized boy lifted up both hands, as if imploring relief, when a passing
shot instantly cut him in two.

I was an eye .vitness to a sight equally revolting. A n)n.n named
Aldrich had one of his hands cut off by a shot, and almost at tho same
moment he received another shot, which tore open his bowels in a terrible
manner. As he fell, two or three men caught him in their arras, and as
he could not live, threw him overboard.

One of the officers in my division also fell in my sight. He was a
noble-hearted fellow, named Nan Kivell. A grape or canister shot struck
him near the heart. He fell, and was carried below, where he shortly
after died.

Mr. Scott, our first-lieutenant, was also slightly wounded by a grummet,
or small iron ring, probaly torn from a hammock clew by a shot. He went
below, shouting to the men to fight on. Having had his wound dressed,
ho came up again, shouting to us at the top of his voice, and bidding us
fight with all our might.

The battle went on. Our men kept cheering with all their might; I
cheered with them, though I confess I scarcely knew for what. Certainly
there was nothing very inspiriting in the aspect of things where I was
stationed. So terrible had been the work of destruction round u8,-that
it was termed the slaughter-hoyse. Not only had we had several boys
and men killed or wounded, but several of the guns were disabled. The
one I belonged to had a piece of the muzzle knocked out; and when the
ship rolled, it struck a beam of the upper deck with such force as to
become jammed and fixed in that position. A twenty-four pound shot
had also gone through the screen cf the magazine, immediately over the
orifice through which we passed our powder. The schoolmaster received
a death wound. The brave boatswain, who came from the sick cot to
the din of battle, was fastening a stopper on ^ back-stAy which had hcvn

ur decks. Though
horrors of war, and

1 will present the
•ress of this dreadful
, when I sf.w blood
gun. 1 saw nothing

the third lieutenant
sent the poor fellow

11 parts of the ship.
11, while those more
;ely thrown overboard.
un-hatchwa>, I could
rlance was all I could
mine were wounded
with all my might to
I saw two of these
tin the leg by a large

id The other had a

A. stout Yorkshireman

cockpit. Hohadh.8

of the boys stationed

1 Portuguese. A man
tiat his powder caught
is pitiable situation the
r relief, when a passing

Iting. A noan named

and almost at the same

his bowels in a terrible

m in their arras, and aa

He was a
i or canfster shot struck

my sight.

jelow, where he shortly

wounded by a grummet,
lew by a shot. He went

had his wound dressed,
lis voice, and bidding us

with all their might; I
/new for what. Certainly
;t of things where 1 was
estruction round uB,-tnat
^,ad we had several boys
uns were disabled. Ihe
[ocked out; and when the
ck with such force as to
^ twentv-four pound shot
ine, iminediately over the
IThe schoolmaster received
ame from the s'ck cot to
back-stay which had bcon

STORY OP AN ENGLISH SAILOR BOY.

f69

shot away, when his head was smashed to pieces by a cannon-ball ; another
man, going to complete the unfinished task, was also struck down. One
of our midshipmen likewise received a severe wound, and the wardroom
steward was killed. A fellow named John, who, for some petty olfenHe,
had been sent on board as a punishment, was carried past me wounded.
1 distinctly hoard the large blood-drops fail pat, pat, on tiie deck; Win
wounds were mortal. Even a poor goat, kept by the officers for her milk,
did not escape the general carnage; her hind-legs were shot oflf, and poor
Nan was thrown overboard.

I liave uilen been asked what were my feelings during this fight. I
felt pretty much as I suppose every one does at such a time. That men
are without tiiought when tiiey stand amid the dying and the dead, is too
absurd an idea to be entertained for a moment. We all appeared ciiecrful,
but I know that many a serious thought ran through my mind: still, what
could we do but keep up a semblance, at least of animation? To run
from our quarters would have been certain death from tlie hands of our
own officers; to give way to gloom, or to show fear, would do no good,
and might l)rand us with the name of cowards, and insure certain defeat.
Our only true philosophy, therefore, was to make the best of our situation,
by fighting bravely and cheerfully. I thought a great deal, however, of
the other world : every groan, every fallinir man, told me that the next
instant I might be before the Judge of all the earth.

While these thoughts secretly agitated my bosom, the din of battle
continue,d._ytirrape and canister shot were pouring through our port-holes
/likenfeaJeii rain, carrying death in their train. The large shot came against
' the ship's side like iron hail, shaking her to the very keel, or passing
through her timbers, and scattering terrific fiipliaters, which did a more
appalling work than even their own death-giving blows. The reader may
form an idea of the effect of grape and canister, when he is told that grape
shot is formed by seven or eight balls confined to an iron and tied in
a cloth. These balls are scattered by the explosion of the powder.
Canister shot is made by filling a powder canister with balls, each as large
as two or three musket balls ; these also scatter with direful effect when
discharged. What, then, with splinters, cannon-balls, grape and canister
poured incessantly upon us, the reader may be assured that the work of
death went on in a manner which must have been satisfactory even to
the King of Terrors himself.

Suddenly the rattling of the iron hail ceased. We were ordered to
cease firing. A profound silence ensued, broken only by the stifled
groans of the brave sufferers below. It was soon ascertained that the
enemy had shot ahead to repair damages; for she was not so disabled but
she could sail without difficulty, while we were so cut up that we lay
utterly helpless. Our head braces were shot away; ihe fore and main top-
masts were gone; the mizzen-mast hung over the stern, having carried
several men over in its fall: we were in the state of a complete wreck.

A council was now held among the officers on the quarter-deck. Our
condition was perilous in the extreme ; victory or escape was al ike hopeless.
Our ship was disabled; many of our men were killed, and many more
wounded. The enemy would without doubt bear down upon us in a few
moments, and, as she could now choose her own position, would doubtless
rake us fore and aft. Any further resistance was therefore folly; so, in
spite of the hot-brained lieutenant, who advised thern not to strike, l)Ut
to aiok aloug^ side, it wna determined to strike our colors. Tiiis was done
by the hands of a brave fellow named Watson, whose saddened brow told

.^jk.^

170

STORT OF AN ENGLISH SAILOR BOT.

*•*

how severely it pained his lion heart to do it. To 4ne it was a pleasing
sight, for I had seen fighting enough for one Sabbath; more than I wished
to see again on a weelc-day. His Britannic Majesty's frigate Macedonian
was now the prize of the American frigate United States.
'TT now went below to see how matters appeared there. The firat object
I met was a man bearing a limb, which had just been detached from some
poor suAcrer. Pursuing my way to the wardroom, I necessarily passed
through the steerage, which was strewed with the wounded : it was a sad
spectacle, made more appalling by the groans and cries which rent the
air. Some were groaning, others were swearing most bitterly, a few were
praying, while those last arrived were begging most pitcously to have
their wounds dressed next. The surgeon and his mate were smeared
with blood from head to foot; they looked more like butchers than doctors.
Having so many patients, they had once shifted their quarters from the
cockpit to the steerage ; they now removed to the wardroom ; and the long
table, round which the officers had sat over many a merry feast, was soon
covered with the bleeding forms of maimed and mutilated seamen.

1 now set to work to render all the aid in my power to the sutfcrers.
Our carpenter, named Reed, had his log cut off. I helped to carry him to
the after wardroom ; but he soon breathed out his life there, and then I as-
sisted in throwing his mat^led remuins overboard. We got out the cots
as fast as possible, for most of the men were stretched out on the gory
deck. One poor fellow, who lay with a broken thigh, begged me to give
him water. I ga' e him some. He looked unutterable gratitude, drank,
and died. It was with exceeding difficulty I moved through the steerage,
it was so covered with mangled men, and so slippery with streams of
blood. There was a poor boy there crying as if his heart would break.
Ho had been servant to the boatswain whose head was d^hcd to pieces.
Poor boy! he felt that he had lost a friend. I tried to comfort him, by
reminding him that he ought to be thankful for having escaped death
himself.

Here also I met one of my messmates, who showed the utmost joy at
seeing me alive, tor he said he had heard that I was killed. He was
looking up hii nossmates, which he said was always done by sailors.
We found two o. our mess wounded. One was the Swede, Logholm,
who fell overboard and was nearly lost, as formerly mentioned. Wc held
him while the surgeon cut off his leg above the knee. The operation
was most painfui to behold, the surgeon using his knife and saw on human
flesh and bones as freely as the butcher at the shambles does on the
carcass of a beast ! Our other messmate suffered still more than the Swede;
he was sadly mutilated about the legs and thighs with splinters. Such
scenes of suflfering as I saw in that wardroom I hope never to witness
again. Could the civilized world behold them as they were, and as they
otlen are, infinitely worse than on that occasion, it seems to me that they
would forever put down the barbarous practices of war by universal
consent.

Most of our officers and men were taken on board the victor ship. I
was left, with a few others, to take care of the wounded. My master,
the sailing-master, was also among the officers who continued in the ship.
Most of the men who remained were unht for any service, having broken
into the spirit-room and made themselves drunk ; some of ttiem broke
into the purser's room, and helped themselves to clothing; while others.
by previous agreement, took possession of their dead messmates' property
For my own part, I was content to help myself to a little of the officers

STORY OP AN ENGLISH SAILOR BOY.

17f.

B it was a ploaBing
nore than I wished
rigato Macedonian

,, The firat objeet
Btached from some
nece-osarily passed
inded : it was a sad
ries which rent the
bitterly, a few were
t pitcously to have
mate were smeared
ichers than doctors.
• quarters from the
room ; and the long
erry feast, was soon
lated seamen,
ver to the sufferer*,
slped to carry him to
there, and then I as-
Wc got out the cots
led out on the gory
1, begged me to give
ble gratitude, drank,
hrough the steerage,
,ery with streams of
s heart would break.
?as drfShed to pieces.
d to comfort him, by
aving escaped death

i?ed the utmost joy at
was killed. He was
irays done by sailors.
Lhe Swede, Logholm,
mentioned. We held
tnee. The operation
life and saw on human
ihambles does on the

morethan the Swede;
with splinters. Such
lope never to witness
hey were, and as they

seems to me that thoy
I of war by universal

ard the victor ship. I
bounded. My master,
, continued in the ship.
service, having broken
; some of tiiem broke
clothing; while others,
id messmates' property
, a litUe of the officers

provisions, which did me more good than could be obtained from rum.
What was worse than all, however, was the folly of the sailors in giving
spirits to their wounded messmates, since it only served to aggravate
their distress.

The great number of the wounded kept our surgeon and his matv
busily employed until late at night, and it was a long time before they
had much leisure. I remember passing round the ship the day after the
battle. Coming to a hammock, I found some one in it, apparently asleep.
I spoke ; he made no answer: I looked into the hammock ; he was dead.
My messmates coming up, we threw the corpse overboard ; — that was no
time for useless ceremony. The man had prol)ably crawled into his
hammock the day before, and, not being perceived in the general distress,
bled to death! Oh war, who can reveal thy miseries!
/ When the crew of the United States first boarded our frigate, to take
•possession of her as their prize, our men, heated with the fury of the
; battle, exasperated with the sight of their dead and wouuded siiipmates,
' and rendered furious by the rum they iiad obtained from the spirit-room,
i felt and exhibited some disposition to fight their captors. But adcr the
. confusion had subsided, and part of our men were snugly stowed away
; in the American ship, and the remainder found themselves kindly used
t in their own, the utmost good feeling began to prevail. We set to work
' to cleanse the ship, using hot vinegar to take out the scent of the blood
[ that had dyed the white of our planks with crimson. We also aided in
fitting our disabled frigate for her voyage. This being accomplished,
; both ships sailed in company toward the American coast.
'" 1 soon felt myself perfectly at home with the American seamen; so
much so, that I chose to mess with them. My shipmates also participated
in similar feelings in both ships. All idea that we had been trying to shoot
each other so shortly before seemed forgotten. We ate together, drank
together, joked, sung, laughed, told yarns; in short, a perfect union of
ideas, feelings, and purposes, seemed to exist among all hands. A cor-
responding state of unanimity existed, I was told, among the officers.

Our voyage was one of considerable excitement. The seas swarmed
with British cruisers, and it was extremely doubtful whether the United ,
States would elude the grasp, and reach the prottiction of an American
port with her prize. I hoped most sihceroly to avoid them, as did most
of mv old shipmates; in this we agreed with our captors, who wisely
desired to dispose of one conquest before they attempted another. Our
forftier officers, of course, were anxious for the sight of a British flag, but
we saw none; and after a prosperous voyage from the scene of conflict,
we heard the welcome cry of "Land, ho!" The United States entered
the port of New London ; but, owing to a sudden shift of the wind,
the Macedonian had to lay off and on for several hours. Had an
English cruiser found us in this situation, we should have been easily
recovered; and as it was extremely probable we should fall in with one,
[ felt quite uneasy, until, after several hours, we made out to run into
the pretty harbor of Newport. We fired a salute as we came to an anchor,
v/Jiiah was promptly returned by the people on shore.

While we lay here a few days, several of our men contrived to run away.
1 would have done so too, but for the vigilance of the prize officers, who
were ordered to keep us that we might be exchanged for those Americana
who ''ad fallen into British hands. My desire for freedom at length
I ji prevailed over prudence, and I made my escape, glad to be rid of thu
tyranny to which I had been so long exposed. But this step, which, oo

tni STORY OF AN ENGLISH SAILOR BOY.

I reflection, I do not commend, brought another evil. I was destitute of

any means of support, and ailer numerous ineflectual eflbrts to get em

ployment on land, I again took to a seafaring life — this time, however,

entering myself on board a United States brig-of-war, the Siren, carrying

sixteen guns. I was then in the seventeenth yearof my life. I 'vas recom-

I mended by acquaintances to ship myself under a false name ; but, in

1 defiance of my fears, I entered under my own proper name of Samuel

i 1 Lee ch.

My fiist impressions of the American service were vepy favorable.
The treatment in the Siren was more lenient than in the Macedonian.
The captain and officers were kind ; while there was a total exemption
from that petty tyranny exercised by the upstart midsiiipmen in the British
service. As a necessary effect, our crew was as comfortable and happy
as men ever are in a man-of-vvar

Our brig had before this taken in her guns, consisting of two long
nine-pounders, twelve twenty-four pound carronades, and two forty-two-
pounders. Our crew was composed of about one liundrcd and twenty-five
smart active men. Wc were all supplied with stout leathern caps,
something like those used by firemen. These were crossed by two strips
of iron, covered with bear-skin, and were designed to defend the head,
in boarding the enemy's ship, from the stroke of the cutlass. Strips of
bear-skin were lilfewise used to fasten them on, serving the purpose of
false whiskers, and causing us look as fierce as hungry wolves. We were
also frequently exercised in the various evolutions of a sea-fight; first using
our cannon, then seizing our cutlasses.and boarding-pikes, and cutting to
the right and lefl, as if in the act of boarding an enemy's ship. Thus we
spent our time from early in the fall until afler Christmas, when we
received orders to hold ourselves in readiness for sea.

As we lay waiting for our final orders, a report reached us that a large
English brig-of-war, called the Nimrod, lay in a cove somewhere near
Boston bay. Upon this information, our officers planned a night expedi-
tion for the purpose of effecting her capture. Our intended mode of
attack was to run close along side, pour a broadside upon her, and then,
without further ceremony, board her, cutlass in hand. So we took in our
powder, ground up our cutlasses, and toward night got under weigh. A
change in the wind, however, defeated our designs, and we put into Salem
harbor, with no other result than the freezing of a man's fingers, which
happened while we were furling our bails. Thus ended our first warlike
expedition in the Siren.

Shortly afler this affair we received orders to start on a cruise to the
coast of Africa, and, in company with the Grand Turk, a privateer, set
sail from Salem. Passing the fort, we received the usual hail from the
sentry of, " Brig, ahoy! where are you bound to?"

To this salutation the first-lieutenant jocosely answered, " There and
back again, on a man-of-war's cruise." Such a reply would not have
satisfied a British soldier ; but we shot past the fort unmolested. Afler
two days, we parted company with the Grand Turk, and, by the aid of a
fair wind, soon found ourselves in the Gulf stream ; where, instead of
fearing frozen fingers, we could go barefooted and feel quite comfortable.

We now kept a sharp look-out at the mast-head, but met with nothing
until we reached ihe Canary Islands, near which we saw a boat-load of
Portuguese, who, coming along side, talked in their native tongue with
great noise and earnestness, but were no more intelligible to us than so
many blackbirds. ., ,,,,,, ^ .„ ^ , „, .,,^„ . ^^.^j^,^ ^^^ ,^__^^ ,

■'^:vv

JOY.

. I wa3 destitute of
:ual efforts to get em
—this time, however,
ir, the Siren, carrying
my life. I'vasrecorn-
i false name ; but, in
opcr name of Samuel

were vepy favorable,
in in the Macedonian,
was a total exemption
Isliipmen in the British
comfortable and happy

ionsisting of two long
des, and two forty-two-
undred and twenty-five
stout leathern caps,
e crossed by two strips
ed to defend the head,
the cutlass. Strips of
serving the purpose of
igry wolves. We were
fa sea-fight; first using
ng-pikes, and cutting to
Qcmy'sship. Thus we
3r Christmas, when we

sea.

reached us that a large
1 cove somewhere near
planned a night expedi-

Our intended mode of
ide upon her, and then,
and. So we took in our
rht got under weigh. A
IS, and we put into Salein
,f a man's fingers, which
a ended our first warlike

o start on a cruise to the

id Turk, a privateer, set

the usual hail from the

IT answered, "There and

a reply would not have

. fort unmolested. After

["urk, and, by the aid of a

ream ; where, instead of

nd feel quite comfortable.

;ad, but met with nothing

ch we saw a boat-load of

their native tongue with

intelligible to us than so

STORY OP AN ENGLISH SAILOR BOY.

173

While off the African coast, our captain died. His wasted body was
placed in a coffin, with shot to sink it. After the service had been read,
the planl< on which the coffin rested was elevated, and it slipped into the
great deep. The yards were braced round, and wo were under weigh
again, when, tu our surprise and grief, we saw the coffin floating on the
waves. The reason was, the carpenter had bored holes in the top and
bottom: he should have made them only in the top.

After the funeral, the crew were called aft, and the first-lieutenant,
Mr. Nicholson, told us that it should be left to our decision whether he
should assume the command and continue tiie cruise, or return home.
We gave him three hearty cheers, in token of our wish to continue tho
cruise. lie was a noble minded man, very kind and civil to his crew, and
the opposite in every respect to the haughty lordly captain with whom I
first sailed in the Macedonian. Seeing me one day with rather a poor
hat on, he called me aft and presented mo with one of his own, but
little worn. " Good luck to him," said F, in a sailor phrase, as I returned
to my messmates; " he has a soul to be saved." We also lost two of our
crew, who fell victims to the heat of the climate.

One morning the cry of "Sail, ho!" directed our attention to a strange
sail, which had hove to, with her courses hauled up. At first we took
her for a British man-of-war brig. The hands were summoned to quarters,
and the ship got ready for action. A nearer approach, however, convinced
us that the supposed enemy was no other than our old friend the Grand
Turk. She did not appear to know us; for no sooner did she see that
our craft was a brig-of-war, than, supposing us to belong to John Bui' , cae
crowded all her canvas, and made the best of her way off. Knowing
what she was, we permitted her to escape without further alarm.

The first land we made was Cape Mount. The natives came off to a
considerable distance in their canoes, clothed in nothing but a piece of
cloth fastened round the waist, and extending downward to the feet. As
we approached the shore, we saw several fires burning; this, we were
told, in the broken English spoken by our sable visitors, was the signal for
trade. We bought a quantity of oranges, limes, cocoanuts, tamarinds,
plantains, yams, and bananas. We likewise took in a quantity of cassada,
a species of ground root, of which we made tolerable pudding and bread;
alao a few hogs and some water.

We lay here several days, looking out for any English vessels that might
come thither for purposes of trade.

Meanwhile we began to experience the inconvenience of a hot climate.
Our men were all covered with blotches or boils, probably occasioned by
so sudden a transition from extreme cold to extreme heat. What was
worse still, we were in want of a plentiful supply of water. In conse-
quence of this, we were placed on an allowance of two quarts per diem
to each man, which occasioned us much suffering; for after preparing
our puddings, bread, and grog, we had but little left to assuage our
burning thirst. Some, in their distress, drank large quantities of sea water,
which only increased their thirst, and made them sick; others sought
relief in chewing lead, tea leaves, or anything which would create moisture.
Never did we feel more delighted than when our boat's crew announced
the discovery of a pool of fine clear water.

While cruising along the coast, we one night perceived a large sliip
lying at anchor near the shore. We could not decide whether she was:
a large merchantman or a man-of-war, so we approached her with the
utmost caution. Our doubts were soon removed, for she suddenly loo^sed

ill

STORY OP A» ENGLISH SAILOR BOY.
•
all her sails, and made chase ailer us. By the help of their glasses, our
officers asccrtnined her to be an English frigate. Of course it was folly
to engage her, so we made all the sail we could carry, beat to quarters,
lighted our matches, and lay down at our guns, expecting to be prisoners
of war before morning. During the night we hung out false lights, and
altered our course: this baffled our pursuer: in the morning she was not
to be seen.

The next sail we made was not so formidable. She was an English
vessel at anchor in the Senegal river. We approached her, and hailed.
Her officer returned an insolent reply, which so exasperated our captain,
that he passed the word to fire into her, but recalled it almost immediately.
The countermand was too late; for, in a moment, everything being ready
for action, we poured a whole broadside into our unfortunate foe. . The
current carried us away from the stranger. We attempted to beat up
again; but our guns had roused the garrison in a fort which commanded
the river; and they began to blazo away at us in so expressive a manner,
that we found it prudent to get a little beyond the reach of their shot, and
patiently wait for daylight.

The next morning we saw our enemy hauled close in shore, under the
protection of the fort, and filled with soldiers. At first it was resolved to
man the boats and cut her out; but this, after weighing the subject
maturely, was pronounced to be too hazardous an experiment, and, not-
withstanding our men begged to make the attempt, it was wisely aban-
doned. How many were killed by our hasty broadside we never learned,
but doybtless several poor fellows were hurried to a watery and un-
expected grave, aflbrding another illustration of the beauty of war. This
affair our men humorously styled " the battle of Senegal."

After visiting Cape Three Points, we shaped our course for St. Thomas.
On our way we lost a prize through a display of Yankee cunning in her
commander. We had hoisted English colors; the officer in command
of the stranger was pretty well versed in the secrets of false colors, and
in return he ran up the American Jlag. The bait took: supposing her
to be American, we showed the stars and stripes. This was all the
merchantman desired. It told him what we were, and he made all pos-
sible sail for St. Thomas. We followed, crowding every stitch of canvas
our brig could carry; we also got out our sweeps, and swept hier along;
but in vain. The merchantman was the better sailer, and succeeded in
reaching St. Thomas, which, being a neutral port, secured her safety. Her
name was the Jane, of Liverpool. The next morning another Liverpool
merchantman got into the harbor unseen by our lookout, until she was
under the protection of the laws of neutrality.

Our next business was to watch the mouth of the harbor, in the hope
of catching them as they left port. But they were too cautious to run
into danger, especially as they were expecting a convoy for their protec-
tion, which might make us glad to trust more to our canvas than to our
cannon.

Shortly after this occurrence we made another sail standing in toward
St. Thomas. Hoisting English colors, our officers also donning the
British uniform, we soon came near enough to hail her ; for not doubtiog
that we were a British brig, the merchantman made no effort to escqie
us. Our captain hailed her:

"Ship, ahoy!" i , r, .• ,,u , • |.,,»-i • • /

"Halloo!" - .,.,» „ ■^r . . .. - • . ■ /

"What ship ia thai?" -..t «.'.»■ ■ »- .■>;■;

- : r

)T.

Dftheir glasses, our
I course it was folly
ry, beat to quarters,
;ting to be prisoners
out false lights, and
morning she was not

She was an English
;hed her, and hailed,
sperated our captain,
t almost immediately,
erything being ready
nfortunate foe. The
attempted to beat up
>rt which commanded
expressive a manner,
jach of their shot, and

se in shore, under the
first it was resolved to
weighing the subject
experiment, and, not-
pt, it was wisely aban-
side we never learned,
to a watery and un-
e ftea««yofwar. Inis

pnegal."

[course for St. Thomas.
Yankee cunning in her
je officer in command
Bts of false colors, and
lit took: supposing her
,es. This was all the
B, and he made all pos-
g every stitch of canvas
; and swept h^r olon^;
ailer, and succeeded m
ecured her safety. Her
rning another Liverpool
r lookout, until she was

the harbor, in the hope

rere too cautious to run

convoy for their protec-

, our canvas than to our

,r sail standing in towaid
icers also donning the
lil her ; for not doubtUJg
nade no eflfott to escape

STORT OF AN ENGLISH SAILOR BOY.

176

« The ship Barton."

" Where dp you belong?"

"To Liverpool."

" Wliat is your cargo? "

" Red-wood, palm oil, and ivory."

" Where are you bound to?"

« To St. Thomas."

Just at that moment our English flag was hauled down, and to the
inexpressible annoyance of the officers of the Barton, the stars and stripes
supplied its place.

" Haul down your colors!" continued Captain Nicholson.

The old captain, who up to this moment had been enjoying a comfortable
nap in his very comfortable cabin, now came upon deck in his shirt sleeves,
rubbing his eyes, and looking so exquisitely ridiculous, that it was scarcely
possible to avoid laughing. So surprised was he at the unexpected
termination of his dreams, that he could not command skill enough to
strike his colors, which was accordingly done by the mate.

Atler taking out as much of her cargo as we desired, we proceeded to
set her on fire. It was an imposing sight to behold the wild antics of the
flames, leaping from rope to rope, and from spar to spar, until she looked
like a fiery cloud resting on the dark surface of the water. Presently iier
spars began to fall, her masts went by the board, her loaded guns went
off, the hull was burned to the water's edge, and what a few hours before
was a fine trim ship, looking like a winged creature of the deep, lay a
shapeless charred mass, whose blackened outline, shadowed in the clear
still waves, looked like the grim spirit of war lurking for its prey.

This wanton destruction of property was in accordance with our in-
structions, " to sink, burn, and deatroy^^ whatever wc took from the enemy.
Such is the war-spirit! Sink, burn, and d^btroy! how it sounds! Yet
such are the instructions given by Christian nations to their agents in timo
of war. What Christian will not pray for the destruction of such a spirit?

The crew of the Barton we carried into St. Tiiomas, and placed tiiem
on board the Jane, excepting a Portuguese and two colored men, who
shipped among our crew. We also took with us a fine black spaniel dog,
whom the men called by the name of Paddy. This done, we proceeded
to watch for fresh victims on which to wreak the vengeance of the war
spirit.

The next sail we met was an English brig called the Adventure, which
had a whole menagerie of monkeys on board. We captured and burned
her just as we did the Barton. Her crew was also disposed of in the
same manner. One of them, an African prince, who had acquired a
tolerable education in England, and who was remarkably polite and
sensible, shipped in the Siren. Ills namr was Samuel Quaqua.

We now remained at St. Thomas sevtiral days, carrying on a petty trade
with the natives. Our men bought all kinds of fruit, gold-dust, and
birds. For th^se things we gave them articles of clothing, tobacco, knives,
etc. For an old vest I obtained a large basketful of oranges; for a handful
of tobacco five large cocoanuts — a profitable exchange on my side, since,
although I drew my tobacco of the purser, I fortunately never acquired
the h ibit of using it; a loss I never regretted. My cocoanuts were far
more gratifying and valuable when we got to sea, parched ^th thirst,
and sutfering for water, than all the tobacco in the ship.

Fro.-i St. Thomas we proceeded to Angola, where we staid long
enough to clean, paint, and refit our brig from stem (9 stern. This was

1Y6

STORT OP AN ENGLISH SAILOR BOT.

fif

the last port we intended to touch at on the coast of Africa. Our next
anchorage was to be in Boston harbor — at least so wo purposed; but the
events of war frustrated our intention.

To accomplish our object, we had to run the gauntlet through tho host
of English cruisers that hovered about like birds of prey along both sides
of the Atlantic coast. This enterprise appeared so impossible to my
mind while we lay at Angola, and the fear of being retaken and hung
operated so strongly on my imagination, that more than once I determined
to run away and find a refuge among the Africans ; but my better judgment
prevailed, and I continued at my post.

Still, I used every possible precaution to escape detection in case of
of our capture. In accordance with tho custom of our navy at that period, I
let my hair grow long behind. To change my looks more cifectually,
instead of tying mine in a cue as the others did, I let it hang in ringlets M
round my face and neck. This, together with the effect of time, caused
me to appear quite a different lad from what I was when a boy on board
the Macedonian. I also adopted that peculiarity of dress practiced by
American men-of-war's men, which consisted in wearing my shirt open
at the neck, with the corners thrown back. On these corners a device
was wrought, consisting of the stars of the American flag with the British
flag underneath. By these means I hoped to pass for a genuine Yankee,
without suspicion, in case wo should fall into English hands.

Having finished our preparations, wc left Angola for Boston. We
reached the island of Ascension in safety, where was a post-office of a
truly patriarchal character. A box is nailed to a post near the shore.
Ships that pass send to the box, and deposit or take out letters as the case
may be. This is probably the cheapest general post-office establishment
in the world.

We had scarcely lefl this island before the cry of" Sail, ho!" arrested
every ear. Supposing her to be a large merchantman, we made toward
her ; but a nearer approach made it doubtful whether she was an Indiaman
or a man-of-war. The captain judged her to be the latter, and tacked
ship immediately. He was unwilling to place himself in the situation of
an American privateer, who, mistaking a seventy-four for a merchantman,
ran his ship close along side, and boldly summoned her to haul down her
colors. The captain of the other ship cooly replied, " I am not in the
habit of striking my colors." At the same moment the ports of his ship
were opened, and disclosed her long ranges of guns yawning over the
decks of the privateer. Perceiving his mistake, the privateer, with admi-
rable tact and good humor, said, " Well, if you wont, I will;" and pulling
down his bunting, surrendered to his more powerful foe. To avoid such
a mistake as this, our captain made all sail to escape the coming stranger,
which was now bearing down upon us under a heavy pressure of canvas,
revealing, as she gained upon our little brig, that she bore the formidable
character of a soventy-four gun ship under English colors.

Of course fighting was out of the question. It would be like the assault
of a dog on an elephant, or a dolphin on a whale. We therefore crowded
■ all possilile sail, threw our guns, cables, anchors, hatches, etc., overboard,
to increase her speed. But it soon became apparent that we could not
escape. The wind blew quite fresh, which gave our opponent the ad-
vantage : she gained on us very fast. We shifted our course, in hopes
to baffle her until night, when we felt pretty sure of getting out of her
way. It was of no use; she still gained; until we saw ourselves almost
within gunshot of our opponent. "^^ ^tn^^ , .««. ? .>,. .«(<r

- *' j-*'?*;i?';T*j;^'9*3a-f»:5J''

Africa. Our next
purposed ; but the

et through the host
ey along l)Oth sides
> impossible to my

retaken and hung
n once I determined

my better judgment

detection in case of
navy at that period, 1
ks more effectually,
it hang in ringlets all
ffoct of time, caused
when a boy on board
)f dress practiced by
Boring my shirt open
lese corners a device
1 flag with the British
"or a genuine Yankee,
ish hands.

Tola for Boston, vve
'was a post-office of »

post near the shore.

out letters as the case
)8t-office establishment

f« Sail, ho!" arrested
man, we made toward
ershcwasanlndiaman
the latter, and tacked
welf in the situation ol
bur for a merchantman,
d her to haul down her
3lied,"Iam not m the
nt the ports of his ship
guns yawning over the
e privateer, with adrni-
mt,Iwill;" andpulhng
ful foe. To avoid such
pe the coming stranger,
'avy pressure of canvM,
she bore the formidable

■sh colors,
would be like the assault

We therefore crowded
-hatches, etc., overboard,
,Brent that we could not
»e our opponent the ad-
ted our course, in hopes
re of getting out of her
we saw ourselves almost

8T0RT or AN SNOLISH BAILOR BOT.

177

In this extremity the captain ordered the quirter-maater, George Wataon,
to throw the private lignals overboard. This was a hard task for the
bold-licurted fellow. As he pitched them into the sea, he said, " Good-
by, brother Yankee ;" an expression which, in spite of their mortifying
situation, forced a amile from the lips of the officers.

Tiio sound of a gun now came booming through the air. It was a
signal for us to heave to, or to look out fur consequences. What might
have been, we learned afterward, for a division of the crew of the seventy-
four had orders to sink us if we made the least show of resistance.
Finding it useless to prolong the chase, our commander reluctantly ordered
the flag to be struck. We then hove to, and our foe came rolling down
upon us, looking like a huge avalanche rushing down the mountain side
to crush some poor peasant^a dwelling. Uer officers stood on her quarter-
deck, glancing unutterable pride, while her captain shouted, " What brig
is that?"

*' The United States brig Siren," replied Captain Nicholson.

"This is his Britannic majesty's ship Medway!" he answered. "I
claim you as my lawful prize."

Boats were then lowered, the little brig taken from us, and our crew
transferred to the Medway, stowed away in the cable tier, and put in
messes of twelve, with an allowance of only eight men's rations to a mess—
a regulation which caused us considerable suffering from hunger. The
Bight of the marines on board the Medway made me tremble, for my
fancy pointed out several of them as having formerly belonged to the
Macedonian. I really feared I was destined speedily to swing at the
yard-arm: it was, however, a groundless alarm.

This event happened July 12, 1814. Only eight days before, we
had celebrated the independence of the United States. Now, we had a
fair prospect of a rigorous imprisonment. Such are the changes which
constantly occur under the rule of the war-spirit.

The day subsequent to our capture we were marched to the quarter-
deck with our clothes-bags, where we underwent a strict search. We
were ordered to remove our outside garments for this purpose. They
•xpected to find us in possession of large quantities of gold-dust. What
little our crew had purchased was taken from them, with a spirit of
rapacity ^together beneath the dignity of a naval commander.

Our short allowance was a source of much discomfort in this our prison-
fbip. But in the true spirit of sailors, we made even this the subject of
coarse jests and pleasant remark. Enduring this evil, we proceeded on
our course. When the Medway arrived at Simon's Town, about twenty-
one miles from the Cape of Good Hope, we met the Denmark, sevonty«>
four, on her way to England with the prisoners from Cape Town. The
captain had hitherto intended to land us at the latter place, but the pre-
sence of the Denmark led him to change his purpose, and land us at
Simon's Town.

The journey from this place to the Cape was one of great suffering to
our crew. We were received on the beach by a file of Irish soldiers.
Under their escort we proceeded seven miles, through heaps of burning
sand, seeing nothing worthy of notice on the way but a number of men
busily engaged in cutting up dead whales on the sea-^bore.

After resting a short time, we recommenced our march, guarded by a

new detachment of soldiers. Unused to walking as we were, we began

to grow excessively fatigued; and after wading a stream of considerable

depth, we were so oveccooie that it seeiped impomible to proceed any

, -N-s?;jy,^SS*«!ffi<'^'^

178

STORY OF AN BNGLISH SAILOR BOY.

further. Wo lay down, diiroiiraged and wretched, on tho sand. The
guard brought us somn bread, and gave half a pint of wine to each man.
This revived us somewhat. We were now placed under a guard of
dragoons. They were very kind, and urged us tu attempt the remaining
seven miles. To relieve ua, they carried our clothcH-bags on tlici; horsos;
and overtaking some Dutch farmers going to the Cu|>c with iToom-tttufT
and brush, tho officer of the dragoons made them carry the mont weary
among us in their wagons. It is not common for men tu desire the inside
of a prison, but I can assure my readers we did most heartily wish our-
aelves there, on that tedious journey. At last, about nine nV-lock p. h.,
we arrived at Cape Town, having left one of our number at Wineburg,
through exhaustion, who joined us the next day. Stiff, sore, and weary,
we hastily threw ourselves on tlio hard boards of our prison, where,
without needing to be soothed or rocked, we slept profoundly until the
next morning, when we took a survey of our new quarters. Wo found
ourselves placed in a large yard surrounded by high walls, and strongly
guarded by soldiers. Within this inclosure there was n building or shed
composed of three rooms, neither of which had any floor. Round the
side! stood three benches or stages, one above the other, to serve for
berths. On these we spread our hammocks and bed-clothes, making
them tolerably comfortable places to sleep in. A few of the men preferred
to sling their hammocks as they did at sea. Here, also, we used to eat,
unless, as was our frequent practice, we did so in the open air.

We remained in prison at tho Cape till carried away in the ship Cum-
berland to England. Stopping by the way at St. Helena, we were re-
moved to the Grampus, a transfer which greatly alarmed me, since the
more men who saw me, the greater of course was my chance of detection.
Luckily, no one knew me, and I arrived with my companions in safety at
Plymouth. I was equally fortunate here, and remained undiscovered
till I was transferred with others to a vessel which was to take us in
exchange lo America. I pass over the circumstances of the voyage, and
■only mention that we wer» all landed in due time at New York.

My resolution had been to quit the sea and settle down on land, but
on returning to New York all such fancies vanished, as they had done
befor^. I spent my hard-won earnings foolishly like others, and, like
them, when reduced to straits, again sought employment as a sailor. On
this occasion I shipped on board the Boxer, commanded by Captain Porter,
a man, as it proved, of stern disposition. The Boxer was now ready
for a cruise, and I prepared to do my duty on board of that vessel as an
ordinary seaman.

Formerly, I had been entered only as a boy ; but now, as a rated sea-
man, I had a station assigned me in the foretop, instead of being a servant
to any of the officers. I was also appointed to be one of the crew of the
captain's gig. This made my lot one of more fatigue and exposure than
in any former voyage ; a proof of which I very soon experienced. It
being now late in the fall, the weather became very cold. One afternoon,
the pennant having got foul of tho royal mast, an officer ordered me to
go up and clear it. I had no mittens on; it took nie some time to per-
form my task; and before I came down, one of my fingers was frozen.
Thus it is, however, with the poor tar; and he thinks himself happy to
escape with injuries so slight as this. We shortly received sailing orders,
and were soon under weigh, bound to the Balize in the Gulf of Mexico.
Here we cruised about some time, visiting New Orleans and other places,
and keeping ao outlook for pirates, with wbich theae seas were then

r'.J^.i i iwn i / . H iiiiO ft J W ..

-"ssmmtt^i

the sand. The
in« to each man.
ndor a ptiaril of
iptthc rcinoining
«ontl.ci:hovsc«j
with liroom-»tuir
y tht! moHt wnary
t, desire the inside
heartily wish our-
nino i>Vlock v. M.,
^ber at Wincburg,
r, sore, and weary,
our prison, where,
rofoundly until the
aartors. We found
walls, and strongly
8 n building or shed
.floor. Round the
B other, to serve for
tted-clothes, making
of the men preferred
also, we used to eat,
,e open air.
,ay in the ship Cum-
Helena, we were re-
larrocd mo, smce >he
^chance of detccuon.

rnpanions in safety at
mained undiscovered
,h was to take us in
es of the voyage, and
t New York.
i\e down on lan^, but
ed.as they had done
like others, and, like
^mentasasailor. Un
ded by Captam Porter,

Boxer was now ready
rd of that vessel as an

U now, as a rated sea-
,lead of being a servant
oneofthecrewof the
aue and exposure than
soon experienced. U
cold. One afternoon,
officer ordered me to
n»e some time to per-
I'mv fingers was frozen.
Links himself happy to
I received sailmg orders,

U,theGulfofMex.^.
Irteans and other places,

these seas were then

STORY OF AN ENGLISH SAILOR BOY.

170

iinhap|iily infostod. This was a duty requiring great vigilance, and wo were
iiopt cnn-'tantly at our poslM. The most irksome duty of a Huilor in to koep
watcii m iii)rlu in the topH. Otlon have 1 stood for hours on the royal
yard, or topgallant yard, without a man to converse with. Hero, overcome
with fiitiguo and want of sleep, I have fallen into a dreamy ilo/.ing state,
fi-om which I was roused by a lee lurch of the ship. Starling up, I
havo shuddered at the danger I had so narrowly escaped. But notwith-
standing this sudden fright, a few minutes had scarcely elapsed before
I would be nodding again. This, of course, was a highly punishable
offense.

When the weather was rough, we were indulged with permission to
stand on the forctopsail yard, or on the topgallant cross-trees; and if the
ship rolled heavily, we lashed ourselves to the mast for safety. I can
assure my readers there is nothing desirable in this part of a sailor's
duty. In whatever the pleasure of a life at sea consists, it is not in
keeping a look-out from the mast-head at night. But the most disagreeable
of all is, to bn compelled to stand on these crazy elevations when half dead
with sea-sickness. Some suppose that sailors arc never sea-sick at\cr the
first time they go to sea. This is a mistake ; it is very much with them as
with landsmen in respect to being sick in a coach. Those who are of
bilious temperament are always affected, more or less, when they ride in
a coach or sleigh; while others are never sick on these occasions. So
with seamen; some are never sea-sick, others are sick only when going
out of port, while some are so in every gale of wind. It is almost need-
less to say that, for sailors, no allowance is made for sea-sickness; they
must in all cases remain at their posts until it is time to be relieved.

Our cruise terminated af\er a few skirmishes, and we returned to New
York, where I left the service, as I trusted, forever. As it occurred, my
services as a seaman in a war-vessel would not long have been required.
The peace between England and France in 1814, by opening the con-
tinent to American commerce, hitherto excluded by British policy naturally
removed one of the grounds of quarrel, and opened the way for peace with
the United States. On the twenty-fourth of December, 1814, a trcatjr^
of peace, accordingly, was effected at Ghent, which left, however, the
question of right of search and other matters on the ground on which
they had previously stood. The Americans, as is well known, were most
successful in their naval warfare; but, after all, that was a trifling com-r
pensation for ruined commerce, and for being brought to the very verge
of national dismemberment. The losses of the British never made any
distinct impression on the nation, otherwise than teaching a tolerably
sound lesson in discretion, and leading to many important improvements
in naval affairs. I sincerely trust that both nations, united by a thousand
inextricable ties, and profiting by experience, will, in all time coming,
avoid every description of warlike collision, and exist in the happiest
terms of amity and pence.

In taking leave of the sea, it may be expected that I should say a few
words respecting the life of a sailor As I have already mentioned, the
profession of a sailor has its hardships, but these were much greater at
the time (.f my service than they are now, after a lapse of twenty years.
The duties of the men are now exactly regulated, and their comforts are
cared for in many ways. On board of each vessel, in the British navy,
there are now means for instruction, a library, and the savings of the men
are carefully secured for them, or transmitted to their wives or friends.
On shore, also, there are at various ports, establishments called " SailoraV

■gji^TSwTS-^.-

180

STORY OP AN ENQUSH BAILOR BOY.

III

Homoi," where discharged iceainon may roiiiJo at a modorato expense
til' engagr.G in ii new vessel. At sna, ns on land, stou<iincss, tempernnco,
f;o<td temper, forbearance, and other good qualities, are sure to c.oiiimand
respect, notwithntanding the severities uf discipline. It is likowise most
advantageous for a man to ftossess a good education ; for the mure ho
cao make himself useful, and be depended on, the greater is his chance
of promotion. A ptoperly bred sailor should, at the very least, bo able
to rerf and iteer — (iiat is, adapt the sails to 'he wind whiciievcr way i!
blows, and govern the vessel by the helm and coiripass. But beside these
comparatively simple duties, he should likewiiie bo able to throw and
calculate by the log, to wurk a reckoning, take an observation, find the
longitude, and keep a log-book, in which all necessary particulars of the
voyage are daily inscribed. The lor is a contrivance for ascertaining the
I tie of opeed at which a vessel goes, it consists of a long cord, having an
obbitg and loaded piece of wood attached to ore end. This wood, when
heaved overboard, remains stationary in the water, and consequently, at
the veariel advances, the line must be let out from a reel held in the hand.
The line is marked by knots and half knots, representing miles and half
miles, and the number of these run off indicates the number uf miles which
the vessel is going at per hour. Every connrn<-i) seaman rnn cast the log,
and calculate the speed of the vessel from ii ; but few can do any more,
because they are contented to remain iu ignorance, and inclined to spend
their leisure time in trifling amusements rather than in study. Of course
such p'Ki.uos cannot expk-< i to rise in their profession.

Having; thrown myself « drift, with but slender resources, and far distant
from my friends, I experimced the fate of many a disbanded and pen-
niless tar. What hand to turn to for the means of subsistence I knew not-
Determined at any rate to make an effort, I went about to different parts
of the country seeking employment. I was not successful ; and at length
my money was all gone, and my shoes more than half worn out. When
reduced to this sad extremity, and on the brink of despair, I was so for-
tunate as to discover an old shipmate ; and through his kind influence,
his brother-in-law employed me to work in his cloth-dressing establishment.
As I was ignorant ;>f the business, and was not really needed, my board
wu to be my only compensation. I lived here happily for some time,
ind then got employment of a more lucrative kind m another establish-
ment, where I settled, and have since remained, thankful to have attained
• IwTea of reit tftar the turmoila ud dangen of » SM-Iife.

1 1'.
> i>

lOY.

a modoTftto expense
iidincB*, tompornnce,
are miro to command
It is likowiBo most
m; for the more ho
greater is his chance
le very least, bo able
ind whichever way it
M. But beside these
bo able to throw and
observation, find the
sary particulars of the
CO for ascertaining the
along cord, having an
(id. This wood, when
, and consequently, as
reel held in the hatid.
tenting miles and half
number of miles which
aman cnn cast the log,
fow can do any more,
I, and inclined to spend
n in study. Of course
lion.

sources, and far distant
a disbanded and pen-
subsistence I know not.
about to different parts
ccessful ; and at length
half worn out. When
f despair, I was so for-
igh his kind influence,
-dressing establishment,
eally needed, my board
happily for some time,
nd m another establish-
hankful to have attained
a sea-life.

a ,. - i ; ii . i »r il g^^ffl Ji.g<',^ l i;j ; ^ MJ^^fc^. '" '

4^ ^^i^

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M. j^ i i,i i Lp.; i a^i i'g| i., || .., ' a 'i'! 'i ' > 3'

THE EXTRAORDINARY SUFFERINGS

DONALD CAMPBELL,

i' I

WHO, BIINO SHIPWBaOKID WKLL INTO TBI U/kXM OV

THE CRUEL HYDER ALL

It was the eighteenth day of May, 1782, when we sailed from Goa,
in Hindoostan, in a Portuguese vessel, bound for Madras. The hemi-
sphere had been, for some days, overcast with clouds : some light showers
of rain had fallen, and it did not tend to raise my spirits, or free me from
ominous apprehensions, to hear that those circumstances indicated an
approaching gale of wind. I observed, moreover, that the vessel was much
too deep in the water, being greatly overloaded — ^that she was, in many
respects, defective, and, as the seamen say, ill-found, and, in short, very
unlit to encounter a gale of wind of any violence. I scorned, however,
to yield to those united impressions, and determined to proceed.

On the nineteenth, the sky was obscured by immense fleeces of clouds,
surcharged with inflammable matter; and in the evening the rain fell in
torrents, the firmament darkened apace, sudden night came on, and the
horrors of extreme darkness were rendered still more horrible by the
peals of thunder which rent the air, and the frequent flashes of lightning,
which served only to show us the horror of our situation, and leave us in
increased darkness : meantime, the wind became more violent, blowing
on the shore ; and a heavy sea, raised by its force, united with it to make
our state more formidable.

By daylight, on the morning of the twentieth, the gale had increased
*.o a furious tempest ; and the sea, keeping pace with it, ran mountain-
high, and as it kept invariably to the same point, the captain and oflicers
became seriously alarmed, and almost persuaded that the south-west mon-
soon had set in, which, if it were so, would render it absolutely impossi-
ble for us to weather the coast. All that day, however, we kept as close
as the violence of the weather would allow us, to the wind; but the sea
canted her head so to leeward, that she made more lee than headway ;
and the rigging was so strained with the work that we had little hope of
keeping ofl" the shore, unless the wind changed, of which there was
not now the smallest probability. During the night, there was no inter-
rnission of the storm: many of the sails flew into ribbons ; some of the
rigging was carried away ; and such exertions were made, that, before
morning, every stick that could possibly be struck, was down upon the
deck.

About seven o'clock on the morning of the twenty-first, I was alarmed
by an unusual noise upon the deck, and running up, perceived that every
remaining sail in the vessel, the fore-sail alone excepted, was totally car-
ried away. The sight was horrible ; and the whole vessel presented a
, . - (181)

1+ \

-o^M^^tHM

W -

182

SUFFERINGS OF DONALD CAMPBELL.

Bpectacle as dreadful to the feelings, as mortifying to liuinan prido. Fear
had produced not only all the helplessness of despondency, but all the
mischievous freaks of insanity. In one place stood the captain, ravmg,
stamping, and tearing his hair in handfuls from his hf-ad— lioro sonic of
the crew wore cast upon their knees, clapping their liands, and praying,
witli all the extravagance of horror painted in their faces— there, others
were flogging their images, with all their might, calling upon i|>,i-'n to
ullay the storm. One of our passengers, who was purser ot an l,n.,dish
East Indiaman, had got hold of a case-bottle of rum, and, with un air ot
distraction ait4 deep despair imprinted on his face, was stalking about m
his shirt. 1 W«r<*ived him to be on the point of serving it out, in large
tumblers, to «ic few undismayed pcdj^le, and well convinced, that, so iar
from allevfating, it would sharpen the horrors of their minds, I wont
forward, and with much difficulty prevented him.

Having accomplished this point, I applied myself to the captain, and
endeavored to bring him back (if possible) to his recollection, and to a
sense of what he owed to his duty as a commander, and to his dignity as
a man : I exhorted him to encourage the sailors by his example ; and
strove to raise his spirits by saying that the storm did not appear to me
by any means so terrible as some I had before experienced.

While I was thus employed, we shipped a sea on tiie starboard side,
which, I really thought, would have sent us down. The vessel seemed
to sink boneatii its weight, shivered, and remained motionless. It syas a
moment of critical suspense: fancy made me think I felt her gradually
descending— I gave myself up as gone, and summoned all my fortitude
to bear approaching death with becoming manhood.

Just at this crisis, the water, which rushed with incredible force through
all parts of the vessel, brought out floating, and nearly suff"ocated, another
Knglish passenger, who was endeavoring to take a little repose in a small
cabin boarded off" from the deck: he was a very stout young man, and
full of true spirit. Finding that the vessel was not, as I had thought,
going immediately down, he joined me in exhorting the captain to his
duty • we persuaded him to throw the guns overboard, as well as a num-
ber of trunks and packages, with which the vessel was much encumbered,
and, with some little exertion, we got the pumps set agoing. ^

The name of the English passenger who assisted me in getting t.ie
captain and mariners to do their duty, was Hall. He and I having, with
great difficulty, got some hands to stick to the pumps, stood at the wheel,
at once to assist the men, and prevent them from quitting it ; and, al-
though hopeless, determined that no effort practicable on our part should
be wanting to the preservation of the vessel. The water, hovvever,
gained upon the pumps, notwithstanding every effort; and it evidently
appeared that we could not keep her long above water.

At ten o'clock the wind seemed to increase, and amounted to a down-
right hurricane: the sky was so entirely obscured with black clouds, and
the rain fell so thick, that objects were not discernable from the wheel
to the ship's head. Soon the pumps were choked, and could no longer
be worked: then dismay seized on all— nothing but unutterable despair,
silent anguish, and horror, wrought up to frenzy, were to be seen ; not a
single soul was capable of an effort to be useful— all seemed more desi-
rous to extinguish their calamities by embracing death, than willing, by

a painful exertion, to avoid it. .,.,,•• • , a Ae \

At about eleven o'clock, we could plainly distinguish a dreadful

roaring noise, resembling that of waves rolling against rocks; but the

DREADFUL STORM.

183

n prido. Fear
cy, but all the
;uptain, raving,
•hero sonic of
1, and prayiuj,',
— tliorc, others
upon ihcin to
of an Enirlish
with an air of
diiinfj about in
t out, in large
ed, that, so far
minds, I wont

le captain, and
ction, and to a
his dignity as
example ; and
appear to me
id.

starboard side,
vessel seemed
less. It was a
t her gradually
ill my fortitude

le force through
focated, another
jposc in a small
roung mail, and

I had thought,
! captain to his

well as a num-
ich encumbered,

°&.- . ,

e in gettmg t'le

d I having, with

od at the wheel,

ting it ; and, al-

L our part should

water, however,

and it evidently

unted to a down-
)lack clouds, and
from the wheel
could no longer
itterable despair,
be seen ; not a
emed more desi-
, than willing, by

[uish a dreadful
it rocks; but the

ver ride
y judg-
itis sea,
ery one
stant, a
took an

ort to
heeled

darkness of the day, and the accompanying rains, prevented us from see-
ing any distance; and if they were rocks, we migiit bo actually dashed
to pieces on tiiem, bofore wo could perccMvc them. At twelve o'clock,
however, the weather cleared up a little, when we discovered breakers
and large rocks outside of us; so that it appeared we must iiave passed
quite close to them, and wore now fairly hemmed in between them and
the land. In this very critical juncture, the captain adopted the dangerous
resolution of letting go an anchor, to bring her up with her heapk) the sea
Though no seaman, my common sense told mo that she co
it out, but must directly go down. The event nearly justi
ment: for she had scarcely been at anchor, before an e
rolling over her, overwhelmed and filled her with water, a;
on board concluded that she was certainly sinking. On
Lascar, with a presence of mind worthy an old English mari'
ax, ran forward, and cut the cable.

On finding herself free, the vessel again floated, and mad
right herself; but she was almost completely water-logged,
to larboard so much that the gunwale lay under water. Wclh^h endeav
ored to steer, as fast as we could, for the land, which we knew could not
be at any great distance, though we were unable to discover it through
the hazy weather. The foresail was loosened; by great eftbrts in bailing
she righted a little; her gunwale was got above water, and we scudded, as
well as we could, before the wind, which still blew hard on shore, and
at about two o'clock, the land appeared at a small distance ahead.

The love of life countervails all other considerations in the mind of
man. The uncertainty we were under with regard to the shore before
us, which we had reason to believe was part of Hyder All's dominions,
(then at war with the English,) where we should meet with the most
rigorous treatment, if not ultimate death, was forgotten in the joyful hope
of saving life ; and we scudded toward the shore in all the exulting trans-
ports of people just snatched from the jaws of death.

This gleam of happiness continued not long: a tremendous sea rolling
after us, broke over our stern, tore everything before it, stove in the
steerage, carried away the rudder, shivered the wheel to pieces, and
tore up the very ring-bolts of the deck, conveyed the men who stood at
the deck forward, and swept them overboard. I was standing, at the
time, near the wheel, and fortunately had hold of the taflerel, which en-
abled me to resist in part the weight of the wave. I was, however, swept
off my feet, and dashed against the main-mast. The jerk from the taf-
ferel, which I held very tenaciously, seemed as if it would have dislocated
my arms : however, it broke the impetus of my motion, and, in all proba-
bility, saved me from being dashed to pieces against the mast.

I floundered about in the water, at the foot of the mast, till at length 1
got on my feet, and seized a rope, which I held in a state of great em
barrassment, dubious what I should do to extricate myself. At this
instant I perceived that Mr. Hall had got upon the capstan, and was
waving his hand to me to follow his example : this I wished to do, though
it was an enterprise of some risk and difficulty ; for, if I lost the hold I
had, a single motion of the vessel, or a full wave, would certainly carry
me overboard. I made a bold push, however, and fortunately accom-
plished it. Having attained this station, I could the better survey the
wreck, and saw that the water was nearly breast high on the quarter-deck,
(for the vessel was deep-waisted;) and I perceived the unfortunate
English purser standing where the water was most shallow, as if watching

184

SUFFERINGS OP DONALD CAMPBELL.

prevent
other ti
cmotioa
of whic
some of

with patient expectation its rising, and avaiting death. I c;illod to h m
to come to us, but he shook his head in despair, and said, u. a lam. i.tiv-
blo tone, "It is all over with us! God have mercy upon us!" tlu ii soiitcd
himself, with seeming composure, on a chair which happened to be roll-
ing about in the wreck of the deck, and, in a few mmutes afterward vas
washed into the sea along with it, where he was speedily released from
a state ten thousand times worse than death. , , , , , „ .

Durinc Jhis universal wreck of things, the horror I was in, could not
Tom observing a very curious circumstance, whicli, at any
' mid have excited laughter, though it now produced no other
surprise. We happened to be in part laden with mangoes,
island of Goa is known to produce the finest in the world ;
some oi onn lav in baskets on the poop. A little black boy, in tl.e
moment Ol greatest danger, had got seated by them, devouring thorn
loraciousl and crying all the time most bitterly at the horrors of h
8ituati«U|# The vessel now got completely water-logged ; and Mr. Hall
and I were employed in forming conjectural calculations how many
minutes she could keep above water, and consoling one another on
the unfortunate circumstances under which we met.

As the larboard side of the vessel was gradually going down, the decK,
and of course the capstan, became too nearly perpendicular for us to
continue on it: we therefore foresaw the necessity of quitting it, and got
upon the starboard side, holding fast by the gunwale, and allowing ou.
bodies and lees to yield to the sea as it broke over us. Thus we con-
Unued for some Le: at length the severity of the labor so entirely
exhausted our strength and spirits that our only hope seemed to be a
speedy conclusion to our painful death, and we began to have serious
intentions of letting go our hold, and yielding.ourselves up at once to the
fury ofThe w.ves.^ The vessel! which all this time drifted with the sea
and wind, gradually approximated the shore, and at length struck th
ground, wWch, for an instant, revived our almost departed hopes, but we
toon found that it did not, in the smallest degree, better our situation.

Observing the people consulting together, and resolving to jom them,
I made an effDrt to get to the lee-shrouds, where they were standing, or
rather clinging; but before I could accomplish it, I lost my hold fell
down the hatchway, (the gratings having been earned away with the
long-boat,) aiid was for some minutes entangled there among a heap ot
packages, which the violent fluctuations of the water had coU^cted »„
the lee-side. As the vessel moved with the sea, and the water flowed
in, the packages and I wore rolled together-sometimes one, somet.ines
another, uppermost; so that I began to be apprehensive I should not be
able to extricate myself: by the merest accident, however, I grasped
something that lay in my way, made a vigorous spring, and gamed he
lee-shrouds. Mrf Hall, who followed me, in seizing the shrouds, came
thump against me with such violence, that I could scarcely retain my hold
of the rigging. Compelled by the perilous situation in which I stood, 1
called out to him for God's sake to keep off", that I was rendered quite
breathless and worn out: he generously endeavored to make way for mt
aTd, in doing so, unfortunately lost his hold, and went do>yn under tlo
ship's side. Never, never shall I forget my sensations at his melancho,.v
inddent-I would have given millions of worlds that I could have recalled
the words which made him move ; my mind was wound up to the laM
pitch of anguish, when, as much to my astonishment as to my joy, 1 saw
him borne by a returning wave, and thrown among the very packages

■■■■■■I

SHIPWRECK.

185

[ callnd to him
I, ill a liiiiicutii-
a!" tlicii soiitfd
3ned t<) be roil-
8 afterward, .vas
f released from

ta in, could not
3, which, at any
educed no other
1 with mangoes,
St in the world ;
ack boy, in the

devouring them
e horrors of liis
1; and Mr. Hall
lions how many

one another on

r down, the deck,
licular for us to
uitting it, and got
and allowing our
Thus we con-
labor so entirely
seemed to be a
I to have serious
up at once to the
led with the sea
ength struck the
ed hopes, but we
• our situation,
ing to join them,
were standing, or
lost my hold, fell
ed away with the
Bimong a heap of
had collected on
the water flowed
5S one, sometimes
B I should not be
>wever, I grasped
g, and gained tlie
the shrouds, came
:ely retain my hold
1 which I stood, I
as rendered quite
make way for mcj
t down under tho
at this melancholy
;ould have recalled
ind up to the last
13 to my joy, I saw
the very packages

from which 1 had but just before, with such labor and difficulty, extri-
cated myself. In the end, he proved equally fortunate, but after a much
longer and harder struggle, and after sustaining mucii more injury.

I once more changed my station, and made my way to the poop, where
I found myself ratiicr more sheltered. I earnestly wished Mr. Hall to
i>e witii me, whatever might be my ultimate fate, and beckoned to him to
conio to me ; but he only answered by shaking his head, in a feeble, de-
sponding manner — staring, at the same time, wildly alraut him: oven his
.spirit was subdued ; and despair, I perceived, had begun to take posses-
sion of his mind.

Being a little more at case in my new station than I had been before,
I had more time to deliberate, and more power to judge. I recollected
that, according to the course of time, the day was far gone, and the night
quickly approaching: I reflected, that for any enterprise whatsoever, day
was much preferable to night; and, above all, I considered that the ves-
sel could not hold long together. I therefore thought that the beat mode
I could adopt, would be to take to the water with the first buoyant thing
I could see, and, as the wind and water both seemed to run to the shore,
to take my chance, in that way, of reaching it. In pursuance of this reso-
lution, I tore ofl* my shirt, having before that thrown ofl' the other parts
of my dress. I looked at my sleeve-buttons, in which was set the hair
of my departed children, rolled my shirt up, and very carefully thrust it
into a hole between decks, with the wild hope that the sleeve-buttons
might yet escape untouched. Watching my opportunity, I saw a log of
wood floating near the vessel, and, waving my hand to Mr. Hall, as a last
adieu, jumped after it. Here, again, I was doomed to aggravated hard-
ships : I had scarcely touched the log when a great sea snatched it from
my hold: still, as it came near me, I grasped at it inefiectually, till, at
last, it was completely carried away, hut not before it had cut, and bat-
tered, and bruised me in several places, and in a manner that, at any other
time, I should have thought dreadful.

Death seemed inevitable : and all that occurred to mo now to do was
to accelerate it, and get out of its pangs as speedily as possible ; for,
though I knew how to swim, the tremendous surf rendered swimming
useless, and all hope from that would have been ridiculous. I therefore
began to swallow as much water as possible; yet, still rising by the buoy-
ant principle of the waves to the surface, my former thoughts began to
recur ; and whether it was that, or natural instinct, which survived the
temporary impressions of despair, I know not — but I endeavored to swim,
which I had not done long, when I again discovered the log of wood 1
had lost, floating near me, and with some difficulty caught it : hardly had
it been an instant in my hands, when, by the same unlucky means, I lost
it again. I had often heard it said in Scotland, that if a man will throw
himself flat on his back in the water, lie quite straight and stifi*, and suf-
fer himself to sink till the water gets into his cars, he will continue to
float so forever. This occurred to me now, and I determined to try the
experiment ; so I threw myself on jny back, in the manner I have de-
scribed, and left myself to the disposal of Providence. Nor was I mis-
taken ; for, in a short time more, without any eflbrt or exertion, and
without once turning from oft' my back, I found myself strike against the
sandy beach. Overjoyed, as you may well suppose, to the highest pitch
of transport, at my Providential deliverance, I made a convulsive spring,
and ran up a little distance on the shore ; but was so weak and worn
down by fatigue, and so unable to clear my stomach of the salt water

;

jgg SUFFKUINOS OF DOXALD CAMPBELL.

with which it was loaded, that 1 auddonly Rrnw deadly sick, and appre
hdndod thai I had only exchanged one death for another; and m .

minuto or two fainted away. w u i i.„^ f,.ll«n it i^ in..

How long I continued in the swoon into which I had fallen, it is m
posi for'me to tell ; but when I recovered I found 7-' JX: '
by a guard of armed soldiers, sepoys, and pikemen. I knew tlu m n
mediately to be the troops of Hyder Ali, and almost wished m.violt .u L
il the iaves again, booking round, I saw that the P«;oP»e ^"J '^ \-^;
that had been saved from the* wreck, were collected all together alou -
viU,re. In this state, we remained till it was dark. A Lascar bolon-
ng to the vessel, perceiving that my nakedness gave me great concern
o?e in two a piece of cloth which he had tied round his waist an 1
gave me rae pa^ of it, which afforded a short apron. Of aU the acts o
benhHcence I ever met with, this struck me the most f«7'^»y ; 'tj;^'
kindness, disinterestedness and delicacy for its basis; and I have never
sTnceSught of it without wishing that I could meet the man to reward
him for his beneficence, with a subsistence for life ^he lower order
of people of a certain country, I know, would think a man in such
c rcmns ances as I was then in, a fitter object of pleasantry than pity
The vast quantity of salt water I had swallowed still made mo deadly

sick in the\tomach: however, after ^^^ ^r ' ff 't''nV h!f befor?
great relief. I had hardly felt the comfortable effects of this, before 1
^as ordered to march ; nine of us, all Lascars «''«<^Pt ™y««lf;7«^Ve "'
veved to a village at a few miles distance, on the sea-side, where we were,
fo7the night, put into a square place, walled round, open to the mcbm-
encv of the ;Jather above' and below, and filled with large logs of wood ;
it blew most violently, and the rain fell in iorrents-while not one smooth
plank could be found on which to stretch our fatigued and wasted bodies
Thus, naked, sick, exhausted with fatigue and f-«».ng, drenched vnth
wet, Ind unable to lie down, our misery might be '^"PP^^^'V" „ Jt to
oable of increase. But, alas! where are the bounds we can set to
fma/tcler Thirst, th'at most dreadful of pains o-asioned by the

drenching with salt-water, seizea us: ^«^\b«gg«'l' ^„^.f "'^^J^'^^^d
clamored for water, but the inhuman wretches, deaf to the groans and
scrrches of their fellow-creatures, (for some grew delirious with the
agony of thirst,) refused them even the cheap and miserable indulgence

"^ndt°J a^Tght 'of more exquisite horror cannot be imagined The
thoStof being a prTsoner in the hands of Hyder Ali was, of itself,
ufSctnt to rir L completely unhappy : but my utter want of clothes
almost put me beside myself; and lying exposed to t e open a ^ where
I was glad to sit close to the Lascars, to receive a little heat f«»m the.
bodies: and to hold open my mouth in order to catch ^ f JP f ^^^^^gj^
scending rain, was a state that might be considered as the highest rehne

™ ALTfouTo'cLk in the morning, a little cold rice -s broug^ u^
cat, and water was dug out of a hole near the spot for u; but as alU^^^^^
m this life are good or bad merely relatively, this wretched f^u^e was o me
refreshment to us. I was then removed to the ruins of a lu , separated

from the rest, and a guard set over me. ««^'^. ^Jjf J"" : 7^1 u
reflection The whole of my situation appeared before me with all us
aggraSng Circumstances of horror; and to any one who cons'ders it
bilieve it will appear that it was hardly possible to fill the bitter cup ol
calamity fuller.

A PAINFUL MARCH.

187

ck, and nppre
Iher; anil in f

fallen, it is irii-
jolfsurrou' dnd
knew thciii iiii-
lod rnvjolf l):u;l;
)ple and olViH-.t-*
together alou;^
. Lascar be long-
great concern.
1 his waist, and
If all the acts of
forcibly: it had
d I have never
! man, to reward
'he lower order
a man in such
itry than pity,
nado mo deadly
w it up, and got
of this, before 1
lysolf, were con-
, where we were,
n to the inclera-
ge logs of wood ;
e not one smooth
id wasted bodies.
I, drenched with
osed to bo inca-
s we can set to
;casioned by the
e entreated, we
) the groans and
elirious with the
jrable indulgence

imagined. The
\.li was, of itself,
or want of clothes

open air, where
3 heat from their
I drop of the de-
ihe highest refine-

was brought us to
s; but as all things
hcd fare was some
if a hut, separated
had full room for
re me with all its
who considers it, i
the bitter cup of

In this state I was, when, to my utter astonishment, and to my no less
joy, the companion of my sliipwreck, Mr. Hall, appeared before mo. [
scarcely knew how to think his iippearanco reality, as [ understood that
the Lascars then along willi mo were all that w(!re saved from the wreck,
and he was, at the uuw 1 parted from him, so exhausted both in body and
mind, that i tlioii^'lit he would be the last who could escape. He, how-
over, shook me iiy the hand ; and, sitting down, told me that he had given
me up for lost, and remained with the vessel until the tide, having ebbed,
left her almost dry: that, immediately on getting ashore, and beiag taken
prisoner, ho made inquiries about me; and heard that 1 had been saved-
that, finding this, his joy was such as to make him almost forget his own
misfortunes, and, exerting all his entreaties not to be separated from me,
they had been so far indulgent to him, and had brought him to me, that
wo might be companions in bondage. He added, that out of eleven Eu-
ropeans and filly-six Lascars, who were on board, only he and I of the
former, and fourteen of the latter were saved from the wreck, the re.st
being drowned in the attempt, excepting some who, overcome with terror,
anguish and anxiety, and exhausted with fatigue, had bid a formal adieu
u> their companions, let go their hold, and calmly and voluntarily given
themselves up to the deep.

My pleasure, however, at escaping shipwreck, was by no moans as
great as the agony my mind underwent, as the prospect now before me
was poignant. The unmerciful disposition of flyder, and all those in
authority under him, and the cruel policy of the Eastern chiefs, making
the life of any one, particularly a British prisoner, at the best a preca-
rious tenure, 1 did not know the moment when death might be inflicted
upon me, with perhaps a thousand aggravating circumstances. But the ab-
ject state of want and nakedness in which it seemed 1 was likely to remain
struck a deep and damp horror to my heart, and almost unmanned me.

For some days we lay in this place, exposed to the weather, without
even the slender comfort of a little straw to cover the ground beneath
us — our food, boiled rice, served very sparingly twice a day, by an old
woman, who just throw a handful or more of it to each, upon a very dirty
board, which we devoured with those spoons nature gave us. At the
end of that time, we, and along with us the Lascars, were ordered to
proceed into the country, and drove on foot to a considerable dis*- '^ce,
in order to render up an account of ourselves to persons belop /r to
Government authorized to take it. It was advanced in the morning -,■ jn
we moved, without receiving any sort of sustenance; and were mau'if d
in that wasting climate eight hours, without breaking our fast, during
which time we were exposed alternately to the scorching rays of the sun,
and heavy torrents of rain, which raised painful blisters on our skin; we
had oflen to stand exposed to the weather, or to lie down, under the pres-
sure of fatigue and weakness, on the bare ground ; then wait an hour or
more at the door of some insolent, unfeeling monster, until he finished
his dinner, or took his afternoon nap; and when this was over, were
driven forward with wanton barbarity by the people who attended us.

Two days afler this, we were moved again, and marched up the country
by a long and circuitous route, in which we underwent every hardship that
cruelty could inflict, or human fortitude endure — now blistered with the
heat, now drenched witii rain, and now chilled with the night-damps —
destitute of any place but the bare earth to rest, or lay our heads on, with
only a scanty pittance of boiled rice for our support — often without water
to quench our thirst, and constantly goaded by the guards, who pricked

188

SUFFERINGS OF DONALD CAMI'UF.LL.

M'i with tl.cir bayonets ovory now and then, nt oncc! to cvinco thoir power.
rntprtain the spectators, and mortify us. Wo mrivod at My lornaRur, th-
„„>tr»|)oliH of the province of Biddanore— a lort ol .•onsulenihie strcnKtl).
„u.,n.tii.K upward of seventy Runs, containing a larpe frarrison ol n.un.
H,ul possesBcd, of immense wealth. It was about two o clock .n thn
.....iniuK when we arrived at Biddanore: the day was extremely hot, and
w.> were kept out, under tlio full heat of that broiling sun, till dix o'clock
in the evening before we were admitted to an audience of the Jemadar,
or governor of the place, without having a mouthful ot victuals ottered
to us after the fatiguing march of the mornmg. , , ^ .. , ,

Wiiile we stood in tlie court, waiting to be brought before the Jemadar,
we presented a spectacle that would have wrung pity, one would think,
frorn the heart of a tiger, if a tiger was endowed with reflection. At
Icnath wo were summoned to appear before him, and brought into hin
presence. I had made up my mind for the occasion— determined to
deport myself in a manly, candid manner-and to let no consideration
whatsoever lead mo to any thing disgraceful to my real character, or un-
worthy my situation in life ; and, finally, had prepared myself to meet,
without shrinking, whatever misfortunes might yet be in store for me or
whatever cruelties the barbarous disposition, or wicked policy, ot the
tyrant might think proper to inflict.

On entering, wo found the Jemadar in full court. He was theii occu-
pied with the reading of dispatches, and in transacting other public busi-
ness. We were placed directly opposite to him, where wo stood for near
an hour, during which time he never cast his eyes toward us. But when
at last he had concluded the business in which he was engaged, and
deigned to look at us, we were ordered to prostrate ourselves before him:
the Lascars immediately obeyed the order, and threw themselves on
the ground; but 1 contented myself with making a su am, in which poor
Mr. Hall, who knew not the Eastern manner as I did, to lowed my example
As so.>n as this ceremony was over, the Jemadar (who was no othe
man than the famous Hyat Sahib,) be„ran to question me »« desirj^d to
know who I was?-what my profession was?-what was the caje and
manner of my approaching the country ol Hyder Ah? To all those
rSns I gave Lswers that seemed to satisfy him. Having exhausted
E whole stHng of questions, he turned the discourse to another subject
no less than his great and puissant Lord and Master, Hyder of whom he
had endeavored to impress me with a great if n<>\»«"'ble idea-a.npl.fy-
ing his power, his wealth, and the extent and opulence of «"« Jomimon ,
and describing to me, in the most exaggerated terms, the number of his
Uoops-his military talents-his vast, and, according to his acc^t un-
rivaled genius — his amazing abilities in conquering and governing
nationsiand, above all, his many amiable qualit^s and splendid endow-
ments of heart, no less than understanding. He then vaunted of h.
soveeigu' successes over the English, some of which I. had not heard
of befme,and did not believe; and concluded by assurmg me, that it
was Ser'" <lotermination to drive all Europeans from Hmdoostan
which, he averred he could not fail to do, considering the weakness of the
Olio and boundless power of the other.

Aftor havina expended near half an hour in this manner, he called
upon me to come over near him, and caused me to scat ™y««^ »Pf , ;;
mat, with a pillow to lean upon-encouragqd me, by every means ho
cou dTby the most gentle accents, and the most soothing, «»"" »ty>°g >f "j
guage, ti) speak to him without the least reserve-exhorted me to tell

IN PRISON.

IS!)

jco tlioir power.
ly.lrrnaRur, the
IcTiililt! HtrcnKtl),
arrison of tnun.
I o'clock ill th(!
iroinoly hot, and
I, till dix o'clock
i)f the Jomadar,
victuals otic rod

ore the Jemadar,
no would think.
» reflection. At
brought into hin
— determined to
no consideration
character, or un-
myself to meet,
store for mc, or
3d policy, of the

[) was then occu-
ather public busi-
wc stood for Dear
rd us. But when
vas engajred, and
elves before him:
w themselves on
m, in which poor
)wed my example,
irho was no other
e. He desired to
as the cause and
li? To all those
Having exhausted

another subject,
[yder, of whom he
ble idea — amplify-

1 of his dominions,
;he number of his
his account, un-
iig and governing
i splendid endow-
en vaunted of his
[i I had not heard
isuring me, that it

from Hindoostan.
Lhe weakness of thf

manner, he called
icat myself upon ii
)y every means he
ing, mollifying lan-
jxhorted me to tell

him the truth in evnrytiiing wo spoke of — and hinted to ine, tlint my i'allin^
into his hands might turn out the most fortunate event of my lite. I was
at a loss to what motive to attribute all those singular marks of indul-
gence ; but found that he had learned whose son i was, and knew my
father, by reputation, from the prisoners, our sepoys, who were now pri-
soners at large hero: and as rank and office are the chief recommenda-
tions in the East, as elsewhere, or rather much more than any where
else, the sagacious llyat Sahib found many claims to esteem and human-
ity in me, as tiie son of a Colonel Campbell, which he never would have
found in mc, had I been the son of a plain, humble farmer, or tradesman
in England.

Afler a full hour's audience, in which Hyat Sahib treated mo with dis-
tinguislied marks of his favor, considering my situation, he dismissed me
with the ceremony of beetle-nut, rose-water, and other compliments,
which are in that country held as the strongest marks of politeness, re-
spect and good-will. Leaving the Durbar, 1 was led to the inner fort or
citadel: and the officious zeal of those about me, unwilling to let me
remain ignorant of that which they conceived to be a most fortunate turn
in my affairs, gave the coup de grace, to my miseries, as I went along, by
congratulating me on the favorable opinion which the Jemadar had formed
of me, and intimating, at the same time, that 1 would soon be honored
with a respectable command in Hyder's service.

That night, the Jemadar sent me an excellent supper, of not less than
six dishes, from his own table ; and although I had been so long famish-
ing with the want of wholesome food, the idea of being enlisted in the
service of Hyder struck me with such horror, that I lost all appetite, and
waa scarcely able to eat a mouthful. Mr. Hull and I, however, were
separated from the Lascars, who were released and forced to work.

Notwithstanding the favorable intentions manifested toward me by the
Jemadar, as I have already mentioned, no mark of it whatsoever appeared
in our lodging. This consisted of a small place, exactly the size of our
length and breadth, in the zigzag of one of the gates of the citadel. It
was open in front, but covered with a kind of shed on tiio top ; and a
number of other prisoners were about us. Each of us was allowed a
mat and pillow, and this formed the whole of our local accommodations.
Upon my remarking it, we were told that in conformity to the custom of
the country, we must be treated so for some time, but that our accommo-
dations would afterward be extended, and made more agreeable to our
wishes: even this was better than our situation since we landed. In
addition to this luxury, we were allowed to the value of four pence half-
penny a day for our maintenance ; and a guard of sepoys was put over
us and a few more prisoners, one of whom was directed to go and
purchase our victuals, and do such offices for us.

In two or three days after this, Hyat Sahib sent for me, treated mc
with great kindness, gave me some tea, and furnished me with two or
three shirts, an old coat, and two pairs of breeches, which were stripped
from the dead bodies that were thrown ashore from the -wreck — every-
thing that was saved from it being sent to Biddanore. At this interview
he treated me great respect — ^gave me, beside the articles already men-
tioned, thirty r nees, and, upon my going away, told me that in a few
days a very flattering proposal would be made to me, and that my situation
would be rendered not only comfortable, but enviable.

On the evening of that day, I was sent for to attend not at the Durbar,
but at the house of a man high in office. Aa I expected to meet Hyat

tar

100

SUFFEIUNnS OF DONALD CAMIMIFLL.

iSiliil) hiin-«<ll', and trctnMiid at tlin tIioii;;lit.s of \m oxpoctnd propoitition,
I \v;i'i HiirpiisiMl, and iiidrcd pli'MHcd, to find lliut it \vii8 with itnii of hit
puojil.' only, I WHS to liuvi; a ('.urit'i^rcntio. 'V'tnn man, wlio.-ir iiainfi I now
tiir<;i't. rcc-Mvi'd inn witli ^'rcsit kindni^HH, (:n('onra;^i'd in.', in :i(li> mo sit
d(i\vii wiili liiiii, and liii^nn to tipiMtk of liy.it Haiiil), whom lie rstohcd to
thi! nkii'S, a!4 a ptiiHon nndowc^d with ^'.\vty ){i*'iit and luniahl)' ipiaiity;
inroi'iiiin;; ino, at thi; Harnn limi!, that Ik; was posHn.sHud ol' tiic t'j icnditiiip
and contidiMict! of hiit tnuHtiT, llydor Ali, iu a ifrviiUr dc/.Tci; ilian uoy
oilier pcM'Mon — 'I'ippoo Hahib, his own «oii. not ox(X'|)t<ui.

When ho had tininhud hia history of llyat Hahib, which lie ovorcliargod
with liilHoino pani!}{yric, iio tohl nio, with a faco I'nll of tliat tiiuin|>hant
importance whicii ono who thinks iiu is conforrinK a f;reat I'avor ^'oncraliy
assumes, that it was the intention of Ilyat Sahib, tor and on bclialt'of hia
master, the Sultan, to ),'ive me tlie command «)t' live tliousand men—
an otVer which he supposed I could not think of declining', and thore-
foru expected no other answer but a profusion of tlianks, and strong
manifestations of joy, on my part.

It is not possible for me to describe to you my dismay at this formal
proposal, or portray to you the various emotions tliat took possession of
my breast. Resentment had its share — the pride of tli(! soldier, not un-
accompanied with the pride of family and rank, while it urged mo to
spurn from me such a base accommodation, made me consider tiie olTer
as a great insult. 1 therefore paused a little to suppress my feelings,
and tiicn told him my firm resolution never to accept of such a proposal;
and upon his expressing great astonishment at my declining a station so
fraught with advantage, 1 laid down, in the best manu'n- I could, my roa-
son.s ; and I must say, that he listened to all tiie objections i started with
great patience, but, m the conclusion, said he had little doubt of finding
means to overcome my reluctance.

llu dismissed mc for the present, and I returned to my prison, where I
related to my companion, Mr. Hall, everything that passed between us.
We canvassed the matter fully, and he agreed with me that it was likely
to turn out a most dreadful and cruel persecution. Piqued by the idea,
I began to feel a degree of enthusiasm which 1 was before a stranger to.
[ looked forward with a kind of gloomy pleasure to the miseries that bru-
tal tyranny might inflict upon me. even to death itself: and already began
to indulge in the exultation of martyrdom. Indeed, I had wrought my-
self up to such a pitch of firmness, that I am persuaded the most exqui-
site and refined cruelties which the ingenuity of an Iroquois Indian could
have inflicted on my body, would have been utterly incapable of bending
the stubborn temper of my mind.

On the day succeeding that on which the agent of Ilyat Sahib had
held the discourse with me, 1 was again sent for, and brought to tlie same
person, who asked me, whether I had duly considered of the important
ofler made me by Hyat Sahib, and of the consequences likely to result
from a refusal? and he apprised me, at the same time, that the command
of five thousand men was an honor which the first rajahs in the Mysorean
dominions would grasp at with transport. I told him I was well convinced
of the honor such a command would confer on any man but an English-
man, whose country, being then the subject of Hyder^s incessant hostility
would make the acceptance of it infamy and finally, appealed to the
good sense of Hyat Sahib, whether a man who, in such circumstances,
had betrayed his country, and sacrified her interests to his own conve-
nience, was such a person as confidence could properly be put in.

TRMTOKOUS Pi;0!'()S.\l,S.

101

tnd propnoition,

svitli oiii: of hia
).<4(i iiaiiKi I now
(!, iindi^ iiio ait
1 li(! *'\tolti!(l to
iiiiial)!)' i|ii;ility;
1' tho t'lii.'iultfliip
lej{ro(; lliiui uny

I he ovorcliargod
tlint ti'iain|)liant
t fiivoi lu'oncraUy
on Ix.'lialf of his
tlioiisaiid inon—
iiiii^, und thore-
niikH, and Htrong

iiy at tills formal
)k posHCMsion of
Holdior, not un-
it ur^rsd mo to
ouaidcr tlu! offer
rcss my foelings,
Htich a proposal ;
niiig a station so
I could, my roa-
Diis I started with
I doubt of finding

ly prison, where I
jsed between ua.
tiiat it was liitely
pied by tiie idea,
fore a stranger to.
miseries that bru-
and already began
hud wrought my-
d the most exqui-
quois Indian could
apable of bending

)f Ilyat Sahib had
fought to the aame
of the important
es likely to result
that the command
[13 in the Mysorean
was well convinced
m but an English-
I incessant hostility
y, appealed to the
ich circumstances,
to his own conve-
ly be put in. ini,

Notwithstanding these and a tliousaiid otlicT riMiioiiNtrnnces, ho still
contiiiiied to press m(«, and used every urgiiinent, i^very persuasion, that
ingenuity tumid dictiic, or hints of punishment enforce, to HJinko my
(lurpose — hut in vain: attachment to country and family rose |)aramount
M all otlier consideratiiins; and I gave a pt^remptory, d(;cisivo refusal.

Circumstanced as 1 was, it was impossible for me to keep an accurate
journal of the various incidents that passed, or vicissitudes of tiioughts
tlial occurred, during the period of my imprisonm<Mit. Indeed, I was
scarcely conscious of the length of my captivity, and could not, till 1 was
released, determine exactly how long it had continued. I can only say,
in general terms, that 1 was repeatedly urged on the subject by fair per-
suasives: they then had recourse to menace; tlien they withheld the
daily pittance allowed for my support; and at length proceeded to coer-
cion — tying a rope round my neck, and iioisting me up to a tree. All
lliis, however, I bore firmly: if it hud any elfect, it was to confirm mo in
my resolution, and call in policy to the aid of honoris dictates. As the
horrors of my situation tiiickened round uu;, 1 felt my spirits increase;
my resolution became more firm, my hoptis more sanguine — I even began
to look forward, and form projects fur the future: whole hours' amuse-
ment, every day and every night, arose from the contemplation of my
beloved boy. I, in imagination, traced his growth, directed iiis rising
sentiments, formed plans for his future success and prosperity, and in-
dulged by anticipation in ail the enjoyment which 1 now trust 1 shall yet
have in his ripened manhood.

Thus we continued for muiiy montiis, during whicii no alteration what-
soever took place in our treatment or situation. Tlie only relief from
our sufferings lay in tiie resources of our own minds, and in our mutual
endeiivors to please and console one another. The circumstances of
aggravation were tiie necessity of daily bearing witness to the most iiar-
harous punishments he inflicted upon wretched individuals, under the
HiMnblance of justice, and tiie occasional deprivation of our food, eitiier
l)y the fraud of tiie sepoys wiio attended us, or tlio caprice or cruelly of
•iieir superiors. It is but justice, however, to say that they were not ail
alike: some overflowed with mercy, charity, and tli»* miik of human kind-
ness ; while others, again, were almost as bad men as the aovert.ign^
they served. We were not allowed the use of pen, ink, or paper ; and
very seldom could afford ourselves the luxury of shaving or clean li/ien:
nor were we at all sheltered from tiie inclemency of the weather, till at
length a little room was built for us of mud, which, being small and damp,
rendered our situation worse than it was before.

Projects and hopes of a new kind now began to intrude themselves on
my thoughts; and I conceived a design, which I flattered myself was not
entirely impracticable, to effect an escape, and even a revolt in the place,
but, while I was settling this much to my own satisfaction, an event
occurred which extinguished all my hopes in that way.

Whether the plan was discovered or not, or from what over motive it
arose, I have not to this day been able to decide, but so it was, that while
my sanguine mind was overflowing with the hope of carrying my project
for an escape into effect, Mr. Hall and I were one day unexpectedly
loaded with irons, and fastened together, leg by leg, by one bolt. Tlie
surprise occasioned by the appearance of the irons, and the precautionary
manner in which it was undertaken, was indeed great: still more was I
surprised to observe that the person who was employed to see this put
in execution, manifested unusual emotions, seemed much afl'ected, and

'• {I

r^^ j 'i" — ■*»■

192

SUFFERINGS OF DONALD CAMPBELL.

even shed tears as he looked on : and while the suddenness and caution-
uiry mode of doing it, convinced mo that some resistance on our part was
apprehended, the sorrow which the officer who superintended it disclosed,
portended in my mind a fatal, or, at least, a very serious issue. Unfortu-
nately, poor Mr. Hall had for some time been afflicted with a retarn of
Ills dreadful disorder, the dysentery. From this unlucky event, I re-
ceived a temporary depression; and his rapidly increasing illness ren-
dered our situation more than ever calamitous. The disease soon fell
upon him with redoubled fury: a very scanty portion of boiled rice, with
u more scanty morsel of stinking salt fish, or putrid flesh, was a very in-
adequate support for me, who, though emaciated, was in health — and
very improper medicine for a person laboring under a malady such as
Mr. HalPs, which required comfort, good medical skill, and delicate,
nutritious food. The tea which Hyat Sahib had given me was expended:
und we were not allowed to be shaved from the hour wo were put iu
irons, an indulgence of that kind being forbidden by the barbarous rules
of the prison : and, to refine upon our tortures, sleep, " that balm of hurt
minds," was not allowed us uninterrupted, for, in conformity to another
regulation, we were disturbed every half-hour by a noise something re-
sembling a watchman's rattle, and a fellow who, striking every part of
uur irons with a kind of hammer, and examining them lest they shoiild
be cut, broke in upon that kind restorative, and awoke our souls to fresh
horrors.

Poor Hall was now approaching to his end with hourly accelerated
slops. Every application that ( made in his favor was refused, or rather
treated with cruel neglect and contemptuous silence. Hyat Sahib, the
powerful, the wealthy, the governor of a great opulent j" evince, refused
to an expiring fellow-creature a little cheap relief — while a poor sepoy
taxed his little means to supply it: one who guarded us, of his own
accord, at imminent hazard of punishment, purchased us a lamp and
a litile oil, which we burned for the last few nights, till my dear jfricnd
(lied, exhausted by disease, neglect, and cruelty.

In the morning a report was made to the commandant of the death of
Mr. Hall ; and in about an hour afterward he passed me by, but kept his
face purposely turned away from me to the other side. I patiently waited
for the removal of the dead body till the evening, when I desired the
sc|)oys who guarded mc to apply for its being removed. They returned,
and told me they could get no answer respecting it. Night came on, but
there was no appearance of an intention to unfetter me from the corpse.
Tlie commandant was sitting in his court, administering, in the manner I
have before described, ^'tM<u:e/ I called out to him myself, with all my
might, but could get no answer from him. Nothing could equal my rage
and consternation ; for, exclusive of the painful idea of being shackled
to the dead body of a friend I loved, another circumstance contributed
to make it a serious subject of horror. In those climates the weather is
so intensely hot, that putrefaction almost instantly succeeds death, and
meat that is killed in the morning, and kept in the shade, will be unfit
for dressing at night. In a subject, then, on which putrefaction had made
advances even before death, and which remained exposed to the open
air, the process must have been much more rapid. So far, however, from
compassionating my situation, or indulfring me by a removal of the body,
their barbarity suggested to them to make it an instrument of punish-
ment ; and they pertinaciously adhered to the most mortifying silence
and disregard of my complaints. For several days and nights it remained

nncss and caution-
ce on our part was
:ende(l it disclosed.
18 issue. Unfortu-
1 with a ret am ot"
iluciiy event, I rr-
easing Illness ren-
; disease soon fell
of boiled rice, with
esh, was a very in-
ras in health — and

a malady such as
skill, and delicate,
I me was expended;
ur we were put iu
the barbarous rules

" that balm of hurt
nformity to another
loise something re-
iking every part of
3m lest they should
e our souls to fresh

I hourly accelerated
IS refused, or rather
e. Hyat Sahib, the
nt f evince, refused
-while a poor sepoy
led us, of his own
sed us a lamp and
I, till my dear friend

iant of the death of

me by, but kept his
s. I patiently waited

when I desired the

,'ed. They returned.

Night came on, but

me from the corpse,
ring, in the manner I

myself, with all my
: could equal my rago
sa of being shackled
imstance contributed
imates the weather is

succeeds death, and
3 shade, will be unfit
jutrefaction had made
exposed to the open

So far, however, from

removal of the body,
instrument of punish-
Bst mortifying silence
and nights it remained

mmm*

OHAINBD TO A CORPSE.

attached to me by the irons. I grew almost distracted — wished for the
means of putting an end to my miseries by death, and could not move
without witnessing some new stage of putrescence it attained, or breathe
without inhaling the putrid effluvia that arose from it — while myriads of
Hies and loathsome insects rested on it, the former of which every now
and then visited me, crawling over my face and hands, and lighting in
liundreds on my victuals.

At last, when the body had reached that shocking, loathsome state of
putrefaction, which threatened that further delay would render removal
nbominable, if not impossible, the monsters agreed to taka it awa;- from
me, and I was so far relieved : but the mortification and injury I underwent
from it, joined to the agitation of the preceding week, made a visible in-
road on my health. I totally lost my spirits; my appetite entirely forsook
me : my long nourished hopes fled ; and I looked forward to death as the
only desirable event that was within the verge of likelihood or possibility.
One day I perceived a more than usual bustle in the citadel, while the
sepoys informed me that they were ordered on immediate service, and
that some events of great importance had taken place. In a day or two
the bustle increased to a high pitch, accompanied with marks of conster-
nation: the whole of the troops in the citadel were ordered to march,
and the commandant, and a man with a hammer und instrument,, came to
take off my irons.

I was utterly at a loss to conjecture what this so sudden resolution to
release me meant. I endeavored to get some explanation of it from th«;
persons about me ; but all I could at the time collect, was that the Jema-
dar had directed me to be taken out of irons, and ordered me to appear
before him. As we proceeded forward, we found, at some distance from
the fort, an open dooly, into which the guards forcibly crammed me; and
I was carried off, still attended by the same men. As we went along,
they gave me to understand that Hyat Sahib, the Jemadar, was at a place
ten or a dozen miles distant from Biddanore, I thought it within myself
a most extraordinary circumstance, and was at a loss to conjecture for
what purpose he required my presence there.

When we had got about a mile from the fort, we met a person attende<l
by three others, all on horseback. He was a man of considerable rank
in that country, and I recollected to have seen him at the Jemadar's court,
where he had manifested a favorable disposition toward me, looking al-
ways graciously, and nodding to me, which, considering my circumstances
and his, was not a little extraordinary. The moment he recognized me,
he leaped from his horse, apparently in great agitation : then, turning to
the guards, ordered them to leave me immediately — saying, at the same
time, that he would be answerable for the consequences. They seemed,
at first, to hesitate whether to obey him or not: but on his shaking at
them his sword, which was all along drawn in his hand, and smeared with
blood, and repeating his orders a second time, in a firm aD;d decisive
tone of voice and manner, they all ran off.

As soon as we were alone, he revealed to me, that he had all along
known who I was — ^had most heartily pitied my sufferings, and privately
entertained the most anxious wishes to serve me, but could not venture
to interfere — the least jealousy, when once awakened, being ther j always
followed up by summary vengeance. He then mentioned his name, in-
forming me that he was the son of a Nabob near Vellore, whose domin>
ions had been wrested from him by force, and united to the Carnatic ;
that his family had received great favors from my father, in return for

llpi

194 SUFFERINGS OF DONALD OAMI'BELL.

«,« h. might ..U«. hi. -wenge ^y J™' J?"^ "°« "J^th mo.
^■"just a8 I was on the point of returning with him to Hydernagur, we

meant to have cut me ott, 1 deemea ii pruucu , ,. ' worse fate

I was soon seized with the most «^""«"; '"^ f foU asTmy^nside was

succeeded by a v-lent vo^t.ng ^^^^

utterly decayed and allrt8func^.o„8^^^^^^^^ ^^^ ^^^^.^^ ^,.

head seemed deranged— I *^^°"''* ,^*^*7- ^ "_jL with agonizing pain;
what was said: lifting up my head was f«!^^f ^'Jl,*?? as approach-

duties. , ,,^ .

ir » <^-i» «. w " :^ :' ''

mmmmmm

his power ; but
imily, taken into
sequence under
I and esteem in
h agitated but.
manner, "This
■e him, in order
r happy am 1 in
I back with mc
ecurity with my

Hydernagur, wc
n afterward suc-
vard us at some
lented, in warm
ith which wound
cted me to strikf
[ should certainly
id I followed liis
without interrup-
n that Hyat Sahib
nyself of the op-
ling a worse fate
a.

y escape, was the
friend of my fa-
valry soon after I
3p, upon the bare
le, recollected me
ice, for it was full
at the same time,
id. I had no hat,
hes, a shirt which
n a web of cloth,
my size — while my
of Indian slippers,
nd stop the loqua-
sral, who expressed

I my restoration to
y constitution ; and
pains, which were
i if my inside was
at the same time my
nd the meaning of
ith agonizing pain;
myself as approach-
, and good medical
eeks, so material a
> returD to .ay usual

THE CAPTIVITY

THOMAS ANDEOS.

■wot PMTOB or *n obvbob ai Banunr, mam., on boaeo

THE OLD JERSEY PRISON SHIP.

I WAS but m my seventeenth year when the revolutionary struMle
commenced, and no politician; but even a schoolboy could see the jus-
tice of some of the principles, on the ground of which the country had
recourse to arms. The colonies had arrived at the age of manhood.
They were fully competent to govern themselves, and Ihey demanded
their freedom, or, at least, a just representation in the national legislature,
tor a power three thousand miles distant to claim a right to make laws
o bind us in all cases whatever, and wo to have no voice in that legisla-
tion, this, i seemed, was a principle to which two millions of freemen

^v«^£h n t?™^^ *^ '"'T'V. .^°^ ^ "" P«*'»'°"« ''"d remonstrances
availed nothing, and as the British government, instead of the charter of
our liberties and rights, sent her fleets and armies to enforce her arbi-
trary claims, the colonies had no alternative but slavery or war Anneal

wilt^T^^'^ ^it '^V^''^<^^ "f '^^" «ause, they chose"the lE .
Whether I approved the motives that led me into the service, is another
question, which I shall presently notice.

In the summer of 1781, the ship Hannah, a very rich prize, was cap-
tured and brought into the port of New London' But in this case h
w^re ?ho7/r^! ? f° coinmon lottery-gambling, for it followed that there
were thousands of fearful blanks to this one prize. It infatuated great

h^^r ?u ^"""^ '"^"' ''''*• ^"""^^^ °° ^""'^ °»' P"^''te armed ships,
fancying the same success would attend their adventures; but no such

rS an.«r7'*^'^'''°"«t*'"V° 't' P°^- B»* New Undon became
such a nest of privateers, that the English determined on its destruction.

ArntL °i *" »™''"?«°t ^i laid it in ashes, took Fort Griswold, on the
tiroton side of the river, and, with savage cruelty, put the garrisoL to the
sword, after they had surrendered. Another mighty blank to this prize,
was, that our privateers so swarmed on the ocean, that the British cruisers
who were everywhere m pursuit of them, soon filled their prisons at New
York tr overflowing, witn captured American seamen.

Among these deluded and infatuated youth, I was one. I entered a
volunteer on board a new brig, called the Fair American, built on purpose
to prey upon the British commerce. She mounted sixteen carriage gCs,
and was manned with a crew, who^e numbers exceeded what wL really
wIk ™ 'iT*"*- ?''•'. <l"*rter-dec.:, tops, and long-boat, were crowdeJ.
with musketry, so that in action she was a complete flame of fire.

(196)

196

THE OLD JERSEY CAPTIVE.

W. had no. been long .. «., "-"fr. »= ji'^»Lre'' roS """«""

™ Engiw. brig, .. i°°e„'f J/'J jJird^S:T.h ho" "tom-l"'". b".

ss;re,r;n7r«£™;t^^^^^ --,^1 :?

Sft ^e r c^rrK X'rSe': -And, ,b.n.s bo .o 0«.,

no lives were lost. . ^ ^^^j^^ ^er into port.

I, with others, went on board, to man »«»«?['?; ^ j^ approach

But the P!i---»-,5^f;ra5"a hed "eTongUudrof New Bedford,
the American coast till he "ad/eacnea vi b ^^^^

t>ei7s::rL";r.;r.a'^'ru,ro<r*or.e„riin;M;^^

New York. , , . , i. „.,„ _i,:„ whirh throush aap, had become

This was an old s.xty-four g^^.^'P' 7;;jV^^^^^^ ,,Jf ' ,, and all
unfit for/«rther actual s™ fp« -^K, tr lion fi^urlhead was
her rigging. After a »>«"e wixn a -„pearance of ornament was left,
taken away, to repair ajaother «»VP' "^^^JP^^n hulk. Her dark and
and nothing remained but an old, uns.ghy,ro^^^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^

filthy external appearance perfectly com ^^^^

despair that reigned w'»^'°' ^°«flvnS or anv circumstance or appen-
truth than to paint her with colors fly>ng' />^ ^^^^^^ three quarters of a mile
dage to please the «£ S^^^p-J™^ V^^^^^^^ Long Island

to the eastward of Brooklyn Uerry, near u ^^j

shore. The »r'^'"'Te Brit s'h naTeve^p^^^^^^^

doubtless, no other ship in the Bn is^ "avy ^^^^ P ^ ^^^ „„ i^^g ,han

destruction of so many human ^«™g^; ." '^^n her But after it was
eleven thousand American ^^^'"Xff to confine a prisoner here, the
known that it was next to ««7'° .f/J^^^XuTthe Tame as if he had
inhumanity and wickedness f ,.f '°g * X^n some public square. Once
beentaken intothecuy, and ^^^^^^^ ^^;::Z2cK a b'ag of apple.
or twice, by the order ot a stranger o ^ ^ ^ prisoners crowdco
was hurled promiscuously '°t«}hp ^^f^^'i-fe^d limbs were endangered
together as thick - ^.^s^SeX^^m^^^^^^^ a cruel sport. When

by the scramble. 1 his, msteaa oi coi ^ ' ,• ^ ^ ^rt of the ship.

/saw it about to commence I fled to the most d^sta^t^pa ^^.^^^ ^J^ ^^

On the commencement ^i^^^^XvlronT^nss and an armed soldiery-
darkness between <i««''«' ^^^^'^J^'y 'neSptSn, presented itself. On
and a scene of horror, which baffles all ^lescripuon, p Around

"ery side wretched, desponding shapes of men couW ^e seen. ^^^

the iell-room, an armed guard *«'^/«'";°S JP eJ^^ and little

winches, to clear the ship of water, «f„^ P;^^""*,^^^^^^^^ and

else could be heard but '^Jo^\^l^l'^^[ S dim Ught admitted be-

«Kth!tS;rw-Tr;tqu^^^^

pressed into the service of ^« ^^JSJ^J:" The« were two hospital-
were dysentery, 8m|dlpox, and yellow teven ^^^^ ^.^^^ ^j^^.

ships near to the Old J««!«y' ^"* ^Jf "llf .'^ rMequence was, that th.
sick, that they could receive no more, iiie connenu

> et.ai»»i**i-^i**U'ift'^»'

THE BRUTAL SENTRY.

197

I gave chase to
inting as many
ern-chaaers, but
, as noar as wo
I one salu*. J of
anks be to Go<l,

ke her into port,
not to approach
f New Bedford,
of sail, to make
of Long Island :
r August, by the
sy prison ship, at

igp, had become
rery spar, and all
1 figure-head was
rnament was left,
. Iler dark and
h the death and
are foreign from
[Stance or appen-
juarters of a mile
1 the Long Island
renty rods. And,
1 the means of the
1 that no less than

But after it was
prisoner here, the
same as if he had
iblic square. Once
:k, a bag of apple?

prisoners crowdco
IS were endangered
cruel sport. When
part of the ship,
re driven down to

an armed soldiery
esented itself. On
1 be seen. Around
le prisoners to the
r sinking, and little
ins, reproaches, and
a light admitted be-
horror more terrific,
f suffering, despair

on board, but in a
in proportion to our
eadly diseases were
; his prime ministers
3 were two hospital-
10 crowded vyith tht;
(uence was, that thi'

diseased and the healthy were mingled together in the miiin ship. In a
.short time we had two hundred, or more, sick &jd dying, lodged in the
forepart of the lower gun-deck, where all the prisoners were confined
at niglit. Utter derangement was a common symptom of yellow fever,
and \o increase the horror of the darkness that shrouded us, (for wr
wore allowed no light between decks,) the voice of warning would he
lieard, "Take heed to yourselves. There is a madman stalking through
the ship with a knife in his hand!" i sometimes found the man a corps*
in tile morning, by whose side I laid myself down at night. At another
time he would become deranged, and attempt, in darkness, to rise and
stumble over tlie bodies that everywhere covered the deck. In this case.
I had to hold him in his place by main strength. In spite of my efforts
he would sometimes rise, and then I had to close in with him, trip up hit-
heels, and lay him again upon the deck. While so many were sick with
raging fever, there was a loud cry for water, but none could be had, «;x-
cept on the upper deck, and but one allowed to ascend at a time. Tlit
sulfering, then, from the rage of thirst during the night, was very great :
nor was it at all times safe to attempt to go up. Provoked by the continual
cry for leave to ascend, when there was already one on deck, the sentry
would push them back with his bayonet. By one of these thrusts, whicti
was more spiteful and violent than common, I had a narrow escape of
my life. In the morning the hatchways were thrown open, and we weri'
allowed to ascend," all at once, and remain on the upper-deck during th»;
day. But the first object that met our view in the morning, was an appal-
ling spectacle — a boat loaded with dead bodies, conveying them to th»
Long Island shore, where they were very slightly covered with sand. I
sometimes used to stand to count the number of times the shovel was
filled with sand to cover a dead body; and certain I am that a few higii
tides, or torrents of rain, must have disinterred them. And had they noi
been removed, I should suppose the shore, even now, would be covered
with huge piles of the bones of American seamen. There were, proba
bly, four hundred on board who had never had the smallpox — some, p«T-
haps, might have been saved by inoculation.

Now and then an American physician was brought in as a captive, but
if he could obtain his parole, he left the ship; nor could we much blame
him for this — for his own death was next to certain, and his success iii
saving others by medicine, in our situation, was small. I remember only
two American physicians who tarried on board a few days. No Engliaii
physician, or any one from the city, ever, to my knowledge, came near us.
There were thirteen of the crew to which I belonged; but in a short
time all but three or four were dead. The most healthy and vigorou*
were first seized with the fever, and died in a few horrs. For them,
there seemed to be no mercy. My constitution was less muscular and
plethoric, and I escaped the fever longer than any of the thirteen, except
one, and the first onset was less violent.

There is one palliating circumstance, as to the inhumanity of the Brit-
ish, which ought to be mentioned. The prisoners were furnished with
buckets and brushes to cleanse the ship, and with vinegar to sprinkle her
inside. But their indolence and despair were such, that they would not
use them, or but rarely. And, indeed, at this time, the encouragement
to do it was small. For the whole ship, from the keel to the tafferel, was
equally aflected, and contained pestilence sufiicient to desolate a world —
disease and death were wrought into her very timbers. At the time 1
left, it is to be presumed a more filthy, contagious, and deadly abode for

!-*«J )»„,rflJ*f,iWi^,fc,-atT-*fl(*'

198

THE OLD JERSEY CAPTIVE.

human beings never existed among a Christianized people. It fell but
little short of the Black Hole at Calcutta. Death was more hngormg,
but almost equally certain.

The lower hold and the orlop-deck were such a terror, that no man
would venture down into them. Humanity would have dictated a mjre
merciful treatment to a band of pirates, who had been condemned, and were
only awaiting the gibbet, than to have sent them here. But, m thy lew of
the English, we were rebels and traitors. Our water was good, could
we havl had enough of it; our bread was bad m the superlative degree.
I do not recollect seeing any which was not full of living vermin ; but
cat it, worms and all, we must, or starve. The prisoners had laws and
regulations among themselves. In severity they were like the laws of
Draco— woe to him that dared to trample them under foot. A secret, pre-
judicial to a prisoner, revealed to the guard, was death. Captain Young,
of Boston, concealed himself in a largo chest, belonging to a sailor going
to be exchanged, and was carried on board the cartel, and we considered
his escape as certain ; but the secret leaked out, and he was brought
back; and one Spicer, of Providence, being suspected as the traitor, the
enraged prisoners were about to take his life. His head vvas Jfawn back,
and the knife raised to cut his throat; but, having obtained a hint of what
was going on below., the guard at this instant rushed down, and rescued
the man Of his guilt, at the time, there was to me, at least, no con-
vincing evidence. It is a pleasure now to reflect that I had no hand m

* IfXre was any principle among the prisoners that could not be shaken
it was the love of their country. I knew no one to be seduced into the
British service. They attempted to force one of our prize brig s crew
into the navy; but he chose rather to die than perform any duty, and he
was again Restored to the prison ship. Another rule, the violation ot
which would expose the oftender to great danger, was, not to touch the
provisions belonging to another mess. This was a common cause, and
if any one complained that he was robbed, it produced an excitement ot

"°As\o ieUg[on, I do not remember of beholding any trace of it in the
shin I saw no Bible— heard no prayer— no religious conversation— no
clergyman visited us, though no set of afflicted and dying men more
needid the light and Consolations of religion. But the Bethel flag had
not yet waved over any ship. I know not that God's name was ever
mentioned, unless it was in profaneness and blasphemy; but as every
man had almost the certain prospect of death before hm, no doubt there
were more or less who, in their own minds, like myself, had some serious
thoughts of their accountability, of a future state, and of a judgment to
come; but, as to the main body, it seemed that when they most needed
relision, they treated it with the greatest contempt.

While on"board, almost every thought was occupied »« .'Y^J ?o™«
plan of escape ; but day after day passed, and none presented that 1 dared
to put in execution. But the time had now come when I must be deliv-
ered from the ship or die. It could not be delayed even a few days longer
but no plan could I think of that off-ered a gleam of hope. It I did escape
with my life, I could see no way for it but by a miracle. If » continued
on board a few days, or even hours longer, the prospect was certain death
for I was now seized with the yellow fever, and should unavoidably take
the natural smallpox with it; and who does not know that I could not
survive the operation of both these diseases at once? 1 had never

*< f ■-'*'■• 'T'-'^^^?^*^'"

IK<#«. AgMHf M>f^ >'■

It foil but
ore lingering,

that no man
ctated a mjre
ined, and were

in the view of
good, could

ative degree,
vermin ; but

lad laws and
the lawa of

A secret, pre-
]!aptain Young,
I a sailor going
we considered
! was brought
the traitor, the
raa drawn back,

a hint of what

I, and rescued

least, no con-
ad no hand in

1 not be shaken,
duced into the
ize brig's crew
ly duty, and he
the violation of
ot to touch the
mon cause, and
n excitement of

ice of it in the
anversation — no
jring men more
Bethel flag had
name was ever
f; but as every
, no doubt there
ad some serious
■ a judgment to
ey most needed

to invent some
ited that I dared
[ must be deliv-
few days longer;
If I did escape
If I continued
as certain death;
mavoidably take
hat I could not
? I had never

THE STRATAGEM.

199

experienced the latter disease in any way, and it was now lioginning to
rage on board the Old Jersey, and none could bo removed. The hospital-
ships being already full of the sick, the pox was nearly ripu in tiic puH-
tules of some; and I not only slept near them, but assisted in nursing
those who iiad the symptoms must violently. In a very short time my
doom must have been settled, had i remained in the ship.

The arrival of a cartel, and my being exchanged, would not help the
matter, but render my death the more sure. When a list of the names
of the prisoners was called for, on board the frigate by which we were
captured, 1 stepped up and gave in my name first, supposing that, in case
of an exchange, I should be the sooner favored with this privilege. And
the fact, indeed, was, that no exchanges took place but from the port of
New London. And former exchanges had left me first on the roll of
captives from this port ; and I dreaded nothing more than the arrival of
a cartel, for numbers would be put on board and sent home from the
hospital-ships, whose flesh was ready to fall from their bones in this
dreadful disease; and, indeed, I had no sooner uiado my escape than a
cartel did arrive, and such dying men were actually crowded into it ; and
it was evidently the policy of the English to return, for sound and healthy
men sent from our prisons, such Americans as had just the breath of life
in them, and were sure to die before they reached home. The guard
were wont to tell a man while in health, " You have not been here long
enough — you are too well to be exchanged." There was yet one more
conceivable method of getting from the ship, and that was, the next night
to steal down through a gun-port, which we had managed to open when
we pleased, unbeknown to the guard, and swim ashore. But this was a
most forlorn hope ; for I was under the operation of the yellow fever,
and but just able to walk, and when well I could never swim ten rods,
and would now have at least twenty to swim. Beside, when in the water,
there was almost a certainty I should be discovered by the guard and shot,
as others had been. In this situation what wisdom, or what finite power
could save me? If I tarried on board, I must perish! If put on board the
cartel, every hour expected, I must perish! If I attempted to swim
away, I must be lost!

Mr. Emery, the sailing-master, was just now going ashore after water.
Without really considering what I said, and without the least expectation
of success, I thus addressed him, '' Mr. Emery, may I go on shore with
you after water ?'' My lips seemed to move almost involuntarily, for no
such thing to my knowledge had ever been granted to such a prisoner.
To the surprise and astonishment of all that heard him, he replied, '* Yes,
with all my heart." I then descended immediately into the boat, which
was in waiting for him. But the prisoners came to the ship's side and
queried, " What is that sick man going on shore for ?" And the British
sailors endeavored to dissuade me from it, but never was counsel so little
regarded as theirs, and to put them all to silence I again ascended on
board ; but even this was an interposition of a kind Providence, fur I had
neglected to take my great-coat, without which I must have perished in
cold and storms. But I now put it on, and waited for the sailing-master,
meaning to step down again into the boat just before him, which I did,
and turned my face away, that I might not be recognised, and another
attempt be made to prevent my going. The boat was pushed otf, and we
were soon clear of the ship. I took an oar, and attempted to row, but
an English sailor took it from me, and very kindly said, " Give me that
oar, you are not able to use it; you are too unwell." I resigned it, and

V<»f..i^ -

aoo

THE OLD JERSEY CAPTIVE.

save up mysolf to the most intenBo thought upon my situation. I had
commenced the execution of a plan, in which, if I failed, my life was
gone ; but if I succeeded, it was possible I might live. I looked back to
the black and unsightly old ship, as an object of the greatest horror.
« Am I to escape, or return there and perish," was with me the all-ab-
sorbing question. And now we had ascended the creek, and arrived at
the spring where the casks were to be filled, and I proposed to tlie sailors
to go in quest of apples. I had before told them that this was my object
in coming on shore, but they chose to defer it till the boat was loaded ;
and they did not exact any labor of me. This was just as I would have
it. I thought I could do quite as well without their company as with it.
The sailing-master, passing by me, very kindly remarked, " The fresh
air will be of service to you." This emboldened me to ask leave to as-
cend the bank, a slope of about forty-five degrees and thirty feet in height,
terminating in a plain of considerable extent, and to call at a house near
by for some refreshment. Ho said, " Go, but take care and not be out
of the way." I replied, " My state of health was such that there was
nothing to fear on that score." But here, I confess, I violated a princi-
ple of honor for which I could not then, nor can I now entirely excuse
myself. I feel a degree of conscious meanness for treating a man thus,
who put confidence in me, and treated me in such a manner as showed
lie was a gentleman of sensibility and kindness. But the love of life was
my temptation ; but this principle is always too great, when it tempts us
to violate any principle of moral rectitude and honor. And slmuld I even
now learn that my escape involved him in any trouble, it would be a
matter of deep regret. Not long after m^ arrival at home, I sent hijn my
apology for what 1 did, by a British officer, who was exchanged, and going

directly to New York. , , ^ • / i

When the boat returned, the inquiry was made by the prisoners, ^as l
was afterward informed,) " Where is the sick man that wem with you ?
The English sailors consoled themselves with this reply, " Ah, he is safe
enough, he will never live to go a mile." They did not know what the
Sovereign of life and death could enable a sick man to do. Intent on the
business of escape, I surveyed the landscape all around. I discovered
at the distance of a half a mile, what appeared to be a dense swamp of
young maples and other bushes. On this I fixed as my hiding-place ;
but how should I get to it without being discovered and apprehended be-
fore I could reach it? I had reason to think the boat's crew would keep
an eye upon me ; and people were to be seen at ti distance in almost
every direction. But there was an orchard which extended a good way
toward the swamp, and while I wandered from tree to tree, in this orchard,
I should not be suspected of anything more than searching after fruit.
But at my first entrance into it I found a soldier on sentry, and I had to
find out what his business was, and soon discovered he had nothing to do
with me, but only to guard a heap of apples; and I now gradually worked
myself oflf to the end of the orchard next to the swamp, and, looking round
on every side, I saw no person from whom I might apprehend immediate

The boat's crew being yet at work under the bank of the creek, and
out of sight, 1 stepped off deliberately, (for I was unable to run, and had
I been able, it would have tended to excite suspicion in any one that might
have seen me, even at a distance,) and having forded the creek once or
twice, I reached the swamp in safety. I soon found a place which seemed
to have been formed by nature for concealment. A huge log, twenty

■ ■t-^^^gtm^pi^fi^-i-^ff***^^'*^.-^

-^ym^^,*iri;'ii^f^^:^i»fiif^yf'*

ESCAPE.

201

tuation. I had

d, my life wa«

looked back to

reatcst horror.

me the all-ab-

and arrived at

d to t!ie sailorH

was my object

at was loaded ;

18 I would have

)any as with it.

d, " The fresh

ask leave to as-

y fuet in height,

at a house near

and not be out

that there was

olated a princi-

entirely excuse

ing a man thus,

iner as showed

love of life was

icn it tempts us

id sliould I even

I, it would be a

), I sent hun my

iiged, and going

prisoners, (as 1
■em with you ?"
" Ah, he is safe
; know what the
I. Intent on tlie
I. I discovered
dense swamp of
ly hiding-place ;
ipprehended be-
rew would keep
stance in almost
ided a good way
, in this orchard,
;hing after fruit,
try, and I had to
ad nothing to do
gradually worked
id, looking round
bend immediate

r the creek, and
! to run, and had
ly one that might
le creek once or
ce which seemed
mge log, twenty

feet in length, having laid there for many years, was spread over, on both
sides, with such a dense covering of green running briers as to bo imper-
vious to the eye. Lifting up this covering at one end, 1 crept in close
by the log, and rested comfortably and securely, for I was well defended
from the nortli-east storm, which soon commenced.

Wlieu the complete darkness of the night had set in, and while rain-
ing in torrents, I began to feel my way out. And though but just able
to walk, and though often thrown all along into the water, by my clothes
getting entangled with the bushes, yet I reached the dry land, and en-
deavor(xl to shape my course for the east end of Long island. In this I
was assisted by finding how New York bore from me, by the sound ol'
ship-bcUs, and the din of labor and activity, even at that late time of night.
Here let me remark, how easy it is with (iod to cause men to do good,
when they intend no such thing. Without any great-coat, it would have
been scarcely possible to have survived the tempest of rain and cold of
this night in the month of October. But had not the prisoners endeavored
to prevent my going in the boat and caused me to ascend again into
the ship, I should have left it behind. Little did I then think what good
heaven meant to bestow on me, by the trouble they then gave me.

I soon fell into a road that seemed to lead the right way, and when,
during the night, I perceived I was about to meet any one, my constant
plan was to retire to a small distance from the path, and roll myself up as<
well as I could to resemble a small bunch orbushes, or fern. By this
expedient I was often saved from recapture. This road soon brought mv
into a quiet, populous village, which was resounding with drums and fifes,
and full of soldiers ; but, in great mercy to me, it rained in torrents, so I
passed through, in the midst of the street, in safety. Being sick and greatly
exhausted by the adventures of the day and night, it now became abso-
lutely necessary to seek a place of rest, and a barn to me was now the
only place in which I dared to enter. I stepped up to the door, of what
I took to be such a building, and was just about to open it, when my eye
was arrested by a white streak on the threshold, which I found to be the
light reflected from a candle, and I heard human voices within. But
human voices were now to me the object of the greatest terror, and 1 fled
with all the speed I possessed. Coming to another barn, I discovered a
high stack of hay in the yard, covered with a Dutch cap : I ascended and
sunk myself down deep in the hay, supposing I had found a most com-
fortable retreat. But how miserably was I deceived! The weather had
now cleared up, and the wind blew strong and cold from the north-west,
and the hay was nothing but coarse sedge, and the wind passed into it
and reached me as if I had no protection from it. I had not a dry thread
in my clothes, and my sufferings from this time, to about eleven o'clock
the next day, were great — too great even for health, but I had to encoun-
ter them under the operation of a malignant fever, which would have con-
fined me to my room, if not to my bed, had I been at home.

A young woman came into the yard and milked a cow, just at the foot
of the tower where I lay concealed : but I had no eye to pity, or kind
hand to alleviate my distress. This brought home, with all the tender
charities of mother, sister, and brothers, to my recollection, with a sensi-
bility I coul^ feel, but cannot describe. The day was clear and grew
more moderate, and the coast being clear, also, I left my cold and wretched
retreat, and deliberately made off for the woods, at the distance of half
a mile. Before I left the ship 1 had seen prisoners who had escaped,
retaken and carried back. But their mistake was, they would go two, oi

•«rT

j,7wmtw

202

THE OLD JERSEY CAPTIVE.

more, in company. But I would havn no companion, it wonlil nxcitn 8U9<
picion, and render concealm(!nt moro diflicnit, and, under tlin kind pro-
videnco of (iod, I clioKe to lie my own coimsnior, and to have none to
fall out with on the way, as to what course we should pursue.

Having entered the woods, I found a small, but deep, dry hollow, clear
of brush in the center, though surrounded with a thicket on cv-ry si<lo.
Into this the sun shone witii a must delightful warmth. Here I Htripped
myself naked, and spread out my clothes to dry. Being too impatic^nt of
delay, I regained the road just as the sun was setting, but it came near
proving fatal ; for I discovered, just ahead, two light dragoons coming down
upon me. At first it seemed escape was impossible. But that God, who
gave me a quickness of thought in expedients, that seemed to go (luite
beyond myself, was present with his kind aid. I now happened to bo
near a small cottage, and a cornfield adjoining the road, I feigned my-
self to be the man of that cottage, the owner of that cornfield. And
getting over the fence, I went about the field, deliberately picking up the
ears of corn that had fallen down, and righting up the cap-sheaf of a stack
of stalks. The dragoons came nigh, eyed mo carefully, though I affected
to take no notice of them, and passed on. They were probably in search
of me.

I had lost my hat overboard, when in the Old Jersey, and had hence-
forward to cover my head with a handkerchief. I deemed it a calamity at the
time, but, as an act of Providence, the mystery now began to be unfolded.
Having no hat, but a handkerchief about my head, helped to deceive the
dragoons, and cause them to think I was the cottager, who owned the
corn-field. To lie concealed during the day, and to travel at night, was
my practice, till I had got far toward the east end of the island. For
several days I had not taken any nourishment, but water and apples. I
found late pears, and was pleased with their taste, but they operated us an
emetic, quicker than ipecacuanha. A subacid apple sat well on my stomach,
and was very refreshing, though had I been sick at home, with the same
disease, I should probably have been denied this favor. Indeed, from
what I experienced in the free use of water, ripe fruit, unfermcntcd
cider, found at the presses, etc., I was led to suspect, that a great deal of
the kind nursing of persons in fever, was an unnecessary and cruel kind
of self-denial. But I supposed nature would sink without some other kind
of aliment. But the first attempt to act upon this principle would have
proved fatal, had it not been for a kind providential interference.

Late in the evening, I stepped up to a house on the road, and lifted
my hand to rap, but the door folded inward, and evaded my stroke, and
a lady appeared with a light in her hand. I besought of her a draught
of milk : she replied, " that there was then a guard of soldiers in the
house, and they had consumed it all." The business of this guard was
to keep a look-out toward the Long Island sound, and their sentries were
on the opposite side of the house. Had I rapped and been met by one
of this guard, instead of the lady, what would have been the result?
And by whose arrangement did the incident so happen that I escaped?
Pursuing my journey, I came to a place where the road parted. One
branch turned off through a lofty grove of wood ; the other ascended a
gentle rise toward a house near by. I knew not which to take ; but that
leading toward the house best suited my general course. But coming up
near the house, there issued forth from the out-buildings a greater ken-
nel of dogs than I had ever before seen, and assaulted me with a furious
yelling. I stopped short, drew up my hands as far as I could out of their

1 1, < i MCT»i. . ip I 11 1 I ff«f J m ,

■'T>

PERILDUS POSITION.

208

1(1 nxrito »us-
tlio kind pro-
have noiio to
n.

hollow, clear

II cvry fi«lo.

sro I stripped

impiitiont of

it rKiiio near

^orllin^ down

that God, who

(d to go quite

appened to be

[ feigned my-

ornfield. And

picking up the

iheaf of a stack

ough I affected

bably in search

ind had hencc-
a calamity at the

to be unfolded.

to deceive the
tvho owned the
el at night, was
iie island. For

and apples. 1
y operated as an
il on my stomach,
3, with the same
r. Indeed, from
uit, unfermented
at a great deal of
f and cruel kind
I some other kind
;iple would have
ference.

road, and liiled
d my stroke, and
of her a draught
f soldiers in the
)f this guard was
leir sentries were
been met by one
been the result?
n that I escaped!
)ad parted. One
other ascended a

to take ; but that
. But coming up
igs a greater ken-
me with a furious
could out of their

reach, and stood still. Thoy snapped at me v(;ry spitefully, with th((ir

i'aws within a few inches of my body. And now what should I do?
'o have attacked them, or lied precipitately, would have bci-n instant
destruction. I concluded to take no notice of them, but to turn about
gently and take the other road, as if there was no such creature in the
world as a dog. I did so, and they followed mn for about twenty rods,
snapping at me, and seeming to say, "You shall not escape ; we will have
a taste of your blood." And in this design, there seemed to be a pisrfoct
union, from the great bow-wow down to the yelping spaniel. But at last
they all ceased to roar, bid me a good night and disappeared.

Had I ventured into the habitations of men, instead of those of the
horned ox, my escape had been impossible. Soon aAcr escaping the
fury of the dogs, in this peaceful abode, I took up my lodgings for the
night. A man coming into it in the morning, I made bold to slide down
from the hay-loil ; and, atler making some apology for trespassing upon
his premises, 1 asked him if it was probable 1 could get some refresii-
ment in the house. He seemed to think I could. I then entered the
house, and stated my wants; but as i did not design to be a mean, dis-
honest beggar, first get what I wanted, and then say I had nothing to pay,
or sneak off, and say nothing about pay, I told the family I had but
three coppers with me, so that if they gave me meat or drink, it must be
done merely on the score of charity. But the woman seemed to be
thinking more about providing something for the relief of a wretched
sufferer, as I must have appeared to her, than about money. But tiie old
man was troublesome with his questions. He said it was but a few days
ago, two men called at his house, and told a story, which was found to bo
all false ; and at last he observed, outright, " I believe thee also is a
rogue" — but the woman would, now and then, as he pressed hard upon
me, check him, and say, " Do let him alone." She had no questions to
ask — all she wanted was to feed me; and, had it not been for her, 1
know not what the crabbed old man would have done with mo.

After I had taken my refreshment, I said to the old man, " I thank you
for your kindness — here are three coppers, all I have to carry me a long
journey.'" He did not take them, but said, " You may give them to that
iittle girl." She took them ; but if she was illiberal and mean, the old
man made her so. I left the house, and going a short distance, a spacious
plain opened to my view ; and on it, by the tents I saw, I concluded there
was an encampment of soldiers. I, therefore, turned aside into tiie
field, ascended a stack of rye, covered with a Dutch cap, and here I
remained all the day, it being very stormy ; but in the evening I looked
out from my hiding-place, and behold, a most lovely moonshine had suc-
ceeded the storm. The tents had all disappeared, and I took up my
journey over the plain. Some time in the latter part of the night, I
reached the east end of it, and saw before me a number of buildings,
though before this, I had not seen any on the plain. But no sooner had
I come up to the first house, than I was drawn into a scene of the utmost
peril. In the midst of the road there was a blacksmith's shop; on the
north side there was a lane forming a right-angle with the road, and
leading up to a house about twelve rods from it. To the westward of the
house, about eight rods distant, stood the barn, and a lane leading from
the house to it; and the square, three sides of which were formed by the
road aud these two lanes, was the garden ; and, in thq corner of this
garden, near to the house, I discovered a number of beehives, and I
coveted some of the honey. I went first vip to the house, and, though

;

THE OLD JERflFT OAPTIVE.

th" door vmn oppn, I saw no lifflit, and honni no noi^o. Hut I dnnmnd it
prudent not to climb over tho fonco, juM nt tlio door of tlin house, to get
iit tlic l)ccH, but to take thu lanr; down to tlx; barn, and thnre to m^t into
til'- fj.irdon, and romo up, und<ir rover of the fence, to the bee-houHe.
Thi.-< I did not then call stealing;, for I waa in an oncinyN Inud, nnd might
iMiil{(> pri/e of whatever I could lay my hand upon.

Having just stopped into the biirn-yard, and not fluspeeting the leant
danger, I saw a great number of horses tied all around tho yard, with all
their mancH and docks cut in uniform. I stood motionlcsH lor a moment,
and began to say to myself, " What does this mean? ('an one farmer
own so many horses?'* But before the thought was finished, and as
unexpected as a flash of lightning in a clear day, a dragoon coming out
of the barn, with his burnished steel glittering in the bright rays of the
moon, stepped up to me, and challenged, "Who comes there?" I
answered, " A friend." But before ho coidd say to whom, a plan of
escape must bo formed, and put in execution. It was formed, and suc-
ceeded. Before ho could ask the second question, I called out, as if 1
were angry, " Where is the well? I want to get some water!" Taking
me, from tliis seemingly honest and fearless query, to be one of tho party,
he showed me the well, and I went to it deliberately, drew water, and
escaped out of his hands. The fact was, as I soon found, this was a
detachment of horse and foot going out on the island for forage, to be
conveyed to tho army at New York, and, doubtless, he supposed me to be
a person, a wagoner, perhaps, attached to it. And here again I found
tho great advantage of losing my liat. Having a handkerchief tied about
my iiead, helped me in the deception.

Aller leaving tho well, I went down the lane into the road, near the
blacksmith's shop. At this moment four of the party came out from
behind the opposite side of the shop, in full view, at the distance of about
tliree rods from mo. I stood motionless, and said to myself, " All is now
lost." But their attention was taken up with a small dog, with which
they woro sporting. But as they did not come at once, and coize me in
the brightness of the moonlight, I began again to conceive hope, and
edged away to the fence, and rolled through between the two lower rails.
Boon afterward the men said, " Let us go to the barn, and turn in," and
immediately disappeared. Their sporting with tho dog, in itself, was a
trifling circumstance, but to me it was a great event. It saved my life —
to me, in the hour of despair, it brought deliverance.

Stretching along as close as I could lie to the lower rail of the fence,
I took a little time to survey my situation on all sides, and to discover,
if I could, any opening for escape. If I attempted to save myself by
going into the open field, I must be discovered by the sentries, and picked
up by a dragoon. If I remained where I was, it would soon be daylight,
and I could not be mistaken for one of the party. About thirty rods
ahead, I discovered a large house, illuminated from the ground-floor to the
garret. This, I was sure, must be the main bivouac of both infantry and
horse, and wagons were in numbers passing on to this house. At last I
hit upon this plan, when another wagon should pass, I would rise, and
lay hold of it behind, and let it carry me forward into the midst of the
party, and they would suppose me to belong to it. The driver sitting
under cover, forward, could not bo able to see me. When the next
wagon passed, I attempted to got hold of it, but could not overtake it,
and was left alone in the middle of the road, and considerably advanced
toward the house just mentioned as the general rendezvous. And now.

-r«*»**»«»«^tv.

'•'**i'f.''^W*"

•■•-.•rr-.- i,7vf i'W.s'.'

{lit I (Innmnd it
i<^ liniiHc, to K<i
hor<i to f(vl ioto

tli*^ l)<!(i-l)nuHf.

mill, iind inifrht

)r(tinj{ tlin Irant

10 yard, with all

for a moment,

nil ono farmer

nishod, and a<*

[oon coming; out

ight rays of th«

lines there?" I

vhoin, a plan of

formed, and »uc-

allcd out, as if I

water!" Takinjj

one of the party,

drew water, and

bund, this was a

for forage, to be

upposed me to be

re again I found

erchief tied about

\^'

lo road, near the
ty came out from
3 distance of aboul
lyself, " All is now
11 dog, with which
3, and ::oizo me in
sncoivo hope, and
he two lower rails.

and turn in," and
Dg, in itself, was a

It saved my life —

r rail of the fence,
B, and to discover,
to save myself by
entries, and picked
i soon be daylight.
About thirty rods
ground-floor to the
f both infantry and
8 house. At last I
, I would rise, and
o the midst of the
The driver sitting
(. When the next
lid not overtake it,
siderably advanced
szvous. And now.

THK ORAGOON.

205

M no other modi; of eBcnjii- ofli-rcd, f ff^nlv <! to walk Itoldly and
Ifliiurely into and tliroii^'h ttu mid^t of the yhhi .' of men and liorHi.'s,
and wagons and neiitrios. uid pa:4H Awuy if I <o\ili) The plan hui>
cooded — I piwsi'd ftariossly, wiljh groat d«<liber»lion, ik • i and hrm, with-
out any Hhynesri, through the midit of them, i^im <-y<-(l inn carefully,
yet no one naid, " Who art thouT*— "(Wld I was .soon n\., nf sight, ami hid
in a dense prim-bush fence, leat a suspii ion should arise tliat a ><trango
man had pnNsed, and a dragoon should purlin' ine.

Twenty miles further to the eastward, I narrowly escaped falling again
into the hands of tiie same party. Had I not, without any knowledge or
intention of my own, happened to tako another road, I should have met
thom in full march on their return; and, being in the day-time, escapo
would have been next to impossible. As it was, my roud brought mo
on to the ground where, the uight before, they hud i-hosen to bivouac, and
I found their tires still burning. Aller leaving my hiding-place in the
prim fence, I soon found myself in a large orchard, in quest of fruit. 1
had examined nearly every tree, and found none. But just as I was
about to give up the search, I lit upon a tree whore the ground was
covered with the fairest and richest species of apple I ever tasted.
Thoy refreshed me as if they had been gathered from para<lise, having
neither oaten nor drank anything for a considerable time. How all tho
othor fruit in the orchard should have been gathered in, and tho produce
of this uncommonly excellent tree left, struck mo as a mystery. It was
no miracle, but it was a mercy to a wretched sutTerer, then burning up
with fever and thirst. I now sought for and took up my lodgings in tho
birth-place of my Saviour.

Prosecuting my journey on a succeeding evening, I happened to lie
opposite to a house standing a little out of the road. Before I was aware
of tho danger, a dragoon met me, and stopped so near, I could have put
my hand on his holsters. Now, thought I to myself, '' I am taken" — but
what a blessed thing it was I lost my hat! The old dirty handkerchief
upon my head saved me again. From this appearance, taking mo to
be tho master of the house near by, he says, "Have you any cider?"
"No, sir," was my reply, "but we expect to make next week — call
then, and we shall be glad to treat you." This said, we each went his
own way.

Commencing my journey at another time, early in the evening, I was
accosted by a man oC stern appearance and address, standing on the
door-step. He wished to know whence I came, and where bound. I
told him I had just sailed out of New York, bound to Augustine in
Florida, and was driven ashore by an American privateer, a little to tho
eastward' of Sandy Hook, and was making my way down to Huntington,
where I belonged. " What?" says he, " you belong to an American
privateer? I wonder you havo not been taken up before." By this it
seems, he would have apprehended me had he known what I was. He
was, no doubt, a Long Island tory. But I replied, " Sir, you mistake me,
I did not say I belonged, or had belonged, to an American privateer. I
meant to say I belonged to an English vessel out of New York, and had
been driven ashore by such a privateer." Then, without further cere-
mony, I passed on, and he did not attempt to stop inc. And now again
I sought rest and concealment, as it grew late in the evening, and a^aiii
I found it in a bam. But I had now, by exiwsure, contracted a violent
cough, and could not suppress it, though deep sunk in a hay-mow. Tiio
owner coming into the bam, in the morning, heard me, but he ofiered

■^,-n-.:

'■T^-.

206

THE OLD JERSEY CAPTIVE.

me no disturbance, and I hoped it would have been my peaceful retreat
for the whole day. But some time after the man, who visited the barn, had
left it , a number of children came up to it, and placed their hands against
the door, and gave it a violent shaking, crying out, at the same time,
"Come out, you runaway, you thief, you robber !" and then retreateo with
great precipitation. But 1 did not remove out of my bed, hoping they
might not give me another such honorable salute. But it wa^ not long
before they appeared again, and cried out, " Come out, you old rogue,
you runaway, you thief! We know you are here, for daddy heard you
cough," and then retreated as before. And I retreated also, fearing
some older children might honor me with a visit, and find out in very
deed that I was a runaway.

After I had ex])erienced so many narrow escapes, and had now passed,
as I supposed, and as proved to be the fact, beyond all further danger
from foraging parties, scouts, and patrol of a military character; and
though the fever was still upon me, yet it seemed rather to abate than to
be aggravated by all the exposure, cold, storms, fatigues, fears, anxieties
and privations I endured ; I inferred, with great confidence, that it was
the design of Almighty God that I should yet again see home ; and enter-
ing a wood, where no human eye could see me, I fell upon my knees,
and, looking up to Heaven, I attributed to Him all my deliverances, and
all the understanding, a.ssislanoe and strength by which I had been sus-
tained; and besoufr'.t t! •, continuance of his mercy to extricate mo from
all remaining danger and sufferings, and to complete my deliverance. I
arose, and now went forward, more than ever, under a sense of the Divine
goodness and protection.

I come now to a day in which various and interesting incidents oc-
curred. I now ventured to travel in open daylight, and no longer to ask
protection from the sable honors of an absent sun. Commencing my
journey early in tlio morning, I came to a large and respectable dwell-
ing-house, and thinking it time to seek something to nourish my feeble
frame, for appetite I had scarce any, I entered it. Neatness, wealth and
plenty seemed to reside there. Among the inmates of it, a decent
woman, who appeared to be the mistress of the family, and a tailor, who
was mounted upon a large table, and plying his occupation, were all that
attracted my notice. To the lady I expressed my wants, telling her, at
the same time, which wsis my invariable practice, if she could impart to
me a morsel, it must be a mere act of charity, giving and hoping to
receive nothing again. For poverty was a companion of which I could
not rid myself. She made no objections, asked no questions, but
promptly furnished me with a dish of light food I desired. Expressing
my obligations to her, I rose to depart. But, going round through another
room, she met me in the front entry, placed a hat upon my head, put an
apple-pie in my hand, and said, " You will want this before you get
through the woods." I opened my mouth to give vent to the greatful
feelings with which my heart was filled, but she would not tarry to hear
a word, but instantly vanished out of my sight. The mystery of her con-
duct, as I suppose, was this: she, her family and property, were under
British government. She was, doubtless, well satisfied that I was a
prisoner escaping from the hands of the English ; and if she granted me
any protection or succor, knowing me to be such, it might cost the family
the confiscation of all their estate. She did not, therefore, wish to ask
me any questions, or hear me explain who I was, within hearing of that
tailor. He might turn out to be a dangerous informer. I then departed;

DE8PAIR AND 3TARVAT10N.

207

peaceful retreat

ited the barn, had
leir hands against
it the same time,
hen retreateo with

bed, hoping they
lit it visii' not long
It, you old rogue,

daddy heard you
ated also, fearing
find out in very

d had now passed,
all further danger
iry character; and
er to abate than to
cs, fears, anxieties
idence, that it was
3 home ; and enter-
11 upon my knees,
y deliverances, and
ch I had been sus-
I extricate me from
my deliverance. I
sense of the Divine

sting incidents oc-
d no longer to ask
Commencing my
respectable dwell-
nourish my feeble
eatness, wealth and
:es of it, a decent
y, and a tailor, who
)ation, were all that
'ants, telling her, at
he could impart to
kring and hoping to
in of which I could
no questions, but
isired. Expressing
iind through another
an my head, put an
this before you get
rent to the greatful
Id not tarry to hear
mystery of her con-
operty, were under
sfied that I was a
d if she granted me
light cost the family
erefore, wish to ask
:hin hearing of that
r. I then departed;

but this mark of kindness was more than I could well boar, and, as I
went on for some rods, the tears flowed copiously.

By and by I began to recollect and consider what the lady meant by
tlie woods. I supposed it possible there might be a forest, four or five
miles in length, tlirough which I might pass ; uf the real fact I had not
the least anticipation. But very soon I came to the woods, and found a
narrow road, of deep, loose sand, loading through them. The bushes on
both sides, grew hard up to the wagon-ruts, and there was not a step of a
side-walk of more solid ground, and the traveling was very laborious.
But I pressed on with what strength 1 had, and, after a few miles, sup-
posed I was nearly through the wilderness, and began to look ahead for
cleared land and human dwellings, but none appeared. After I had, with
great labor and almost unsupportable distress, traveled a distance I deemed
at least nine miles, I met two men pressing on in a direction opposite to
my own. They seemed to be in a hurry, and anxious to know how far
I had come in these woods. " About nine miles," said I ; " how far have
you come in them?" They replied, " about the same distance," and
immediately pushed forward, asking me no other question. Then said I
to myself, " Here I make my grave. My feet were swollen so that the
tumefaction hung over the tops of my shoes for three-fourths of an inch,
and 1 was about to seek out a favorable spot to lie down and rise no more.
But at this instant, something seemed to whisper to me, " Will it not be
just as well, if you must die, to die standing and walking?" I could not
aay no, and resolved to walk on, till I fell down dead. And this whisper
has bbcn of great service to me in after-life, when I have been ready to
sink in discouragement under difficulties and troubles, or opposition and
persecution. When I say, I have been ready to sink under such trials,
[ have recollected these woods, and said, " Will it not be as well to die
standing up, as l^'ing down?" And thus I have taken courage, and gone
forward, and the result has been as auspicious.

The first house I came to, at the east end of these woods, I entered in
quest of humanity and pity. But these virtues appeared not to be at home
there. Everything without and within, denoted a situation happily above
penury, or the trials, vexations, and griefs of poverty. A degree of ele-
gance and neatness appeared. In the kitchen I discovered a number of
flah just touched with salt, and hung up and dried. My feverish appetite
fixed on a piece of one of these fish, as a rasher that might taste well.
[ besought the lady of the house, to give me a very small bit ; but my
request was not granted. I repeated it, again and again. But her denial
was irrevocable. Now, thought I, I will try an experiment, and measure
the hardness of your heart. So I stated to her my sickly, destitute con-
dition; told her she might judge by my appearance, that I was overwhelmed
with misfortune, and had been very unsuccessful at sea. I wished her
to consider how she would be delighted, had she a brother, or a dear friend,
suffering in a strange land, if any one should stretch out to him the hand
of relief, minister to his necessities, wipe away his tears, and console his
heart. Indeed, 1 suggested every thought and plea of which I was master,
that could move a heart not made of steel. And what was it all for?
For a piece of dried blue-fish, not more than two inches square! And
diJ I succeed? No. All my entreaties were in vain; so without mur-
muring, or casting on her any reflections, I took my leave.

Passing on but a few rods, I entered another dwelling, and what renders
the circumstance that took place, the more to be noticed is, it appnared
to be a tavern. I expressed my wants to a lady who, I had no doubt,

^-^ ••*M(«ia

208

THE OLD JERSEY CAPTIVE.

was the mistress of the house. By the cheerfulness and good nature de-
picted in her countenance, and her first movements, I knew my suit was
granted, and I had nothing more to say, than to apprise her that I was
penniless ; and if she afforded me any relief, she must do it hoping for
nothing again. Now behold the contrast! In a few moments she placed
on the table a bowl of bread and milk, the whole of one of those fish
roasted, that I had begged for in vain, at the other house, and a mug of
cider. And, says she, " Sit down and eat." But her mercy came near
to cruelty in its consequences ; for although I wis aware of the danger,
yet I indulged too freely. My fever was soon enraged to violence, and I
was filled with alarm.

It was now growing dark, and I went but a short distance further, and
entered a house, and begged the privilege of lodging by the fire. My
request was granted, and I sat down in silence, too sick and distressed to
do or say anything. But I could see and hear. There was no one in the
house, but the man and his wife. They appeared to be plain, open-
hearted, honest people, who never had their minds elated with pride, nor
their taste perverted by false refinement, or that education, which just
unfits persons to be useful and happy in the common walks of life.

Before it became late in the evening, the man took his Bible, and read
a chapter, and that with a tone and air that induced me to tiiink he believed
it He then arose and devoutly offered up his grateful acknowledgments
and supplications to God, through the Mediator. By this time I began to
think I had gone into a safe, as well as a hospitable retreat. They had
before made many inquiries, not impertinent and captious, but such as
indicated that they felt tenderly, and took an interest in my welfare ; but
they evidently obtained no satisfaction from my answers, for I was too
weary and distressed, to take pains to form, or relate, anything like a con-
sistent story. But they seemed as if they could not rest till they had
drawn from mc, the real truth, though they gave not the least hmt, that
might reproach me for the want of truth and honesty. At last I resolved
I would treat them so no longer— I would throw off the mask, risk ail
consequences, and let them into the real secret of my condition— and said,
" You have asked mo many questions this evening, and I have told you
nothing but falsehoods. Now hear the truth. I am a prisoner, making
my escape from the Old Jersey, al New York. Of the horrors of this
dreadful prison you may have been informed. There, aBer many suffer-
ings, I was brought to have no prospect before me, but certain death.
By a remarkable and unexpected interposition of Providence, I got on
shore, and having had many hair-breadth escapes, I have reached this
place, and am now lodged under your hospitable roof. I am loaded with
disease, and am in torment from the thousands of vermm which are now
devouring my flesh. I have dear and kind friends in Connecticut, and am
now aiming to regain my native home. The kindest of mothers is now
probably weeping for me, as having, ere this, perished in my captivity,
never more expecting to see her child. Thus I have told you the red
truth. I have put my life in your hands. Go and inform against me, and
I shall be taken back to the prison ship, and death will be inevitable.
1 ceased to speak, and aU was profound silence. It took some time to
recover themselves from a flood of tears, in which they were bathed.
At last the kind and amiable woman said, « Let us go and bake his
clothes." No sooner said, than the man seized a brand of fire and threw
it into the oven. The woman provided a clean suit of clothes, to supply
the place of mine, till they had purified them by fire. The work done,

-^^. . ;^if'r:S^^^-^-

u^^^,*«;^*»'***f^»^

ri-W-jf^^flj^^

CAPTURED BY A PRIVATEER.

909

good nature de-
new my suit was
e her that I was

do it hopipg for
nents she placed
me of those fish
36, and a mug of
nercy came near
e of the danger,
;o violence, and I

incc further, and
by the fire. My
and distressed to
nras no one in the
> be plain, open-
d with pride, nor
ation, which just
Iks of life.
9 Bible, and read
think he believed
acknowledgments .
is time I began to
treat. They had
ious, but such as
1 my welfare ; but
rs, for I was too
ything like a con-
rest till they had
he least hint, that
At last I resolved
the mask, risk all
ndition — and said,
d I have told you
I prisoner, making
he horrors of this
after many suffer-
but certain death.
)vidence, I got on
have reached this

I am loaded with
nin which are now
snnecticut, and am
of mothers is now
d in my captivity,

told you the real
rm against me, and
'ill be inevitable."
took some time to
they were bathed.
i go and bake his
id of fire and threw
r clothes, to supply
The work done,

a clean bed was laid down, on which I was to rest ; and rest I did, as in
a new world; for I had got rid of a swarm of cannibals, who were without
mercy eating me up alive !

In the morning, I took my leave of this dear family, who had enchained
and riveted my soul to them by their kindness, in esteem and gratitude,
which have for fifty years suffered no abatement. I learned from them a
lesson of humanity, I have ever remembered, and ever wished to imitate.
The day was clear, and after traveling a short distance, I threw myself down
on the sunny side of a stinted pitch-pine, upon a bed of warm sand. I
rested as on a bed of down.

In about a week after this, I found myself at Sag Harbor, at the east end
of Long Island. Nor did the kind providence of God forsake me. Again
I found humanity and pity In a public house. I was permitted to lie by
a warm fire, (a great luxury, the weather having become cold,) while
two others of my companions on board the same engine of perdition to
American seamen, having made their escape, were denied this favor, and
had to take lodgings in the barn. While lying on my bed of down, (the
warm brick hearth,) the door of an adjoining room, where our host and
landlady slept, being open, I heard her say, " I could not consent that the
other two should lodge in the house, but I pitied this young man." But
I could see no cause for this difference of feeling in this woman, but the
agency of Him, who hath all hearts in his hand. In a few days an oppor-
tunity of crossing the sound presented. A whale-boat, with a commission
to make reprisals upon the enemy, came into the harbor. Her crew, as
I supposed, were a set of honest, good farmers, who resided at Norwich,
in Connecticut, where I was born, and knew my connections. They
agreed to give me passage to New London. A sloop also came into the
harbor, with a like commission, which belonged on the island. This boat
and sloop made sail together, one bound to New London, the other to
Saybrook. But the weather being very boisterous, the boat was in dan-
ger ; so we all went on board the sloop, and the boat was made fast to her
by a tow-line. But at no great distance from Plumb Island, a privateer,
which proved to be out of Stonington, pounced upon us ; and, under the
suspicion of our being illicit traders, carried us all into New London.
And here a scene of wickedness was developed, of which I could not
have supposed my honest friends had been capable. An agent had been
sent to New York, had obtained a quantity of dry goods, and brought
them to Sag Harbor. Here the cruising whale-boat was to receive and
carry them to New London, where they would be libelled ; and some of
the crew would come into court, and give oath that they were taken from
the enemy, by virtue of their commission. And thus a trade was carried
on with the enemy to on infinite extent. These goods were put on board
the sloop, when the boat was made fast to her. And when the privateer
appeared, and we could not escape her, the captain of the sloop agreed
to declare the goods were his, and that he had taken them as a lawful
prizo from the enemy. And the crew of the whale-boat, the purchasers
and owners of the goods, were to swear they saw him do it. The goods
being condemned, the captain of the sloop was then to act like an honest
rogue, and to restore them to the crew of tho boat. Birt after the goods
were actually condemned, and the crew of the boat, the real owners, had
in open court sworn, that the goods were his by lawful capture, the cap-
tain of the sloop thought he had now a fair opportunity, to play on them
a profitable trick. Accordingly, he refused to restore them, and went off
with the goods, sloop and all, to Connecticut River. But the crew of the
li

>;.<4^>*<''^J^^*^'-'>iK'>~.-i^, .J. ,

THE OLD JERSEY CAPTIVE.

sworn they were not theirs, and <^o°*"/®° „ ! „.„ gent for as a witness.

Tzed. Ind I, who 1-- *^;/^^^^^^ l-d

And by my testimony, and that ot one oi »» ^ . ^^^ ^^^^^^ „. tho

not testified before, tha. the ^^7/^ JX°P "^"^ goods were con-
"loop, the real truth came to 'f 'Jjf^.^^ ultimately obtained, not only
demned ; so that the crew of ^Je ^ Je boat « ^^ J ^^^^ ^^^

their goods, but the sloop also, as "^ '"'""'^"h °i„tended^ He was taken in

"J^^'rSi^lC^ntTc^^^^^^^^^ is a matter of wonder,

^atTro^^nrnf^^^^^^^^ tli.r vill^J. ^^^ ^^ ^^..^ ,,,,,,

tared by the privateer out of Stomngton , oiner ^^ ^^^^^

carried Into Connecticut ^'^^^ "^^j^^^^^ sunk under

did I set my foot down in a ^a°d °t satety, inaii j j^j^

Sle power of that disease, which had preyedup^^^^^^ ^^^^^^ ^^^^ ^^
the prison-ship. After arriving at New London, i ^^^

threS miles, Ld all my strength f^;l«^' "jj^^j, „7 S of woman had

rage of the'feven B"V\*'JJ:' Pf^r' who^^^^^^^ "le in her pity,

some agency. The lady at Sag Harbor wnop unsolicited,

thought of my welfare after J ^j^oj^^^j;^^^^^^ I hLd not much relish

gave me a meat-pie, and a l«>ttle °f^"*f„'- , -^uthe ^ j ^^^ before
for the pie, yet my thirst te^^f ">« Jo ^rrnkj^t^^, i8\he difference : the

j[dtii«tt\^eXKfrr«^^^^

*^tri'';ouldgonofu.her,Ifound^

carry me to Norwich Landing, ^nd I tarried mer ^^^^^^

mTLnds at PV^-fi«^^.r:!ohSrmehome' Thet'st night f lodged
brother came with a c""'^^' **» 'jj P ^^t Ideemed myself to be dying,
with a brother at Canterbury. This nighty Id y j ^^ ^^^j ^

and going directly to my 1^8 J>«™^; ,f^* „o8t affectionate mother,
as to realh the dwelling "^ ^f. "^'^J ^fo, X good of her children,
who always seemed v^'J^Jg ^nd [o sibrntt to the will of God, and never
and who had made up her ™'"y°;V^„ jown with sickness, and other
more tosee her son, and a ^J^.V/taginartate of perfect derangement.
^ calamities Fo^boutthree weelj^I wa^^^^^^^^ ^^.^.^ ^^^ ^.^ed

But, about ten days later, an ""^'^PJ^^/^eath was looked for as certain.

fir/:K'KTL7hS"«a t^ h, .^ co.e . .^^ for

my coffin. i „„ f„r rp^ained my health, through the great

>iear the close of winter, I so f" '^g*"*^ ^ instruction of a school

kindness of the God of love -b to engage '« the »^.^^ ^^^^^ ^^ ^^^^

irhasTen^'rotLrre'iS: of yoU, and preaching the

everlasting gospel.

^u»5««^*9jg!iifl*#¥*§?^iB?3"

^,^j,»i.;,^«M,«gj^«e.^'^

4«Mll.!i^|lt «■»'"

though they had
p with the goods
for as a witness.
i crew, who liad
3 captain oi tho
joods were con-
btained, not only
lus the treachery
He was taken in
latter of wonder,

jras safely landed
at we were cap-
ihould have been
. But no sooner
liatcly sunk under
ever since I lett
I travel only aboyt
viving power and
ad of woman had
1 me in her pity,
, and, unsolicited,
ad not much relish
aid. I had before
the difference : the
hand in producing

as kind enough to
with a relative, till
ral, and my eldest
first night I lodged
myself to be dying,
t day, I so revived
ffectionatc mother,
od of her children,
I of God, and never
sickness, and other
lerfect derangement,
le crisis was formed
looked for as certain,
that having seen me
se the next morning,
id come to speak for

1th, through the great
rtruction of a school
od almost my whole
, and preaching the

A SAILOR'S STORY

WHAT HE SAW AND SUFFERED,

ni THK NAVAL BBBVIOB OF THB CNIT80 8TATI8, IN THE

WAR OF THE REVOLUTION.*

D0RINO the Revolutionary war our coast was lined with British cruisers,
which had almost annihilated our commerce ; and the state of Massa-
chusetts judged it expedient to build a government vessel, rated as a
twenty-gun ship, named the "Protector," commanded by Captain John
Foster Williams. She was to be fitted out for service as soon as possible,
to protect our commerce, and to annoy the enemy.

All means were resorted to, which ingenuity could devise, to induce
men to enlist. A recruiting officer, bearing a flag and attended by a
band of martial music, paraded the streets, to excite a thirst for glory and
a spirit of military ambition. The recruiting officer possessed the quali-
fications requisite to make the service appear alluring, especially to the
young. He was a jovial, good-natured fellow, of ready wit and much
broad humor. When he espied any large boys among the idle crowd
around him, he would attract their attention by singing, in a comical
manner, the following doggerel :

" All jou that have bad masteni,
Aud cannot get your due ;
Oome, come, mv brave boys.
And join with our ship's crew." ^

A shout and a huzza would follow, and some would join in the ranks.
My excitable feelings were roused ; I repaired to the rendezvous, signed
the ship's papers, mounted a cockade, and was in my own estimation
already more than half a sailor. Appeals continued to be made to the
patriotism of every young man to lend his aid, by his exertions on sea
or land, to free his country from the common enemy. About the last
of February the ship was ready to receive her crew, and was hauled off
into the channel, that the sailors might have no opportunity to run away
after they were got on board. Upward of three hundred and thirty men
were carried, dragged, and driven on board, of all kinds, ages, and de-
acriptions, in all the various stages of intoxication ; from that of "sober
tipsiness" to beastly drunkenness, with an uproar and clamor that may
be more easily imagined than described.

The wind being fair, we weighed uichor and dropped down to Nan-
tasket roads, where we lay till about the first of April ; and then set sail
for a cruise of six months. We continued to sail along the coast for a few
weeks, without meeting with any of the enemy, when, some indications

• Tho narrative here given, is that of Ebeneser Fox, who was born in the Ticinitr.
of Boston, Mass., in the year 1763, and was living as late as the year 1838.

(211)

' J

Lu-u-.H i rt < . i<> i« rt^' ' i ' ft<J* ^**' "!Bai i « ^gS!»g^'!ll^^

212

A SAILOR'S NARRATIVE.

of tempestuous weather appearing, our captain judged it expedient to
steer for the banks of Newfoundland, that he might have more sea room
in case of a gale. On the morning of June 9th, 1780, the fog began to
clear away; and the man at the mast-head gave notice that he saw a ship to
♦he westward of us. As the fog cleared up, we perceived her to be a large
ship under English colors, to the windward, standing athwart our starboard
bow. As she came down upon us, she appeared as large ad a seventy-
four ; and we were not deceived respecting her size, for it afterward
proved that she was an old East-Indiaman, of eleven-hundred tons burden,
fitted out as a letter-of-marque for the West India trade, mounted with
thirty-two guns, and furnished with a complement of one hundred and fifty
men. She was called the Admiral DuflT, commanded by Richard Strange,
from St. Christopher and St. Eustatia, laden with sugar and tobacco, and
bound to London. I was standing near our first lieutenant, Mr. Little,
who was calmly examining the enemy, as she approached, with his spy-
glass, when Captain Williams stepped up and asked his opinion of her.
The lieutenant applied the glass to his eye again and took a deliberate
look in silence, and replied, ''I think she is a heavy ship and that we
shall have some hard fighting, but of one thing I am certain, she is not a
frigate ; if she wore, she would not keep yawing, and showing her broad-
sides as she docs ; she would show nothing but her head and stern ; we
shall have the advantage of her, and the quicker we get along side the
better.*' Our captain ordered English colors to be hoisted, and the ship
to be cleared for action.

The enemy approached till within musket shot of us. The two ships
were so near to each other that we could distinguish the ofiicers from
the men ; and I particularly noticed the captain on the gangway, a noble
looking man, having a large gold-laced cocked hat on his head, and a
speaking-trumpet in his hand. Lieutenant Little possessed a powerful
voice, and he was directed to hail the enemy ; at the same time the quarter
master was ordered to stand ready to haul down the English flag and to
hoist up the American. Our lieutenant took his station on the after part
of the starboard gangway, and elevating the trumpet, exclaimed, "Hallo!
whence come you?" — "From Jamaica, bound to London," was the
answer. " What is the ship's name ?" inquired the lieutenant. " The Ad-
miral Duif," was the reply. The English captain then thought it his turn
to interrogate, and asked the name of our ship. Lieutenant Little, in order
to gain time, put the trumpet to his ear, pretending not to hear the ques-
tion. During the short interval, thus gained. Captain Williams called
upon the gunner to ascertain how many guns could be brought to bear
upon the enemy. " Five," was the answer. " Then fire, and shift the
colors," were the orders. The cannons poured forth their deadly contents,
and, with the first flash, the American flag took the place' of the British
ensign at our mast-head.

The compliment was returned in the form of a full broadside, and the
action commenced. I was stationed on the edge of the quarter-deck, to
sponge and load a six-poiinder ; this position gave me a fine opportunity
to see the whole action. Broadsides were exchanged with great rapidity
for nearly an hour; our fire, as we afterward ascertain'' ', p'vduced a
terrible slaughter among the enem^, while our loss w:^^^^ tn' yet trifling.
I happened to be looking for a moment toward the toain-deck, when a
large shot came through our ship's side and killed a midshipman. At
this moment a shot from one of oar marines killed the man at the wheel
of the enemy's ship, and, his place not being immediately supplied, she

■■?••..» -

.iUa.

(1 it expedient to
vc more sea room
, the fog began to
at he saw a ship to
d her to be a large
iwart our starboard
arge aa a seventy-
9, for it afterward
idred tons burden,
ide, mounted with
hundred and fifty
Richard Strange,
_. and tobacco, and
utenant, Mr. Little,
iched, with his spy-
his opinion of her.
1 took a deliberate
y ship and that we
certain, she is not a
showing her broad-
head and stern ; we
I get along side the
misted, and the ship

us. The two ships
ish the officers from
le gangway, a noble
t on his head, and a
jossessed a powerful
same time the quarter
e English flag and to
ition on the after part
t, exclaimed, "Hallo!
) London," was the
lieutenant. "The Ad-
len thought it his turn
itenant Little, in order
r not to hear the ques-
!ptain Williams called
Id be brought to bear
'hen fire, and shift the
J their deadly contents,
lie place' of the British

full broadside, and the
of the quarter-deck, to
3 me a fine opportunity
iged with great rapidity
flcertain*'', ["^duced a
loss w- a!^ yet trifling,
the Kiain-deck, when a
led a midshipman. At
Hi the man at the wheel
imediately supplied, she

-^i

»»»».^^M.fiw'7'i'*'.*Mw»^ "T^^^TS?'

DESTRITOTION OF AW EAST-INDIAMAN.

313

was brought along side of us in such a manner as to bring her bowsprit
directly across our forecastle. Not knowing the cause of this movement,
wo supposed it to be the intention of the enemy to board us. Our boarders
were ordered to be ready with their pikes to resist any such attempt, while
our guns on the main-deck were sending death and destruction among
the crew of the enemy. Their principal object now seemed to be to get
liberated from us, and by cutting away some of thoir rigging, they were
soon clear, and at the distance of a pistol shot.

The action was then renewed, with additional fury; broadside for
broadside continued with unabated vigor ; at times so near to each other
that the muzzles of our guns came almost in contact, then again at such
a distance as to allow of taking deliberate aim. The contest was obsti-
nately continued by the enemy, although we c»uld perceive that great
havoc was made among them, and that it was with much difficulty that
their men were compelled to remain at their quarters. A charge of
grape-shot came in at one of our port-holes, which dangerously wounded
four or five of our men, among whom was our third lieutenant, Mr. Little,
brother to the first.

Tiie action had now lasted about an hour and a half, and the fire firom
the enemy began to slacken, when we suddenly discovered that all the
sails on hor mainmast were enveloped in a blaze. The fire spread with
amazing rapidity, and,- running down the after-rigging, it soon communi-
cated with her magazine, when her whole stern was blown ofl", and her
valuable cargo emptied into the sea. Our enemy^s ship was now a
complete wreck, though she still floated, and the survivors were endea-
voring to save themselves in the only boat that had escaped the general
destruction. The humanity of our captain urged him to make all pos-
sible exertion to save the miserable, wounded, and burned wretches, who
were struggling for thoir lives in the water. The ship of the enemy was
greatly our superior in size, and lay much higher out of the water. Our
boats had been much exposed to his fire, as they were placed on spars
between the fore and main masts during the action, and had sufiered
considerable damage. The carpenters were ordered to repair them with
the utmost expedition, and we got them out in season to take up fifty-
five men, the greater part of whom had been wounded by our shot or
burned when the powder magazine exploded. Their limbs were muti-
lated by all manner of wounds, while some were burned to such a degree
that the skin was nearly flayed from their bodies. Our surgeon and his
assistants had just completed the task of dressing the wounds of our own
crew, and then they directed their attention to the wounded of the enemy.
Several of them suifcred the amputation of their limbs. Five of them
died of their wounds, and were committed to their watery graves. From
the survivors we learned, that the British commander had frequently
expressed a desire to come in contact with a "Yankee frigate," during
his voyage, that he might have a prize to carry to London. Poor fellow!
he little thought of loosing his ship and his life in an engagement with a
ship so much inferior to his own — with an enemy upon whom he looked
with so much contempt.

Our sailors were busily employed in picking up the various articles
that were floating, and getting them on board, while the carpenters and
riggers were engaged in repairing the damages we had received. The
ship was soon in good order and prepared again to meet the enemy, and
we continued on our cruise. Our captain, soon finding that sickness

»p<"»"

A SAILOR'S NARRATIVE.

-«,„«« thfi crew and that the wounded were suffering
was increasing among Jhe w^' ana ^^^ ^^ ^,^^^

greatly, udged it expedient ^''^SnhZnABnnvUof wood and water,
for some eastern port, that we "'fh* f »•'»*" W« ,o„veniently

pr;;;r'ations to get our sick and ^^^^2^2^ .e^dy ?or sea, we weighed

Our repairs being completed, and all h,ng8^^^^^^ 'j^ banks of

anchor about the last of June, .and steered «°^« -^^jM^^^ ,^ f,;,, ^nd no

Newfoundland, where the P'°'''^'''Z?La^n^c^Z^n%iih the advice of

paired, and everything was do'^e to p"» J.^^^^^ [J^ { ^,^^,, ^f ^ix months,

;epa::tions were made for o^^^^^^^^^^^J^^^^^^ ^eck and secured.
About the last of October, our boats were no remained a few

and we dropped down into ^a" ^sket^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^ ^^^^

days, and then set sail upon °»^ ^?,^^°"°^ ""'^pt'^in concluded to steer for

time and not falling in vv.th ^^ytj "g. ««; ^JP*^^^^

the southern coastot the United States. We arrivea on ^^^^^^

Soutli Carolina ; and in the course of a few day« te^Un J^ ^^

the Polly, a lotter-of- marque, of ^^^f "*y -f ""'' 7,"° dark, wo lost sight
gave chase late in the afternoon, and as soon g^ewdarK^^ ^^^ ^g^_
Sf her. A thunder storm came on, and f" jands were w g

Zd by the flashes of the lightmng we at length d^^^J^ J„„ J; We
in a different direction from ^^at we jmd a^ fi^^^f "^j^^^^^^^ By the aid

accordingly shifted our course, a'"^^""^^;^^^^^ ^" ^e up with her.
of the lightning, wo kept in \«'Xmr roared oriieitenant through
"What ship is that, and where f™™j. '°" , °Sia„ce to the thunder
his trumpet, in a voice that bore ^o sight -sc^^^^^^

which rolled above our heads, „ J^.^X'^^^ upon her colors,

to London," was the ^«P»y: , ^t? .WhTS^A had^the same means of
showed that they were English ; ^/^^J^^, We were completoly
seeing the American flag Ay'^g f»"^ Sed the lanterns burning fore
prepared for action ; the matches were bghte^^ ^^^^^^ ^^^

and aft; and all anxiously waiting for the commands o ^^^^ ^.^

shot was fired, and our <V^P'am ordered the enemy to ^^^^^ ^^^.^^
colors, or he would blow him out of the water. *" F^.o„piicd with.
Tp being formidable our captam'^^^^^^^^^ £.,,,, ^^o

Our boat was lowered, and a P"^^®™*^^^ ,!"',, f„. Boston,
took possession of the ship, and she ^^s ordered fo^ Boston ^^^^.^

Ourcruisc thus far had ^eon prosperous, and we tho„g^
day was afar off.". We continued ^^rnly onjj cou-r ^ ^^^ ^^

fri'end or foe, during the next ^fy ;J" ^jf J^^leelard." Mr. Little
at the mast-head cried out, * «» J*"^ ^^^ ascertained that they
ascended to the mamtop with ^ ? g*J«"' "^J^'^^fnd, in full chase of us
were two large ships, closely ha«l«d "Pon the win , ^^^^^ ^^^^^

Our yards were braced, and all sad crowaea in r ^^^^

The chase continued, without gaining much upon us

jjiM i jjj i ;

^^p,,,5P^g*-g|-«».-^

■ *aff j^ ^ h p y ; *1'? ??;^;i^i^t^

\ were suffering
ind, and to steer
wood and water,
not conveniently
id from the Danks
n or eight days,
made immediate
I.

sea, we weighed
For the banks of
ing to fail, and no
ith the advice of
lays we came in
roads. In a short
raped, rigging re-
3ct order. Wood
lise of six months,
ivo hundred men,

deck and secured,
e remained a few

cruising for some
iluded to steer for
3 bar of Charleston,

with a ship called
[ to London. We
dark, wo lost sight
I watching for her ;
rered her, standing
Iter pursuing. We
ursuit. By the aid
B up with her.
lieutenant through
nee to the thunder
1 Charleston, bound
g upon her colors,
the same means of
Ve were completely
.nterns burning fore
,f the officers. One
to " Haul down his
B appearance of rat
antly complied with.
IT put on board, who

Boston.

re thought the "evil
urse, without seeing
IS morning, the man
eward." Mr. Little
scertained that they
, in full chase of us
the ship could carry.
1 us till about p'H)n.

■q> -» 1B

THE STARS AND STRIPES LOWERED.

215

when, the wind shifting, they fell into our wake, and gained upon us very
fast. Our captain, calling all the hands aft, on the quiirter-deck, expressed
his opinion, that the ships in pursuit of us were English, and that we
should bo captured. lie then distributed among us his money for safe
ki3C|)ing, in sums of fifteen dollars to each, upon condition that it should
bo returned to him if we were so fortunate as to escape. It was now
nearly sunset, and the enemy were gaining upon us rapidly.

To attempt resistance against a force so much our superior would have
been unjustifiable ; and the flag of thirteen stars and stripes was reluctantly
pulled down. The boats of the enemy were manned and sent along side
of our ship. Our crew were now permitted by our officers to collect
their clothing and their little property together, and secure them in the
best manner they could. By this time, the boats had arrived along side,
and the enemy had ascended the deck.

Their first exploit was to strike or kick every sailor that came in their
way, bestowing a variety of opprobrious epithets, among which "damned
rebels" was of the most frequent recurrence; then they commenced
searching in every part of the ship for articles of value. Our crew were
ordered to pass down the side of the ship into the enemy's boats ; but
were forbidden to carry anything with them. Some of our crew fastened
their bedding upon their backs, and tumbled themselves head foremost
down into the boats ; and, as it was quite dark, they would unperceived get
into the cuddy with their bedding, trusting to future circumstances for
opportunity to use or secrete it. We arrived along side, and were ordered
on to the quarter-deck of our captors. Some English sailor among our
crew, to recommend himself to the favor of the British captain, had given
information respecting the money we had secreted about our persons.
The sergeant of arms was ordered to search every one of us till the sum
of fifteen dollars was found upon each of us. In the capacity of cabin
steward I was most of the time in the cabin, and had recommended myself
to the favorable notice of the American captain by performing my duties
to his satisfaction ; and, when the money was distributed among our
crew, the captain gave me a double share. I put fifteen dollars in the
crown of my hat, which I pressed down upon my head as closely as
possible ; the remaining fifteen I placed in my shoes, between the soles.
At length my turn to be searched came ; and I, as the rest of my fellow-
prisoners had done, denied having any money. This assertion, however,
did not avail ; I was seized by the collar, and shaken so violently that my
hat fell off, and the dollars rolled out upon the deck. The sum of fifteen
dollars being found, it was concluded that I had no more, and I was sent
into the ship's hold, where I found those of the crew who had been
previously searched. Our accommodations in the hold were not very
desirable, especially to those who had not succeeded in getting their
bedding into that place. We found nothing to lie upon softer than the
ship's ballast, consisting of stones of all shapes and sizes, with here and
there a lump of pig-iron by way of variety ; and the water-casks, which
afforded a surface rather uneven for the comfort and convenience of our
weary limbs. Here we spent the first night, and were not allowed to go
on deck till the next morning.

Shortly after, we anchored off Sandy Hook, and preparations were
made to examine the prisoners, to ascertain what part of them were
Englishmen ; or rather, who among them would carry the appearance of
able-bodied seamen. We were called up from the hold ; ordered to the
larboard side of the quarter-deck ; thence marched, in single file, past a

-"-■V^ ^Tr--''' '-^-rl^'""''^"" "'^'~'^.^i'.f''..'i""'inT|-'''''nVrirwrft«rii»w«i iim •AavMttS'*

i*gia^tMftii-y'^-

216

▲ SAILOR'S NARRATIVE.

number of British officers on the starboard side ; after that to the gangway,
and down again into the hold. The object of thus moving in procession
before the officers was, to give them an opportunity to select such as
they chose, to serve on board of their ships. With fear and trembling
wo paased through this examination. Whenever a healthy, athletic looking
man passed by, he was hailed, and accused of being an En^lislunan.
In vain would his comrades attest to the fact of his being a native-born
American, tell the place of his birth and the circumstances of his youth,
detailed with all the consistency and connection which belong to truth ;
it was all to no purpose. Sailors they wanted, and have them they would,
if they set law and gospel at defiance. In this manner was many an
American citizen, in the morning of life, dragged from his country, his
friends, and his home ; forced on board a ship of war ; compelled to fight
against his own country ; and, if he lived, to fight in battle with other
nations, against whom he had no feelings of hostility.

About a third part of our ship's crew were taken on board of their
vessels, to serve in the capacity of sailors, without regarding their remon-
strances ; while the remainder of us were put on board of a wood coaster,
to bo conveyed on board the noted prison ship called the "Jersey.'* We
wished, if possible, to avoid the hard fate that awaited us ; and conceived
the design of rising upon the guard, seizing upon the sloop, and rur.r':!>g
her aground upon the Jersey shore. The plan could have been easily
executed had there been any one among us to act as a leader in the
enterprise. Our captain with his officers were confined in the cabin,
under the watchful care of a number of British officers well armed ; while
a guard of soldiers stood at the head of the companion-way, to prevent
any communication with the prisoners upon the deck. Sailors and sol-
diers have the courage to execute, but not the skill to plan. Had our
captain, in whom we had been in the habit of pla' iui^ the utmost confi-
dence, been with us, I have no doubt we should have obtained our freedom.
As the deck was loaded with wood, we could in a moment have obtained
weapons sufficient for our purpose, and, had any one among us been
disposed to act as a leader, we should soon have had possession of the
vessel. We afterward regretted exceedingly that we did not make the
attempt. We proceeded slowly up the river toward our much dreaded
place of confinement, and at doubling a point we came in sight of the
gloomy looking hulk of the old Jersey, aptly named by the sailors, " The
hell afloat." The Jersey was originally a seventy-four gun ship, and, at
the commencement of the American Revolution, being found m a state
of decay and unfit for service at sea, she was dismantled, moored in the
East River, at New York, and used as a store-ship. In the year 1780,
she was converted into a prison ship, and continued to be used for that
purpose during the remainder of tiie war.

In consequence of the fears that were entertained that the sickness,
which prevailed among the prisoners, might spread to the shore, she was
removed, and moored with chain cables at the Wallabout, a lonely and
unfrequented place on the shore of Long Island. Her external appear-
ance was forbidding and gloomy. She was dismantled ; her only spars
were the bowsprit ; a derrick, that looked like a gallows, for hoisting
supplies on board; and a flag-staff at the stern. The port-holes weri;
closed and secured. Two tiers of holts were cut through her sides,
about two feet square and about ten feet apart, strongly guarded by a
grating of irqk bars. The sloop anchored at a little distance from the
Jersey, and two boats were sent along side to receive us. The boats

<■ t^aHfi^MiDiiitUtiti/n

i»M»*<l»*j>Wi MJitwWIifc t

o the f(angwty,
in procession
lolect such as
and trembling
ithlotic looking
n En^litiliinan.
a native-born
a of his youth,
telong to truth ;
cm they would,
was many an
va country, his
npclled to fight
Lttle with other

board of their
ng their remon-
a wood coaster,
"Jersey." Wo

and coccoived
op, and Tur.r'tig
avo been easily
a leader in the
id in the cabin,
ell armed ; while
i-way, to prevent

Sailors and sol-
plan. Had our
the utmost confi-
ned our freedom.
lui have obtained
among us been
possession of the
id not make the
T much dreaded
3 in sight of the
the sailors, " The
gun ship, and, at
found in a state
d, moored in the
;n tlie year 1780,
o be used for that

that the sickness,
he shore, she was
MUt, a lonely and
r external appear-
d; her only spars
ilows, for hoisting
le port-holes wero
hrough her sides,
igly guarded by a
distance from the
e us. The boats

•'"•I*'

SENT ON BOARD "THE OLD JERSEY."

317

poanod and re-passed several times before all of us got on board; and
iadtiy tlio ca|)tain'8 barge was sent to convoy our officers to their place
of potiiiiicniont. Not a groat while oiler wn were imprisoned our captain,
to^'i^tlicr with the lieutenant and the sailing-master, Mr. Lemon, were
<4;Mit to England ; tho latter, being an Englishman, had the comfortable
assurance, tliat ho should be hanged as soon as he arrived. At\or being
(li tained in the boats along side a little while, wo wore ordered to ascend
to ilio up|)( r dock of the prison ship. Here our names were registered,
and I Ik- capacity in which we had served previous to our capture. Each
of us was permitted to retain whatever clothing and bedding wo had
broii;:,'ht, atlcr having been examined to ascertain that they contained no
weapons nor money ; and then wo were directed to pass through a strong
door, on the atarlward side, down a ladder leading to the main hatchway. '
I now found myself in a loathsome prison, among a collection of tho
mo.si wretched and disgusting looking objects that I ever behold in human
form. Here was a motley crew, covered with rags and filth; visages
pallid with disease, emaciated with hunger and anxiety, and retainmg
hardly u trace of their original appearance. Hero were men, who had
onco enjoyed life while riding over the mountain wave or roaming through
pleasant fields, full of health and vigor, now shriveled by a scanty and
uuwholcsoi.io diet, ghastly with inhaling an impure atmosphere, exposed
to contagion, in contact with disease, and surrounded with tho horrors
of sickness and death. Here, thought I, must I linger out tho morning
of my life, in tedious days and sleepless nights, enduring a weary and
degrading captivity, till death shall terminate my sufferings, and no friend
will know of my departure. A prisoner on board of "the old Jersey!"
The very thought was appalling. 1 could hardly realize my situation.

Tho first thing we found it necessary to do after our captivity was to
form ourselves into small parties, called "messes," consisting of six men
each ; as, previous to doing this, wo could obtain no food. All tho pkis-
oners were obliged to fast on the first day of their arrival ; and seldom on
tho second could thoy procure any food in season for cooking it. No
matter how hungry they were, no deviation from tho rules of the ship
was permitted. All the prisoners fared alike ; officers and sailors received
the same treatment on board of this old hulk. Our keepers were no
respecters of persons. We were all "rebels." The quantity and quality
of our faro was the same for all. The only distinction known among us
was made by tho prisoners themselves, which was shown in allowing
those who had been officers previous to their capture, to congregate in
the extreme after-part of the ship, and to keep it exclusively to themselves
as their places of abode. The various messes of the prisoners were
numbered ; and nine in the morning was the hour when the steward would
deliver from the window in his room, at the after-part of the ship, the
allowance granted to each mess. Each mess chose one of their company
to be prepared to answer to their number when it was called by the
steward, and to receive the allowance as it was handed from the window.
Whatever was thrust out must be taken ; no change could be made in
its quantity or quality. Each mess received daily what was equivalent
in weight or measure, but not in quality, to the rations of four men at full
allowance: that is, each prisoner received two-thirds as much as was
allowed to a seaman in the British navy.

Our bill of fare was as follows : On Sunday, one pound of biscuit, one
pound of pork, and half a pint of peas. Monday, ono pound of biscuit,
one pint of oatmeal, and two ounces of butter. Tuesday, one pound of

w,»iti0i'i-* i>ri,MaiM(ii

■' 11 nm I

218

A SAILORS NAUUATIVE.

biscuit, and two poundH of Halt borT. Wcdiitmilay, nnn and a half pounds
ot'iloiir, and two ntinm ofNitot. Thursday was a repetition of Siindny^s
la'i", Friday of Monday's, and Saturday of Tucsday^H.

If thin food had been of a pood tpiality and properly cooked, as wr
had no labor to perform, it would have kept iir comfortable, at leant from
8ulierin)(. But this was not the caao. All our food appeared to bo
damaged. As for tho pork, wo were cheated out of it more than half ot
the time: and, when it was obtained, ono would have judged from its
motley hues, exhibiting tho consistence and appearance of varie^nlcd
fancy soap, that it was tlio flesh of the porpoise, or sea-hoj^, and had been
an inhaliitant of tho ocean rather than of the sty. Tho peas were gener-
ally damaged, and, from the imperfect manner in which they were cooked,
were about as indigestible as grape-shot. The butter tho rcadctr will
not suppose was the real "(ioshen ;^* and had it not been for its adhesive
properties to retain toget!?er the particles of tho biscuit, that had been so
riddled by the worms as to lose all their attraction of cohesion, we siiould
have considered it no desirable addition to our viands. The flour and
the oatmeal were often sour, and when the suet was mixed with it, we
should have considered it a blessing to have been destitute of the sense
of smelling before wo admitted it into our mouths: it might be nr^ncd
half tho length of the ship. And last, though not the least item among
our staples in the eating line^-our beef. Its color was of dark mahogany ;
and it could be pulled into pieces ono way in strings, lik'.> rope-yarn. It
was so completely saturated with salt, that, after having been boiled in
water taken from the sea, it was found to bo considerably freshened by
the process.

Such was our food. But the quality of it was not all that wc had reason
to complain of. The manner in which it was cooked was more injurious
to our health than tho quality of the food ; and, in many cases, laid tho
foundation of diseases, that brought many a suflcrer to his gnive, years
after his liberation. The cooking for the prisoners was done in a great
copper vessel, that contained between two and three hogsheadis of water,
set in brick-work. The form of it was square, and it was divided into
two compartments by a partition. In one of these, tiie pens and oat-
meal were boiled ; this was done in fresh water: in the oth':r, the meat
was boiled in salt water taken up from along side of the ship.

Tho Jersey, from her size and lying near the shore, was imbedded in
the mud ; and I do not recollect seeing her afloat during the whole time
I was a prisoner. All the filth that accumulated among upward of a
thousand men was daily thrown overboard, and would remain there till
carried away by the tide. The impurity of the water may be easily
conceived ; and in this water our meat was boiled. It will be recollected,
too, that the water was salt, which caused the inside of the copper to
become corroded to such a degree thai it was lined with a coat of verdi-
gris. Meat thus cooked must in some degree be poisoned; and the
eflfects of it were manifest in the cadaverous countenances of the ema-
ciated beings, who had remained on board for any length of time.

The persons chosen by each mess to receive their portions of food,
were summoned by the cook's bell to receive their allowance, and, when
it had remained in the boiler a certain time, the bell would again sound,
and the allowance must be immediately taken away: whether it was
sufficiently cooked or not, it could remain no longer. The food was
generally very imperfectly cooked ; yet this sustenance, wretched as it
was, and deficient in quantity, was greedily devoured by the half-starred

ir's 'i r Lf^ ii ^i mMCi^mmkm

^*»w^ •* ijV»-ty'**vA.**» t**^

■ ^." i' ^: - .",:"f,y.

"^f

KfUNOS OP THE JERSEY PRISONERS.

210

I a hiiir poiindi
Lion «r Sunday's

y cooked, bh wo
li^ at IcMMt from
ii|>|i(>ar<;(l to bo
lorr than lialfot
_udj{ed from its

I' of varicxnicd

ijr, and hud bcun

as wcro gencr-

u-y wor«^ cookr*!,

the reader will
1 for its adhesive
that had hern so
lesion, wi; should
Tlio flour and
[lixcd witii it. we
tute of the sense

niijjht bo iK^Hcd
east item among
f dark malio^any ;

! rope-yarn. It
been boiled in
ibly freshened by

liat we hud reason
as more injurious
ny cases, laid the

liis grave, years
Ls done in a great
)gshca(ls of water,
t was divided into
tiio peas and oat-
10 oth'jr, tiie meat
^ ship.

was imbedded in
ng the whole time
lonfi upward of a

1 remain there till
tcr may bo easily
will be recollected,
) of the copper to
th a coat of verdi-
)oisoned; and the
ances of the ema-
igth of time.

r portions of food,
owance, and, when
tvould again sound,
y: whether it was
sr. The food was
ice, wretched as it
by the half-starved

priHonom. No vegetables were allowed us. Many times since, wlien I
nave seen in the country, n large kettle of potnloesand pumpkins steam-
ing over ill'- fire to satisfy the a|ipetites of a farmer's swine, I have ihoiight
of our desiii and slarveil condition, and what a luxury we should have
considered i! ontents of that kettle on board the .lersey. The prisoners
were contiix in the two 'nnin-ilecks below. The lowest dungeon was
inhabited by those prisoners who wore foreigners, and whoso treatment
was more severe than that of the Americans. The inhabitants of this
lowf^r reyioii were the most miserable and disgusting looking objects that
can be conceived. Daily washing with salt water, together with their
extreme emaciation, caused their skin to ap|iear like dried parchment.
Many of them remained unwashed for weeks; their hair long an<l matted,
and filled with vermin ; their beards never cut, excepting occasionally with
a pair of shears, which did not improve their comeliness, though it might
add t(» their comfort. Their clothes were mere rags, secured to tln^ir
bodies in every way that ingenuity could devise. Many of these nien had
been in this lamentable condition for two years, part of the time on board
other prison ships ; and, having ,7ivon up all hope of over being e.xchanged,
had become resigned to their situation. These men were foreigners,
whose whole lives had been cyno continual scene of toil, hardship, and
suffering. But far ditl'erent 'vas the condition of the most numerous class
of the prisoners, composed mostly of young men from New England, fresh
from home. They had reanon to deplore the sudden change in their con-
dition. The thoughts of home, of parents, brothers, sisters, and friends,
would crowd upon their minds; till "their desire for home became n
madness."

In the morning, the prisoners were permitted to ascend the upper
deck, to spend the day, till ordered below at sunset. A certain number,
who were for the time called the "working party," performed in rotiition
the duty of bringing up hammocks and bedding for airing^ likewise the
sick and in6rm, and tne bodies of those who had died during the night:
of these there were generally a number every morning. After these
services it was their duty to wash the decks. Our hods and clothing
wore allowed to remain on dock till we were ordered below for the night;
this was of considerable benefit, as it gave some of the vermin an oppor-
tunity to migrate from the quarters they had inhabited. About two hours
before sunset, orders were given to the prisoners to carry all their things
below ; but we wore permitted to remain above till wo retired for the
night into our unhealthy and crowded dungeons. At sunset, our ears
were saluted with the insulting and hateful sound from our keepers, of
"Down, rebels, down," and we were hurried below, the hatchways fastened
over IIS, and we were Icfl to pass the night amid the accumulated horrors
of sighs and groans, of foul vapor, a nauseous and putrid atmosphere, in
a stifled and almost suffocating heat. The tiers of holes through the
sides of the ship were strongly grated, but not provided with glass ; and
it was considered a privilege to sleep tjear one of these apertures in hot
weather, for the pure air that passed in at them. But little sleep, however,
could be enjoyed even there ; for the vermin were so horribly abundant,
that all the personal cleanliness we could practice would not protect us
from their attacks, or prevent their effecting a lodgment upon us.

When any of the prisoners died in the night, their bodies were brought
to the upper deck in the morning, and placed upon the gratings. If the
deceased had owned a blanket, any prisoner might sew it around the
corpse, and then it was lowered, with a rope tied round the middle, down

«r

■fllli

220

A SAILOR'S NARRATIVE.

the a'ie o:the ship into a boat. Some of the prisoners were allowed to
go on shore, under a guard, to perform the labor of interment. Having
arrived on shore, they found in a small hut some tools for digging, and a
hand-barrow on which the body was conveyed to the place for burial.
Here, in a bank near the Wallabout, a hole was excavated in the sa^d, in
which the body was put, and then slightly covered ; the guard not giving
time sufficient to perforin this melancholy service in a faithful manner.
Many bodies would, in a few days afler this mockery of a burial, be
exposed nearly bare by the action of the elements.

■* By feeble hands their shallow graves were made:
No stone, memorial of their corpses, laid.
In barren sands, and far from home, they lie,
No friend to shed a tear when pasning by—
O'er the mean tombs insulting foemen tread ;
Spurn at the sand, and curse the rebel dead."

This was the last resting place of many a son and brother ; young and
noble spirited men, who had left their happy homes and kind friends to
offer their lives in the service of their country; but they little thought of
such a termination to their active career. The fpte of many of these
unhappy victims must have remained forever unknown to their friends; for,
in so large a number, no exact account could be kept of those who died, and
they rested in a nameless grave ; while those who performed the last sad
rites were hurried away before their task was half completed, and for-
bidden to express their horror and indignation at this insulting negligence
toward the dead.

The regular crew of the Jersey consisted of a captain, two mates, a
steward, a cook, and about a dozen sailors. There was likewise on board
a guard of ten or twelve old invalid marines^ who were unfit for active
service ; and a guard of about thirty soldiers, from the different regiments
quartered on Long Island, who were relieved by a fresh party every
week. The physical force of the prisoners was sufficient at any time to
take possession of the ship; but the difficulty was, to dispose of themselves
after a successful attempt. Long Island was in possession of the British,
and the inhabitants were favorable to the British cause. To leave the
ship, and land upon the island, would be followed by almost certain
detection. Yet, small as was the chance for succeeding in an underta-
king, the attempt to escape was often made, and in not a few instances
with success.

Some weeks after our imprisonment on board the Jersey the following
successful attempt was made by a number of the prison<;rs. At sunset the
prisoners were driven below, and the main hatchway was closed, in
this there was a small trap-door, large enough for a man to pass through,
and a sentinel was placed over it with orders to permit but one prisoner
at a time to come up during the night. The plan that had been formed
was this : one of the prisoners should ascend, and dispose of the sentinel
in such a manner that he should be no obstacle in the way of those who
were to follow. Among the soldiers was an Irishman who, in consequence
of having a head of hair remarkable for its curly appearance, and withal
"ery crabbed disposition, had been nicknamed " Billy the Ram." He
was the sentry on deck this night, for one was deemed sufficient, as the
prisoners were considered secure when they were below, having no
other place of egress saving the trap-door, over which the sentinel was
stationed. Late in the night, one of the prisoners, a bold, athletic fellow.

Ill

[i *

FLOORING OP " BILLY THE RAM."

221

I were allowed to
terment. Having
For digging, and a
place for burial.
;ed in the sai.d, in
e guard not giving
a faithful manner.
ry of a burial, be

>rother ; young and
md kind friends to
ey little thought of
3 of many of these
to their friends; for,
those who died, and
rtormed the last sad
completed, and for-
insulting negligence

aptain, two mates, a
as likewise on board
were unfit for active
B different regiments
a fresh party every
&cient at any time to
lispose of themselves
ession of the British,
ause. To leave the
d by almost certain
eding in an underta-
i not a few instances

Jersey the following
Dn<^rs. At sunset the
way was closed. In
man to pass through,
rmit but one prisoner
that had been formed
lispose of the sentinel
the way of those who
n who, in consequence
ppearance, and withal
Billy the Ram." He
emed sufficient, as the
ere below, having no
vhich the sentinel was
,B bold, athletic fellow.

ascended upon deck, and in an artful manner engaged the attention of
« Billy the Ram," in conversation respecting the war ; lamentmg that he
had ever engaged in so unnatural a contest ; expressing his intention of
enlisting in the British service ; and requesting Billfs advice as to the
course necessary to be pursued to obtain the confidence of the officers.
Billy happened to be in a mood to take some interest in his views, and
showed an inclination, quite uncommon for him, to prolong the conver-
sation. Unsuspicious of any evil design on the part of the prisoner, and
while leaning carelessly on his gun, "Billy" received a tremendous
blow from the fist of his entertainer, on the back of his head, whiph
brought him to the deck in a state of insensibility. As soon as he was
heard to fall by those below, who were anxiously waiting the result
of the friendly conversation of their pioneer with " Billy," and were satis-
fied that the final knock-down argument had been given ; they bogan
10 ascend, and, one after another, to jump overboard, to the amount of

°^ The noise aroused the guard, who came upon deck, where they found
» Billv," not sufficiently recovered from the stunning eflTecta of the blow
ho had received, to give any account of the transaction. A noise was
heard in the water ; but it was so dark that no object could be distinguished.
The attention of the guard, however, was directed to certain spots, which
exhibited a luminous appearance, which salt water is known to assume
in the night when it is agitated ; and to these appearances they directed
their fire, and, getting out the boats, picked up about half of the number
that attempted to escape, many of whom were wounded, though no one
was killed. The rest escaped. During the uproar overhead, tne priso-
ners below encouraged the fugitives and expressed their approbation of
their proceedings in three hearty cheers ; for which gratification we suf-
fered our usual punishment— a short allowance of our already short and
miflerable fare.

Not long after this, another successful attempt to escape was made,
which for its boldness is, perhaps, unparalleled in the history of such
transactions. One pleasant morning about ten o'clock, a boat came
along side, containing a number of gentlemen from New York, who came
for the purpose of gratifying themselves with a sight of the miserable
tenants of the prison ship: influenced by the same kind of curiosity that
induces some people to travel a great distance to witness an execution.
The boat, which was a beautiful yawl, and sat like a swan upon the water,
was manned by four oarsmen, with a man at the helm. Considerable
attention and respect was shown to the visitors, the ship's side being
manned when they showed their intention of coming on board, and the
usual naval courtesies extended. The gentlemen were soon on board ;
and the crew of the yawl, having secured her- to the fore-chains on the
larboard side of the ship, were permitted to ascend the deck.

A soldier, as usual, was pacing with a slow and measured tread the
whole length of the deck, wheeling round with military precision when
he arrived at the end of his walk ; and, whether upon this occasion any
one interested in his movements had secretly slipped a guinea into his
hand, not to quicken, but to retard his progress, was never known; but
it was evident to the prisoners that he had never occupied so much time
before in measuring the distance with his back to the place where the
yawl was fastened. At this time, there were sitting in the forecastlt),
8pparf,ntly admiring the beautiful ap) earance of the yawl, four mates
and a captain, wh© had been brought on board as priaoners a few days

• -*-_«sifw-,t#*«#=*

• '-"v.^^rM/e"^-^-

Illl

222

A SAILOR'S NARRATIVE.

previous, taken in some vo.ssel from a southern port. As soon as the
sentry had passed these men, in his straight-forward march, they in a
very quiet manner lowered themselves down into the yawl, cut the rope,
and the four mates taking in hand the oars, while the captain managed
the helm, in less time than I have taken to describe it they were under
full sweep from the ship. They plied the oars with such v'gor, that
every stroke they took seemed to take the boat out of the water. In the
meantime, the sentry heard nothing and saw nothing of this transaction,
till he had arrived at the end of his march, when, in wheeling slowly
round, he could no longer affect ignorance, or avoid seeing that the
boat was several times its length from the ship. lie immediately fired;
but, whether he exercised his best skill as a marksman, or whether it was
on account of the boat going ahead its whole length at every pull of the
rowers, I could never exactly ascertain: but the ball fell harmless into
the water. The report of the gun brought the whole guard out, who
blazed away at the fugitives, without producing any diminution in the
rapidity of their progress.

By this time, the oflicers of the ship were on deck with their visitors;
and, while all were gazing with astonishment at the boldness and efiVon-
tery of the achievement, and the guard were firing as fast as they could
load their guns, the captain in the yawl lefl the helm, and, standing erect
in the stern, with his back to the Jersey, bendiiig his body to a right angle
he exhibited the broadest part of himself to their view, and with a signi-
ficant gesture directed their attention to it as a proper target for the exer-
cise of their skill. This contemptuous defiance caused our captain to
swell with rage ; and when the prisoners gave three cheers to the yawPa
crew, as expressive of their joy at their success, he ordered all of us to be
driven below at the point of the bayonet, and there we were confined
the remainder of the day. These five men escaped, greatly to the morti-
fication of the captain and officers of the prison ship. After this, as long
as I remained a prisoner, whenever any visitors came on board, all the
prisoners were driven below, where they were obliged to remain till the
company had departed.

The miseries of our condition were continually increasing: the pesti-
lence on board spread rapidly, and every day added to our bill of mor-
tality. With the hope that some relief might be obtained to meliorato
the wretchedness of our situation, the prisoners petitioned Gen. Clinton,
commanding the British forces in New York, for permission to send a
memorial to General Washington, describing our condition, and reques-
ting his influence in our behalf, that some exchange of prisoners might
be effected. Permission was obtained, and the memorial was sent. In
a few days, an answer was received from Gen. Washington, containing
expressions full of interest and sympathy, but declaring his inability to
do anytiiing for our relief by way of exchange, as his authority did not
extend to the marine department of the service, and that soldiers could
not consistently be exchanged for sailors. He declared his intention,
however, to lay our memorial before Congress, and that no exertion
should be spared by him to mitigate our sufferings. Gen. Washington
at the same time sent letters to Gen. Clinton, and to the British Com-
missary of Prisoners, in which he remonstrated against their cruel treat-
ment of the American prisoners, and threatened, if our situation was not
made more tolerable, to retaliate by placing British prisonera in circum-
stances as rigorous and uncomfortable as were our own : that " with what
measure they meted, the same should be measured to them again."

.*JfV

lilWHIillH »nw

iiKiiiil l-iliill»Jlii I 111. IMI*

PRANKS OF THE PRISONERS.

223

S.a soon as the
larch, they in 8
vl, cut the rope,
laptain managed
hey were under
juch v'gor, that
j water. In the
this transaction,
wheeling slowly

seeing that the
imediatcly fired ;

whether it was
!very pull of the
11 harmless into

guard out, who
iminution in the

th their visitors ;
Iness and eflVon-
ast as they could
id, standing erect
y to a right angle
and with a signi-
rget for the exer-
d our captain to
sers to the yawl's
ed all of us to be
re were confined
3atly to the morti-
\.fter this, as long
on board, all the
to remain till the

easing: the pesti-
) our bill of mor-
ined to meliorate
ned Gen. Clinton,
mission to send a
ition, and reques-
»f prisoners might
rial was sent. In
ington, containing
ng his inability to
I authority did not
that soldiers could
ired his intention,
that no exertion
Gen. Washington
the British Com-
jt their cruel trcat-
r situation was not
risoners in circum-
n: that "with what
1 to them again.'*

Wc experienced after this some little improvement in our food, but no
relaxation in the severity of our confinement.

As every principle of justice and humanity was disregarded by the
British in the treatment of their prisoners, so, likewise, every moral and
legal right was violated in compelling them to enter into their service.
Wc had obtained some information in relation to an expected draught
that would soon be made upon the prisoners to fill up a complement of
men that were wanted for the service of his Majesty's fleet. One day
in the latter part of August, our fears of the dreaded event were realized.
A British officer with a number of soldiers came on board. The prisoners
were all ordered on deck, placed on the larboard-gangway, and marched •
in single file round to the quarter-deck, where the officers stood to
inspect them and select such ones as suited their fancies, without any
reference to the rights of the prisoners, or considering at all the duties
they owed to the land of their nativity, or the government for which they
had fought and suflfered. We continued to march round, in solemn and
melancholy procession, till they had selected from among our number
about three hundred of the ablest, nearly all of whom were Americans,
and they were directed to go below under a guard, to collect together
whatever things they wished to take belonging to them. They were
then driven into the boats, waiting along side, and left the prison ship,
not to enjoy their freedom, but to be subjected to the iron despotism,
and galling slavery of a British man-of-war; to waste their lives in a
foreign service ; and toil for masters whom they hated. Such, however,
the horrors of our situation as prisoners, and so small was the

were

prospect of relief, that we almost envied the lot of those who left the ship
to go into the service even of our enemy.

In the midst of our distress, perplexities, and troubles at this period,
we were not a little puzzled to know how to dispose of the vermin that
would accumulate upon our persons, notwithstanding all our attempts at
cleanliness. To catch them was a very easy task, but to undertake to
deprive each individual captive of life, as rapidly as they could have
been taken, would have beei. i herculean task. To throw them overboard
would have been but a small relief; as they would probably add to the
impurities of the boiler, by being deposited in it the first time it was
filled up for cooking our unsavory mess. What then was to be done |^
with them? A general consultation was held, and it was determined to
deprive them of their liberty. This being agreed upon, the prisoners
immediately went to work, for their comfort and amusement, to make a
liberal contribution of those migratory creatures, who were compelled to
colonize for a time within the boundaries of a large snufi'-box appropriated
for the purpose. There they lay, snugly ensconced, of all colors, ages,
and sizes, to the amount of some thousands, waiting for orders. British
recruiting officers frequently came on board, and held out to the prisoners
tempting offers to enlist in his Majesty's service ; not to fight against their
own country, but to perform garrison duty in the island of Jamaica. One
day an Irish officer came on board for this purpose, and not meeting
with much success among the prisoners who happened to be upon deck,
he descended below to repeat his offers. He was a remarkably tall man,
and was obliged to stoop as he passed along between the decks. The
prisoners were disposed for a frolic, and kept the officer in their company
for some time, flattering him with expectations, till he discovered their
insincerity, and left them in no very pleasant humor. As he passed
along, bending his body, and bringing his broad shoulders to nearly a

,■ --.-»=, •'.i*l?i^-"-«nv*Jt«jt*«!a«aw!A=0<^ »■<**-■

i i

224

A SAILOR'S NARRATIVB.

• i.

horizontal position, the idea occurred to our minds to furnish him with
soAie recruits from the colony in the snuif-bcx. A favorable opportunity
presented, the cover of the box was removed, and the whole contents
discharged upon the red-coated back of the officer. Three cheers from
the prisoners followed the migration, and the officer ascended to the
deck, unconscious of the number and variety of recruits he had obtained
without the formality of an enlistment. The captain of the ship, suspi-
cious that some joke had been practiced, or some mischief perpetrated,
from the noise below, met the officer at the head of the gangway, and,
seeing the vermin crawling up his shoulders and aiming at his head with
* the instinct peculiar to them, exclaimed, "Hoot, mon, wha^ is the matter
wi' yer bock?" The captain was a Scotchman. By this time many of
them, in their wanderings, had traveled round from the rear to the front,
and showed themselves, to the astonishment of the officer. He flung ofi*
his coat in a paroxysm of rage, which was not allayed by three cheers
from the prisoners on the deck. Confinement below, with a short allow-
ance, was our punishment for this gratification.

Situated as we were, there appeared to us to bo no moral turpitude in
enlisting in the British service, especially when we considered that it
was almost certain we should s-^on be impressed into the same. Soon
after we had formed this desperate resolution, a recruiting officer came
on board to enlist men for the eighty-eighth regiment, to be stationed at
Kingston, in the island of Jamaica. We had just been trying to satisfy
our hunger upon a piece of beef, which was so tough that no teeth could
make an impression on it, when the officer descended between decks,
and represented to us the immense improvement that we should expe-
rience in our condition, if we were in his Majesty's service ; an abundance
of good food, comfortable clothing, service easy, and in the finest climate
in the world, were temptations too great to be resisted by a set of miserable,
half-starved, and almost nakcc wretches, as we were, and who had already
concluded to accept of the proposition even had it been made under
circumstait .es less exciting. The recruiting officer presented his papers
for our signature. Again we heard the tempting oflers, and again the
assurance that we should not be called upon to fight against our govern-
ment or country ; and, with the hope that we should find an opportunity
J- to d«iert, ef which it was our firm intention to avail ourselves when oflfered
•^vith such hopes, expectations, and motives, we signed the papers, and
became soldiers in his Majesty's service.*

But to return to our story, we shortly after, twelve in number, left the
Jersey, and were landed upon Long Island and marched under a guard
about a mile to an old barn, where we were quartered. Under various
pretexts, we frequently went out that night to reconnoiter; but were
satisfied that there was no chance for escape then, and must trust to

•The reader may have some curiosity to know what became of the " Old Jersey."
The prisoners, who were on board of her at tlie conclasion of the war, in 1763, were
liberated. The prison ship was then abandoned, and the dread of contagion pre-
vented any une visiting her. Worms soon destroyed her bottom, and she afterward
sunk. It 18 said Uiat her planks were covered with the names of the captives who had
been imtnured there ; a lone and melancholy catalogue, as it is supposed that a
greater number of men periuied on board of ner than history inform* na of in aay
other place of eonfinonent in the sane pwiod of time.

In the year 1803, the bank at the Wallabout was removed, as preparatory to
bnildine b Navy Yard. A vast (quantity of bones were found, which were carefully
eoUected and buried under the direetioa of the Tammany Society of Ifew York.

■^%

i^Sk*..

■ -- .^■..■.■. -. ....^.^.-i...^ ^■■.^.... ■.■■...■. I !■ 'I

furnish him with
orable opportunity
lie whole contents
rhree cheers from
r ascended to the
its he had obtained
of the ship, suspi-
Bchief perpetrated,
the gangway, and,
ag at his head with

wha' is the matter
' this time many of
le rear to the front,
icer. He flung ofi"
ed by three cheers
, with a short allow-

> moral turpitude in
considered that it
to the same. Soon
iruiting officer came
It, to be stationed at
een trying to satisfy

1 that no teeth could
ded between decks,
nat we should expe-
rvice ; an abundance
in the finest climate
by a set of miserable,
and who had already
it been made under
presented his papers
offers, and again the
it against our govern-
d find an opportunity
iirselves when offered
igned the papers, and

re in number, left the
iTched under a guard
;ered. Under various
econnoiter; but were
en, and must trust to

uneof the "Old Jersey.'
of the war, in 1783, were
) dread of contagion pre-
Mttcm, and she afterward
es of the captives who had
as it is supposed that a
»ry infonn« na of in wy

moved, as preparatoiy to
and, which were carefully
Society ^ ^^ York.

imc

PRESSED INTO THE BRITISH ARM7.

236

Providence for some more favorable opportunity. Disappointed in all
our hopes and expectations of escape, we were hurried on board of a
vessel ready to sail for Jamaica, only waiting for a favorable wind. We
entertained a faint hope, that, during our voyage, we might be taken by
some American privateer, and consequently obtain our freedom. In the
course of six or eight days, we weighed anchor, and hoisted our sail for
Jamaica.

The next day we anchored in the harbor of Port Royal, where we lay
one day, and sailed for Kingston. We here landed, and with the sergeant
at the head marched in single file through Kingston to a place called
" Harmony-hall," where the regiment was quartered, and were placed
under the care of a drill sergeant. The next morning we were ordered
out for drill, and received our uniform and arms, which we were ordered
to keep bright and in good order for service. We had but liitle o.nploy-
ment, excepting being drilled to our hearts' content by the sergeant, to
make good soldiers of us for the service of his majesty, King George the
Third. It appeared to be the object of our officers to reconcile us to
the service, by making our duties easy and agreeable. We were often
indulged with the privilege of leaving our quarters to visit the town or
wander about the country adjacent. In our rambles about the town and
country, we visited the grog-shops and taverns, places where sailors
generally resort, and had got considerably acquainted with the keepers
of these establishments. Our "passes" were signed by a commissioned
officer, and they gave us permission to carry our side-arms, that is, a
bayonet, and to be absent two hours at a time.

While I and one of my comrades were wandering about the town one
day, we stepped into a house where liquors and refreshments were to
bo obtained. We found one of the seats occupied by an English sailor,
to whom we, rather too frankly for prudence, communicated our inten-
tions ; or, more correctly speaking, gave him some cause for suspecting
our designs from the questions we asked him respecting the probability
of obtaining employment on board of some merchant vessel, in case we
could get released from our present engagements. The sailor was
inclined to be very sociable, and discovered no objections to drinking
freely at our expense ; telling us that he belonged to an English ship that
would sail in a few days; that his captain was in want of hands; and that,
at his intercession, he would undoubtedly take us on board. He appeared
so friendly, and his manners were so insinuating, that he completely won
our confidence. He asked us how we could obtain liberty to leave the
garrison, and to pass in and out when we pleased? Taking my "pass"
out of my pocket, I showed it to him, and told him that was our authority.
He took it into his hand, apparently with an intention of reading it ; and,
after looking at it for some time, in a sort of careless manner, he put it
into his pocket. I felt a little surprised when I saw him do it, and my
companion expressed his fears by whispering into my ear, " Blast hia
eyes, he means to keep the pass." :;

Having allowed the fellow to get possession of the paper, I felt myself
responsible for it, and that it was necessary for me to recover it, even if
I were obliged to resort to violent measures. I therefore said to him,
" My friend, I must have that paper, as we cannot return to our quarters
without it." He replied, "You had better be peaceable about it, for I
mean to see your commanding officer."

Matters had now come to a crisis. I saw that it was the sailor^s object
to inform against us, and to carry the «pus" as an evidence of our
16

i I

l-li

■!:r

* !-

226

A SAILOR'S NARRATIVE.

conference with him. I immediately drew my bayonet from its scabbard,
and thrusting it against his side with force suiFicicnt to inflict a slight
wound, put my hand into his pocket and toolc out the " pass ;^' and then,
giving him a blow upon the head with the butt-end of my bayonet, dropped
him senseless on the floor. The noise of this conflict brought the land-
lord into the room, followed by his wife, with whom a previous acquain-
tance had made me somewhat of a favorite. The rascal had by this lime
recovered his senses and had got upon his legs, and began to represent
the matter in a light the most favorable to himself.

We vehemently contradicted his assertions, and were stoutly backed
up by the landlady, who was considerable of a termagant, and declared
that "the sailor was a quarrelsome fellow; that he had made a difficulty
once before in the house ; and that her husband would be a fool if he did
not kick him out of doors." The landlord, to prove that he was "compos
mentis," and to appease the wrath of his wife, whicH waxed warm, com-
plied with her kind wishes, and the sailor was, without much ceremony,
hurried through the door, his progress not a little accelerated by a brisk
application of the landlord's foot, which sent him spinning into the street
in the manner prescribed by the good woman. We were then advised
by our friends to return to our quarters as quick as possible, lest the
fellow might make some trouble for us. We paid our bill, and gave the
landlord many thanks, not forgetting the landlady, to whose kind inter-
ference we owed our fortunate escape. About this time I was unex-
pectedly released from the duties of a soldier. One day I attracted the
attention of an officer, by the exercise of my skill as a barber, in the act
of shaving a comrade; and was forthwith promoted to the high station of
hairdresser and shaver for the officers. I was assiduous in my attentions
to my superiors, and thereby gained their confidence, and could, almost
whenever I wished, procure a pass to go out when I desired.

To visit my dear native land, my friends, and the scenes of my child-
hood, was the prevailing wish of my mind; to accomplish this desire I
was willing to hazard my life. Many difficuhies were to be surmounted
before this could be eifected. Friends were to be found, in whom confi-
dence could be placed.

I had become acquainted with five soldiers, who had been rcleusod
from military duty, because they were mechanics, and could make tiiom-
selves useful in the performance of various mechanical services. They
enjoyed considerable liberty, but did not possess the confidence of the
officers in so great a degree as I did, having made myself useful and
agreeable to them by personal attention in contributing to their comfort
and convenience. About this time I had the good fortune to obtain a
high degree of confidence, and to find great favor in the sight of the
commanding officer, by the exercise of my professional skill in making
him wonderfully satisfied with himself upon the occasion of a military
ball. He was so much pleased with the improvement I made in his per-
sonal appearance, that in the fullness of his heart he gave me a " pass to
go out whenever I chose till further orders." The five comrades, with
whom I had associated, as I have observed, were mechanics, two of
.whom were armorers ; and they had obtained from the arsenal two pis-
tols and three swords, which were all the weapons we had : these, together
with some articles of clothing, we had deposited in the hut of an old
negro, whom we had bribed to secrecy.

I had a general pass, as I have before observed, for myself to go
out at pleasure ; but it was neceaaary to obtain a special one for my

■^"S«

, lp||l ||| ||i J l M ll f>J» » '' q' . * ..W ''« >|«7i l' l .J.tl. T?*. \J Pll'f If; -

■--'£?''"-^"-

ADVENTURES OF THE DESERTERS.

237

from its scabbard,
to inflict a slight
' j)a83 ;" and then,
^ bayonet, dropped
brought the iarid-
i previous acquain-
;al had by tliis lime
began to represent

ere stoutly backed
gant, and declared
id made a difficulty

be a fool if he did
at he was " compos

waxed warm, com-
ut much ceremony,
;elerated by a brisk
ining into the street

were then advised
is possible, lest the
ir bill, and gave the

whose kind inter-
3 time I was unex-
! day I attracted the

1 a barber, in the act
the high station of
lous in my attentions
ie, and could, almost
[ desired.

scenes of my child-
omplish this desire I
jre to be surmounted
bund, in whom confi-

a had been released
nd could make thom-
lical services. They
the confidence of the
le myself useful and
uting to their comfort
od fortune to obtain a
»r iu the sight of the
sional skill in making
occasion of a military
lent I made in his per-
he gave me a " pass to
[le five comrades, with
re mechanics, two of
m the arsenal two pis-
ive had: these, together
in the hut of an old

■vcd, for myself to go
a special one for my

companions, and this duty devolved on mo. In the afternoon, soon after
dinner, I asked the commanding officer to grant mc the favor of a pass
for five of my acquaintances to go out to spend the evening, upon condition
of returning before nine o'clock. The officer hesitated for a moment ;
and then, as he signed tho pass, said, " I believe I can trust you ; but
remember that you must not come back without them." Tliis I readily
promised, and I faithfully fulfilled the obligation.

About the middle of the week, in th« month of July, 1782, our little
party of six, — five Americans, and one Irishman, an active, courageous
fellow, — loft the town, and proceeded to the negro's hut, where we
received our weapons and clothing, and some little stores of piovisions
which we had deposited. That afternoon a soldier had been buried at
Rockfort, and part of the i-egiment had been out to attend the funeral.
Seeing these soldiers upon their return, at a distance, and fearing that
our bundles might excite their suspicion, we concluded to separate and
meet again as soon as the soldiers had passed. We escaped their notice,
and fortunately met together a little time after,— all but one, who was
niissing. We waited some time, and looked in various directions for
him, without success.

The man whom we missed was somewhat intoxicated, and the proba-
bility was that he had lain down and fallen asleep ; or, perhaps, his courage
had failed, and he had given up the undertaking, and might have gone
back and given information a^jainst us. We were satisfied that we could
wait no longer for him without exposing ourselves to great danger, and,
therefore, concluded to proceed without him. What was his fate I have
never been able to ascertain. We pushed rapidly forward till we had
got about a mile from Kingston, when we entered a small piece of wood-
land, and divested ourselves of our uniform, which we had worn with
much reluctance, and had never ceased to regret having exposed ourselves
to the necessity of putting on ; clothed ourselves in the sailor garments,
which we had taken care to provide ; cut the white binding from our hats ;
and were soon metamorphosed into much better sailors than we had
ever been soldiers. Having loaded our pistols, we again proceeded.
We had advanced but a few rods, when we met a sergeant, belonging to
a regiment called the Liverpool Blues, who had been to Rockfort to see
some of his acquaintance, and was then upon his return. It was near
the time for stationing the guard, as usual, at the place called the " Plum-
tree." The sergeant hailed us with, " Where are you bound, my lads?"
We answered, " To Rockfort." He replied, "I have just come from
there and found all well: how goes on the recruiting at New York? and
what is the news?"

A ship had arrived the day previous, from New York, and he supposed
that we were some of the recruits that she had brought over. We per-
ceived his mistake, and adapted our answers to his questions, so as to
encourage his delusion. We told him that the recruiting went on bravely,
end we were going to join our regiment at Rockfort. The fellow seemed,
to be in a very happy mood, and immediately declared his intention of
turning back to show us tho way to the fort. Our situation was rendered
very embarrassing by this kind offer ; and to refuse it we feared would
excite suspicion. Our generous guide thought he was doing us service,
when he was leading us directly to destruction ; and the idea of killing
him, while he imagined that he was performing a good service for us,
was very unpleasant ; but it was our only alternative. In a few moments
the deed would have been done ; self-preservation made it necessary ;

32g A SAILOR'S NARRATIVE.

masaa buckra menT there De a picmy ui du. ^, ^ ^ j^.

will take you up, and put you ^.t^tl^^ST^o c.r^^^^^^^^
?.';\rurbrrd\^r;„JtrTVetist^^ u/for sailors who we,e

'Thltfve'migKethLause, I always found the negroes in and about

which Jamaica abounds. As we *«^^ "" o^ecd with caution,

or depth was, in the darkness, '^^f "^^^^"7^ J^J ^^de aoross. Th«
The tallest of our party was ««"» f"'^^"^,,;" ^'^ SivTh^ ; I, being

rest followed in single file '^«^<^°;d'"g^\° °"' 7, Cs tndlrovisio;^ and
the shortest, brought up the '^^'-ff^^^^^^ ^^^^.^^ on the opposite

Trf °w;t:JffitTur°;:t'd^^^^^^^^^^ ? « -«»'' -ji

to^rrkdryH^t^o^^^^^^

rJo^rSSd^/ott c^Siin pifStvel by daylight at so

of concealment, and proceeded on ""^^f ;°"J„3,; Cd^ourselves
having traveled three or four hours we --^-^-%2l^Zce exclaim,

4~roVtt^&Xrwr;^^^^^^ to refresh ourselves

wHh some of our bread and dj^?^;-"„"J;3,„es considerably refreshed ;
After several -hours rest, we lounu uu exausted, and we had

and as our small stock of P^J^Jf J" j ^d b« ^^^^^^^ '° ""''
consumed nearly the *V™in«^"d^e'rncl«^^^^^^ we\ould venture
,on the opposite Side of^^e «^«jd/X^^^^ till about three

to travel by daylight. We "*^®'®.° „ '" j;__ . 1,111 we were alarmed
o'clock in the afternoon, and, ^^''iSJ^JJ^^ ^j colkcted together to
by hearing the sound of 'ndnotia few momenta, we saw, coming
■ consult upon what course to adopt. In » »«* 3" ^j^j^i, theV imme

.over the hill, three stout "«f »««' "S^J.^'i^Sp^^^^^ " I b"«

diately presented at u», and ordered ub to flwp.

CONFLICT OF THE DESERTERS WITH MAROONS.

■ satiflfaction, he
;k to Kingston by
that we could no»
in at a rapid pace
m Kingston that
1 in the morning ;
1 give info'ination
I were deserters,
lile faither, when
ere be you going,
way ahead ; they
." We told him
care for dat, dey
sailors who were

;roes in and about
ilor who wished to
ir to guide us into
Id avoid the guard
We followed our
ast the guard, and,
after having called
3. Our anxiety to
I wtj could through
many rivulets with
nine what its width
)cecd with caution,
jrade aoross. The.
a heights ; I, being
and provisions and
?d on the opposite
r of the night, and,
ot, where we could
hat it would expose
el by daylight at so

y, we left our place
t's journey. After
dly found ourselves
male voice exclaim,
immediately started
i till we had traveled
to refresh ourselves

siderably refreshed ;
lausted, and we had
be required to arrive
at we would venture
ption till about three
11, we were alarmed
collected together to
ents, we saw, coming
Its, which they imme
Our arms, as I have

229

formerly observed, conHistod of two pistols and throo swords: upon the pis-
tols we could place but little dcpondonco, as they were not in good order ;
and the swords were concealed under our clothes; to attempt to draw
them out would have caused the negroes instantly to fire upon us. Thev
wore about ten rods before us, and stood in the attitude of taking a
deliberate aim at us. To run would be certain death to some of us;
wu thuroforo saw no alternative but to advance. One of our number, a
man named Jones, a tall, powerful fellow, took a paper from his pocket.
and, holding it up before him, advanced, with groat apparent confidence
in his manner, and the rest of us imitated his example. As we approached,
.Tones held out the paper to one of them, telling him that it was our pass,
giving us authority to travel across the island. The negroes, as we very
well knew, were unable to road ; it was therefore immaterial what was
written upon the paper, — I believe it was an old letter, — as manuscript
or print was entirely beyond their comprehension. While we were ad-
vancing, we had time to confer with each other; and the circumstances
of the moment, the critical situation in which we were placed, naturally
led our minds to^one conclusion, to obtain the consent of the negroes
that we might pursue our journey ; but if they opposed our progress, to
resort to violence, if we perished in the attempt.

Our sufferings had made us somewhat savage in our feelings; an^ we
marched up to tliem with that determination of purpose which desperatf
men have resolved upon, when life, liberty, and everything they value is
at stake; — all depended upon prompt and decisive action. This was a
fearful moment. The negroes stood in a row, their muskets still presented,
but their attention was principally directed to the paper which Jones
held before them ; while our eyes wore constantly fixed upon them, onx-
iously watching their motions^, and designing to disarm them as soon as a
favorable opportunity should be offered. The negioes were large and
powerful men, while we, though we outnumbered them, were worn down
by our long march, and enfeebled by hunger. In physical power we
wore greatly their inferiors. But the desperate circumstances in which
we were placed inspired us with uncommon courage, and gave us an
unnatural degree of strengt'i.

We advanced steadily forward, shoulder to shoulder, till the breasts of
three of us were within a few inches of the muzzles of their guns. Jones
reached forward and handed the paper to one of the negroes. He took
it, and having turned it round several times, and examined both sides,
and finding himself not much the wiser for it, shook his head and said,
" We must stop you." The expression of his countenance, the doubts
which were manifested in his manner of receiving the paper, convinced
us, that all hope of deceiving or conciliating them was at an end. Their
muskets were still presented, their fingers upon the triggers. An awful
pause of a moment ensued, when we made a sudden and desperate spring
forward, and seized their muskets ; our attack was so unexpected, that
we wrenched them from their hands before they were aware of our inten-
tion. The negro, whom I attacked, fired just as I seized his gun, but I
had fortunately turned the direction of it, and the ball inflicted a slight
wound upon my side, the scar of which remains to this day. This was
the only gun that was discharged during this dreadful encounter. As
soon as it was in my possession, I exercised all my strength, more than I
thought I possessed, and gave him a tremendous blow over the head with
the breech, which brought him to the ground, from which he never rose.
I had no sooner accomplished my work, than I found my companion.<i

,«^"'

230

A BAILOR'S NARRATIVE.

had been equally active, and had dispatched the other two negroes in
the same space of time. None of our party received any injury but
myself, and my wound I considered as tnflmg. The report of the gun
we were fearful would alarm some of our enemies' comrades, who might
l,c in the vicinity, and bring them to the spot. We accordingly dragged
the bodies to a considerable distance into the woods, where wo buried
them under a quantity of leaves and brush. In their pockets we found a
few biscuit, which were very acceptable to us in our famished condition.
The best gun was selected, as we did not think it necessary to burden
ourselves with the others, as they had been injured in the conflic . We
took what ammunition we thought necessary, and then sought a place of
rest for the remainder of the day. The negroes whom we had encoun-
tered, belonged to a class called " Cudjoe men." They were encouraged
to exorcise their vigilance by the promise of receiving a certain sum of
money for every fugitive slave they restored to his mas er, or soldier
wSom hJy should arrest as a deserter. We lay down m the woods
lancuid and exhausted, after the excitement and fatigue from our contest
wUhtire negroes, and slept soundly for some hours. As it was now near y
dark, we thouglit we would venture again upon our Journey. Having
roadcdou musket, the spoils of our victory we entered the road and
leaving looked arouid with great caution, and finding no obstacles in the way
o excite any apprehension, we started forward. We knew not for a
.TerSy where we were ; but were satisfied, from the time we had con-
sumed in our journey, that we could not be at a great distance from the
northern side of the island. We traveled all night, occasionally stopping
: est and re resh ourselves with some of the hard biscuit which we
had found in the pockets of the negroes, and a draught of water Irom the
prings by the road-side. As daylight approached we found ourse lve«
on the summit of a hill, and in sight of the ocean. After we ••^fjemained
as long as we thought prudent upon the eminence we retired to he
voods,Sbr concealment during the day. We needed rest, and slept the
Greater part of the day. Before suuset, wo left our hiding-place, after
eating the remainder of our bread, and proceeded -utiously toward
hP shore keeping ourselves concealed as much as possible behind the
ushos The Sd of Cuba could just be seen in the horizon, at the
Sance of thirty leagues ; between that and us lay the ocean smooth
and imruffled and noh sail to whiten its surface. To remain whore we
were long, w thout starving or being detected, was impossible ; but how
To g,> awLy was the problem to be solved. Undetermined what to do
weleftoTir retreat again, and the first object that met our view upon the
water was a sail-boat directing her course to the shore near where we

**Tho Question now to be decided was, whether we should attempt to
male aS of "he boat, and escape to Cuba. The wind was blowing
t"om the shore, and the boat was consequently beating in against the
S This was a favorable circumstance for us, if we could get posses-
Tn of the bor The undertaking was fraught with difficulty and danger
but it was our only chance for escape. We crept cautious y down to tho
Zr ., keeZg concealed as much as possible behind the Pushes, till we
arHvcd near to the point, at which we thought the boat was steer ng
\s sic was beating against the wind, we concluded, if the man at the
helm Ldd be brought down, the boat would luft>h.chwouM^

near the shore, when we were immediately to spring on board. Jones,
lleing the best' marksman, took the musket, and seeing that .t was well

two negroes in
I any injury but
}port of tlio ijun
radcB, wlio might
ordingly dragged
ifhero wo buriod
ciieta we found a
nished condition,
csaary to burden
:he conflict. We
sought a place of
we had encoun-
were encouraged
a certain sum of
naster, or soldier
vn in the woods,
3 from our contest
it was now nearly
fourney. Having
cd the road, and,
bstacles in the way
B knew not for a
time we had con-
distance from tiie
asionally stopping
biscuit, which we
of water from the
e found ourselves
r we had remained
we retired to the
rest, and slept the
hiding-place, after
cautiously toward
ossible behind the
the horizon, at the
the ocean, smooth
} remain where we
possible ; but how
mined what to do,
our view upon the
»re near where we

should attempt to
wind was blowing
ting in against the
^e could get posses-
iflSculty and danger,
itiously down to the
I the bushes, till we
s boat was steering
, if the man at the
ich would bring her
r on board. Jones,
ing that it was well

CAPTURE OF THE BOAT.

231

loaded and primed, crept as close to the edge of the shore as lie could
svithoiit being discovered by the crow, and lay down, to wait for a good
opportunity to firo at the man at the helm. Tiie rest of us kept as near
to liim as ponsiblo. Every circumstance seemed to favor our design.
Tiio negroes were all in their huts, and everything around was quiet and
Mill.

The boat 8oon approached near enough for Jones to take a sure aim ;
and wo scarcely breathed as we lay extended on the ground, waiting for
him to perform the duty assigned him.

In a few moments, bang went the gun, and down wont the negro from
the helm into the bottom of the boat; and, as we had anticipated, the helm
being abandoned, the boat lufllDd up in the wind and was brought close
to the shore, which was bold, and the water deep enough to float her.
The instant the gun was flred, we were upon our feet, and in the next
moment up to our waists in the water along side of the boat. No time
was lost ill shoving her about, and getting her bows from the land.
There was a fresh breeze from the shore ; the sails filled ; and the boat
was soon under a brisk headway. I remained in the water the Inst, and,
as 1 attempted to get on board, my hands slipped from my hold on the

funwale, and I fell into the water. I heard an exclamation, " Good God!
'ox is lost!" from one of our party ; but as the boat swept by mc, I caught
with my middle finger in the noose of a rope that hung over the stern,
and was seized by the cape of my jacket and drawn into the boat by the
powerful arm of Jones, who was managing the helm. All that I have
described was apparently the work of a moment. Never did men use
greater exertions than we did at this time. The report of Jones' gun
alarmed the negroes, and brouglit them from their huts in all directions
down to the shore, armed with muskets and clubs, and full of rage and
fury. They waded out after us, up to their chins in the water; and
fired volley after volley, as fast as they could load. The bullets fell
thickly around us, but fortunately none of us were injured.

Our attention was next directed to the disposal of the crew of the boat
we had captured, consisting of three men and a boy. As soon as we
sprung into the boat, they fled with terror and amazement into a sort of
cabin in the bow, where they still remained. It was no wonder that they
were frightened, attacked so suddenly by an enemy, who, as it seemed
to them, had arisen all at once from the bowels of the earth or the depths
of the ocean. Whether the head of the negro at the helm was bullet-
proof, or whether the ball approached so near to it as to frighten him
into insensibility, we never knew ; but we found him prostrated in the
bottom of the boat, when we entered it, apparently dead ; but to our
gratification, we soon found that he was alive, and not a curl of his wool
discomposed. He was soon upon his knees, supplicating mercy, in which
attitude and tone he was followed by the rest of the crew as we called
them from their hiding-place. We gave them their choice to proceed
with us on our voyage, or expose themselves to the hazard of drowning
by attempting to swim ashore. They accepted the latter proposition
with much gratitude, and were soon swimming lustily for the shore, from
which we were at the distance of more than a mile, where we saw them
all safely arrive. The negroes collected around them in great numbers
after they landed, probably to hear their account of the transaction ; and
to obtain information concerning our intentions and destination. We
felt animated by our success. We found the boat in good order ; and,
with a fresh breeze, we made rapid progress. We found a plenty of

-' »*;-*» A-

-*. '#Jftrfit*.i»tt i^ntH^-r *

A SAILOR'S NARRATIVE.

proviiiona in tho boat, with which, for tho first timo for five dnys, wo abun-
dantly satisfied our hunger. It was now nearly dark, and wo had got a
considerable distance from tho shore ; but w« continued lo watch the
movomonts of tho negroes with anxiety, least they should pursue us.
Aftor tho negroes had hold a short consultation together, we saw them
all start off with great rapidity toward a point of land, under winch «•>
thought wo could boo something lying, that had tho appearance of u vessel.
As tho negroes ran in that direction, we had no doubt that they had some
plan in contemplation in relation to our capture. Our fears and conjec-
tures were soon reduced to a matter of fact ; for wo had proceeded but
a little distance farther, when we came in plain sight of a schot-iier at
anchor. Tho vessel was soon under weigh, and sailing in a direction to
cut us off; but wo trusted that tho approaching aarknoss would m a short
time conceal us from tho sight of our pursuers. As tho schooner was a
largo object, compared with our little boat, we could see her long after
we were invisible to thorn. After being satisfied of the course the
schooner was taking, we thought the best way to avoid her would be to
put about directly for Jamaica.

Wo sailed in this direction till we supposed that our enemy had got
vonsidorably past the course for us to pursue, when we again put about,
and steered as directly as we were able for Cuba. We saded without
interruption through the night, and, from the rapidity with which wo had
passed through tho water, we concluded we could not be a groat distance
from the land. As soon as daylight approached we espied the shore,
and lost no time in making for it. Shortly after, we saw, at a consid-
erable distanco, the schooner, apparently steering for Jamaica. They
discovered us, and altered their course directly for us. Their approach,
however excited no alarm in our minds now, for we wore sure that we
could run our boat on shore before they could come up with us. Their
kind intentions were manifested in the compliment of a few salutes from
a swivel, which proved as harmless as the courtesy we endeavored to
.show them by half a dozen salutes from the musket which had previously
done us more faithful servic<j. The schooner soon gave up the chase,
" «nd left us alone in our glory."

In a few days we found a vessel bound for St. Domingo in which we
took passage and on our arrival there found the American frigate Flora
at anchor. A few hours saw us safe beneath the protection ol the stars
and stripes.

ivo dnys, wo abun*
and wo had got a
lued to watch the
should purHun us.
thor, we saw thorn
1, undor wliich w<i
mrnrico of u vessel,
that they hud some
r fears and conjcc-
lad proceeded but
it of a schooner at
ig in a direction to
S8 would in a short
:ho schooner was a
see her long at\er
of the course the
id her would be to

our enemy had got
te again put about,
Wc sailed without
with which wo had
be a groat distance
} c-ripied the shore,
) saw, at a consid-
yr Jamaica. They
1. Their approach,
were sure that we
up with us. Their
r a fow salutes from
r we endeavored to
■hich had previously
gave up the chase,

)mingo in which we
Qrican frigate Flora
ttection of the stars

THE NARRATIVE

OP THB

MUTINY OF THE BOUNTY.

riTH THt i80Ari or paptain blioh, and hm mivovn votao« or ncai roua tiioiwand

MILKH IN an open BOAT TO THK WLAND Or TIMOR, TOOKTHU WITH THE rATE OP rLKTOUB
0HB18TIAN, THE lEAI.tR Ojr THE MUTINEER*. ANi> THE riNAL SETTLEMENT or TH« LATTRM AT

PITOAIRN ISLAND, IN TUK PACIFIC OCEAN.

His Majesty's ihip Bounty was purchased into the service, and placed
under the command of Captain Bligh, in 1787. She letl England in
December of that year, with orders to proceed to Otahcite, and transport
the bread-fruit of that country to the British settlements in the West
Indies, and to bring also some specimens of it to England. Her crew
consisted of forty-four persons, and a gardener. She was ordered to make
the passage round Cape Horn, but after contending a long time with
adverse gales, in extremely cold weather, she was obliged to bear away for
the Cape of Good Hope, where she underwent a refit, and arrived at her
destination in October 1788. Six months were spent at Otaheite, collecting
and stowmg away the fruit, during which time the officers and seamen
had free access to the shore, and made many friends, though only one
of the seamen formed any alliance there.

In April 178y, they took leave of their friends at Otaheite, and proceeded
to Anamooka, where Bligh replenished his stock of water, and took on
board hogs, Iruit, vegetables, etc., and put to sea again on the 26th of the
same month. Throughout the voyage Bligh, who was of an exceedingly
tyrannical disposition, had repeated misunderstandings with his officers,
and had on several occasions given them and the ship's company just
reasons for complaint. Still, whatever might have been the feelings of
the officers, Adams declares there was no real discontent among the crew-
much less was there any idea of offering violence to their commander!
The officers, it must be admitted, had much more cause for dissatisfaction
than the seamen, especially the master and the lieutenant, Fletcher
Christian. The latter was a proteg6 of Bligh, and unfortunately was
under some obligations to him of a pecuniary nature, of which Bligh
frequently reminded him when any difference arose. Christian, excess-
ively annoyed at the share of blame which repeatedly fell to his lot in
cominon with the rest of the officers, could ill endure the additional taunt
of private obligations ; and in a moment of excitement told his commander
that sooner or later a day of reckoning would arrive. The day previous
to the mutiny a serious quarrel occurred between Bligh and his officers,
about some cocoa-nuts which were missed from his private stock ; and
Christian again fell under his commander's displeasure. The same
evening he was invited to supper in the cabin, but he had not so soon
forgotten his injuries as to accept of this iU-timed civility ,«nd returned
an excuse. '

" (233)

^W*"**

234

MUTINY OF THE BOUNTY.

Matters were in this state on the 28th of April 1789, when the Bounty,
on her homeward voyage, was passing to the southward of Tofoa, one
of the Friendly Islands. It was one of those beautiful nights which
characterize the tropical regions, when the mildness of the air and the
stillness of nature dispose the mind to reflection. Christian, pc:idering
over his grievances, considered them so intolciable, that anything appeared
preferable to enduring them, and he determined, as he couh'. not redress
them, that he would at least escape from the possibility of their being
increased. Absence from England, and a long residence at Otaheite,
where new connections were formed, weakened the recollection of his
native country, and prepared his mind for the reception of ideas which
the situation of the ship and the serenity of the moment particularly
favored. His plan, strange as it must appear for a young oflicer to adopt,
who was fairly advanced in an honorable profession, was to set himself
adrift upon a rafl, and make his way to the island then in sight. As
quick in the execution as in the design, the rafl was soon constructed,
various useful articles were got together, and he was on point of launching
it, when a young officer, who afterward perished in the Pandora, to whom
Christian communicated his intention, recommended him, rather than
risk his life on so hazardous an expedition, to endeavor to take possession
of the ship, which he thought would not be very difficult, as many of the
ship^s company were not well disposed toward the commander, and would
all be very glad to return to Otaheite, and reside among their friends in
that island. This daring proposition is even more extraordinary than the
premeditated scheme of his companion, and, if true, certainly relieves
Christian from part of the odium which has hitherto attached to him as
the sole instigator of the mutiny.

It however accorded too well with the disposition of Christianas mind,
and hazardous as it was, he determined to co-operate with his friend in
cS'ecting it, resolving, if he failed, to throw himself into the sea; and that
there might be no chance of being saved, he tied a deep sea-lead about
his neck, and concealed it within his clothes. Christian happened to
have the morning watch, and as soon as he had relieved the oflicer of the
deck, he entered into conversation with Quintal, the only one of the sea-
men who, Adams said, had formed any serious attachment at Otaheite ;
and after expatiating on the happy hours they had passed there, disclosed
his intentions. Quintal, after some consideration, said he thought it a
dangerous attempt, and declined taking a part. Vexed at a repulse in a
quarter where he was most sanguine of success, and particularly at having
revealed sentiments which, if made known, would bring him to an ignomi-
nious death. Christian became desperate, exhibited the lead about his
neck in testimony of his own resolution, and taxed Quintal with cowardice,
declaring it was fear alone that restrained him. Quintal denied this
accusation ; and in reply to Christianas further argument, that success
would restore them all to the happy island, and the connections they had
left behind, the strongest persuasion he could have used to a mind some-
what prepared to acquiesce, he recommended that some one else should
be tried — Isaac Martin for instance, who was standing by. Martin, more
ready than his shipmate, emphatically declared, " He was for it ; it was
the very thing." Successful in one instance. Christian went to every man
of his watch, many of whom he found disposed to join him, and before
daylight the greater portion of the ship's company were brought over.

Adams was sleeping in his hammock, when Sumner, one of the seamen,
came to him, and whispered that Christian was going to take the ship

si*'^

9, when the Bounty,
ward of Tofoa, one
utiful nights which
is of the air and the
Christian, pondering
at anything appeared
he could not redress
bility of their being
sidence at Otaheite,
le recollection of his
ption of ideas which
moment particularly
oung officer to adopt,
n, was to set himself
i then in sight. As
iras soon constructed,
on point of launching
the Pandora, to whom
ded him, rather than
Lvor to take possession
fficult, as many of the
iommander, and would
among their friends in
extraordinary than the
rue, certainly relieves
jrto attached to him as

)n of Christian's mind,
rate with his friend in
f into the sea ; and that
1 a deep sea-lead about

Christian happened to
ilieved the officer of the
the only one of the sea-
attachment at Otaheite ;
I passed there, disclosed
on, said he thought it a

Vexed at a repulse in a
md particularly at having
I bring him to an ignomi-
»ited the lead about his

Quintal with cowardice,
tn. Quintal denied this
r argument, that success
the connections they had
ave used to a mind some-
hat some one else should
anding by. Martin, more
I, » He was for it; it was
hristianwentto every man
d to join him, and before
many were brought over,
umner, cue of the seamen,
IS going to take the ship

lo'mmm^-

MUTINY OF THE BOUNTY. 286

from her commander, and set him and the master on shore. On hearing
this, Adams went upon deck, and found everything in great confusion ;
but not then liking to takr li/ part in the transaction, he returned to ills
hammock, and remained ihere until he saw Christian at the arm-ciie«t,
distributing arms to all wr ' ame for them ; and then seeing measures
had proceeded so far, and ij.prehensive of being on the weaker side, he
turned out again and went for a cutlass. All those who proposed to
assist Christian being armed, Adams, with others, was ordered to secure
the officers, while Christian and the master-at-arms proceeded to the
cabin to make a prisoner of Captain Bligh. They seized him in his cot,
bound h<5 hands behind him, and brought him upon deck. He remon-
strated with them on their conduct, but received only abuse in return,
and a blow from the master-at-arms with the flat side of a cutlass. He
was placed near the binnacle, and detained there, with his arms pinioned,
by Christian, who held him with one hand, and a bayonet with the other.
As soon as the lieutenant was secured, the sentinels that had been placed
over the doors of the officers' cabins were taken off; the master then
jumped upon the forecastle, and endeavored to form a party to retake
the ship ; but he was quickly secured, and sent below in confinement.

This conduct of the master, who was the only officer that tried to bring
the mutineers to a sense of their duty, was the more highly creditable to
him, as he had the greatest cause for discontent, Bligh having been more
severe to him than to any of the other officers. About this time a dispute
arose, whether the lieutenant and his party, whom the mutineers resolved
to set adrift, should have the launch or the cutter ; and it being decided
in favor of the launch. Christian ordered her to be hoisted out. Martin,
who, it may be remembered, was the first convert to Christian's plan,
foreseeing that with the aid of so large a boat the party would find their
way to England, and that their information would, in all probability, lead
to the detection of the oflenders, relinquished his first intention, and
exclaimed, "If you give him the launch, I will go with him ; you may as
well give him the ship." He really appears to have been in earnest in
making this declaration, as he was afterward ordered to the gangway from
his po&'t of command over the lieutenant, in consequence of having fed
him with a shaddock, and exchanged looks with him indicative of his
friendly intentions. It also fell to the lot of Adams to guard the lieutenant,
who, observing him stationed by his side, exclaimed, "And you, Smith,
are you against me?"* To which Adams replied that he only acted as
the others did — he must be like the rest. Captain Bligh, while thus
secured, reproached Christian with ingratitude, reminded x him of his
obligations to him, and begged he would recollect he had a wife and
family. To which Christian replied, that he should have thought of that
before.

The launch was by this time hoisted out ; and the officers and seamen
of Captain Bligh's party having collected what was necessary for their
voyage, were ordered into her. Among those who took their seats in
the boat was Martin, which being noticed by Quintal, he pointed a musket
at him, and declared he would shoot him unless he instantly returned to
the ship, which he did. The armorer and carpenter's mates were also
forcibly detained, as they might be required hereafter. All those now
being in the boat who were intended to accompany their unfortunate
commander, Christian addressed him, saying — "Come, Captain Bligh,

'Adams went by the name of Alexander Smith in the Bounty.

..i^im I.' fmr^

MUTINY OF THE BOUNTY.
Z officers and .en are now in th;^,^-^^^^^^^^^^^ J-

if you attempt to make the >«»«* 'f 'J^^g^de! and his hands unbound.
death." He wa8 then f"!*^*"^ "'".r^J p 'fiUgh looked stcadfaatly at
When they were putting h.m out of the^sh^^^^^ ^^^^^„ ^^ jhe

Christian, and asked h.m, if *>'^ ^/^.^V".^? ^dghip? At this question he
manv instances he had received of his f"«°f ^'P^^ion--" That, Captain
seemed confused, and answered ^^^ nmch em°^^,^„ ;„ hell!"
Bligh, thatisthething; — lam'nhel^ 1^^^^ adrift, amid the

The boat ^''«;^J7.^^,;t;de3Vd un^^^

^ttansaS: Zl ':^:iS:i:=t express bj their manner a
contrition for having joined in »»'«J^";^'°y_ j ^^at some arms might be
Before the boat was cast "A' J 'gJ'^SeV at him, and said

handed into her ; but these "»f««''"g !^STmonr I'O was going,

"he was well acquainted with the people among ^^^^^^^^

and therefore did not wan ^henij^' They, ho^^^^^^^^^ ^f „„, hundred

into the boat. Their whole sock oJ?;o..^o.sjo ^^^^ ^^ ^^^^ ^.^^

and fifty pounds of bread, sixteen piec f , ^„ ^ barrecoes m

twenty-eight gallons of water there were a i^ ^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^

the boat. The boatswam Jad been aUowed to ^^^ ^^^^^^

of twine, some canvas, lines, and cordage «ir^ ^^^ ^^^^.^^

been also permitted to take a H^.^Jj*"*^^"^^^^^

den,on painofdeath,to touch either chartephemer.s ^^ ^^^^.^^^

observations, sextant, time-keeper or any ol the y ^^^^^ ^^^ ^^^

which Bligh had '-n/" «;;V;?iJS ^ith some other

good fortune to secure Bl.gh s Jp^'J^J^^^j^ ^oat left the ship they were
material ship papers. And at the «ne tn ^^^^^^ ^^^ »„ ^teer

about ten leagues from Tosoa Bl>g ^^JJ/^ ^ ^^^ f,^^ thence to

for this place, to seek a «»PP J °\f ^ tThe king to suffer him to equip
proceed to Tongataboo, and there to so^^icUtne^ g provisions as might
[he boat, and grant them such a supply ^^^^.^^ /^osoa, they found
enable them to reach the E^st Uidies. ^'V « jj^^ggives of the de-
the natives unfriendly and ^''^^^J^^ZZeniXy mih stones, so ih,A
fenseless state of the English, attacked them vioie y ^.^^ ^^^^

the supply they got ^ZZeS\y^^ok by the iatives ; which mo.t
difficulty they escaped being ^"^^'f '^ J'" " ^^e of the crew (John Norton)

relief remained, excepting what m.ght^b^^^^^^^^ ^^ ^ ,

island of Timor, which was ^\^^^ ^^^^^^^ ^^ ^.^ observed, with regard

that it would require the £«,^*f «\"i,*=°d ^ ^°' '° ^""« ' '"^'*^"

to the scanty allowance Tlhich they had to ive p ^^ ^^^^^ ^^ ^^^^^^

It was therefore agreed by the «no f "^j' 'J^j to each person per day.
„d a quarter of a pint of w^ter should be ?«"^^ ^^ j^^J manner not to
After Bligh had recommended to them m ^h« "ojj «o ^^^^^ of May, bore
depart from the promise ^hey had maj^e ne, ^.^^^^ explored,

-KtSyXti^Srfe^-S^^^^^^

flp^

MUTINY OF THE BOUNTY.

237

ust go with them ;
instantly be put to
9 hands unbound.
»kcd steadfastly at
jer return for the
It this question he
,— "That, Captain
in hell!"

t adrift, amid the
len, whose general

carpenter's mates
hey had no hand in

by their manner a

ome arms might be
led at him, and said
dom ho was going,
threw four cutlasses
sted of one hundred
quarts of rum, with
empty barrecoes in
lect a small quantity
muel, the clerk, had
; but he was forbid-
, book of astronomical
mrveys or drawings
Mr. Samuel had the
ion, with some other
ft the ship they were
mination was to steer
vater, from thence to
to suffer him to equip
i provisions as might
at Tosoa, they found
hemselves of the de-
ily with stones, so that
18, indeed, with some
! natives ; which mort
le crew (John Norton)
fast of the boat ; this
f his companions ; he
savages.

oat, that Bligh should
hem that no hopes of
it New Holland, or the
ill 1200 leagues; and
observed, with regard
,n for so long a voyage,
nly an ounce of bread,
o each person per day.
t solemn manner not to
he second of May, bore
>ss a sea little explored,
nine inches in breadth,

and two feet nine inches deep, with eighteen persons on board, and
heavy laden.

The men were divided into watches, and they returned thanks to God
for their miraculous escape. The second day was stormy ; and, to lighten
the boat, everything was thrown overboard that could be spared, except
two suits of clothes to each. A teaspoonful of rum, and a quarter of a
bread-fruit, was served out for dinner, with a determination to make
their provisions last out eight weeks. The sixth day their allowances
were delivered out by a pair of scales made of two cocoanut shells ; and
the weight of a pistol-ball of bread was served out, making one twenty-
fifth part of a pound of sixteen ounces, or two hundred and seventy-two
grains, at a meal. The ninth day they wore served regularly with one
twenty-fifth of a pound of bread, and a quarter of a pintof water at morning,
noon, and sunset ; and this day with half an ounce of pork for dinner to
each, which was divided into three or four mouthfuls. The eleventh day
it rained, and was cold ; and the men began to be dejected, full of wants,
and without the means of relief. Their clothes were wet through, which
they stripped ofl', and wrung through salt water ; by which means they felt
a warmth which they could not have had while wet with rain.* The
fourteenth day they passed by islands they dared not touch at, for fear
of the natives, having been in other places pursued ; which rather in-
creased their misery. A general run of cloudy wet weather was considered
as a great blessing of Providence, as the hot weather would have caused
them to have died with thirst. Being so constantly covered with rain or
sea, they conceived it protected them from that dreadful calamity.

The nineteenth day the men seemed half dead, and their appearances
were horrible. Extreme hunger was now very great. No one suffered
from thirst, nor had they much inclination to drink, that desire being
satisfied through the skin ; and the little sleep they got was in the midst
of water. Two spoonfuls of rum were served out this morning, with their
usual allowance of bread and water. At noon the sun broke out, which
rejoiced every one. In the afternoon they were covered with rain and
salt water — the cold was extreme — and every one dreaded the approach
of night. Sleep, though longed for, gave but little comfort. Captain
Bligh himself almost lived without it. The next morning the weather
abated, and a larger allowance of rum was given out. The twenty-second
day the weather was bad, and the men in great distress, and in expectation
that such another night as their last would put an end to their lives.
Several seemed to be no longer able to support their sufferings. Two
teaspoonfuls of rum were served out ; after which, with wringing their
clothes, and their breakfast of bread and water, they became a little
refreshed. The weather abated, all hands were rejoiced, and they ate
their other scanty meals with more satisfaction than for some time past.

The twenty-third day the fineness of the morning produced cheerful
countenances, and they experienced, for the first time, for fifteen days
past, comfort from the warmth of the sun. They stripped, and hung up
their clothes to dry ; which were now so threadbare as to keep neither

*Oaptain Bligh afterward frequently practiced it with great benefit, and states that
tbe preservation of their health during sixteen days of continued heavy rains, wrk
owing to this practice of wringing their clothes out as often as they became iillpii
with rain ; and that the men felt a change more like that of dry clothes than could
have been imagined ; that they often repeated it, and it gave great refreshment nnil
warmth.

MUTINY OP THE BOUNTY.

c„,dnor.ctou. The, saw .any b.^^^

The state of ^'^eir provisions this day, at ^^^^ ^ ^^

would l-.ave lasted ^""^ "'"^^^f" ^ do3« ^^^^ "'S**^ ^" "'"^ ^° ^°
the island of Timor. But as '\ ^''f P°\7'\ke their stock hold out for
to Java, they reduced ^he.r allowance to make tn^ ^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^

six weeks. The necessity of the case was staged ^^^J ^^^ ^^^^
agreed to receive one »^^«"»y-<^i,^^^^^^^^^^ they had forty-three

and llie same for dinner; ^"^ ,^> °™X;^„ J ^5 the size of a pigeon
days^ allowance. The .twenty-fourth Jayj^ bird ^

was caught, and divided into «'ghtf "Portions in y ^^^^^^ ^^ ^^^^^

which was killed for .f^PP^'^/f'*', 3 as a favor, an allowance of
were most distressed lor want ^^ /°?°.' ""^'.^e a good supper, compared
bread was given out for supper ; ^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^ booby. The

with their usual fare. Jho twenty-fifth day Uiey g ^^ ^^ ^^^.^^^^^

weather was fine ; and they ^bought Providen^^ app ^.^^ ^^ ^^^.
their wants. The men were °^^ 3»y^^^f J^^ted food. To make their
The blood was given to those who ^os^ wan „^, ;„ g^lt water, while

bread a little savory, many ^.'5;/''^ atet in their allowance of water,
others broke theirs into smal pieces, and ate inn ^^ ^^^

out of a cocoanut shell, with ^«; ^^^^-'.^^Xg It dinner as if they
too large a piece at a time ; so th t they were J g ^^^^^^^
had been at a more plentiful ™«,f • JJ^^^jS of another kind. The
without its inconvenience, and distress now c^^^^^ and faintneBS,

sun was so powerful that tbe men were seized w^.^g^ ^^^^ ^ j

which made life to some indifferent^ ioobie^ whose stomachs contain»;d
by much drifted wood, and caugh two boobie^w ^^^^ ^^^^idered as

several flying-fish and «n}''?\^7"7,^^^^^ ^a^s, into eighteen portions,
valuable prizes, and were divided, with their ma^ ^ ^|^ ,„

in addition to theii common allowance. t.ap^ g ^^^^^^^ ^^

that with this every person thought he h^J JeaJ^^^j ;„ ^he west, they had
saw a gannet; and, as the ^^""f ,^ ^^ JJ^ey aU amused themselves by
no doubt of being near to ^''"•^ ' ^"J.!. ^ Jould find,
conversing on the probabiU y of what they shj.^ ^^^ ^^„ 3^,

The twenty-eighth day they made an is , j^^gto^^tion Island,

(by account) 40«» 35' W. of Toloa, which tney ^^ ^.^^ ^^ ^^^^

iLe they found pleiity «[ JJ*"; J^^ 3S: '^ ^ome'^ceWer.'

rocks that they were «hl'gedtoopenthe sheas. y ^^^^^ ^^ ^

stews of them, mixed with bread and a J^J "J P^ \i,',t had been thrown
pot which they fo«?donboard,andat^^^^^^^^^^

into the boatonturningoff. Each person ^.^^ ^ f

though weak, appeared much refreshed, an v encounter. The

beini able to surmount the d.ffic«lt^8 thJJ « ,,knes8ofjo.^^^

diseases of the people were, a toess m m ^^ evacuation by siool

and violent tenesmus-few of the men Javing ^^^^ ^^^^ ^^

since they had left the ship 'J^^'^XS^y^iit, a mind possessed of a
Every one retained marks of strength tnai,w ^^^^ ^^ey

Tolerable share of f«t"t i^tSS vo^ge to^T^^^^^ The men were not
imagined they should have n their voyage i ^^^ ^^ ^^^ ^^eir

permitted to expose themselves to the heat ot J ^^

Jhprt sleep in the «hade : they were cau^^on ^^olesome. Some

fruit, which, unless eaten by b ds, ''"J "J^^^^ i„th day, finding them-
suffered by neglecting this cauion.^^ twe y ^^ ^^^^^^^^ ^,^6
selves discovered W the native , theyjaid p J j^^^^^^ ^„ a twenty-fifth
stock of bread, according to their lasi mouo

f being near land,
rate of allowance,
ey hoped to reach
t be obliged to go
itock hold out for
ery one cheerfully
ead for breakfast,
jy had forty-three
size of a pigeon
Iso caught a booby,
three of those who
r, an allowance of
I supper, compared
mother booby. The
ired to be relieving
ion to their dinner,
d. To make their
I salt water, while
allowance of water,
ly avoiding to take
at dinner as if they
the weather was not
another kind. The
nguor and faintness,
xth day they passed
! stomachs containwd
vere considered as
ito eighteen portions,
igh was happy to see
In the evening, they
n the west, they had
[lused themselves by

id.

lat. 12» 39' S., long,
id Restoration Island,
;h were so fast to the
ymade some excellent
by means of a copper
hat had been thrown
I full pint. The men,
pirits, with a hope of
to encounter. The
.a weakness of joints,
an evacuation by stool
f none were alarming.
I mind possessed of a
lore fatigue than they
r. The men were not
sun, but to take their
)out taking berries or
Bd wholesome. Some
inth day, finding them-
and embarked. Their
mce, was a twenty-fifth

MUTINY OF THE BOUNTY.

239

of a pound at breakfast and at dinner. The thirtieth day they landed on
another island, and parties were sent out for supplies. But a spirit of
discontent began to discover itself among some, and from one man in
particular ; but it was instantly checked, and everything became quiet
again. Each person got this day a full pint and a half of stowed oysters
and clams, thickened with small beans, which the botanists call a species
of dolichos.

The thirty-first day, Mr. Nelson, the botanist, was taken very ill with
violent pains in his bowels, loss of sight, much drought, and an inability
to walk. This was partly owing to heat and fatigue, and not retiring to
sleep in the shade, or to improper food. The little wine that remained
was of real use. With a few pieces of bread soaked in half a glass of
wine occasionally, he continued to mend, and it was found at last not
necessary to continue the wine. For six days they coasted along New
Holland, and, on landing, got occasionally supplies of oysters, birds, and
water. These, though small, with rest, and being relieved from many
fatigues, preserved their lives; but, even in their present state, they were
deplorable objects. The thirty-third day from their leaving Tofoa, which
was the third of June, they again launclied into the open ocean for tbe
island of Timor. Bligh was happy to find that no one was so much
afiected with their miserable situation as himself; but that the men
seemed as if they were embarked on a voyage to Timor, in a vessel suffi-
ciently calculated for safety and convenience. This confidence gave
him pleasure ; and to this cause did he attribute their preservation.
Every one was encouraged to believe that eight or ten days would bring
them to Timor ; and, after prayers, their allowance of water was served
out for supper. The thirty-sixth day, the state of stores on hand, at their
former rate of serving, was equal to nineteen days^ allowance, at three
times a day ; and there being now every prospect of a quick passage,
their suppers were again granted. The thirty-seventh day the sea was
high, with much rain, and the night cold. The surgeon and an old
hardy seamen appeared to be giving way very fast. They were assisted
by a teaspoonfui or two of the wine at a time, which had been carefully
saved, expecting such a melancholy necessity. The thirty-eighth day
they caught a small dolphin, which was their first relief of this kind
Two ounces were delivered out to each man this day, and the remaindei
was reserved for the next day. The thirty-ninth day the men were he
ginning to complain generally ; and, by the feelings of all, they wer*
convinced they were but too well founded. The surgeon and the olo
seaman had a little wine given to them ; and encouraged with the hopeii
of reaching Timor in a very few days, on their present fine rate of sailing.
The fortieth day, in the morning, after a comfortless night, there was
such a visible alteration in many of the people, as to occasion many ap-
prehensions. Extreme weakness, swelled legs, hollow ghastly counte-
nances, a more than common inclination to sleep, and an apparent debility
of understanding, seemed to indicate approaching dissolution. The sur-
geon and the old seaman were the most miserable of objects. A few
teaapoonfuls of the little wine that remained, greatly assisted them : hope
was their principal support, and birds and rockweed showed they were
not far from land.

On the forty-first day every one received his accustomed allowance,
and an extra supply of water to those who wanted it. By observation,
they found they had now passed the meridian of the eastern part of
Timor, which gave great joy. On the forty-second day, the 1 2th of June.

-*J^»-<-t.*^.i3Wfcv-«

<f'

240

MUTINY OF THE BOUNTY.

at three in the morning, they discovered Timor, at two leagues^ distance.
It was impossible to describe the joy it diffused. It appeared scarcely
credible to themselves, that in an open boat, so poorly provided, they
should have been enabled to reach the coast of Timor in forty-one days
after leaving the island of Tofoa ; having in that time run the distance
of 3,618 miles; and that, notwithstanding their extreme distress, no one
should have perished on the voyage.

Some of the natives brought them some Indian com, and pilots to con-
duct them to Coupang. They were becalmed, and the men were obliged
to try at the oars, which they used with some effect. On the 14th of
June they reached Coupang, where they received every attention huma-
nity and kindness could dictate. Nothing but the strictest economy of
their provisions, the sacredly keeping to their agreements, and due sub-
ordination and perseverance, could have saved Bligh and his men. Such
had been their attention to these points, that when they arrived at Timor,
there remained on hand eleven days' provisions to have carried them on
to Java, if they had missed this island. The quantity of provisions, with
which they left the ship was not more than would have been consumed
in five days, without such precautions.

In March of the following year. Captain Bligh arrived in England.
Out of nineteen who were in the boat, when she was turned adrift by
the mutineers, only twelve lived to reach their native country.

We now return to the Bounty, and the adventures of its mutinous crew.
Christian, who was the mate. Hey wood. Young and Stewart, midshipmen,
the mr -«ter-at-arms, and sixteen seamen, beside the three artificers and
the gardener — forming in all twenty-five — made up the entire crew.

The ship having stood for some time to the W.N.W., with a view to
deceive the party in the launch, was afterward put about, and her course
directed as near to Otaheite as the wind would permit. In a few days
they found some diiRculty in reaching that island, and Uire away for To-
bouai, a small island about three hundred miles to the southward of it,
where they agreed to establish themselves, provided the natives, who
were numerous, were not hostile to their purpose. Of this they had
very early intimation, an attack being made upon a boat which they sent to
sound the harbor. She, however, effected her purpose ; and the next
morning the Bounty was warped inside the reef that formed the port, and
stationed close to the beach. An attempt to land was next made ;
but the natives disputed every foot of ground with spears, clubs and
stones, until they were dispersed by a discharge of cannon and muricetry.
On this they fled to the interior, and refused to hold any further inter-
course with their visitors. The determined hostility of the natives put
an end to the mutineers* design of settling ' among them at that time ;
and, after two days* fruitless attempt at reconciliatbn, they left the
island and proceeded to Otaheite. Tobouai was, however, a favorite
spot with them, and they determined to maL«> another effort to settle
there, v/hich they thought would yet be feasible, provided the islanders
could be made acquainted with their friendly intentions^ The only way
to do this was through interpreters, who might be procured at Otaheite ;
and in order not to be dependent upon the natives of Tobouai for wives,
they determined to engage several Otaheitan women to accompany them.
They reached Otaheite in eight days, and werereceived with the greatest
kindness by their former friends, who immedislely inqoired for the captain
and his officers. Christian and his party having anticipated^ inquiries of
this nature, invented a story to tGCoant for their absence^ and told them

MUTINY OF THE BOUNTY.

241

eagues' distance-
ppeared scarcely
rly provided, they
in forty-oPd days
run the distance
,e distress, no one

, and pilots to con-
men were obliged
On the 14th of
ry attention huma-
ictest economy of
snts, and due sub-
.ndhismen. Such
jy arrived at Timor,
ve carried them on
f of provisions, v«th
ve been consumed

jrived in England-
as turned adrift by

5 country.

of its mutinous crew-
Uewart, midshipmen,
three artificers and
the entire crew.
N.W., with a view to
bout, and her course
:mit. In a few days
id bore away for lo-
♦he southward of it,
ded the natives, who
le. Of this they had
,oat which they sent to

irpose ; and the next
t formed the port, Mid
ind was next made;
ith spears, clubs and
cannon and musketry,
lold any further intet-
lity of the natives put
,g them at that ume;
liation, they left the
as, however, a favorite
aother effort to settle
rprovidedthe islanders
Intions- The only way

procured at Otaheite ;

-of Tobouai for wives,

len to accompany them.

iceived vrith the greatest

■^inqaired for the captain

anticipated inquiries of

absence, and told them

that Bligh, having found an island suitable for a settlement, had landed
there with some of his officers, and sent then in the ship to procure live
stock and whatever else would be useful to the colony, and to bring beside
such of the natives as were willing to accompany them. Satisfied with
this plausible account, the chiefs supplied them with everything they
wanted, and even gave them a bull and a cow which had been confided
to their care, the only ones, I believe, that were on the island. They
wore equally fortunate in finding several persons, both male and female,
willing to accompany them ; and thus furnished, they again sailed for
Tubouai, where, as they expected, they were better received than before,
in conseodence of being able to communicate with the natives through
their interpreters.

Experience had taught them the necessity of making self-defense their
first consideration, and a fort was consequently commenced, eight yards
square, surrounded by a wide ditch. It was nearly completed, when the
natives, imagining they were going to destroy them, and that the ditch
was intended for their place of interment, planned a general attack when
the party should proceed to work in the morning. It fortunately happened
that one of the natives who accompanied them from Otaheite overheard
tliis conspiracy, and instantly swam off to the ship and apprised the crew
of their danger. Instead, therefore, of proceeding to their work at the
fort, as usual, the following morning, they made an attack upon the natives,
killed and wounded several, and obliged the others to retire inland.
Great dissatisfaction and diSerence of opinion now arose among the crew:
some were for abandoning the fort and returning to Otaheite ; while others
were for proceeding to the Marquesas; but the majority were at that
time for completing what they had begun, and remaining at Tobouai. At
length the continued state of suspense in which they were kept by the
natives made them decide to return to Otaheite, though much against the
inclination of Christian, who in vain expostulated with them on the folly
of such a resolution, and the certain detection that must ensue.

The implements being embarked, they proceeded, therefore, a second
time to Otaheite, and were again well received by their friends, who
replenished their stock of provisions. During the passage Christian
formed his intention of proceeding in the ship to some distant uninhabited
island, for the purpose of permanently settling, as the most likely means
of escaping the punishment which he well knew awaited him in the event
of being discovered. On communicating this plan to his shipmates he
found only a few inclined to assent to it ; but no objections were offered
by those who dissented, to his taking the ship ; all they required was an
equal distribution of such provisions and stores as might be useful.
Young, Brown, Mills, Williams, Quintal, M'Coy, Martin, Adams, and six
natives (four of Otaheite and two of Tobouai) determined to follow the
fate of Christian. Remaining, therefore, only twenty-four hours at Ota-
heite, they took leave of their own comrades, and having invited oo board
seve'al of the women with the feigned purpose of taking leave, the cables
were cut and they were carried off to sea.

The mutineers now bade adieu to all the world, save the few fndividualf
associated with them in exile. But where that exile should be passed,
was yet undecided: the Marquesas Islands were first mentioned; but
Christian,on reading Captain Carteret's account of Pitcairn Island, thought
it better adapted to the purpose, and accordingly shaped a course thither.
They reached it not many days afterward ; and Christian, with one of
tlic seamen, landed in a little nook, which was afterward found very
16

.•'ISi'^^SiwC"'

^^ MUTINY or THB BOUNTY.

.. w i,.»5„n ThPV soon traversed the island sufficiontlv
convenient for disembarkation. T^^^^^ ,j p ,ed

to be satisfied that it was «"'^*^ "rlV° The anchorage in the offing
water, wood a good sod, J"* '"^JSely hazardous. The n'-n.nta.ns
was very bad, and landing ^O' ''°''|?^ ";7«, J narrow, that t^ey might bo
were so difficult of access, and the pass «« """^j ^^_^ „^,^ several

Maintained by a few ?"«>"» ///J^ hey ^uid retreat, and where, as

caves, to which, m .«*«« '*ln''^I^;'J;iht Wd defiance to their pursuers,
long as their FOv.«onB la«ted_ ^^^^^^^^ ^^^ j,^„ y,, ,^, ,hip to an

With this intelligence »»'^y"*"T*;°gide of he island, where everything
anchor in a small bay on the ""^hern side oi ^^ ^^^^^^^

that could be of utility >-•;« l';"'*;^''"!^;' burning her. Christian,
the ship, either by. running her on sj^^^^^^^ but while they

Adams, and the majori y, were ["^ Jj^^^h'j, J-.ness, Matthew Quintal
went to the forepart "^ /'^^/'^'P' ^V^^""' The vessel burnt to the water's
,et fire to the c»^P«")«^ ^^/'/S' where the remainderof the wreck
;tCrrfr<j'S:!^- * on the twentyUnrdof

^TaKotc.groundfc.^v^^^J^;;^';:-^
of which the island was fl^^d '?^" ^^ndi Sf the seamen, were not con-
of the poor blacks, who, bemgo"V/"«°''«tJi,d to lend their assis^^
sidered as entit ed to the «>""« P"' ^"f ;„i,s^tence, they thus, from being
to the others in order to PI0'^"'^^'"r'e their slaves. No discontent,
their friends, in ^I'e course o time becam^^^^^^^ .^ the cultivation

however, «'»^'"^"'f«?'«AesDice^haw?s allotted to the village, a row
of the soil. Tn clearing the «P»7 ^'^^^J^fo, ^he purpose of concea ing
of trees was left between it and the jea, lor V ^ .^^ be passing,

the houses from the «b^«'7„'^'i°";/e,3 That might in any way attract
and nothing was allowed '»,*>« Jl^g^^J-ghed, the sails of the Bounty were
attention. Until these ^ousej /^ere f. „e^ ^^^ ^,,at purpose,

converted into tents; and v^hen no 7^8^ ^ ,5^^ ^i^h all the neces-
became very «cc«ptable as clothing. ^^"J^i^ , PP., ,o„dition comfortable
aaries of life, and some of its luxuries, tneyi ^^^ ^hing went on

even beyond their most .'^J^S-^^ZtZlt the expifation of which,
peaceably and prosperously ^o^,^°°"Vo ?oK his wife about a month after
Williams! who had the ^'f/l^jj" Jrcoiect birds' eggs, became
his arrival, by a faU f'0"»X?;P';e the island in one of the boats of the
dissatisfied, a"d t*'r«'\*""^l'VX . an unreasonable request, as it could
Bounty, unless he had another wfe an un ^^^ ^^ ^^^^^ ^^ „f

not be complied V'^^^^^S^^'J^' Med by selfish considerations alone,
his companions: but y^'"'?"^ "gJJopeanJ not willing to part with him,
persisted in h.s threat, and the Luro^ea .^^^ one of the blacks

on account of his usefulness .« an armor ^ ^ outrageous at this

to bestow his wife upon \»'«»PPj/^o„„on cause with their comp^^^
aecond act of flagrant injustice, made co»^ ^^.^^^ ,^^j

and matured a plan of 'f«''«»g^ "^"., th^ SVopeans. Fortunately, the
ceeded, would have proved fatal to '^"^''«^;„i P„,,y communicated it to
«,cretwas imparted »« tbe worn^n, wko mgen ^^ J ^^^^^ does black
the white men in a song, of ^""^ "^^^^^ ^^ i„gtant Christian became
men irtiarpen ax T To H'^/J^** ™i'",„d went in search of the blacks ;
aware of the plot, he seized h'«£» X^^^eir scheme was discovered,
but with a view only of -♦'"^'^K^JS^^JoJ^ to prevent the execution of

,- j^^^-*a<e^'B''*'^*«"'*^

MUTINY OF THE BOUNTY.

243

island sufficiently
es. It possessed
^rogc in the ofling
I. The w-iuntains
hat t'^ey might be
heic were several
cat, and where, as
. to their pursuers,
ught the ship to an
\, where everything

agreed to destroy
nc her. Christian,
ent ; but while they
ss, Matthew Quintal
burnt to the water 9
nainder of the wreck

the twenty-third ot

>n, with the exception
but to the exclusion
aamen, were not con-
o lend their assistanc*!
hey thus, from being
aves. No discontent,
ted in the cultivation
d to the village, a row
Urpose of concealing
lat might be passing,
ht in any way attract
^ils of the Bounty were

ired for that purpose,
ied with all the neces-
r condition comfortable
nd everything went on
,he expiration of which,

ife about a month alter
ing birds' eggs, became

one of the boats of the
able request,as It could

he happiness ot one of
h considerations alone,

willing to part with him,
Sne'd one of the blacks

acks, outragous at this
,86 with their companion,

essor, which, had it suc-

peans. ^OTUxn^ifj,.^^
jusly communicated t to

iere. "Why does black

■instant Christian became

in search of the blacks .

scheme was discovered,

prevent the execution ot

ttce from the village, taxed

him with the conspiracy, and, in order to intimidate him, discharged his
gun, wiiich he had humanely loaded with powder only. Ohoo, however,
imagining otherwise, and that the bullet had missed its object, derided
his unskilH'ulncsd, and fled into the woods, followed by his accomplice
Talaloo, who had been deprived of his wife. The remaining blacks,
finding their plot discovered, purchased pardon by promising to murder
their accomplices, who had fled; which they afterward performed by an
act of tlio most odious treachery. Ohoo was belray<;d and murdered by
ills own nephew ; and Talaloo, after an ineflectual attempt made upon him
by poison, fell by the hands of his friend and his wife, the very woman on
whose account all the disturbance began, and whono injuries Talaloo felt
he was revenging in common with his own.

Tranquillity was by these means restored, and p/iserved for about two
years ; at the expiration of which, dissatisfaction w;s again manifested by
the blacks, in consequence of oppression and ill treatment, principally by
Quintal and M^Coy. Meeting with no compassion or redress from their
masters, a second plan to destroy their oppressors was matured, and,
unfortunately, too successfully executed.

It was agreed that two of the blacks, Timoa and Nehow, should desert
from their masters, provide themselves with arms, and hide in the woods,
but maintain a frequent communication with the other two, Tetahcite and
Menalee ; and that on a certain day they should attack and put to death
all the Englishmen, when at work in their plantations. Tetaheite, to
strengthen the party of the blacks on this day, borrowed a gun and am-
munition of his master, under the pretence of shooting hogs, which had
become wild and very numerous ; but instead of using it in this way, he
joined his accomplices, and with them fell upon Williams and shot him.
Martin, who was at no great distance, heard the report of the musket,
and exclaimed, " Well done! we shall have a gl <.iuus feast to-day!*'
supposing that a hog had been shot. The party proceeded from Williams'
toward Christian's plantation, where Menalee, the other black, was at work
with Mills and M'Coy ; and, in order that the suspicions of the whites
might not be excited by the report they had heard, requested Mills to
allow him (Menalee) to assist them in bringing home the hog they pre-
tended to have killed. Mills agreed ; and the four, being united,
proceeded to Christian, who was working at his yam-plot, and shot him.
Thus fell a man, who, from being the reputed ringleader of the mutiny,
has obtained an unenviable celebrity, and whose crime, if anything can
excuse mutiny, may, perhaps, be considered as in some degree palliated 1^
the tyranny which led to its commission. M'Coy, hearing his groans,
observed to Mills, "there was surely some person dying;" but MiUs
replied, "It is only Mainmast (Christian's wife) calling her children tO'
dinner." The white men being yet too strong for the blacks to risk <
conflict with them, it was necessary to concert a plan, in order to separate
Mills and M'Coy. Two o4 them accordingly secreted themselves in
M'Coy's house, and Tetaheite ran and told him that the two blacks wlio
had deserted were stealing things out of his house. M'Coy instantly
hastened to detect them, and «& enteriof was fired at; but the ball passed
htsfi. M'Coy immedi«telj communicated the alarm to Mills, and advised
him to seek shelter in the w«ods ; but Mills, being quite satisfied that one
of the blacks whom he had made bis friend would not suffer him to be
killed, determined to remain. M'Coy, less confident, ran in search of
Christian, but finding him dead, joined Quintal (whe was already apprised:
of the work of destruction, nad had seat hit wife to give 4h« nlasm to the

244

iniTINT OP THE BOITNTY.

others,) and fled with him to the woo<i8. Milla had scarcely boon led
tloiie, when the two blacks fell upon him, and he became a victim to his
misplaced contidcnco in the fidelity of his friend. Martin and Brown
were next separately murdered by Menaleo and Tcnina ; Menalee of-
fecting with a maul what the musket had loft unfinished. Tenina, it is
said, wished to save the life of Brown, and fired at him with powder only,
desiring him, at the same time, to fall as if killed ; but, unfortunately
rising too soon, the other black, Menalee, shot him.

Adams was first apprised of his danger by QuintaPs wife, who, in hur-
rying through his plantation, asked why he was working at such a time?
Not understanding the question, but seeing her alarmed, he followed her,
and was almost immediately met by the blacks, whoso appearance exciting
suspicion, he made his escape into the woods. After remaining three or
four hours, Adams, thinking all was quiet, stole to his yam-plot for a supply
of provisions; his movements, however, did not escape the vigilance of the
blacks, who attacked and shot him through the body, the ball entering at his
right shoulder, and passing out through his throat. He fell upon his side,
and was instantly assailed by one of them with the butt-end of the gun ;
but he parried the blows at the expense of a broken finger. Tetaheite then
placed his gun to his side, but it fortunately missed fire twice. Adams,
recovering a little from the shock of the wound, sprung on his legs, and
ran off with as much spued as he was able, and fortunately outstripped
his pursuers, wlio, seeing him likely to escape, oflfered him protection if
he would stop. Adams, much exhausted by his wound, readily accepted
their terms, and was conducted to Christian's house, where he was kindly
treated. Here this day of bloodshed ended, leaving only four Englishmen
alive out of nine. It was a day of emancipation to the blacks, who were
now masters of the island, and of humiliation and retribution to tiie whites.
Young, who was a great favorite with the women, and had, during this
attack, been secreted by them, was now also taken to Christianas house.
The other two, M'Coy and Quintal, who hud always been the great op-
pressors of the blacks, escaped to the mountains, where they supported
themselves upon the produce of the ground about them.

The party in the village lived in tolerable tranquillity for about a week ;
at the expiration of which, the men of color began to quarrel about th«
right of choosing the women whose husbands had been killed ; which
ended in Menalee's shooting Timoa as he sat by the side of Young's wife,
accompanying her song with his flute. Timoa not dying immediately,
Menalee reloaded, and deliberately dispatched him by a second discharge.
He afterward attacked Tetaheite, who was condoling with Young's wife
for the loss of her favorite black, and would have murdered him also,
but for the interference of the women. Afraid to remain longer in the
village, he escaped to the mountains and joined Quintal and M'Coy, who,
though glad of his service, at first received him with suspicion. This
great acquisition to their force enabled them to bid defiance to the opposite
party ; and to show their strength, and that they were provided with
muskets, they appeared on a ridge of mountains, within sight of the village.
and fired a volley which so alarmed the others that they sent Adams to
say, if they would kill the black man, Menalee, and return to the village,
they would all be friends again. The terms were so far complied with
that Menalee was shot; but, apprehensive of the sincerity of the remaining
blacks, they refused to return while they were alive.

Adams says it was not long before the #idowB of the white men bo
•deeply deplored their loss, that thej determiDed to revenge their death.

T •^-.^^rrir'^titv^*^-*

W^'^^fV??* ?»-*J^^' . ' -? ' *j »'?' > ' y * T :-;*"

MUTINT OP THE BOUNTY.

940

scarcely boen left
me a victim to ni«
tiartin and Brown
lina; Menalee ef-
led. Tenina, it is

with powder only,

but, unfortunately

a wife, who, in hur-
ipg at such a timcT
ed, he followed her,
appearance exciting
r remaining three or
^am-plot for a supply
a the vigilance of the
le ball entering at hiB

He fell upon his side,
butt-end of the gun ;
gor. Tetaheite then

fire twice. Adams,
rung on his leg«, and
.rtunately outstripped
red him protection it
,und, readily accepted
, where he was kindly
-only four Englishmen
; the blacks, who were
tribution to the whites.
, and had, during tins
II to Christian's liouse.
lya been the great op-

where they supporteU

them. , .

jillity for about a week.

in to quarrel about th«
id been killed ; which
he side of Young's wife,

not dying immediately,
n by a second discharge,
oling with Young's wife
tve murdered him also,
to remain longer in the
Quintal and M^Coy, who,

m with suspicion. 1 hib
d defiance to the opposite
they were provided with
within sightof the village,
that they sent Adams to
and return to the village,

ivere so far complied with
sincerity of the remaining

alive. . ^

lows of the white men BO

Bd to revenge their death,

and concerted a plan to murder thn only two remaining men of color.
Another account, communicated by tlio iHlandors, is that it was only part
of a plot formed at the same time that Menalee was murdered, wliich
could not be put in execution before. However this may be, it was
equally fatal to the poor blacks. The arrangement was, that Susan Hfiould
murder one of them, Tetaheite, while he was sleeping by the side of his
favorite ; and that Young should, at the same instant, upon a signal being
given, shoot the other, Nehow. The unsuspecting Tetaheite retired, as
usual, and fell by the blow of an ax; the other was looking at Young
loading his gun, which ho supposed was for the purpose of shooting hogs,
and rc<|uest(;d him to put in a good charge, when he received the deadly
contents.

In this manner the existence of the last of the men of color terminated,
who, thougli treacherous and revengeful, had, it is feared, too much cause
for coniplaint. The accomplishment of this fatal scheme was immediately
communicuted to the two absentees, and their return solicited. But so
many instances of treachery had occurred, that they would not believe
tho report, though delivered by Adams himself, until the hands and heads
of tho deceased were produced, which being done, they returned to the
village. This eventful day was the third of October, 1793. There were
now iefl upon tho island, Adams, Young, M'Coy, and Quintal, ten women,
and some children. Two months after tills period. Young commenced a
manuscript journal, vhich aflbrds a good insight into the state of the
island, and the occupations of the settlers. From it we learn, that they
lived peaceably together, building their houses, fencing in and cultivating
their grounds, fishing, and catching birds, and constructing pits for the
purpose of entrapping hogs, which had become very numerous and wild,
as well as injurious to the yam-crops. The only discontent appears to
have been among the women, who lived promiscuously with the men,
frequently changing their abode.

Young says, March twelfth, 1794, "Going over to borrow a rake,
to rake the dust oft my ground, I saw Jenny having a skull in her hand:
I asked her whose it was? and was told it was Jack Williams's. I desired
it might be buried : the women who were with Jenny gave me for answer, it
should not. I said it should ; and demanded it accordingly. I was asked
the reason why I, in particular, should insist on such a thing, when the
rest of the white men did not? I said, if they gave them leave to keep
the skulls above ground, I did not. Accordingly when I saw M'Coy,
Smith, and Mat. Quintal, I acquainted them with it, and said, I thought
that if the girls did not agree to give up the heads of the five white men
in a peaceable manner, they ought to be taken by force, and buried.^'
About this time the women appear to have been much dissatisfied ; and
Young's journal declares that, "since the massacre, it has been the desire
of the greater part of them to get some conveyance, to enable them to
leave the island." This feeling continued, and on the fourteenth of April,
1794, was so strongly urged, that the men began to build them a boat;
but wanting planks and nails, Jenny, who now resides at Otaheite, in her
zeal tore up the boards of her house, and endeavored, though without
success, to persuade some others to follow her example.

On the thirteen of August following, the vessel was finished, and on the

fifteenth slie was launched : but, as Young says, "according to expectntion

she upset," and it was most fortunate for them that she did so ; for had

they launched out upon the ocean, where could they have gone? or what

, could a few ignorant women have done by themselves, drifting upon the

346

MUTirr OK THE BOUNTT.

wavea, hut ultimately have fallen a aacrifico to thoir folly? Howofer,
the fato of the ? osiel waa a great diaappointmont, and they continued much
diiiBnti!*tir>d with thoir condition; probably not without aomo roajton, aa
thoy weru kept in great aubordination, and wore froquontly beaten by
MH'ny und Quintal, who appear to have been of very «|uarr(!iRome dii-
ponitiofifl ; Quintal in particular, who propoaod "not to laugh, joke, or
give aiiytiiing to any of the girla.** On tho aixteenth <>' \ugu8t they dug
a grave, and buried the bonea of the murdered people: and on October
third, 1794, they celebrated the murder of tho black men at QuintaPa
houae. On tho eleventh of November a conspiracy of tho women to kill
the white men in their alecp waa discovered ; upon which thoy wcro all
rioizcd, iiud a dim:luHuro ensued ; but no punisiimcnt appears to have been
inflicted upon them, in consequence of their promising to conduct tliom-
selvea properly, and never again to give any cauae " even to auspect their
behavior." However, though thoy were pardoned. Young observes " We
did not tbrgot their conduct; and it was agreed among ua, that tho first
female who misbohaved should be put to death ; and this punishment waa
to bo repeated on each oH'ense until we could discover the real intentions
of the women." Young appears to have aufTored much from mental
perturbation in consequence of these disturbances ; and observes of
himself on the two following daya, that "he waa bothered and idle."

Tho suspicions of the men induced them, on the fifteenth, to conceal
two miiakets in tho bush, for the use of any peraon who might bo so
fortunate as to escape, in the event of an attack being made. On tho
thirtieth of November, the women again collected and attacked them ;
but no lives were lost, and Ihoy returned on being once more pardoned,
but were again threatened with death the next timo they misbehaved.
Threats thus repeatedly mndo, and as often unexecuted, as might bo
expected, soon lost thoir otTcct, and the women formed a party whenever
their displeasure was excited, and hid themselves in the unfrequented
parts of the island, carefully providing themselves with firearms. In this
manner the men were kept in continual suspense, dreading tho result of
each disturbance, as the numerical strength of the women was inuch
greater than their own.

On the fourth of May, 1796, two canoes were begun, and in two daya
completed. These were used for fishing, in which employment the
people were frequently successful, supplying themselves with rock-fiah
and large mackerel.

So little occurred in the year 1796, that one page records tho whole
of the events; and throughout the following year there are but three
incidents worthy of notice. The first, their endeavor to procure a quantity
of meat lor salting ; the next, their attempt to make syrup from the tea-
plant (dracxna terminalis) and sugarcane; and the third, a serious accident
that happened to M'Coy, who fell from a cocoanul tree and hurt his right
thigh, aprained both his ancles and wounded his side. The occupations
of tho men continued similar to those already related, occasionally enliv-
ened by visits to the opposite side of the island. They appear to have
been more sociable ; dining frequently at each other's houses, and
contributing more to the comfort of the women, who, on their part, gave
•no ground for uneaainesa. There waa also a mutual accommodation
among them in regard to proviaiona, of which a regular account was
taken. If one person was successful in hunting, he lent the others as
much meat as they required, to be repaid at leisure; and the same
occurred with yams, taros, etc., so that they lived in a very domestic and ^

bllyt Howoter,
r cnntinuorf much
Hoiiin reason, at
noiitly bent<n by
(jnarrolHome dii-
) laiiRli, joko, or
\u)(u»t thoy ting
. and on October
men at Quintal's
the womon to kill
ich tlicv wore all
(oars to have been
to conduct tlicni-
n to suspect their
ing observes " We
{ us, that the first
is punishment was
the real intentions
nuch from mental
and observes of
cd and idle."
fteenth, to conceal
who might bo so
ig made. On the
nd attacked them;
ce more pordonod,
D they misbchiivi'd.
cuted, as might bo
d a party whenever
n the unfrequented
h firearms. In this
Bading the result of
women was much

;uii, and in two doys
ch employment the
elves with rock-fish

B records the whole
there are but three
to procure a quantity
I syrup from the tea-
rd*, a serious accident
■ee and hurt his right
e. The occupations
id, occasionally enliv-
They appear to have
other's houses, and
0, on their part, gave
utual accommodation
regular account was
lie lent the others as
sure ; and the same
n a very domestic and ,

MUTINY OP THK IJOUNTY.

247

tranquil state. It unfortunately happened that MToy had been emp ned
in a (liitillery in Hcotlaud ; and iM^iiig very much addicted to iiijuoi, he
tried an experiment with the tee-ruot, and on the twentielli April 1798,
succeeded in producing a bottle of ardent spirit. This success induced
\m companion, Matthew Quintal, to " alter his kettle into n vtiil," a ron-
trivan<'.e which unfortunately succeeded too well, as frequent intoxication
wus tlie consequence, with M'Coy in particular upon whom at length
it produced lita of delirium; in one of which, he threw himself from a
clitf and wiis killed. The melancholy fate of this man created so forcible
an impression on the remaining few, that they resolved never again to
touch spirits; and Adama, 1 havo every reason to believe, to the day uf
his death kept his vow.

The journal finishes nearly at the period of M'Coy'a death, wi)ich is
not related in it: but we learned from Adams, that about 1799, Quintal
lost his wife hy a fall from the did' while in search of birds' eggs ; that
ho grew discontented, and, though there were several disposable women
on the island, and he had already experienced the fatal etTects of a similar
demand, nothing would satisfy him but the wife of one of his companions.
Of course neither of them felt inclined to accede to this unrenNoiiublu
indulgence ; and he sought an opportunity of putting them both to deuth.
He was fortunately foiled in his first attempt, but swore he would repeat
it. Adams and Young, having no doubt he would follow up his resolution,
and fearing he might be more successful in his next attempt, came to the
conclusion, that their own lives were not safe while he was in existence,
and that they were justified in putting him to death, which they did with
an ax.

Such was the melancholy fate of seven of the leading mutineers, who
escaped from juntice only to add murder to their former crimes; for though
■ome of them may not have actually imbrued their hands in the blood
of their fellow-creatures, yet all were accessary to the deed.

As Christian and Young were descended from respectable parents, and
had received educations suitable to their birth, it might be supposed that
they felt their altered and degraded situation much more than the seamen,
who were comparatively well off; but, if so, Adams says, they had the
good sense to conceal it, as not a single murmur or regret escaped them ;
on the contrary, Christian was always cheerful, and his example was of
the greatest service in exciting his companions to labor. He was naturally
of a happy, ingenuous disposition, and won the good opinion and respect
of all those who served under him ; which cannot be better exemplified
than by his maintaining, under circumstances of great perplexity, the
respect and regard of all who were associated with him up to the hour
of his death ; and even at the period of our visit, Adams, in speaking of
him, never omitted to say " Mr. Chrutian.'**

Adams and Young were now the sole survivors out of the fifteen males
that landed upon the island. They were both, and more particularly
Young, of a serious turn of mind ; and it would have been wonderful,
after the many dreadful scenes at which they had assisted, if the solitude
and tranquillity that ensued had not disposed them to repentance. During
Christian's lifetime they had only once read the church service, but since
his disease this had been regularly done on every Sunday. They now,
however, resolved to have morning and evening family prayers, to add
afternoon service to the duty of the Sabbath, and to train up their own
children and those of their late unfortunate companions, in piety and virtue.
Au the execution of this resolution, Young's education enabled him to be

MUTINY OP THE BOUNTY.

of the greatest assistance ; but he was not long suffered to survive his
repentance. An asthmatic complaint, under which he had for some time
labored, terminated hia existence about a year after the death of Quintal,
and Adams was left the sole survivor of the misguided and unfortunate
mutineers of the Bounty. The loss of his last companion was a great
affliction to him, and was for some time most severely felt. It was a catas-
trophe, however, that more than ever disposed him to repentance, and
determined him to execute the pious resolution he had made, in the hope
of expiating his otTenses.

His reformation could not, perhaps, have taken place at a more propitious
moment. Out of nineteen children upon the island, there were several
between the ages of seven and nine years ; who, had they been longer
suffered to follow their own inclinations, might have acquired habits which
it would have been difficult, if not impossible, for Adams to eradicate.
The moment was therefore most favorable for his design, and his laudable
exertions were attended by advantages both to the objects of his care and
to his own mind, which surpassed his most sanguine expectations. He,
nevertheless, had an arduous task to perform. Beside the children to be
educated, the Otaheitan women were to be converted; and, as the example
of the parents had a powerful influence over their children, he resolved
to make them his first care. Here also his labors succeeded ; the Ota-
heitans were naturally of a tractable disposition, and gave him less trouble
than he anticipated : the children also acquired such a thirst after Scrip-
tural knowledge, that Adams in a short time had little else to do than to
answer their inquiries and put them in the right way. As ihey grew up,
they acquired fixed habits of morality and piety ; their colony improved ;
intermarriages occurred: and they now form a happy and well regulated
society, the merit of which, in a great degree, belongs to Adams, and
tends to redeem the former errors of his life.

The preceding facts in reference to the mutineers, came gradually to
light in the course of years, from the visit of Captain Folger, an American,
of the English ship Briton, and of Captain Beechy. Lieutenant Shillibeer
of the Briton, gives the following graphic account of his unexpected visit
to the island, in the year 1813.

It was in the second watch when we made an island unknown to us.
At daylight we proceeded to a more close examination, and soon perceived
huts, cultivation, and people ; of the latter, some were making signs,
others launching their little canoes through the surf, into which they
threw themselves with great dexterity, and pulled toward us. They came
along side, and for me to picture the wonder which was conspicuous in
every countenance, at being hailed in perfect English, what was the name
of the ship, and who commanded her, would be impossible — our surprise
can alone be conceived. The captain answered, and now a regular
conversation commenced. He requested them to come along side, and
the reply was, " We have no boat-hook to hold on by." " I Will throw
you a rope," said the captain. "If you do we have nothing to make it
fast to," was the answer. However, they at length came on board,
exemplifying not the least fear, but their astonishment was unbounded.
After the friendly salutati jn of "Good morrow Sir," from the first man who
entered, (>Iackey, for tlat was his name,) " Do you know," said he, "one
William Bligh, in England?" This question threw a new light on the
subject, and he was immediately asked if he knew one Christian, and the
reply was given with so much natural simplicity, that I shall here use his
proper words. " Oh yes," said he, "very well; his aon is in the boat

•'%i

-stov^jr*';'?^>^^±j^^^ *jL ^ ■ - ■' J «" ." '<; v" ' * '-H.'i -V-X ' _^ . ww. < ^

.mwtwswSMBrii -=»' m'r»"%aii nn.'r:f:tiM n i ^ ji, 'jWay.^«y'r.r»t~ga!gB«»)8»'<W»a»-

•tweMT

affered to survive his
he had for some time
the death of Quintal,
ided and unfortunate
jmpanion was a great
y felt. It was a catas-
n to repentance, and
had made, in the hope

ce at a more propitious
id, there were several
had they been longer
acquired habits which
• Adams to eradicate,
jsign, and his laudable
objects of his care and
lie expectations. He,
side the children to be
d; and, as the example
r children, he resolved
1 succeeded ; the Ota-
i gave him less trouble
\c\\ a thirst after Scrip-
little else to do than to
ay. As ihey grew up,
their colony improved ;
ppy and well regulated
)elongs to Adams, and

eers, came gradually to

in Folger, an American,

Lieutenant Shillibeer

t of his unexpected visit

I island unknown to us.
tion, and soon perceived
ne were making signs,
le surf, into which they
toward us. They came
[lich was conspicuous in
glish. what was the name
impossible— our surprise
red, and now a regular
to come along side, and
on by." "I w. 11 throw
have nothing to make it
length came on board,
ishment was unbounded.
r," from the first man who
you know," said he, "one
threw a new light on the
ew one Christian, and the
r, that I shall here use his
his son is in the boat ther^

MUTINY OF THE BOUNTY.

249
His father

coming up, his name is Friday Fletcher October Christian.
is dead now — he was shot by a black fellow."

The questions which were now put were numerous, among which were
the following:

Q. At what age do you marry?

A. Not before nineteen or twenty.

Q. Are you allowed to have more than one wifeT

A. No! we can have but one, and it is wicked to have more.

Q. Have you been taught any religion?

A. Yes, a very good religion.

Q. In what do you believe?

A. I believe in God, the Father Almighty, etc. (Here he went through
the whole of the Belief.)

Q. Who first taught you this belief?

A. John Adams says it was first by F. Christian's order, and that he
likewise caused a prayer to be said every day at noon.

Q. And what is the prayer?

A. It is — "1 will arise and go to my Father, and say unto him. Father,
I have sinned against Heaven, and before Thee, and am no more worthy
of being called thy son."

Q. Do you continue to say this every day?

A. Yes, we never neglect it.

Q. What language do you commonly speak?

A. Always English.

Q. But you understand the Otaheitan?

A. Yes, but not so well.

Q. Do the old women speak English?

A. Yes, but not so well as they understand it, thsir pronunciation is
not good.

Q. What countrymen do you call yourselves?

A. Half English, and half Otaheite.

Q. Who is your king?

A. Why, King George to be sure.

Q. Have you ever seen a ship before?

A. Yes, we have seen four from the island, but only one stopped.
Mayhew Folger was the captain ; I suppose you know him? No we do
not know him.

Q. How long did he stay?

A. Two days.

Q. Should you like to go to England?

A. No! I cannot; I am married, and have a family.

Before we had finished our interrogatories the hour of breakfast had
arrived, and we solicited our half countrymen, as they styled themselves,
to acco. pany us below, and partake of our repast, to which they acqui-
esced without much ceremony. The circle in which we had surrounded
them being opened, brought to the notice of Mackey, a little black terrier.
He was at first frightened, ran behind one of the officers, and looking
over his shoulder said, pointing to the dog, "I. know what that is, it is a
dog ; I never saw a dog before — will it bite?" After a short pause he
addressed himself to Christian, saying with great admiration, " It is a
pretty thing, too, to look at, is it not?"

The whole of them were inquisitive, and in their questions as well as
answers, betrayed a very great share of natural abilities. They asked
the names of whatever they saw, and the purposes to which it was applied.

js„^aBca»wr=»eisast»Wtt"***«^"^

■S!^0r-?

MUTINY OF THE BOUNTY.
250 .u ♦ .K.» Hid not like, and were greatly

attention or created the.r wonder, ^«tar°^^ " ^^ ,„,p,i8e. The astonish-
K but arriving there, we had J "^ .^^^Jn^tratc^ in then., was now
l„t which before had bee" «« f ^"f Jeh greater deg«ee than when
become conspicuous '» ."*' ®''^° ° . and I must here confess Iblusliea
thevllailed us in our native language . and i ^^^^ ^^j^^,^ „f respect

partake in peace what was set betore jj.'^^ fervent prayer of thanks-

should do myself an i"«P"''^'« 'J^Sv at a loss for a sound reply, and
ledge, I was both embarrassed and ^jhoUy a ^^^^^^.^^ ^^ ^^^

cvaffed this poor fellow^s quest on Jj^^^^^^^^^^ ^s he had never seen
which wa. then looking down ^^e hatchway^ gratification to h.m.

illustrate which I shall here relate

breakfast. ^, .. . , begun, a West Indian black, who wa«

Soon after young Christian had ««£" ' ^ ^^b e as usual. Chr s

on!of the serJantsfentered tb« «nj---J«,St' and said, "I.<lonn ike
Ln looked at him sternly, \f^,^^^;.^^^^ some little persuasion, before
that black fellow, I must go," and it requir

he would again resume his 8«at. ^^ey to get on board,

"'Xfter coming along side the «b>P, BOjg ^,^„j„„ed, and gone adr ft^
that several of the canoes had '»«^°'*'r.Z^iu show most con
Th 8 was the occasion of an a^f.«''«*\^J\heTnode resorted to in deeding
Se g'od nature of their «ii«PO«;tion«, and the mo ^^ ^^^ ^^.^^ ^^^ ,,p

a double claim. The <^''\««f .^^'"^aS each, when it became a question
nrdered that one of them should "^e"*'" '"„_..' ^ was soon adjusted, tor
to which that duty should devolve ; b')*"'*' ^equally anxious to see
Mackey observed that he ««PP°^«f »l*'"J,^Sem w cast lols. as then there
SeshTp, and the tost way woj^^^^ to, and those to

would be no ill will on either ««»«• * "^ j^hout a murmur.

\tir»i:itnXrgK

age We conversed with him a long^^^^^^^^ being accessary

Jtounty, and the ultimate fate «[ Chrjst.an. ^ut he expressed

t^ or having the least knowledge of ^he con h only toward his men,
«rVa horror at the conduct of Captam BLgh, not o y ^^ ^^^^^^^^

Sufoffir; iso. I asked him jj ^h^a^.Jvt'crus^d me great surpr ze

and I must confess his rei>^y in the amrroa , ^^^ ^^^ evolved ; that
Heboid me he was P«'ff '^ JJ^, he bad nJt only sacrificed every

by following the fo^une of Chrirtian^n ^^ necessary forfeiture tor

claim to his country, but that his uie

,,,^^*«:,*«S^.*««=^''**^

VftJSSSWSB^-?'

>., -_ -...'-■'^^^j^r^'^^^'^A^

MUTINY OF THE BOUNTY.

251

nd were greatly
1 not possessed

step drew their
I to the breakfast
The astonish-
1 them, was now
jgree than when
confess 1 blushed
ribute of respect
not perforn^nor
ey began to eat ;
ore permission to
n they had eaten
t prayer of thanks-
Our" omission of
asked me whether
triumphant, for 1
Lh candor acknow-
a sound reply, and
tentiontothe cow,
le had never seen
gratification to him.
- rooted, and which
1 Christian and his
al at Pitcairn's ; to
rhich took place at

lian black, who was
)le as usual. Chns-
,d said, "I don't like
le persuasion, before

they to get on board,
led, and gone adriR.
w most conspicuouBiy
esorted to in deciding
the ship, the captain
nit became a question
as soon adjusted, for
equally anxious to see
;a8t lots, as then there
eded to, and those to
I murmur.
;hing to sixty years of

B to the mutiny of the
onied being accessary
acy, but he expressed
only toward his men,
to return to England,
tsed me great surprize,
he was involved ; that
t only sacrificed every
lecessary forfeiture tor

such an act, and he supposed would be exacted from him was he ever
to return ; notwithstanding all these circumstances, nothing would lie able
to occasion him so much gratification as that of seeing once more, prior
to his death, that country which gave him birth, and from which he had
been so long estranged.

There was a sincerity in his speech, I can badly describe it — but it had
a very powerful influence in persuading me these were his real sentiments.
My interest was excited to so great a degree, that 1 off'ered him a con-
veyance for himself, with any of his family who chose to accompany him.
He appeared pleased at the proposal, and as no one was then present,
he sent for his wife and children. The rest of this little community
surrounded the door. He communicated his desire, and solicited their
acquiescence. Appalled at a request not less sudden than in opposition
to their wishes, they were all al a loss for a reply.

His charming daughter although inundated with tears, first broke the
silence.

" Oh do not, sir," said she, "take from me my father! do not take away
my best — my dearest friend." Her voice failed her — she was unable to
proceed — leaned her head upon her hand, and gave full vent to her grief.
His wife, too, (an Otaheitan) expressed a lively sorrow. The wishes of
Adams soon became known among the others, who joined in pathetic
solicitation for his stay on the island. Not an eye was dry — the big tear
stood in those of the men — the women shed them in full abundance. I
never witnessed a scene so fully aflfecting, or more replete with interest.
To have taken him from a circle of such friends, would have ill become
a feeling heart, to have forced him away in opposition to their joint and
earnest entreaties, would have been an outrage on humanity.

Those men who came on board, were finely formed, and of manly
features. Their height about five feet ten inches. Their hair black and
long, generally plaited into a tail. They wore a straw hat, similar to those
worn by sailors, with a few feathers stuck into them by way of ornament.
I spoke to young Christian, particularly of Adams, who assured me he
was greatly respected, insomuch that no one acted in opposition to his
wishes, and when they should lose him, their regret would be general.
The intermarriages which had taken place among them, have been the
occasion of a relationship throughout the colony. There seldom happens
to be a quarrel, even of the most trivial nature, and then, (using their
own term,) it is nothing more than a word ofmouth quarrel, which is always
referred to Adams for adjustment.

Twelve years later, these interesting Islanders were visited by Captain
Beechy, in the ship Blossom, from whom we derive the following addi-
tional information.

The Blossom was so different, or to use the expression of our visitors,
"so rich," compared with the other ships they had seen, that they were
constantly afraid of giving or committing some injury, and would not even
move without first asking permission. This diffidence gave us full occu-
pation for some time, as our restless visitors, anxious to see everything,
seldom directed their attention long to any particular object, or remained
in one positijon or place. Having no latches to their doors, they were
ignorant of the manner of opening ours; and we were constantly attacked
on all sides with "Please may f sit down, or get up, or go out of the
cabin ?" or, " Please to open or shut the door." Their applications were,
however, made with such good nature and simplicity that it was impossible
not to feel the greatest pleasure in paying attention to them. They very

(^.•ft^rt's?"^'^^'*'''^**'*^**'

Pll.««<l iWi» - > fc. jjf ^ , tl,f> I W II. X IW M

MUTINY OF THE BOUNTY.

HK?.i-- --"•'*"-"'' '-—""'■"

our guides past a r«|g<^d PO nt ur^^^ ^ ^ ^^.^ """"vh ?s bouKSTv
. „r .ona skirt tl>c base of these hil s, ana iii distance are seen

'in.,,™.ounlable barrier to a" •"=»'•,,„ „..id by the friendly reception

yS ei'urned. It ^^PP^ '^ ''i rn^n of war and without knowing exactly
Kcertainod that the ship ^f J ™'^'^^; ^f Adams that he e.ther could not
why, became so alarmed for J^'f. f yg^ogations which were put to him.
o wo"l<l not answer "^"V °^*^,L„artv In tears, as they feared he had
ThTs mysterious ^il^^^^/^^rlV^^u Xarch. At length his obduracj

3 ct the'boats were -^VXsle'Smtn'stfeek, winch she did
mediate y hurried to the beac^to kiss the o ^^^^.^^ ^^^ apology for
.i/ a forvency demonstrative of the warm appearance on the

r ? com panioL was rendered J-^-Sn^wK as Zy arrived on the
steep and circuitous path down the moun^.^ j^^^^^^ ^,„,pi,,,,y ,„d

beach, successively ''el«°'rf^"he truth of their professions.

Seal, f™"'™'- T'«\':?z,,ird««p i'""" "" '"""'"Te!;

„o tion b, . el,.plel »f .»"»" 'ftem tj. t,b.eeo plant; their eonnten-
*'tS.S,' X'^p-;«^-|Sef r tre'".Srl"S

«.S?yrSf9?fi

ji*«-!Ss?«Jpl«!*«S^'®^'*''**^

.tr^-^^^T^^S^ **'■■■

MUTINY OP THE BOUNTY.

253

at
re

hip, which they
and wherever a
38 to that person

le ship could get
emscltea with us

rather than pass
a considerable
We followed
. rocks, known to
(ound bay, where
ch is bounded by
Thickly-branched
• afford a welconve

distance are seen
I have named after
g a square basaltic
em to present an

5 friendly reception
y interesting young
lo greet her father,
elay she thought it
sy had all been over
ship, and were not
IS a sea-faring man,
out knowing exactly
t he either could not
ch were put to him.
I they feared he had
length his obduracy
ed the cause of his
hip, and Hannah ira-
cheek, which she did
on. Her apology for
r appearance on the
IS they arrived on the
with a simplicity and
irofessions.

eir dress consisted of
loulders, and reaching
common height ; and
limb the hills, had ac-
I and manners were
lirer than that of the
was less conspicuous,
hung down over their
1 front it was tastefully
i was retained in that
matic blossoms, newly
) plant ; their counten-
ark and animated, and
ch was the agreeable
heightened by the wish

expressed simultaneously by the whole group, that we were come to
stay several days witli them. As the sun was going down, wo signified
our desire to get to the village and to pitch the observatory before dark,
and this was no sooner mado known, than every instrument and article
found a carrier.

By the time the tent was up and the instruments secured, we were
summoned to a meal, than which a less sumptuous fare would have satisfied
appetites rendered keen by long abstinence and a tiresome journey.
Our party divided themselves that they might not crowd one house in
particular : Adams did not entertain ; but at Christian's I found a table
spread with plates, knives, and forks ; which, in so remote a part of the
world, was an unexpected sight. They were, it is true, far from uniform ;
but, by one article being appropriated for another, we all found something
to put our portion upon ; and but few of the natives were obliged to sub-
stitute their fingers for articles which are indispensable to the comfort of
more polished life. A smoking pig, by a skillful dissection, was soon
portioned to every guest, but no one ventured to put its excellent qualities
to the test until a lengthened Amen, pronounced by all the party, hud
succeeded an emphatic grace delivered by the village parson. ^^Turn <o,"
was then the signal for attack, and as it is convenient that all the party
should finish their meal about the same time, in order that one grace
might serve for all, each made the most of his time. In Pitcairn's Island
it is not deemed proper to touch even a bit of bread without a grace before
and after it, and a person is accused of inconsistency if he leaves oft' and
begins again. So strict is their observance of this form, that we do not
know of any instance in which it has been forgotten. On one occasion
I had engaged Adorns in conversation, and he incautiously took the first
mouthful without having said his grace ; but before he had swallowed it,
he recollected himself, and feeling as if he had committed a crime,
immediately put away what he had in his mouth, and commenced his
prayer.

Welcome, cheer, hospitality, and good humor, were the characteristicii
of the feast ; and never was their beneficial influence more practically
exemplified than on this occasion, by the demolition of nearly all that was
placed before us. With the exception of some wine we had brought with
us, water was the only beverage. This was placed in a large jug at one
end of the board, and, when necessary, was passed round the table — a
ceremony at which, in Pitcairn's Island in particular, it is desirable to be
the first partaker, as the gravy of the dish is invariably mingled with the
contents of the pitcher : the natives, who prefer using their fingers to forks,
being quite indifferent whether they hold the vessel by the handle or by
the spout.

Notwithstanding these deficiencies, we made a very comfortable and
hearty supper, heard many little anecdotes of the place, and derived much
amusement from the singularity of the inquiries of our hosts. One regret
only intruded itself upon the general conviviality, which we did not fail
to mention, namely, that there was so wide a distinction between the sexes.
This was the remains of a custom very common among the South Sea
Islands, which in some places is carried to such an extent, that it imposes
death upon the woman who shall eat in the presence of her husband ;
and though the distinction between man and wife is not here carric<l
to that extent, it is still sufficiently observed to exclude all the women
from table, if there happens to be a deficiency of seats. In Pitcairn's
Island, they have settled ideas of right and wrong, to which they

;, tt„^.r»v3P»«««««^''^*W

;jagr"-^-A m , i ' '. - " ",'!y

'11

2|{4 MUTINY OP THE DOUNTT.

obstinately adhere ; and, fortunately, they have imbibed them generally
from the best source.

in tlio iiiHtance in question, they have, however, certainly erred ; but
of this they could not be persuaded, nor did they, I believe, thank 'is for
our intcrrurence. Their argument was, that man was made first, and
ought, conseqently, on all occasions, to be served first — a concluision which
deprived us of the company of the women at table, during the whole of
our stay at the island. Far from considering themselves neglected, they
very good-naturedly chatted with us behind our seats, and flapped away
the flics, and by a gentle tap, accidentally or playfully delivered, reminded
us occasionally of the honor that was done us. The conclusion of our
meal was the signal for the women and children to prepare their own, to
whom we resigned our seats, and strolled out to enjoy the freshness of
the night. It was late by the time the women had finished, and we wore
not sorry when we were shown to the beds prepared for us. The mat-
tress was composed of palm-trees, covered with native cloth ; the sheets
were of the same material ; and we knew, by the crackling of them, that
they were quite new from the loom or beater. The whole arrangement
was extremely comfortable, and higiily inviting to repose, which the
freshness of the apartment, rendered cool by a free circulation of air
through its sides, enabled us to enjoy without any annoyance from heat
or insects. One interruption only disturbed our first sleep ; it was the
pleasing melody of the evening hymn, which, ailer the lights were put
out, was chaunted by the whole family in the middle of the room. In the
morning also we were awoke by their morning hymn and family devotion.
As we were much tired, and the sun's rays had not yet found their way
through the broad opening of the apartment, we composed ourselves to
rest again; and on awaking found that all the natives were gone to their
several occupations — the men to offer what assistance they could to our
boats in landing, carrying burdens for the seamen, or to gather what fruits
were in season. Some of the women had taken our linen to wash ; those
whose turn it was to cook for the day were preparing the oven, the pig,
and the yams ; and we could hear, by the distant reiterated strokes of the
beater, that others were engaged in the manufacture of cloth. By our
bedside had already been placed some ripe fruits ; and our hats were
crowned with chaplets of the fresh blossom of the none, or flower-tree,
which the women had gathered in the freshness of the morning dew. On
looking round the apartment, though it contained several beds, we found
no partition, curtain, or screens ; they had not yet been considered neces-
sary. So far, indeed, from concealment being thought of, when we were
about to get up, the women, anxious to show their attention, assembled
to wish us a good morning, and to inquire in what way they could best
contribute to our comforts, and to present us with some little gifl, which
the produce of the island afforded. Many persons would have felt awkward
at rising and dressing before so many pretty black-eyed damsels assembled
in the center of a spacious room ; but by a little habit we overcame this
embarrassment; and found the benefit of their services in fetching water
as we required it, and substituting clean linen for such as we pulled oil.

It must be remembered, that with these people, as with the other
islanders of the South Seas, the custom has generally been to fo naked,
the maro with the men excepted, and with the women the petticoat, or
kilt, with a loose covering over the bust, which, indeed, in Pitcairn*i
Island, they are always careful to conceal ; consequently, an exposure to
that extent carried with it no feeling whatev•^^f indeUcacj ; or, I tatj

* ^9'^5^'i^

firmirr.

\'*'V! S i' A-^-i y'rs P^: ' xA ' Afti rM iMiV« mcK-

MUTINY OF THE BOUNTY.

255

them generally

ainly erred ; but
eve, thank -is for

made first, and
conclusion which
ing the wliole of
s neglected, they
nd flapped away
livered, reminded
:onclu3ion of our
pare their own, to
^ the freshness of
bed, and we were
»r us. Tiie mat-
cloth ; the sheets
liing of them, that
fhole arrangement
repose, which the

circulation of air
loyance from heat

sleep ; it was the
tie lights were put
: the room. In the
nd family devotion,
ret found their way
posed ourselves to

were gone to their
e they could lo our
o gather what fruits
inentowash; those
g the oven, the pig,
srated strokes of the
e of cloth. By oui

and our hats were
lono, or flower-tree,
B morning dew. On
cral beds, we found
en considered nece»-
[htof, when we were
attention, assembled
way they could beat
[»me little gift, which
aid have felt awkwaid
Bd damsels assembled
bit we overcame this
ces in fetching water
luch as we pulled ofl.
le, as with the other
illy been to go naked,
men the petticoat, or

indeed, in Pitcairn'i
lently, an exposure to
indelicacy ; or, I at»j

safely add, that the Pitcairn Islanders would have been the last persons
to incur the charge.

In this little retreat there is not much variety, and the description of
one (lay's occupation serves equally for its successor. The dance is a
recreation very rarely indulged in ; but as wo particularly requested it,
they would not refuse to gratify us. A large room in Quintal's house
was prepared for the occasion, and the company were ranged on one side
of the apartment, glowing beneath a blazing string of doodo3 nuts ; the
musicians were on the other, under the direction of Arthur Quintal. He
was seated upon the ground, as head musician, and had before him a large
gourd, and a piece of musical wood (poron,) which he balanced nicely
upon his toes, that there might be the less interruption to its vibrations.
He struck the instrument alternately with two sticks, and was accompanied
by Dolly, who performed very skillfully with both hands upon a gourd,
which bad a longitudinal hole cut in one end of it ; rapidly beating the
orifice with the palms of her hands, and releasing it again with uncommon
dexterity, so as to produce a tattoo, but in perfect time with the other
instrument. A third performed upon the Bounty's old copper fish-kettle,
which formed a sort of bass. To this exhilarating music, three grown-up
females stood up to dance, but with a reluctance which showed it was
done only to oblige us, as they considered such performances an inroad
upon their usual innocent pastimes. The figure consisted of sucli parts
of the Otaheitan dance as were thought most decorous, and was little more
than a shuflling of the feet, sliding past each other, and snapping their
fingers ; but even this produced, at times, considerable laughter from the
female spectators, perhaps from some association of ridiculous ideas,
which we, as strangers, did not feel ; and, no doubt, had our opinion of the
performance been consulted, it would have essentially differed from theirs.
They did not long continue these diversions, from an idea that it was too
great a levity to be continued long ; and only the three before-mentioned
ladies could be prevailed upon to exhibit their skill. One of the officers,
with a view of contributing to the mirth of the colonists, had obligingly
brought his violin on shore, and, as an inducement for them to dance again,
offered to play some country dances and reels, if they would proceed ;
but they could not be tempted to do so. They, however, solicited a
specimen of the capabilities of the instrument, which was granted, and,
though very well executed, did not give the satisfaction which we antici-
pated. They had not yet arrived at a state of refinement to appreciate
harmony, but were highly delighted with the rapid motion of the fingers,
and always liked to be within sight of the instrument when it was played.
They were afterward heard to say, that they preferred their own simple
musical contrivance to the violin. They did not appear to have the least
ear for music: one of the officers took considerable pains to teach them
the bundredlh psalm, that they might not chaunt all the psalms and hymns
to the same air ; but they did not evince the least aptitude or desire to
learn it.

The following day was devoted to the completion of our view of the
island, of which the natives were anxious we should see every part.
Having accordingly seen every part of the island, we had no further desire
to rainble ; and as the weather did not promise to be very fair, I left the
observatory in the charge of Mr. Wolfe, and embarked, accompanied by
old Adams. Soon after he came on board it began to blow, and for
several days afterward the wind prevented any communication with the
shore. The natives during this period were in great apprehension: they

g^jg-l^-^r-sis^rJa'SBSSS^sa-^ff

mmmm^

^^gg MUTINY OP THE BOUNTY.

I . f «K» UUnd evcrv morninc to look for the ship; and
went to the top of the .sland every mo g ,^ ^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^_^^^

once, when she was not to bo 8««"' 3" j^^^ but he, knowing we

doubts whether A^^r'^ *°"'\^L 2 " eX wou W permit, was rather
should close the island as soon "^^he weather wou , , ^^^^^

glad of the opportunity of 'oma.n.ng on ^o-jd' JJ^his sixty-fifth year,
with his countrymen ; and, "^though he had pass , ^^^^^^^^

joined in the dances and songs of the forecastle, ana wa ,

^ On the sixteenth, the weather P«™'"«f*,*'°''Vr^vious to quitting the

and Adams was restored to h.s ^S his J^Jliness if I would read the

«hip, he said it would ,'^«i^„ JJ^ *^,ft\s ife^Sd not bear the idea of
marriage ceremony to h.rn and h.s wife, as he CO ^.^^^^ ^^^ ^^^

living with her without its ^*'^l"g„°°°f-"^t "est on that point. Though
arrival of a ship-of-war o «« ^.s consuence at res^ o^^ Ld-ridden for
Adams was aged, and the o»d woman Jad been D ^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^^

several years, he made such a point ot «' »»" "^ ^ . ^^^^^^ ^nd the
to refuse him. They were accordingly the next day amy

event noted in V««'?*«%li.f J ,„,„ be imagined, are very scarce, as
Wives upon Pitcairn Island, it may oe ««"»«' ' i England.

George, m hi. «"'y ^,7V^J''pXprI.Uy.tth.t .ime'uklng «.me oje

grew into manhood, his handsome *°™? ^ '\". "d_g*before her, softened
funity of throwing into the rt^'^TdLrnothlng passed before, she
Polly's heart into a regard for h.m, J;J^»»'^^B„X°,Tof her youth was
would willingly have given him her hand B"Uhe v ^ ^^ ^^^

not to be got over, and the love-sick couple languisn ^^^^^^^^,

victims to\he folly of early resolutions. J^e weighty c ^^^^ ^^^^^^^

for our consideration; '^"/^/.^^[^"bat it ^^^^^^ better to marry

relieved by the result, which «*«' th^t it wou^ determination made

^o^^ryleK^r «ieci.on and we left^ni u^^^^^^^^^^^^ ,

Another instance of a rigid ?«""""„ "^^-^uct should iorm an exa
inold Adams, who is anx.ous that ^s own co^^^^^^^^^ ^^ ^^,,

to the rising generation. 1° Vl«^°""^„ jf there was nobody else near ;
he would accompany me up the ™""°**\"'. " ;"Yo go, th young men were
and it so happened,that on the ^^y » ^fd leisur^^^^^^^ Vrforming his

all out of the «\y- ,i^,t"wa8ext:Syfr^^^

engagement, though the day was extremely ,^^^ ^| ^^^ ^^

too laborious, in any weather, for *"« 'J^'*^" / j ^ni ; beside, without
theless set out, adding, "I sa^d J. J»"^^J/^°^f"XL\^ valley he threw
example, precept will have but litte effect A ^^^ ^.^^ ^^ ^^^ ^^^^^ .

off his hat, handkerchief and J »«»'«*' .''r'^*„\o\ bush ; and had he been
at the second his trowsers were J"»J^Vo«?d certainly have followed:
alone, or provided with "J "^^[Jl ^i^ warwhich was well known to h.m

:f„rL'tsrw« ^:'prrx;rfe, ^^^^-m"-^ ■«

„Vf~-;*-«J^rH!SI:»

a=PJESff,'r'««»3W^'^**'^'^^^

jj^g^j^ggfll-l^ii^S?*?'

t^^^^.^^^^"*^"

MUTINY OP THE BOUNTY.

267

|or the ship; and
the most serious
t he, knowing we
ermit, was rather
again associating
lis sixty-fifth year,
s always cheerful,
e sent on shore,
ous to quitting the
I would read the
it bear the idea of
g wished for the
that point. Though
and bed-ridden for
lid have been cruel
uly united, and the

are very scarce, as

xist as in England.

oily Young, a girl a

nie liking some one

ectations are at the

her hand to George

k^ould one day relent;

please her. In this

ittentions, and, as he

ge took every oppor-

before her, softened

g passed before, she

row of her youth was

d on from day to day.

ity case was referre«l

ere in some measure

nuch better to marry

^ determination made

lowever, be prevailed

ried.

nise was exemplified
ould form an example
ition, he one day said
iras nobody else near ;
>, the young men were
upon performing his
the journey was much
)d of life. He never-
'. will ; beside, without
le first valley he threw
y the side of the path ;
ish ; and had he been
rtainly have followed :
vas well known to him
odden it, that we met
op of the ridge, which
1 Quintal appeared in

defiance of the blacks. Adams felt so fatigued that he was now glad to
lie down. The breeze here blew so hard and cold, that a shirt alone wu
of little use, and had he not been inured to all the changes of atmosphere,
the sudden transition upon his aged frame must have been fatal.

During the period we remained upon the island we were entertained
at the board of the natives, sometimes dining with one person, and some-
times with another: their meals, as I have before stated, were not confined
to hours, and always consisted of baked pig, yams, and tare, and more
rarely of sweet potatoes. The productions of the island being very limited,
and intercourse with the rest of the world much restricted, it may be
readily supposed their meals cannot be greatly varied. However they do
their best with what they have, and cook it in different ways, the pig
excepted, which is always baked. There are several goats upon the
island, but they dislike their flesh as well as their milk. Yams constitute
their principal food; these are boiled, baked, or made into pillihey, (cakes,)
by being mixed with cocoanuts ; or bruised and formed into a soup.
Bananas are mashed, and made into pancakes, or, like the yam, united
with the milk of the cocoanut, into pillihey, and eaten with molasses,
extracted from the tee-root. The taro root, by being rubbed, makes a
very good substitute for bread, as well as the bananas, plantain, and appai.
Their common beverage is pure water, but they made for us a tea, ex-
tracted from thfe tee-plant, flavored with ginger, and sweetened with the
juice of the sugar-cane. When alone, this beverage and fowl soup are
used only for such as are ill. They seldom kill a pig, but live mostly
upon fruit and vegetables. The duty of saying grace was performed by
John Buffet, a recent settler among them, and their clergyman ; but if he
was not present, it fell upon the eldest of the company. They have all a
great dislike to spirits, in consequence of M'Coy having killed himself by
too free an indulgence in it ; but wine in moderation is never refused.
With this simple diet, and being in the daily habit of rising early, and taking
a great deal of exercise in the cultivation of their grounds,- it was not
surprising that we found them so athletic and free from complaints.
When illness does occur, their remedies are as simple as their manner
of living, and are limited to salt water, hot ginger tea, or abstinence,
according to the nature of the complaint. They have no medicines, nor
do they appear to require any, as these remedies have hitherto been
found sufficient.

After their noontide meal, if their grounds do not require their attention,
and the weather be fine, they go a little way out to sea in their canoes,
and catch fish, of which they have several kinds, large and sometimes io
abundance ; but it seldom happens that they have this time to spare ; for
the cultivation of the ground, repairing their boats, houses, and making
fishing-lines, with other employments, generally occupies the whole of each
day. At sunset they assemble at prayers as before, first offering their
orison and thanksgiving, and then chaunting hymns. Afler this follows
their evening meid, and at an early hour, having again said their prayers,
and chaunted the evening hymn, they retire to rest ; but before they
sleep, each person again offers up a short prayer upon his bed.

Such is the distribution of time among the grown people ; the younger
part attend at school at regular hours, and are instructed in reading,
writing, and arithmetic. They have, very fortunately, found an able and
willing master in John Buffet, who belonged to a ship which visited the
island, and was so infatuated with their behavior, being himself naturally
of a devout and serious turn of mind, that he resolved to remain among
17

:j3K3rT'v-^?ivSSSS?:nf:*'

fstsmmmim

258

MUTIICT OF THE BOUNTY.

them ; and in addition to the inatruction of the children, has taken u|>on
himself the duty of clergyman, and is the oracle of the community. During
the whole time 1 was with them I never heard them indulge in a joko, or
other levity, and the practice of it is apt to give otfcnse : they are so
accustomed to take what is said in its literal meaning, that irony was
always considered a falsehood in spite of explanation. Thoy could not
see the propriety of uttering what was not strictly true, for any purpose
whatever.

The Sabbath-day is devoted entirely to prayer, reading, and serious
meditation. No boat is allowed to quit the shore, nor any work whatever
to be done, cooking excepted, for which preparation is made the preceding
evening. I attended their church on this day, and found the service well
conducted ; the prayers were read by Adams, and the lessons by Buifet,
the service being preceded by hymns. The greatest devotion was apparent
In every individual, and in the children there was a seriousness unknown
in the younger part of our communities at home. In the course of the
Litany they prayed for their sovereign and royal family with much apparent
loyalty and sincerity. Some family prayers, which were thought appro-
priate to their particular case, were added to the usual service ; and
Adams, fearful of leaving out any essential part, read, in addition, all
those prayers which are intended only as substitutes for others. A ser-
mon followed, which was very well delivered by Buifet ; and lest any part
of it should be forgotten, or escape attention, it was read three times.
The whole concluded with hymns, which were first sung by the grown
people, and afterward by the children. The service thus performed was
very long ; but the neat and cleanly appearance of the congregation, the
devotion that animated every countenance, and the innocence and sim-
plicity of the little children, prevented the attendance from becoming
wearisome. In about half an hour afterward we again assembled to prayers,
and at sunset service was repeated ; so that, with their morning and
evening prayers, they may be said to have church live times on a Sunday.

Marriages and christenings are duly performed by Adams. A ring
which has united every person on the island is used for the occasion, and
given according to the prescribed form. The age at which this is allowed
to take place, with the men, is after they have reached their twentieth,
and with the women, their eighteenth year.

All which remains to be said of these excellent people is, that they
appear to live together in perfect harmony and contentment; to be virtuous,
religious, cheerful, and hospitable, beyond the limits of prudence ; to be
patterns of conjugal and parental affection ; and to have very few vices.
We remained with them many days, and their unreserved manners gave
us the fullest opportunity of becoming acquainted with any faults they
miglit have possessed.

The Pitcairn islanders are tall, robust, and healthy. Their average
height is five feet ten inches ; the tallest person is six feet and one quarter
of an inch ; and the shortest of the adults is five feet nine inches and one
eighth. Their limbs are well proportioned, round and straight; their
feet turning a little inward. The boys pr<HBise to be equally as tall as
their fathers ; one of them whom we measured was, at eight years of age,
four feet one inch ; and another, at nine years, four feet three inches.
Their simple food and early habits of exercise give them a muscular
power and activity not often surpassed. It is recorded among the feats
of strength which these people occasionally evince, that twoof the strongest
oo the island, George Young and Edward Quintal, have each carried, at

'*i'^f:-^.-^:^'-!^^'-'^'Ss^imi0^t!Sr'f'^-?'-'^-.^^-i -i.«jS!S:^-<''^:r^-'iaflJ?n£»s*

MUTINY OF THE BOUNTY.

259

, has taken ui»on
imunity. During
iilge in a jolit',or
nse : they are so
g, that irony was
Thoy could not
I, for any purpose

iding, and serioUB
iny irork whatever
lade the preceding
nd the service well

lessons by Buffet,
otion was apparent
rioosness unknown
1 the course of the
with much apparent
rere thought appro-
usual service ; and
>ad, in addition, all

for others. A ser-
H • and lest any part
IS read three times. ^

sung by the grown

thus performed was
ihe congregation, the f

innocence and sim-
ince from becoming >^

assembled to prayers,

I their morning and

retimes on a Sunday.

by Adams. A ring

for the occasion, and

.which this is allowed

chad their twentieth,

people is, that they
[tment; to be virtuous,
ts of prudence ; to l»e

have very few vices,
eserved manners gave
1 with any faults they

althy. Their average
lix feet and one quarter
et nine inches and one
nd and straight; their
to be equally as tall as
B, at eight years of age,
fiur feet three inches,
give them a muscular
orded among the feats
that two of the strongest

a, have each carried, ai

one time, without inconvenience, a kedgo anchor, two siodgn hammers,
and an armorcr^s Rnvil, amounting to upward of six hundred weight; and
th.-it Quintal, at another time, carried a boat twenty-eight f(!ft in length.
In tho water they are almost as much at home as on land, and can romain
nnarly a day in tho sea. They frc(|uontly swam round tiioir lit'lf! inland,
the circuit of wiiich is at least seven miles. When tho sea heat licavily
on tlio island thoy have plunged into the breakers, and swam to sea Ix-yond
thi'in. 'I'his they sometimes did pushing a barrel of water before tlicrn,
when it could he got off in no other way, and in this manner we procured
several tons of water without a single cask being stove.

Their features are regular and well-looking, without being hand.some.
Their eyes are bright and generally hazel, though in one or two instances
they arc blue, and some have white speckles on the iris ; the eyebrows
being thin, and rarely meeting. The nose, somewhat flat, and rather
extended at the nostrils, partakes of the Otaheitan form, as do the lips,
which are broad, and strongly sulcated. Their ears are moderately large,
and tiio lobes are invariably united to the cheek ; they are generally
perforated when young, for the reception of flowers, a very common
custom among the natives of the South Sea Islands. The hair, in the
first generation, is, with one exception only, deep black, sometimos curly,
but generally straight; they allow it to go long, keep it very clean, and always
well supplied with cocoanut oil. Whiskers are not common, and the
beards are thin. The teeth are regular and white ; but are oi\en, in the
males, disfigured by a deficiency in enamel, and by being deeply furrowed
across. They have generally large heads, elevated in the line of the
occiput. Their complexion, in the first generation, is, in general, a dark
gipsy hue: there are, however, exceptions to this; some are fairer, and
others much darker.

The women are nearly as muscular as the men, and taller than the
generality of their sex. Polly Young, who is not tho tallest u|)on the
island, measured five feet nine inches and a half. Accustomed to per-
form all domestic duties, to provide wood for cooking, which is there a
work of some labor, as it must be brought from the hills, and sometimes to
till the ground, their strength is in proportion to their muscularity ; and
they are no less at home in the water than the men.

The treatment of their children differs from that of our own country,
as the infant is bathed three times a day in cold water, and is sometimes
not weaned for three or four years ; but as soon as that takes place it is
fed upon "popoe," made with ripe plantains and boiled taro rubbed into
paste. Upon this simple nourishment children are reared to a more
healthy state than in other countries, and are free from fevers and other
complaints peculiar to the greater portion of the world. Nothing is more
extraordinary in the history of the island than the uniform good health of
the children ; the teething is easily got over, they have no bowel com-
plaints, and are exempt from those contagious diseases which affect
children in large communities.

The women have all learned the art of midwifery : parturition generally
takes place during the night time ; the duration of labor is seldom longer
than five hours, and has not yet in any case proved fatal. There is no
instance of twins, nor of a single miscarriage, except from accident.

The number of persons on Pitcairn Island in December, 1 826, amounted
to sixty-six. The total number of children left by the white settlers was
fourteen, of whom two died a natural death ; one was seized with fits,
to which he was subject, while in the water, and was drowned ; and one

.*•:•»• -•.■*T--'

[ .

360

MUTINY OP THE BOUNTY.

was killod by accident, leaving ten, at above. Of the srandchildren, or
locond generation, there was also another male who died an accidental
dnnth. There have, therefore, been sixty-two births in the period of
thirty-five years, from the 2Sd January, 1700, to the SSd December, 1826,
and only two natural deaths.

Uofuro wo close this interesting account, a brief notice should be taken
of the fate of that portion of the mutineers, who separated themsolves
from the ringleader. Christian, at Otaheite.

The intelligence of the mutiny, and the suffering of Bligh and his
companions, naturally excited a great sensation in England. Bligh was
immediately promoted to the rank of commander, and Captain Elawards
was dispatched to Otaheite, in the Pandora frigate, with instructions to
search for the Bounty and her mutinous crew, and bring them to England.
The Pandora reached Matavai Bay on the twenty-third of March, 1791 ;
and even before she had come to anchor, Joseph Coleman, formerly
armorer of the Bounty, pushed off from shore in a canoe, and came on
board. In the course of two days afterward, the whole of the remainder
of the Bounty^s crew, (in number sixteen,) then on the island, surrendered
themselves, with the exception of two, who fled to the mountains, where,
an it afterward appeared, they were murdered by the natives.

The Pandora, with the mutineers on board, was subsequently wrecked
on the west of Now Holland — thirty-four of her crew and four of the
prisoners perishing in her. The survivors eventually reached England.
A court-martial was soon after held, when six of the ten mutineers were
found guilty, and condemned to death — the other four were acquitted.
Only three of the six, however, were executed.

In consequence of a representation made by Captain Beechy, th«
British government sent out Captain Waldegrave in 1830, in the Seringa-
patam, with a supply of sailors' bluejackets and trousers, flannels, stockings
and shoes, women's dresses, spades, mattocks, shovels, pickaxes, trowels,
rakes, etc. He found their community increased to alraut seventy-nine,
all exhibiting the same unsophisticated and amiable characteristics as wc
have before described. Other two Englishmen had settled among them ;
one of them, called Nobbs, a low-bred, illiterate man, a self-constituted
missionary, who was endeavoring to supersede Buffet in his office of
religious instructor. The patriarch Adams, it was found, had died in
March, 182!^, agod sixty-five. While on his deathbed, he had called th«
heads of families together, and urged upon them to elect a chief; which,
however, they had not yet done ; but the greatest harmony still prevailed
among them, notwithstanding Nobbs' exertions to form a party of his own.
Captam Waldegrave thought that the island, which is about four miles
square, might be able to support a thousand persons, upon reaching which
number they would naturally emigrate to other islands.

Such is the account of this most singular colony, originating in crim*
and bloodshed. Of all the repentant criminals on record, the most inter-
esting, perhaps, is John Adams ; nor do we know where to find a mora
beautiful example of the value of early instruction than in the history of
this man, who, having run the full career of nearly all kinds of vice, was
checked by an interval of leisurely reflection, and the aenae of new dutie*
awakened by the power of natural affections.

'SPV:V^y-

_^?vjr-n?T#}Vi;;T#

~£.,^-,ixr-:

grandchildren, oi
died an accidental

8 in the period of
l<l December, 1846,

ice Bhould be taken
iparated thenwoWen

IB of Bligh and his
fngland. Bligh was
,tl Captain Edwards
, with instnictions to
ing them to England,
lire! of March, 1791 ;
li Coleman, formerly

1 canoe, and came on
lole of the remainder
je island, surrendered
he mountains, where,

10 natives.

subsequently wrecked
crew and four of the
ally reached England,
tie ten mutineers wer«
four were acquitted.

Captain Beechy, the
n l830,in the Seringa -
isers, flannels, stockings
jvels, pickaxes, trowels, .

to about seventy-nine,
,le characteristics as wc
ad settled among them ;

man, a self-constituted

Buffet in his office of
^as found, had died m
thbed, he had called th«

to elect a chief; which.
It harmony still prevailed
► form a party of his own.

,hich is about four miles
Dns, upon reaching which

islands.

lonv, originating in crime
„°„recorl, the most inter-
now where to find a mor«
ion than in the history of
arly all kinds of vice, was
idthesenseofnewdutiee

HOW THEY LIVE

ON BOABD or AN • <

AMERICAN MAN OF WAR:

uina Till BxrcBiEMon or a sAium in twi
UNITED STATES NAVY.*

" All hands up anchor! Man the capstan!"

All was ready ; boats hoisted in.stnn' sail gear rove, messenger passed,
capstan-bars in their places, accommodation-ladder below ; and in glorious
spirits, we sat down to dinner. In the ward-room, the lieutenants were
passing round their oldest Port, and pledging their friends; in the steerage,
the middiea were busy raising loans to liquidate the demands of their
laundress, or else — in the navy phrase — preparing to pay their creditors
with a fifing fore-topaail. On the poop, the captain was looking to
windward ; and in his grand, inaccessible cabin, the high and mighty
commodore sat silent and stately, as the statue of Jupiter in Dodona.

It was on the gun-deck that our dinners were spread ; all along between
the guns ; and there, as we cross-legged sat, you would have thought a
hundred farm-yards and meadows were nigh. Such a cackling of ducks,
chickens, and ganders; such a lowing of oxen, and bloating of lambkins,
penned up here and there along the deck, to provide sea repasts for th«
officers.

"All hands up anchor!"

When that order was given, how we sprang to the bars, and heaved
round that capstan — round, round it spun like a sphere, keeping time with
our feet to the time of the fifer, till the cable was straight up and down,
and the ship with her nose in the wator.

"Heave and pull! unship your bars, and make ssil!"

It was done :— bar-men, nipper men, tierers, veerers, idlers and all,
scrambled up the ladder to the braces and halyards ; while like monkeys,
the sail-loosers ran out on those broad boughs, or yards ; and down fell
the sails like white clouds from the ether — topsails, topgallants, and
royals ; and away we ran with the halyards, till every sheet was distended.

" Once more to the bars !"

*' Heave, my hearties, heave hard!"

With a jerk and a yerk, we broke ground ; and up to our bows came
several thousand pounds of old iron, in the shape of our ponderous anchor.

In merchantmen the seamen are divided into watches — starboard and
larboard— taking their turn at the ship's duty by night. This plan is

•Abridged from "White Jacket, or the World in a Man-of-war," by Herman Mel-
ville, a writer of frreat ability in his peculiar line. This large 12mo., of 465 paeeo
gives the most faithful sketches of any work of the kind extant, and to whicTwe
take^pleasure in referring the reader for those fuU details foreign to the volume io

(261)

Kssja;t-;^-<Si^-

5SS«i«R.S^'«>e.iiW«.

-. --•■. ,r,^i -y,.

262

HOW THEY LIVE IN AN AMERICAN MAN OF WAR.

followed in all men-of-war. But in all men-of-war, beside this division,
there arc others, rendered indispensable from the great number of men,
and the necessity of precision and discipline. Not only are particular
bands assigned to the three tops, but in getting under weigh, or atiy other
proceeding requiring all hands, particular men of these bands are assigned
to each yard of the tops. Thus, when the order is given to loose the
main-royal, a particular individual flies to obey it ; and no one but him.
Also, in tacking ship, reefing topsails, or "coming to," every man of a
frigate's five-hundred-strong, knows his own special place, and is infallibly
found there. He sees nothing else, attends to nothing else, and will stay
there till grim death or an epaulet orders him away. Were it not for
these regulations a man-of-war's crew would be nothing but a mob.

Now the fore, main, and mizzen-top-men of each watch — starboard and
larboard — are at sea respectively subdivided into quarter-watches ;
which regularly relieve each other in the tops to which they may belong;
while, collectively, they relieve the whole larboard watch of topmen.
Beside these topmen, who are always made up of active sailors, there are
sheet-anchor-men — old veterans all — whose place is on the forecastle ;
the foreyard, anchors, and all the sails on the bowsprit being under their
care. They are an old weather-beaten set, culled from the most experi-
enced seamen on board. These are the fellows, who spin interminable
yarns about Decatur, Hull, and Bainbridge ; and carry about their persona
bits of ''Old Ironsides," as Catholics do the wood of the true cross. These
are the fellows, that some officers never pretend to damn, however much
they may anathematize others. These are the fellows, whose society
most of the your ^'ster midshipmen much affect ; from whom they learn
their best seamanship ; and to whom they look up as veterans ; if so be.
that they have any reverence in their souls, which is not the case with
all midshipmen.

Then, tbt- re is the after-guard, stationed on the quarter-deck ; who,
under the quarter-masters and quarter-gunners, attend to the mainsail
and spanker, and help haul the main-brace, and other ropes in the stern
of the vessel. The duties assigned to the after-guard's-men being com-
paratively light and easy, and but little seamanship being expected from
them, they are composed chiefly of landsmen ; the least robust, least
hardy, and least sailor-like of the crew ; and being stationed on the quarter-
deck, they are generally selected with some eye to their personal appear-
ance. Hence, they are mostly slender young fellows, of a genteel figure
and gentlemanly address ; not weighing much on a rope, but weighmg
considerably in the estimation of all foreign ladies who may chance to
visit the ship. Then, there are the Waistera, always stationed on the
gun-deck. These haul afl the fore and main-sheets, beside being subject
to ignoble duties ; attending to the drainage and sewerage below hatches.
These fellows are all sorry chaps, who never put foot in ratlin, or venture
above the bulwarks. Inveterate "«on* of farmers,^'' with the hayseed yet
in their hair, they are consigned to the congenial superintendence of the
chicken-coops, pig-pens, and potato-lockers. Theso are generally placed
amidships,on the gun-deck of a frigate, between the fore and main-hatches;
and comprise so extensive an area, that it much resembles the market-
place of a small town. They are the tag-rag and bob-tail of the crew ;
and he who is good for nothing else is good enough for a Waiater.

Three decks down — spar-deck, gun-deck, and berth-deck — and we
come to a parcel of "AoWcrs," who burrow, like rabbits in warrens, among
the water-tanks, casks, and cables. They are a lazy, lumpish, torpid set ;

HOW THEl LI\ E IN AN AMERICAN MAN OF WAR.

)F WAR.

side this division,
It number of men,
only are particular
weigh, or av.y other
bands are assigned
given to loose the
id no one but him.
3 " every man of a
ice, and is infallibly
o else, and will stay
^y. Were it not for
ing but a mob.
atch— starboard and
o quarter-watches ;
ch they may belong ;
a watch of topmen.
live sailors, there are
is on the forecastle ;
)rit being under their
rom the most expen-
rho spin interminable
■ry about their persons
tie true cross. These i
damn, however much i
ellows, whose society ,
rom whom they learn /
as veterans ; if so be.
h is not the case with

le quarter-deck; who,
attend to the mainsail
ther ropes in the stern
lard's-men being com-
p being expected from
the least robust, least
tationed on the quarter-
) their personal appear-
ows, of a genteel figure
n a rope, but weighing
ies who may chance to
ilways stationed on the
ts, beside being subject
ewerage below hatches,
foot in ratlin, or venture
,," with the hayseed yet
superintendence of the
eso are generally placed
le fore and main-hatches;
, resembles the market-
id bob-tail of the crew ;
ugh for a Waister.
ind berth-deck— and we
rabbits in warrens, among
lazy,lumpi8h, torpid set;.

263

and when going ashore after a long cruise, come out into the day, like
terrapins from their caves, or bears in the spring, from tree-trunks. No
one ever knows the names of these fellows ; after a three years' voyage,
they still remain strangers to you.

Such are the principal divisions into which a man-of-war's crew is
divided ; but the inferior allotments of duties are endless. We say
nothing here of boatswain's mates, gunner's mates, carpenter's mates,
sail-maker's mates, armorer's niates, master-at-arms, ship's corporals,
w cockswains, quarter-masters, quarter-gunners, captains of the forecastle,

f I ' captains of the foretop, captains of the maintop, captains of the mizzcn-top,

captains of the after-guard, captains of the main-hold, captains of the fore-
hold, captains of the head, coopers, painters, tinkers, commodore's
steward, captain's steward, ward-room steward, steerage steward, com-
modore's cook, captain's cook, officers' cook, cooks of the range, mess-
cooks, hammock-boys, messenger boys, cot-boys, loblolly-boys, and num-
berless others, whose functions are fixed and peculiar. It is from this
endless subdivision of duties in a man-of-war, that, upon first entering
one, a sailor has need of a good memory, and the more of an arithmetician
he is, the better. He is wholly nonplused, and confounded. And when,
to crown all, the first lieutenant, whose business it is to welcome all new
comers, and assign them their quarters ; when this officer — none of the
most bland or amiable either — gives him number after number to recollect
— 246 — 139 — 478 — 351 — the poor fellow feels like decamping.

Some account has been given of the various divisions into which our
crew was divided ; so it may be well to say something of the officers ;
\ who they are, and what are their functions. Our ship was the flag-ship ;
that is, we sported a broad pennant or bougie at the main, in token that
y we carried a commodore — the highest rank of officers recognized in the
American navy. The bougee is not to be confounded with the long
pennant or coach-whip, a tapering, serpentine streamer, worn by all men-
of-war. Owing to certain vague, republican scruples, about creating
great officers of the navy, America has thus far had no admirals ; though,
as her ships of war increase, they may become indispensable. An Ameri-
can commodore, like an English commodore, or the French Chef d'
Escadre, is but a senior captain, temporarily commanding a small number
of ships, detached for any special purpose. He has no permanent rank,
recognized by Government, above his captaincy ; though once employed
as a commodore, usage and courtesy unite in continuing the title. Our
commodore was a gallant old man, who had seen service in his time.
When a lieutenant, he served in the late war with England ; and in the
gun-boat actions on the lakes near New Orleans, just previous to the
grand land engagements, received a musket-ball in his shoulder ; which-
with the two balls in his eyes, he carries about with him to this day. On
account of this wound in his 8houlder,our commodore had a body-servant's
pay allowed him, in addition to his regular salary. I cannot say a great
deal, personally, of the commodore ; he never sought my company at
all ; never extended any gentlemanly courtesies. One phenomenon about
him was the strange manner in which every one shunned him. At the
first sign of those epaulets of his on the weather side of the poop, the
officers there congregated invariably shrunk ov«r to leeward, and left
him alone.

Turn we now to the second officer in rank, almost supreme, however,

in the internal affairs of his ship. Captain C was a large, portly

man, a Harry the Eighth afloat, bluff and hearty ; and as kingly in his

'-'.«if*'

264

HOW THEY LIVE IN AN AMERICAN MAN OF WAR.

cabin as Harry on his throne. The captain's word is law ; he never
8pcai(s hut in the imperative mood. When he stands on his quarter-deck
at sea, he absolutely commands as far as eye can reach. Only the moon
and stars arc beyond his jurisdiction. He is lord and master of the sun.
It is not twelve oVlock till he says so. For when the sailing-mastei , whose
duty it is to take the regular observation at noon, touches his hat, and
reports twelve o'clock to the officer of the deck; that functionary orders
a midshipman to repair to the captain's cabin, and humbly inform him of
the respectful suggestion of the sailing-master.

" Twelve o'clock reported, sir," says the middy.

" Make it so," replies the captain.

And the bell is struck eight by the messenger-boy, and twelve o'clock
it is.

As in the case of the commodore, when the captain visits the deck,
his subordinate officers generally beat a retreat to the other side ; and, as
a general rule, would no more think of addressing him, except concerning
the ship, than a lackey would think of hailing the Czar o/ Russia on his
throne and inviting him to tea. Perhaps no mortal man has more reason
to feel such an Intense sense of bis own personal consequence, as the
captain of a man-of-war al sea.

Next in rank comes the first or senior lieutenant, the chief executive
officer. Beside the firs^ lieutenant, the ward-room officers include the
junior lieutenants, in a frigate six or seven in number, the sailing-master,
purser, chaplain, surgeon, marine officers, and midshipmen's schoolmaster,
or "the professor." They generally form a very agreeable club of good
fellows ; from their diversity of character, admirably calculated to form
an agreeable social whole. Of course these gentlemen all associate on
a footing of perfect social equality. Next in order come the warrant or
forward officers, consisting of the boatswain, gunner, carpenter, and sail-
maker. Though these vorthies sport long coats and wear the anchor-
button ; yet, in the estimation of the ward-room officers, they are not,
technically speoking, rated gentlemen. The first lieutenant, chaplain, or
surgeon, for > 'Rtnple, would never dream of inviting them to dinner.
In sea parlance, 'they come a at the hawse holes ;" they have hard hands ;
and the carpenter and sail-maker practically understand the duties which
they are called upon to superintend. They mess by themselves.

In this part of the category now come the "reefers," otherwise "middies"
or midshipmen. These boys are sent to sea, for the purpose of making
commodores ; and in order to become commodores, many of them deem
it indispensable forthwith to commence chewing tobacco, drinking brandy
and water, and swearing at the sailors. As they are only placed on board
a sea going ship to go to school and learn the duty of a lieutenant ; and,
until qualified to act as such, have few or no special functions to attend
to ; they are little more, while midshipmen, than supernumeraries on
board. Hence, in a crowded frigate, they are so everlastingly crossing
the path of both men and officers, that in the navy it has become a proverb,
that a useless fellow is "a« much in the way €is a reefer?^

In a gale of wind, when all hands are called and the deck swarms with
men, the little "middies" running about distracted and having nothing
particular to do, make it up in vociferous swearing ; exploding all about
under foot like torpedos. Some of them are terrible little boys, cocking
their caps at alarming angles, and looking fierce as young roosters. They
are generally great consumers of Macassar oil and the Balm of Columbia;
they thirst and rage after whiskers ; and sometimes, applying their oint

T^^

' WAR.

I law ; he never
his quarter-deck
Only the moon
aster of the sun.
ng-mastei, whose
ihes his hat, and
unctionary orders
jly inform him of

ind twelve o'clock

in visits the deck.
,ther side ; and, as
except concerning
,r of Russia on his
ia has more reason
jDsequence, as the

he chief executive
►fficers include the
, the sailing-master,
men's schoolmaster,
eeable club of good

calculated to form ,
men all associate on -
:ome the warrant or ^

carpenter, and sail-
id wear the anchor-
Beers, they are not,
utenant, chaplain, or
ing them to dmner.
ley have hard hands ;
md the duties which

themselves.

otherwise "middies
e puruose of making

many of them deem
icco, drinking brandy

only placed on board
of a lieutenant ; and,

al functions to attend

supernumeraries on
everlastingly crossing

las become a proverb,

•ee/er."

the deck swarms wit'.i
d and having nothing
r ; exploding all about
,le little boys, cocking
young roosters. J hey
he Balm of Columbia;

58, applying their oint

HOW THEY LIVE IN AN AMERICAN MAN OP WAR.

265

ments, lay themselves out in the sun, to promote the fertility of their
chins. The middies live by themselves in the steerage, where, nowadays,
they dine off a table, spread with a cloth. They have a castor ut dinner ;
tiiey have some other little boys (selected from the ship's company) to
wait upon them ; they sometimes drink coffee out of china. But for all
these, their modern refinements, in some instances the affairs of their club
go sadly to rack and ruin. The china is broken ; the japanned coffee-
pot dented like a pewter mug in an ale-house ; the pronged forks resemble
tooth-picks ; (for which they are sometimes used ;) the table-knives arc
hacked into hand-saws ; and the cloth goes to the sail-maker to be patclied.

Having now descended from commodore to middy, we come lastly to
a set of nondescripts, forming also a "mess" by themselves, apart from
the seamen. Into this mess, the usage of a man-of-war thrusts various
subordinates — including the master-at-arms, purser's steward, ship's
corporals, marine sergeants, and ship's yeomen, forming the first aristo-
cracy above the sailors. The master-at-arms is a sort of high-constable
and schoolmaster, wearing citizen's clothes, and known by his official
rattan. He it is whom all sailors hate. His is the universal duty of a
universal informer and hunter-up of delinquents. On the berth-deck he
reigns supreme ; spying out all grease-spots made by the vurious cooks
of the seamen's messes, and driving the laggards up the hatches, when
all hands are called. But as it is a heartless, so is it a thankless office.
Of dark nights, most masters-of-arms keep themselves in readiness to
dodge forty-two pound balls, dropped down the hatchways near them.
The ship's corporals are this worthy's deputies and ushers. The marine
sergeants are generally tall fellows with unyielding spines and stiff upper
lips, and very exclusive in their tastes and predilections. The ship's
yeoman is a gentleman who has a sort of counting-room in a tar-cellar
down in the fore-hold.

Except the officers above enumerated, there are none who mess apart
from the seamen. The "petty officers,''^ so called ; that is, the boatswain's,
gunner's, carpenter's, and sail-maker's mates, the captains of the tops,
of the forecastle, and of the afler-guard, and of the fore and main holds,
and the quarter-masters, all mess in common with the crew, and in the
American navy are only distinguished from the common seamen by their
slightly additional pay. Thus it will be seen, that the dinner-table is the
criterion of rank in our man-of-war world. The commodoro dines alone,
because he is the only man of his rank in the ship. So, too, with the
captain ; and the ward-room offic(trs, warrant officers, midshipmen, the
master-at-arms' mess, and the comnon seamen — allof them, respectively,
dine together, because they are, respectively, on a footing of equality.

To a common sailor, the living on board a man-of-war is like living in
a market ; where you dress on the door-steps and sleep in the cellar. No
privacy can you have ; hardly one moment's seclusion. It is almost a
physical impossibility, that you ran over be alone. You dine at a vast
tiUile d'hote ; sleep in commons, and make your toilet where and when
you can. Your clothes are stowed in a large canvas bag, generally painted
black, which you can get out of the "rack" only once in the twenty-four hours;
and then, during a time of the utmost contusion ; among five hundred
other bags, with five hundred other sailors diving into each, in the midst
of the twilight of the berth-deck. In some measure to obviate this incon-
venience, many sailors divide their wardrobes between their hammocks and
their bags ; stowing a few frocks and trowsers in the former ; so that they
can shift at night, if they wish, when the hammocks are piped down. But

■, I ^1

266

HOW THEY LIVE IN AN AMERICAN MAN OF WAR.

they gain very little by this. You have no place whatever but your bag,
or liaiiimock, in which to put anything in a man-of-war. If you lay any-
thing down, and turn your back for a moment, ten to one it is gone.

From the wild life they lead, and various other causes, sailors, as i class,
entertain the most liberal notions concerning morality and the Decalogue;
or rather, they take their own views of such matters, caring little for the
theological or ethical definitions of others concerning what may be crimi-
nal, or wrong. Their ideas are much swayed by circumstances. Tliey
will covertly abstract a thing from one whom they dislike ; and insist
upon it, that, in such a case, stealing is no robbing. Or, where the theft
involves something funny, they only steal for the sake of the joke ; but
this much is to be observed nevertlieless, i. e., that they never spoil the
joke by returning the stolen article. Perhaps it is a thing unavoidable,
but the truth is that, among the crew of a man-of-war, scores of despera-
does are too often found, who stop not at the largest enormities. A spe-
cies of highway robbery is not unknown to them. A gang will be informed
that such a fellow has three or four gold pieces in the monkey-bag, so
called, or purse, which many tars wear round their necks, tucked out
of sight. Upon this, they deliberately lay their plans ; and, in due time,
proceed to carry them into execution. The man they have marked is
perhaps strolling along the benighted berth-deck to his mess-chest ; when,
of a sudden, the foot-pads dash out from their hiding-place, throw him
down, and while two or three gag him, and hold him fast, another cuts
the bag from his neck, and makes away with it, followed by his comrades.
This was more than once done in our frigate. At other times, hearing
that a sailor has something valuable secreted in his hammock, they will
rip it open from underneath, while he sleeps, and reduce the conjecture
to a certainty. To enumerate all the minor pilferings on board a man-of-
war would be endless. It is in vain that the officers, by threats of condign
punishment, endeavor to instill more virtuous principles into their crew ;
so thick is the mob, that not one thief in a thousand is detected.

In the American navy, the law allows one gill of spirits per day to every
seaman. In two portions, it is served out just previous to breakfast and
dinner. At the roll of the drum, the sailors assemble round a large tub,
or cask, filled with the liquid ; and, as their names are called otf by a
midshipman, they step up and regale themselves from a little tin measure
called a "tot." To many of them, indeed, the thought of their daily tota
forms a perpetual perspective of ravishing landscapes, indefinitely rece-
ding in the distance. It is their great "prospect in life." Take away
their grog, and life possesses no further charms for them. It is hardly to
be doubted, that the controlling inducement which keeps many men in
the navy, is the unbounded confidence they have in the ability of the
United States government to supply thenn, regularly and unfailingly, with
their daily allowance of this beverage. I have known several forlorn
individuals, shipping as landsmen, who have confessed to me, that having
contracted a love for ardent spirits, which they could not renounce, and
having by their foolish courses been brought into the most abject poverty,
— insomuch that they could no longer gratify their thirst ashore — they
incontinently entered the navy ; regarding it as the asylum for all drunk-
ards, who might there prolong their lives by regular hours and exercise,
and twice every day quench their thirst by moderate and undeviating
doses.

The common seamen in i large frigate are divided into some thirty or
forty messes, put down on the purser's books as meaa No. 1, mesa No. 9,

WAR.

er but your bag,
If you luy any-
one it is gone.

lailors, as -. class,

1 the Decalogue;

ring 'ittle for the

lat may be crimi-

nstances. They

slike ; and insist

r, where the thett

of the joke ; but

y never spoil the

hing unavoidable,

scovesof despera-

lormities. A spe-
iff will be informed
je monkey-bag, so
necks, tucked out
; and, in due time,
ey have marked is
mess-chest ; when,
g.place, throw him
n fast, another cuts
ed by his comrades,
rther times, hearing
hammock, they will
duce the conjecture
gon boardaman-ot-
wthreatsofcondign
lies into their crew ;
8 detected,
irits per day to every

ous to breakfast and
le round a large tub,
, are called off by a
malittle tin measure

ght of their daily «o««
Tes, indefinitely rece-
n life." Take away
them. It is hardly to
keeps many men in
in the ability of the
, and unfailingly, with
mown several forlorn
sed to me, that havmg
aid not renounce, and
le most abject poverty,
ir thirst ashore— they
B asylum for all drunk-
ar hours and exercise,
erate and undeviating

ded into some thirty or
ies8No.\,messNo.i,

HOW THEY LIVE IN AN AMERICAN MAN OF WAR.

267

mesa No. 3, etc. The members of each mess club their rations of provi-
sions, and breakfast, dine, and sup together in allotted intervals between
the guns on the main-deck. In undeviating rotation, the meinbor.s of each
mess (excepting the petty-officers) take their turn in performing tlie
functions of cook and steward. And for the time being, all tiic affairs
of the club are subject to their inspection and control. It is the cook's
business, also, to have an eye to the general interests of his mess ; to see
that, when the aggregated allowance of beef, bread, etc., are served out
by one of the master's mates, the mess over which he presides receives
its full share, without stint or subtraction. Upon the berth-deck he has
a chest, in which to keep his pots, pans, spoons, and small stores of
sugar, molasses, tea, and flour. But though entitled a cook, strictly
speaking, the head of the mess is no cook at all ; for the cooking for the
crew is all done by a functionary, officially called the " ship's cook,''''
assisted by several deputies.

From this it will be seen, that, so far as cooking is concerned, a ^'•cook
of the mesa'''' has very little to do ; merely carrying his provisions to and
from the grand democratic cookery. Still, in some things, his office
involves many annoyances. Twice a week butter and cheese are served
out — so much to each man — and the mess-cook has the sole charrj'', of
these delicacies. The great difficulty consists in so catering for the mess,
touching these luxuries, as to satisfy all. Some guzzlers are for devouring
the butter at a meal, and finishing off with the cheese the same day ;
others contend for saving it up against Banyan Day, when there is nothing
but beef and bread ; and others, again, are for taking a very small bit of
butter and cheese, by way of dessert, to each and every meal through the
week. All this gives rise to endless disputes, debates, and altercations.
Sometimes, with his mess-cloth — a square of painted canvas — set out
on deck between the guns, garnished with pots, and pans, and kids, you
see the mess-cook seated on a match-tub at its head, his trowsers legs
rolled up and arms bared, presiding over the convivial party. "Now,
men, you can't have any butter to-day. I'm saving it up for to-morrow.
You don't know the value of butter, men. You, Jim, take your hoof off the
cloth ! Devil take me, if some of you chaps haven't no more manners
than so many swines! Quick, men, quick ; bear a hand, and '«co^' (^^t)
away. — I 've got my to-morrow's duff to make yet, and some of you fellows
keep scoffing as if I had nothing to do but sit still here on this here tub
here, and look on. There, there, men, you've all had enough ; so sail
away out of this, and let me clear up the wreck." In this strain would
one of the periodical cooks of mess No. 15, talk to us. He was a tall,
resolute fellow, who had once been a brakeman on a railroad, and he
kept us all pretty straight ; from his fiat there was no appeal.

To a quiet, contemplative character, averse to uproar, undue exercise
of his bodily members, and all kind of useless confusion, nothing can be
more distressing than a proceeding in all men-of-war (;alled ^^general
jtiartcra." As the specific object for which a man-of-war is built and
put into commission is to fight and fire ofi' cannon, it is, of course, deemed
indispensable that the crew should be duly instructed in the art and mys-
tery involved. The summons is given by the ship's drummer, who strikes
a peculiar beat — short, broken, rolling, shuffling — like the sound made
by the march into battle of iron-heeled grenadiers. It is a regular tune,
with a fine song composed to it ; the words of the chorus, being most
artistically arranged, may give some idea of the air :

909 HOW THEY LIVE IN AN AMERICAN MAN OF WAR.

"Hearts of oak are our Bhips, jolly tars are our men ;
We are always ready, steady, boys, steady.
To fight and to conquer, again and again."

My station at the batteries was at one of the thirty-two pound carroi>ades,
on the starboard side ot' the quarter-deck. This carronade was known
as "Gun No. S,'' on the first lieutenant's quarter-bill. Among our gun^s
crew, however, it was known as Black Bet. This name was bestowed
by the captain of the gun — a fine negro — in honor of his sweetheart, a
colored lady of Philadelphia. Of Black Bet I was rammer and sponger;
and ram and sponge I did, like a good fellow. But it was terrible work
to help run in and out of the port-hole that amazing mass of metal,
especially as the thing must be done in a trice. Then, at the summons
of a horrid, rasping rattle, swayed by the captain in person, we were
made to rush from our guns, seize pikes and pistols, and repel an imagin-
ary army of boarders, who, by a fiction of the officers, were supposed to
be assailing all sides of the ship at once. After cutting and slashing at
them awhile, we jumped back to our guns, and again went to jerking our
elbows. Meantime, a loud cry is heard of "Fire! fire! fire!" in the
fore-top ; and a regular engine, worked by a set of Bowery-boy tars, is
forthwith set to playing streams of water aloft. Such a sea-martinet was
our captain, that sometimes we were roused from our hammocks at night;
when a scene would ensue that it is not in the power of pen and ink to
describe. Five hundred men spring to their feet, dress themselves, take
up their bedding, and run to the nettings and stow it ; then hie to their
stations — each man jostling his neighbor — some alow, some aloft ; some
this way, some that ; and in less than five minutes the frigate is ready
for action, and still as the grave ; almost every man precisely where he
would be were an enemy actually about to be engaged. The gunner is
burrowing down in the magazine under the ward-room, which is lighted
by battle-lnnterns, placed behind glazed glass bulPs-eyes inserted in the
bulkhead. The powder-monkeys, or boys, who fetch and carry cartridges,
are scampering to and fro among the guns ; and the first and second
loaders stand ready to receive their supplies. These powder-monkeys,
as they are called, enact a curious part in time of action. The entrance
to the magazine on the berth-deck, where they procure their food for the
guns, is guarded by a woolen screen ; and a gunner's mate, standing
behind it, thrusts out the cartridges through a small arm-hole in this
screen. The enemy's shot (perhaps red hot) are flying in all directions;
and to protect their cartridges, the powder-monkeys hurriedly wrap tnem
up in their jackets ; and with all haste scramble up the ladders to their
respective guns, like eating-house waiters hurrying along with hot cakes for
breakfast. At general quarters the shot-boxes are uncovered ; showing
the grape-shot — aptly so called, for they precisely resemble bunches
of the fruit ; though, to receive a bunch of iron grapes in the abdomen
would be but a sorry dessert ; and also showing the canister-shot — old
iron of various sorts, packed in a tin case, like a tea-caddy.

But if verily going into action, then would the frigate have made still
further preparations ; for however alike in some things, there is always
a vast difference — if you sound them — between a reality and a sham.
Not to speak of the pale sternness of the men at their gxum at such a
juncture, and the choked thoughts at their hearts, the ship itself would
here and there present a far different appearance. Something like that
of an extensive nmuHiun preparing for a grand entertainment, when folding
doors are withdrawn, chambers converted into drawing-rooms, and every

^s;:3'^s;^<Bi:^i '^t i?^^<=«i .«**cz;>5^"

FAR.

ind carroi.ade8,
Lde wa8 known
nong our gun's
) was bestowed
g sweetheart, a
er and sponger ;
19 terrible work
mass of metal,
at the summons
person, we were
repel an imagm-
rere supposed to
a and slashing at
jnt to jerking our
ire! fire'." in the
,wery-boy tars, »»
, sea-martinet was
immocks at night;
of pen and ink to
s themselves, take
. then hie to their
'some aloft; some
he frigate is ready
irecisely where he
d. The gunner is
m, which is jigh;«^
.yes inserted in the
nd carry cartridges,
e iirst and second
e powder-monkeys,
ioiT. The entrance
re their food for the
er's mate, standing
lU arm-hole .n this
ng in all directions;
lurriedly wrap tnem
the ladders to their
,nB with hot cakes for
incovered ; showing
, resemble bunches
pes in the abdomen
\e canister-shot— old

-caddy. .,,

ieate have made still
fings, there is always
tt reality and a sham,
ftheir guns at such a

liie ship itself^«»^^,
' Something like that

.inment,when folding"
'ing-rooms, and every

HOW THET LIVE IN AN AMERICAN MAN OF WAR.

269

inch of available space thrown into one continuous whole. For previous
to an action, every bulkhead in a man-of-war is knocked down ; great
guns are run out of the commodore's parlor windows ; nothing separates
the ward-room officers' quarters from those of the men, but an ensign
used for a curtain. The sailors' mess-chests are tumbled down into the
hold; and the hospital cots — of which all men-of-war carry a large supply —
are dragged forth from the sail-room, and piled near at hand to receive
the wounded ; amputation-tables are ranged in the cock-pit or in the tiers,
whereon to carve the bodies of the maimed. The yards are slung in
chains ; fire-screens distributed here and there ; hillocks of cannon-balls
piled between the guns ; shot-plugs suspended within easy reach from
the beams ; and solid masses of wads, big as Dutch cheeses, braced to
the cheeks of the gun-carriages.

No small difference, also, would be visible in the wardrobe of both
officers and men. The officers generally fight as dandies dance, namely,
in silk stockings ; inasmuch as, in case of being wounded in the leg, the
silk-hose can be more easily drawn off* by the surgeon ; cotton sticks, and
and works into the wound. But beside these differences between a sham-
fight at general quarters and a real cannonading, the aspect of the ship,
at the beating of the retreat, would, in the latter case, be very dissimilar
to the neatness and uniformity in the former. Then our stout masts and
yards might be lying about decks, like tree boughs after a tornado in a
piece of woodland; our dangling ropes, cut and sundered in all directions,
would be bleeding tar at every yarn ; and strewn with jagged splinters
from our wounded planks, the gun-deck might resemble a carpenter's
shop. Then, when all was over, and all hands would be piped to take
down the hammocks from the exposed nettings, (where they play the part
of the cotton bales at New Orleans,) we might find bits of broken shot,
iron bolts, and bullets in our blankets. And, while smeared with blood
like butchers, the surgeon and his mates would be amputating arms and
legs on the berth-deck, an underling of the carpenter's gang would be
new-legging and arming the broken chairs and tables in the commodore's
cabin ; while the rest of his squad would be splicing and fishing the
shattered masts and yards. The scupp^-holes having discharged the last
rivulet of blood, the decks would be washed down ; and the galley-cooks
would be going fore and aft, sprinkling them with hot vinegar, to take out
the shambles' smell from the planks ; which, unless some such means are
employed, often create a highly ofiiensive effluvia for weeks after a fight.

Then, upon mustering the men, and calling the quarter-bills by the
light of a battle-lantern, many a wounded seaman, with his arm in a sling,
would answer for some poor shipmate who could never more make answer
for himself:

"Tom Brown?"

" Killed, sir."

"Jack Jewel?"

" Killed, sir."

"JoeHaidy?"

" Killed, sir."

h nd opposite all these poor fellows' names, down would go on the
quaiter-bills the bloody marks of red ink — fitly used on these occasions.

Tie appearance of the boatswain, with his silver whistle to his mouth,
at thti main hatchway of the gun-deck, is always regarded by the cicw
with the utmost curiosity, for this betokens that some general order is
about v'o be promulgated through the ship. What now? is the question

•1' (

270

HOW THEY LIVE IN AN AMERICAN MAN OP WAR.

that riin.s on from rnan to man. A short preliminary whistle la then given
by "Old Yarn/' as they call him, which whistle serves to collect round
him, from their various stations, his four mates. Then Yarn, or Pipes,
as leader of the orchestra, begins a peculiar call, in which his assistants
join. Tills over, the order, whatever it may be, is loudly sung out and
prolonged, till the remotest corner echoes again. The boatswain and his
mates are the town criers of a man-of-war.

A calm had commenced in the adernoon ; and the following morning
the ship's company were electrified by a general order, thus set forth and
declared: "Z>'j/e hear there, fore and aft! all hands skylark! This
mandate, nowadays never used except upon very rare occasions, produced
the same effect upon the men that exhilarating gas would have done, or
an extra allowance of "grog." For a time, the wonted discipline of the
ship was broken through, and perfect license allowed. It was a Babel
here, a Bedlam there, and a Pandemonium everywhere. The faint-
hearted and timorous crawled to their hiding-places, and the lusty and
bold shouted forth their glee. Gangs of men, in all sorts of outlandish
habiliments, wild as those worn at some crazy carnival, rushed to and fro,
seizing upon whomsoever they pleased — warrant-officers and dangerous
pugilists excepted — pulling and hauling the luckless tars about, till fairly
baited into a genial warmth. Some were made fast to, and hoisted aloft
witii a will ; others, mounted upon oars, were ridden fore and ail on a
rail, to the boisterous mirth of the spectators, any one of whom might be
the next victim. Swings were rigged from the tops, or the masts; and
the most reluctant wights being purposely selected, spite of all struggles,
were swung from east to west, in vast arcs of circles, till almost breathless.
Hornpipes, fandangoes, Donny brook-jigs, reels, and quadrilles, were
danced under the very nose of the most mighty captain, and upon the
very quarter-deck and poop. Sparring and wrestling, too, were all the
vogue ; Kentucky bites were given, and the Indian hug exchanged. The
din frightened the sea-fowl, that flew by with accelerated wing.

It is worth mentioning that several casualties occurred, of which, hovr^
ever, I will relate but one. While the "skylarking'' was at its height,
one of the foretop-men — an ugly-tempered devil of a Portuguese, looking
on — swore that he would be the death of any man who laid violent hands
upon his inviolable person. This threat being overheard, a band of
desperadoes coming up from behind, tripped him up in an instant, and
in the twinkling of an eye the Portuguese was straddling an oar, borne
aloft by an uproarious multitude, who rushed him along the deck at a
railroad gallop. The living mass of arras all round and beneath him waa
so dense, that every time he inclined to one side he was instantly pushed
upright, but only to fall over again, to receive another push from the
contrary direction. Presently, disengaging his hands from those who
held them, the enraged seaman drew from his bosom an iron belaying-
pin, and recklessly laid about him to right and left. Most of his perse-
cutors fled ; but some eight or ten still stood their ground, and, while
bearing him aloft, endeavored to wrest the weapon from his hands. In
this attempt, one man was struck on the head, and dropped insensible.
He was taken up for dead, and carried below to the surgeon, while the
Portuguese was put under guard. But the wound did not prove very
serious ; and in a few days the man was walking about the deck, with
his head well bandaged. This occurrence put an end to the "skylarking,*'
further head-breaking being strictly prohibited. In due time the Portu-
guese paid the penalty of his rashness at the gangway.

/iiAa!?Hfe

)F WAR.

listle is then given
la to collect round
n Yarn, or Pipes,
hich his assistants
udly sung out and
! boatRwain and his

following morning
, thus set forth and
da skylark! This
iccasions, produced
ould have done, or
id discipline of the
id. It was a Babel
where. The faint-
, and the lusty and

sorts of outlandish
il, rushed to and fro,
cers and dangerous
tars about, till fairly
to, and hoisted aloft
n fore and aft on a
e of whom might be
!, or the masts ; and
ipite of all struggles,
till almost breathless,
nd quadrilles, were
iptain, and upon the
ng, too, were all the
ug exchanged. The
rated wing,
irred, of which, how-'
7" was at its height,
' Portuguese, looking
iho laid violent hands
>verheard, a band of
up in an instant, and
addling an oar, borne

along the deck at a

and beneath him wa»
i was instantly pushed
nother push from the
ands from those who
som an iron belaying-
t. Most of his perse-
jir ground, and, while
n from his hands. In
id dropped insensible,
he surgeon, while the
nd did not prove very

about the deck, with
nd to the "skylarking,'
In due time the Portu-
[way.

HOW THEY LIVE IN AN AMERICAN MAN OP WAR.

271

A hint has already been conveyed concerning the subtorrancnn depths
of our ship^s hold. But there is no time here to speak of the ajnrit-room,
a cellar down in the after-hold, where the sailors' "grog" is kept ; nor of
the cable-tierg, where the great hawsers and chains are piled, as you see
them at a large ship-chandler's on shore ; nor of the grocer's vaults,
whore tierces of sugar, molasses, vinegar, rice, and flour arc snugly stowed;
nor of the sail-room, full as a sail-maker's loft ashore — piled up with
great topsails and topgallant-sails, all ready-folded in their places, like so
many white vests in a gentleman's wardrobe ; nor of the copper and
copper-fastened 7na^azin«, closely packed with kegs of powder, great-gun
and small-arm cartridges; nor of the immoaao shot-lockers, or subterranean
arsenals, full as a bushel of apples with twenty-four pound balls ; nor of
the bread-room, a large apartment, tinned all round within to keep out the
mice, where the hard biscuit destined for the consumption of five hundred
men on a long voyage is stowed away by the cubic yard ; nor of the vast
iron tanks for fresh water in the hold, like the reservoir lakes at Fairmount,
in Philadelphia ; nor of the paint-room, where the kegs of white lead, and
casks of linseed oil, and all sorts of pots and brushes, are kept ; nor of
the armorer''s smithy, where the ship's forges and anvils may ho heard
ringing at times ; I say I iiave no time to speak of these things, and many
more places of note.

But there is one very extensive warehouse among the rest that needs
special mention — the ship's Yeomen's store-room. In our vessel it was
down in the ship's basement, beneath the berth-deck, and you went to it
by way of t\ie fore-passage, a very dim, devious corridor, indeed. Enter-
ing — say at noonday — you find yourself in a gloomy apartment, lit by a
solitary lamp. On one side are shelves, filled with balls of marline,
ratlin-stuff, seizing-stuff, spun-yarn, and numerous twines of assorted
sizes. In another direction you see large cases containing heaps of
articles, reminding one of a shoe-maker's furnishing-store — wooden
serving-mallets, fids, toggles, and heavers ; iron prickers and marling-
spikes ; in a third quarter you see a sort of hardware shop — shelves
piled with all manner of hooks, bolts, nails, screws and thimbles; and, in
still another direction, you see a block-maker's store, heaped up with
lignum-vitffi sheeves and wheels. Through low arches in the bulkhead
beyond, you peep in upon distant vaults and catacombs, obscurely lighted
in the far end, and showing immense coils of new ropes, and other bulky
articles, stowed in tiers, all savoring of tar.

But by far the most curious department of these mysterious storc-roomt
is the armory, where the pikes, cutlasses, pistols, and belts, forming the
arms of the boarders in time of action, are hung against the walls, and
suspended in thick rows from the beams overhead. Here, too, are to be
seen scores of Colt's patent revolvers, which, though furnished with but
one tube, multiply the fatal bullets, as the naval cat-o'-nine-tails, with a
cannibal cruelty, in one blow nine times multiplies a culprit's lashes ; so
that, when a sailor is ordered one dozen lashes, the sentence should read
one hundred and eight. All these arms are kept in the brightest order,
wearing a fine polish, and may truly be said to rejlect credit on the yeoman
and his mates. Among the lower grade of officers in a man-of-war, that
of yeoman is not the least important. His responsibilities are denoted
by his pay. While the petty officers, quarter-gunners, captains of the tops,
and others, receive but fifteen and eighteen dollars a month — but little
more than a mere able seaman — the Yeoman in an American line-of-
battle ship receives forty dollars, and in a frigate thirty-five dollars pei

272

HOW THEY LIVE IM AN AMERICAN MAN OP WAR.

month. He is accountable for all the articles under his charge, and on
no account must deliver a yard of twine or a tenpenny nail to the boata>
wain or carpenter, unlew shown a written requisition and order from the
senior lieutenant. Indeed, there were several parts of tho ahi^ under
hatches shrouded in mystery, and eompletelv inaccessible to tho sailor.
Wondrous old doors, barred and bolted, in ^ingy bulkhead'!, must have
opened into regions full of interest to a successful explorer. Thus,
though for a period of more than a year I was an inmate uf this floating
box of live-oak, yet there were numberless tilings ih it that, to the last,
remained wrapped in obscurity, or concerning which I could only lose
myself in vague speculations.

If you begin the day with a laugh, you may, nevertheless, end it with
a sob and a sigh. John, Peter, Mark, and Antone — four sailors of the
starboard-watch, were charged with violating a well-known law of the ship —
having been engaged in one of those tangled, general fights sometimes
occurring among sailors. They had nothing to anticipate but a flogging,
at the captain's pleasure. Toward evening of the next day, they were
startled by the dread summons of the boatswain and his mates at the
principal hatchway — a summons that ever sends a shudder through every
manly heart in a frigate :

"All handt witness punishment, ahoyP^

The hoarseness of the cry, its unrelenting prolongation, its being caught
up at difleient points, and sent through the lowermost depths of the ship;
all this produces a most dismal efiect upon every heart not calloused by
long habituation to it. However much you may desire to absent yourself
from the scene that ensues, yet behold it you must ; or, at least, stand
near it you must ; for the regulations enjoin the attendance of tho entire
ship's company, from the corpulent captain himself to the smallest boy
who strikes the bell.

At the summons the crew crowded round the mainmast ; multitudes
eager to obtain a good place on the booms, to overlook tho scene ; many
laughing and chatting, others canvassing the case of the culprits ; some
maintaining sad, anxious countenances, or carrying a suppressed indig
nation in their eyes ; a few purposely keeping behind to avoid looking on ;
in short, among five hundred men, there was every possible shade of
character. All the officers — midshipmen included — stood together in a
group on the starboard side of the mainmast ; the fiist lieutenant in
advance, and the surgeon, whose special duty it is to be present at su^h
times, standing close by his side. Presently the captain came forward
from his cabin, and stood in the center of this solemn group, with a small
paper in his hand. That paper was the daily report of oifenses, regularly
laid upon his table every morning or evening, like the day's journal placed
by a bachelor's napkin at breakfast. ''Master-at-arms, bring up the
prisoners," he said. A few moments elapsed, during which the captain,
now clothed in his most dreadful attributes, fixed his eyes severely upon
the crew, when suddenly a lane formed through the crowd of seamen,
and the prisoners advanced — ^the master-at-arms, rattan in hand, on one
side, and an armed marine on the other — and took up their stations at the
mast. "You John, you Peter, you Mark, you Antone," said the captain,
"were yesterday found fighting on the gun-deck. Have you anything
to say?"

Mark and Antone, two steady, middle-aged men, whom I had often
admired for their sobriety, replied that they did not strike the first blow ;
that they bad submitted to much before they had yielded to thoir passions:

.iHt*^^

.mmsmims^^^^^smmmmmm..

F WAR.

lis charge, and on
nail to the boaU-
nd order from the
jf tho ahij) under
iible to tho sailor,
[headi, must have
explorer. Thus,
ate of this floating
it that, to the last,
I could only lo«e

iheless, end it with
.four sailors of the
wn law of the ship —
il fights sometimes
pate but a flogging,
lext day, they wore
id his mates at the
adder through every

ion, its being caught
It depths of the ship;
lart not calloused by
re to absent yourself
t ; or, at least, stand
pndance of the entire
r to the smallest boy

lainmast ; multitudes
)ok tho scene ; many
,f the culprits ; some
z a suppressed indig
id to avoid looking on ;
sry possible shade of
1— stood together in a
he fiist lieutenant in
to be present at sb^h
captain came forward
un group, with a small
t of oifenses, regularly
le day's journal placed
at-arms, bring up the
ring which the captam,
his eyes severely upon
the crowd of seamen,
rattan in hand, on one
up their stations at the
tone," said the captam,
Have you anythmg

nen, whom I had often
lot strike the first blow ;
fielded to their passions:

HOW TIIET LIVE IN AN AMRRIOAN MAN OF WAR.

278

but as thoy acknowlndged that they had at last defended themselves,
their excuse wns overruled. John — a brutal bully, who, it seems, was
tho real author of the disturbance — was about entering into a long exton-
nation, when he was cut short by being made to confess, irrespective
of circumHtancos, that he had been in the fray. Peter, a handsome lad
about nineteen years old, belonging to the mizzen-top, looked pale and
tremulous. He was a great favorite in his part of the ship, and especially
in his own moss, principally composed of lads of his own age. That
morning two of his young messmates had gone to his hag, taken out his
bust clothes, and, obtaining the permission of the marine sentry at the
"bri^,^' had handed them to him, to bo put on against being summoned
to the mast. This was done to propitiate the captain, as most captains
love to see a tidy sailor. But it would not do. To all his supplications
the cu|)tain turned a deaf ear. Peter declared that he had been struck
twice before he had returned a blow. "No matter," said the captain,
"you struck at last, instead of reporting the case to an officer. 1 allow
no man to fight on board here but myself. I do the fighting. Now,
men," he added, " you all admit the charge ; you know the penalty.
Strip! Quarter-masters, are the gratings rigged?" Tho gratings are
square frames of barred wood-work, sometimes placed over tho hatch-
ways. One of these squares was now laid on the deck, close to the
ship's bulwarks, and while the remaining preparations were being made,
tho master-at-arms assisted the prisoners in removing their jackets and
shirts. This done, their shirts were loosely thrown over their shoulders.

At a sign from the captain, John, with a shameless leer, advanced, and
stood passively upon the grating, while the bareheaded old quarter-master,
with gray hair streaming in the wind, bound his feet to tho cross-bars,
and, stretching out his arms over his head, secured them to the hammock-
nettings above. He then retreated a little space, standing silent. Mean-
while, the boatswain stood solemnly on the other side, with a green bag
in his hand, from which taking four instruments of punishment, he gave
one to each of his mates ; for a fresh "cat," applied by a fresh hand, is
the ceremonious privilege accorded to every man-of-war culprit. At
another sign from the captain, the master-at-arms, stepping up, removed
the shirt from the prisoner. At this juncture a wave broke against the
ship's side, and dashed the spray over his exposed back. But though
tho air was piercing cold, and the water drenched him, John stood still,
without a shudder.

Tho captain's finger was now lifted, and the first boatswain's-mate
advanced, combing out the nine tails of his cat with his hand, and then,
sweeping them round his neck, brought them with the whole force of his
body upon the mark. Again, and again, and again ; and at every blow,
higher and higher rose the long, purple bars on the prisoner's back. But
he only bowed over his head, and stood still. Meantime, some of the
crew whispered among themselves in applause of their shipmate's nerve ;
but the greater part were breathlessly silent as the keen scourge hissed
through the wintery air, and fell with a cutting, wiry sound upon the mark.
One dozen lashes being applied, the man was taken down, and went among
the crew with a smile, saying, " ■ me! it's nothing when you're
used to it! Who wants to fight?" The next was Antone, the Portuguese.
At every blow he surged from side to side, pouring out a torrent of
involuntary blasphemies. Never before had he been heard to curse.
When cut down, he went among the men, swearing to have the life of
the captain. Of course, this was unheard by the officers. Mark, the
18

^i^^0M

.Am^-Jii

274

HOW TUEY LIVK IN AN AMKHlCAN MAN OF WAR.

n I

third prinnnor, only cringfld and conghotl undcir nis piiniilimcnt. Ua liiid
■onio piiltnonary cumplaint. ilu wrb oH duty lor xovcral days nfti-r iho
dogfi'ing ; but this was partly to lie imputod to hitf nxtr« ino mental niiHory.
It wnH iiJH limt HcourKinif, and lio folt tho inxult more than ilin injury.
He bocame ailent and Hullen tor thu roat of th<! cruiflc. Tiio luurtli and
last was Peter, li:') niizzen-top lad. He hnd oAnn boasted that he hud
never been degraded at the gangway. I'hc way before hin chcM'k hnd
worn its UHual red, hut now no ghost vim whiter. As hu waH hein/i
seciirod lo tho gratings, and tho shuddering:' and cioopings of his dn/.-
zlingly white back wore revealed, ho turned round his hnad imploringly ;
but his weeping entreaties and v; ws of contrition wore of no avail. "I
would not forgive (io<i Almighty !" cried the captain. The fourth boat-
6wai:)^SMnBte advanced, and at tho first blow, tho boy, shouting "My (t'vd!
Ohf Kijf (iodr^ writhed and i>apnd so us to displace the gratings, and
scatter the nine tails of the scourge all over his person. At the next blow
he howled, leaped, and raged in unendurable torture. "What are you
stopping for, boatswain'sinator^ cried the captain. "Lay onP^ and the
whole dozen was applied. "I don^t carr- what happens to me now!"
wept Peter, going among tiie crow, with Liood-sbnt i yes, as ho put on
his shirt. "I have been flogged onco, an'! they may do it again, if they
will. Let them look out for me now. "Pijie down!" cried the captain,
and tho crew nlowly '''tpersed.

Oi kII the non-coniiiiitunts of a man-of-war, the purser, perhaps, stands
foreivoHt in importance Though ho is but a member of the gun-room
moss, yet usage seems to -ssign him a conventional station somewhat
above that of his equals in navy rank — the chaplain, surgeon, and profes-
sor. Morcovrr, he is frequently to be seen in close conversation with
the rommodore, who, in our ship, was more than once known to be slijijitly
jocular with our purser. Upon several occasions, also, ho was called
into the commodore^s cabin, and remained closeted there for several
minutes together. Nor did I remember that there ever happened a
cabinet meeting of the ward-room barons, the lieutenants, in the com-
modore's cabin, but tho purser made ono of the party.

Now, under this high functionary of state, the official known as the
purser's steward was head clerk of the frigate's fiscal affairs. Upon the
berth-deck he had a regular counting-room, full of ledgers, journals, and
day-books. His desk was as much littered with papers as any Pearl
Street merchant's, and much time was devoted to his accounts. For
hours together you would see him, through the window of his subterranean
ofliice, writing by the light of his perpetual lamp. In the vicinity of the
office of the purser's steward are the principal store-rooms of the purser,
where large quantities of goods of every description are to be found.
On board of those ships where goods are permitted to be served out to
the crew for the purpose of selling them ashore, to raise money, more
business is transacted at the office of a purser's steward in one Liberty-
day morning than all the dry goods shops in a considerable village would
transact in a week. Once a month, with undeviating regularity, this
official has his hands more than usually full. For once a month, certain
printed bills, called mess-bills, are circulated among the crew, and what-
ever you may want from the purser — be it tobacco, soap, duck, dungeree,
needles, thread, knives, belts, calico, ribbon, pipes, paper, pens, hats, ink,
shoes, socks, or whatever it may be— down it goes on the mess-bill, which,
being the next day returned to the office of the steward, the "slops," as
they are called, are uerved oat to the men and charged to their accounts.

lN of war.

|iuniBlun(>nt. Iloliad
Movoriil jlays ntu^r iho
(trcino nu'iital nilHury.
[noTo than llic injury.
jiHC. Till) Ibiirth ;uid
I boaatcd that lie lind
before hiH chock had
ir. As he waH hoinji
iiioopings of his da/.-
his head implorinjjly ;
were of no avail. "I
,in. Tlic four'iii l)oat-
ly, shouting ^^MyGod!
lace the f^ratin^s, and
ion. At the next blow
turo. "What are yow
"F.ay on!" and the
lappena to me now!"
int t yes, as he pnt on
lay do it again, if lliey
n!" cried the captain,

Hirser, perhaps, stands
mber of the gun-room
jnal station somewhat
D, surgeon, and profes-
;lo8e conversation with
ice known to be slijjhtly
19, also, ho was called
leted there for severid
here ever happened a
ieutenants, in tlie coin-
irty.

5 official known as the
iscal affairs. Upon the
f ledgers, journals, and
;h papers as any Pearl
to his accounts. For
idow of his 8ubt'3rraneun
In the vicinity of the
jre-rooms of the purser,
iption are to be found,
tted to be served out to
B,to raise money, more
iteward in one Liherty-
nsiderable village would
eviating regularity, this
or once a month, certain
long the crew, and what-
0, soap, duck, dungeree,
8, paper, pens, hats, ink,
3 on the mess-bill, which,
steward, the "slops," as
barged to their accounts.

"N^jp —

-^!smM^i?'~"t^'^

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HOW THEY LIVE IN AN AMERICAN MAN OF WAR. 275

Lucky is it for man-of-war's-mcn that tlie outrapcous impositions to which,
bill a very f<;w years ago, llioy were suhjcctcd from tiif abuses in tliia
department of the service, and the unscriipuloiis cui)idity of many of the
pursers — liicliy ia it for them that now these things arc in a great (hMrrce
done away. The pursers, instead of being at liberty to make ahnosi what
they please from the sale of their wares, are now paid by regular stipends
laid down by law. Under the exploded system, the profits of some of
these otficors were almost incredible. In one cruise uptiie Mediterranean,
the purser of an American line-of-battle ahip was, on good authority, said
to have cleared the sum of 850,000. Upon that he quitted the service,
and retired into the country. Shortly after, his three daughters— not
very lovely— married extremely well. No wonder tliat on board of the
old frigate Java, upon lier return from a cruise extending over a period
of more than four years, one thousand dollars paidoff eighty of her crew,
though the aggregate wages of the eighty for the voyage must have
amounted to about sixty thousand dollars. Even under the present system,
the purser of a line-of-battle ship, for instance, is far better paid than any
other officer, short of captain or commodore. While the lieutenant com-
monly receives but eighteen hundred dollars, the surgeon of the fleet
but fifteen hundred, the chaplain twelve hundred, the purser of a line-of-
battle receives thirty-five hundred dollars. In considering his salary,
however, his responsibilities are not to be overlooked ; they are by no
moans insignificant.

To make plain the thing about to be related, it needs to repeat what
lias somewhere been previously mentioned, that in tacking ship every
seaman in a man-of-war has a particular station assigned him. What
that station is, should be made known to him by the first lieutenant ; and
wiien the word is passed to tack or wear, it is every seaman's duty to be
found at his post. But among the various numbers and stations driven to
mo by the senior lieutenant, when I first came on board the frigate, he
had altogether omitted informingmeof my particular place at those times,
and, up to the precise period now written of, I had hardly known that I
should have had any special place then at all. For the rest of the men,
they seemed to mo to catch hold of the first rope that offered, as in a
merchantman upon similar occasions. Indeed, I subsequently discovered,
that such was the state of discipline— in this one particular, at least—
that very few of the seamen could tell where their proper stations were,
at tacking or wearing.

"All hands tack ship, ahoy!" such was the announcement made by the
boatswain's mates at the hatchways. It was just eight bells— noon, and
springing from my white jacket, which I had spread between the guns for
a bed on the main-deck, I ran up the ladders, and, as usual, seized hold
of the mam-brace, which fifty hands were streaming along forward.
VVhen main-topaail haul! was given through the trumpet, I pulled at this
brace with such heartiness and good-will, that I almost flattered myself
that my instrumentality in getting the frigate round on the other tack,
deserved a public vote of thanks, and a silv(!r tankard from Congress.
But something happened to be in the way aloft when the vards swung round;

a little confusion ensued ; anc?. with anger on his brow, Captain C '■

came forward to see what occasioned it. No one to let go the weather-
lift of the mainyard The rope was cast off, however, by a hand, and
the yards, unobstructed, came round. Whenthe last rope was coiledaway,
the captain desired to know of the first lieutenant who it might be that
was stationed at the weather (then the starboard) main-lift. With a vexed.

,,, HOW THEY »VF. .1. AK AMKRICAS MAS OF WAB.

rJdid not know of these P'-"^„«„«^'"S^t',iVihc hatchways, and along all
Ctswain's mate bawlmg my "«°;j'^7;',7e' heard it so sent through

'»f "'«• , ,hP mast" he replied. "Going to flog ye, 1

» Captain wants ye at the mast, no v

trUCSS."

''What for?" .wnlkinffvour face, hain't ye?"

» Mv eves! you've been chalKing your

« What^m I wanted for?" I repeated. ^^^^ ^j, ,her

But at that instant my "'^"^^,^^f;/fe" way, hinting that I would soon
boatswain's mate, and ^'"V'i nd of me Lwallowed down my heart m
find out what the captam desired ot me. balanced myself on my

mc as 1 touched the spardeck, for a single •ns^^" ■ ^^ ,,c alleged

;r ce'er, and then who ly;.moran^^^;h^--^^^^ ,

, against mc, advanced to the '^=^J ^^..^.^er rigging the gratmgs the
through the gangway, I ^^^^^^^'^ ^^^^ ' , ; the master-at-arms ready to
boatswain with ^'>^g^-";'^8Al^^^dc a desperate sv^Uowo^y

help off some one's sliirt. Again i . ^^f„re Caplain C-

Se soul in mo, ami """^^'^j J "nUumor. Among the group
His flushed face obviously ^>'«^^.^'\ ' "* '" "^t who. as I came aft, eyed

"Why were you not at your s|%»'"' . , ,

"What station do you '"^^"f/.'^^J.o.var's-men to stand obsequious y
It is generally the custom with "an oi wai captain. But

toucl^ nftheir Lt at every sontence ley add ess to^ ^^^^ ^^ ^o

Tthis was not obligatory upon ^e byjf « C, j ^ad never had the dan-
To upon the present occasion and pevousg, ^

gerous honor of a personal intennew . V^ ,„d ,„st,n. .

Lticed my omission fJ^^J^^^^ ,,t ,,is heart against me.

bUU ^d .e.d .ny "riTT.T.r^.t* me I over heard of m, hemg

"Captain C ■> saiu i,

assigned to that post." ^^^^ ^^ the first lieutenant, w.th

"How is this, Mr. B; ' ne s* ,

a fault-finding expression. striving to hide his vexation,

^£.:Z:^^^^^^^ captain C _," said 1.

::Ku=ar^^^^^

I had now beea on t>»";„t,i3lS, and in a few weeks, at most
r3bi iri^^AirrraL mak^g a hermit of tnyself m

f OF WAR.

name was found put
the gun-deck below,
.en^ after, I iieard the
hways, and along all
rd it so sent through
vr what this generally
throat, and I hurriedly
way, what was wanted

" Going to flog ye, 1

in't ye?"

red forth by the other
iting that I would soon
)wed down my heart in
balanced myself on my
,as going to be alleged
,0 frigate. As I passed
gging the gratings ; the
master-at-arms ready to
ispcrate swallow of my

before Caplain C

mor. Among the group
vho. as I came aft, eyed
,n to be extremely vexed
Meeting upon the manner

ed the captain.

ncn to stand obsequiously
ess to the captain. But
cles of War, I did not do
[had never had the dan-

ttainC Hequ.c'^ly

sndered him, and msUmt
rt against me.

ill not help you, sir."
now produced the station
of the starboard main-lill.

le I ever heard of my being

the first lieutenant, with
riving to hide his vexation,

t,CaptainC— ,"saidl.
d. "I ahall flog you."
rd of a year, and remained
and in a few weeks, at mo8t,

iking a hermit of myself in

HOW THEY LIVE LV AN AMERICAN MAN OF WAR. 277

some things, in order to avoid the possibility of tlio scourge, iierc it was
hanging ovor nic for a thing utterly unforeseen, for a crime of which I
was as utterly innocent. But all that was as naught. I saw that my case
was iiopeless ; my solemn disclaimer was thrown in my teeth, and the
boatswain's mate stood curling his fingers tiirough the cat. There arc
times when wild thoughts enter a man's heart, when ho seems almost
irresponsible for his act and his deed. The captain stood on tht; weather-
side of the deck. Sideways, on an unobstructed line with him, was the
opening of the lee-gangway, where the side-ladders are suspended in port.
Nothing but a slight bit of siiinatc-stuft" served to rail in tiiis opening,
which was cut right down to the level of the captain's feet, showing the
far sea beyond. I stood a little to windward of him, and, though he was
a largo, powerful man, it was certain that a sudden rush against him,
along the slanting deck, would infallibly phch him headforemost into the
ocean, though he who so rusliod must needs go over with him. My
blood seemed clotting in my veins ; I felt icy cold at the tips of my fingers,
and a dimness was before my eyes. But through that dimness the boat-
swain's mate, scourge in hand, loomed like a giant, and Captain C ,

and the blue sea seen througli the opening at the gangway, showed with
an awful vividness. I cannot analyze my heart, though it then stood
still within mo. But the thing that swayed me to my purpose was not

altogether the thought that Captain C was about to degrade me, and

that I had taken an oath with my soul that he should not. No, I felt
my man's manhood so bottomless within me, that no word, no blow, no

scourge of Captain C could cut me deep enough for that. I but

swung to an instinct in me — the instinct ditiused through all animated
nature, the same that prompts even a worm to turn under the heel.

Locking souls with him, I meant to drag Captain C from this earthly

tribunal of his to that of Jehovah, and let Him decide between us. No
other way could I escape the scourge.

"To the gratings, sir!" said Captain C ; "do you hear?"

My eye was measuring the distance between him and the sea.

"Captain C ," said a voice advancing from the crowd. I turned

to see who this might be, that audaciously interposed at a juncture like
this. It was our remarkably handsome and gentlemanly corporal of
marines, Colbrook. "I know that man," said Colbiook, touching his
cap, and speaking in a mild, firm, but extremely deferential manner;
"and I know that he would not be found aiisent from liis station, if he
knew where it was."

This speech was almost unprecedented. Seldom or never before had
a marine dared to speak to the captain of a frigate in behalf of a seaman
at the mast. But there was something so unostentatiously commanding
in the calm manner of the man, that the captain, though astounded, did
not in any way reprimand him. The very unusualness of his interference
seemed Colbrook's protection. Taking heart, perhaps, from Colbrook's
example. Jack Chase interposed, and in a manly but carefully respectful
manner, in substance repeated the corporal's remark, adding that he had
never found me wanting in the top. The captain looked from Chase to
Colbrook, and from Colbrook to Chase — one the foremost man among
the seamen, the other the foremost man among tlie soldiers — then all
round upon the packed and silent crew, and, as if a slave to Fate, though
supreme captain of a frigate, he turned to the first lieutenant, made some
indifferent remark, and saying to me you may go, sauntered aft into his
cabin ; while I, who in the desperation of my soul, had but just escaped

278 UOW THEY UVE IN AN AMERICAN MAN OF WAR.

being a murderer and a suicide, almost burst into tears of thanksgiving

'''l!"-' L'Tot^'down in our memories a few little things pertaini..'; to our
man-or-war world. There is no part of a frig.lo whor.; you will s.h, more
aoi "and coming of strangers, and overhear more greetings and goss.pings
":rS;ita3, than in^he' immediate vicinity of the «c.tt le- u,t .^us
forward of the main-hatchway, on the gun-deck I he «^. '"'«»'»" «^
-.oodly, round, painted cask, standmg on end, and with its upper
head removed showing a narrow, circular she fwUhm, where res a
umbJr of tin cups for the accommodation of drmkers. Central, w.lh.n
he scuttle-butt i\self, stands an iron pump, which, connecting with ho
nmenso water-tanks' in the hold, furnishes ar. »"/-'■»« ^"PJ^Edn
much-admired Palo Ale, first brewed in the brooks of the Garden ot Lden,
Td staii^^ed with the brand of our old lather Adam w^m never knew
what wine was. We arc indebted to the old vintner Noah for that, i he
Tcuttl J-butt is the only fountain in the ship ; and here alone can you dnnk
un"ess at vour meals Night and day an armed sentry paces beloro it,
bayonet in hLS; to see that no water is taken away, except according

'" M'^ve hundred men come to drink at this scuttle-butt ; as it is often
■surrounded by officer's servants drawing water for their masters to wash
r;Se coots 'of the range, who hither come to fill their "^^-J^^f = -
bv the cooks of the ship's messes to procure water for their dtijfs , the
scuttle-buit may be denominated the town-pump of tl'CjJ'P-

\s in all extensive establishments, so m a mau-of-war, there arc a
va;i^ty of similar snuggeries for the benefit «f ;>-;;P%-; -■"■"« ':;,^ J
tars Chief among these is the otlice oi mast-man There is .- stout
ia on dock, at the base of each mast, where a number of braces lilts
and bunthnos are belayed to the pins. It is the sole duty of the mastn.an
,0 see Ua these ropes are always kept clear, to preserve his premises n
a state of the greatest attainable neatness, and every Sunday mon.ing to
3i io^e his loiL in neat Flemish coiU. Tj.e mainmast-^^^^^^ ship

was a very aged seaman, who well deserved his comfortable berth. He
ad seen more than half a century of the most active service, and through
il, 1 ad pnwed himself a good and faithful man. He f-^^'^^ed one o^
tl^e very rare examples of a sailor in a green old age; for, ivith most
sailors, old Ige comes in youth, and hardship and vice carry them on an

'"TC;e"wL';n "rnegro, who went by the name of Tawney, a sheet-
anchor-man, whom we often invited into our top ot tranquil nights, to
hear him discourse. He was a staid and sober seaman, very in e ligent,
with a fi"ie Ta k bearing, one of the best men in the ship, and held in
S eslinmt on by every one. It seems that, during the last war between
Englana"TAm'erica,'he had. with several «\»>-f. '^-\"n,^i;^^,i
™ fl.P hiah seas o'lt of a New England merchantman. 1 he ship tliat
EestJd him wa:'an English frigate, the Macedonian, afterward taken
bv tiio United States, the sliip in which we were sailing,
'^t wai the holy Sabbath, according to Tawney, and a« the Bnton bore
down oi. the American-her men at their quarters-1 aw ey and his
countrvn.en, who happened to be stationed at the quarter-deck batory,
nSTly accosted the captain-an old man by the name of t^ardan-
'^^* r,; ised them, in his rapid promenade, h s spyglass under hi a^.^
A<Tain thov assured him that they were not Englishmen, and that it waa
a fiulst bUtlr thing to lift their.hands against the flag of that country which

OF WAR.

ara of thanksgiving

{8 pertaining to our
ri' yon will sin; more
tings an«l gossipings
ho scuttle-butt, jnst
'ho scuttle-butt is a
nd with its upper
ithin, whore rest a
■rs. Central, within
connecting with the
ailing supply of tiie
the (.lardcnof Eden,
ni, who never knew
Noah for that. The
alone can you drink,
ntry paces before it,
ly, except according

R-butt ; as it is often
leir masters to wash ;
lieir colVee-pots ; and
for their duffs ; the
■ the ship.

i-of-war, there arc a
epit or rheumatic old
». There is n stout
tnber of braces, lifts,
i duty of the mastnian
;serve his premises in
ry Sunday morning to
jmast-man of our ship
nifortable bertii. He
; service, and, ti>rough
lie furnished one of
1 age ; for, with moat
ace carry them on an

3 of Tawney, a sheet-
of tranquil nights, to
aman, very intelligent,
1 the ship, and held in
g the last war between
■rs, been "impressed"
utman. The ship that
onian, afterward taken
ailing.

md, as the Briton bore
tors — Tawney and hia
quarter-deck battery,
the name of Cardan —
pyglass under his arm.
ishmen, and that it waa
g of that country which

HOW THEY LIVE IN AN AMERICAN MAN OF WAR.

279

harbored the molliers that bore them. They conjured him to release
t'lKMU from their guns, and allow them to remain neutral during the con-
flict. IJut when a ship of any nation is running into action, it is no time
for argument, small time for justice, and not much time for humanity.
Snatciiing a pistol from the belt of a hoarder standing by, the captain
lovt^led it at the heads of the three sailors, and commanded them instantly
to their quarters, under penalty of being shot on the spot. So, side by
side with his country's foes, Tawney and his companions toiled at the
guns, and fought out the tight to the last ; with the exception of one of
them, who was killed at his post by one of his own country's balls.

At length, having lost her fore and main-topmasts, and her mizzcn-mast
having been shot away to the deck, and her foreyard lying in two pieces
on her shattered forecastle, and in a hundred places having been hulled
with round siiot, the English frigate was reduced to the last extremity.
Captain Cardan ordered hia signal quarter-master to strike the flag.
Tawney was one of those who, at last, helped pull him on board the
United States. As he touched the deck. Cardan saluted Decatur, the
hostile comninnder, and offered his sword; hut it was courteously declined.
Perhaps the victor remembered the dinner parties that he and the English-
man had enjoyed together in Norfolk, just previous to the breaking out
of hostilities — and while both were in command of the very frigates now
crippled on the sea. The Macedonian, it seems, had gone into Norfolk
with dispatciies. Then they had laughed and joked over their wine, and
a, wager of a l)eaver hat was said to have been made between them upon
the event of the hostile meeting of their ships.

Gazing upon the heavy batteries before him. Cardan said to Decatur,
"This is a sevtmty-four, not a frigate ; no wonder the day is yours!" This
remark was founded upon the United States' superiority in guns. The
United States' main-deck batteries then consisted, as now, of twenty-four
pounders ; tlie Macedonian's of only eighteens. In all, the American
vessel numbered fifty-four guns and four hundred and fifty men ; the
British, forty-nine guns and three hundred men; a very great disparity,
which, united to the other circumstances of this action, deprives the
victory of all claims to glory beyond those that might be set up by a river-
horse getting the better of a seal.

According to Tawney, when the captain of the Macedonian — seeing
that the United States had his vessel completely in her power — gave the
word to strike the flag, one of his officers, a man hated by the seamen for
his tyranny, howled out the most terrific remonstrances, swearing that,
for his part, he would not give up, but was for sinking the Macedonian
along side the enemy. Had he been captain, doubtless he would have
done 80 ; thereby gaining the name of a hero in this world ; — but what
would they have called him in the next? But as the whole matter of war
is a thing that smites common sense and Christianity in the face ; so
everything connected with it is utterly foolish, unchristian, barbarous,
brutal, and savoring of the Feejee Islands, cannibalism, saltpeter, and
the devil. It is generally the case in a man-of-war when she strikes her
flag that all discipline is at an end, and the men for a time are ungovern-
able. This was so on board of the English frigate. The spirit-room was
broken open, and buckets of grog were passed along the decks, where
many of the wounded were lying between the guns. These mariners
seized the buckets, and, spite of all remonstrances, gulped down the
burning spirits, ill, as Tawney aaid, the blood suddenly spirted out of
their wounda, and they fell dead to the deck.

280

HOW THEY LIVE IN AN AMERICAN MAN OF WAR.

The negro had mnny more stories to tell of this fiji^ht ; niul frequently
ho wonid escort me along our main-deck hatteries— still mounting the
same guns used in the hattlc— pointing out their inflaceahle indcntiitions
and scars. Coated over witli the accumulated paint ot more than thirty
years, they were almost invisihle to a casual eye; but '1 awncy know
them all by heart ; for he had returned home in the United States, and
had beiicld these scars shortly after the engagement. One ai\ernoon, 1
was walking with him along the gun-deck, when he paused abreast ot the
mainmast. "This part of the ship," said he, "we called the slaughter-
house on board the Macedonian. Here the men fell, five and six at a
lime. An enemy always directs its shot here, in order to hurl over the
mast, if possible. The beams and carlines overhead in the Macedonian
slaughter-house yNGTn spattered with blood and brains. About the hatch-
ways it looked like a butcher's stall ; bits of human flesh sticking m tho
ring-bolts. A pig that ran about the decks escaped unharmed, but hia
hide was so clotted with blood, from rooting among the pools of gore, that
when the ship struck the sailors hove the animal overboard, swearing that
it would be rank cannibalism to eat him." Another quadruped, a goat,
lost its fore legs in this fight. The sailors who were killed— accordmg
to the usual custom— were ordered to be thrown overboard as soon as
they fell ; no doubt, as the negro said, that the sight of so many corpses
lying around might not appall the survivors at the guns. Among other
instances, he related the following. A shot entering one of the port-holes,
dashed dead two thirds of a gun's crew. The captain of tlie next gun,
dropping his lock-string, which he had just pulled, turned over the lieap
of bodies to see who they were ; when, perceiving an old messrnate,
who had sailed with him in many cruises, he burst into tears, and, taking
the corpse up in his arms, and going with it to the side, held it over the
water a moment, and eying it, cried, "Oh God! Tom!"-"D-— your
prayers over that thing ! overboard with it, and down to your gun ! roared
a wounded lieutenant. The order was obeyed, and the heart-stricken
sailor returned to his post.

Among the numerous artists and professors of polite trades in the navy,
none are held in higher estimation or drive a more profitable business
than the barbers. And it may well be imagined that the five hundred
heads of hair and five hundred beards of a frigate should furnish no small
employment for those to whose faithful care they may be intrusted. 1 ho
regular days upon which the barbers shall exercise their vocation are set
down on the ship's calender, and known as shaving days. On board of
our ship these days are Wednesdays and Saturdays ; when, immediately
after breakfast, the barbers' shops were opened to customers. They were
in diflterent parts of the gun-deck, between the long twenty-four pounders.
Their furniture, however, was not very elaborate, hardly equal to the
sumptuous appointments oi metropolitan barbers. Indeed, it merely
consisted of a match-tub, elevated upon a shot-box, as a barber s chair
for the patient. These barbers of ours had their labors considerably
abridged by a fashion prevailing among many of the crew, of wearing very
large whiskers ; so that, in most cases, the only parts needing a shave
were the upper lip and suburbs of the chin. This had been more or
less the custom during the whole three year's cruise ; but for some time
previous to our weathering Cape Horn, very many of the seamen had
redoubled their assiduity in cultivating their beards, preparatory to their
return to America. Above all, the captain of the forecastle, old Ushant—
a fine specimen of a sea sexagenarian— wore a wide, spreadmg beard.

.N OF WAR.

fi>»ht ; niul frequently
s — still mounting the
fl'acoable indentations
at of niore ilian thirty
I ; but Tawncy know
lie United States, and
int. One ai\eriioon, I
paused abreast of the
called the slaughter-
I fell, five and six at a
order to hurl over the
ad in the Macedonian
ins. About the hatch-
n flesh sticking in tho
)ed unharmed, but his
the pools of gore, that
i-erboard, swearing that
lier quadruped, a goat,
rere killed — according
1 overboard as soon as
[lit of so many corpses
) guns. Among other
g one of the port-holes,
iptain of the next gun,
I, turned over the iieap
ing an old messmate,
t into tears, and, taking
e side, held it over the

Tom!"— "D your

n to your gun !" roared
and the heart-stricken

)olite trades in the navy,
ore profitable business
that the five hundred
should furnish no small
may be intrusted. Tho
le their vocation are set
ng days. On board of
ys ; when, immediately
customers. They were
g twenty-four pounders.
;e, hardly equal to the
rs. Indeed, it merely
ox, as a barber's chair
leir labors considerably
le crew, of wearing very
/ parts needing a shave
rhis had been more or
uise ; but for some time
any of the seamen had
rds, preparatory to their
forecastle, old Usliant —
wide, spreading beard,

HOW THEY LIVE IN AN AMEUICAN MAN OP WAR.

281

grizzled and
and ivnottcd

ffray, that flowed over his breast, and ot\en became tunjdcd
witii tar. Tiiis Ushant, in all weatliors, was ever alert at

hi.s (iiily ; intrci>i(liy mounting tho foreyard in a gale, liis long board
stroariiiiiy like Neptune's.

Tiuouj,'iiout tiie cruise, many of the oflicers had expressed their ab-
horrence of tlio impunity witii which the most extensivf^ plantutions of
liair wo.'j cultivated under their very noses ; and they frowned u))(in every
beard witii even greater dislike. They said it was uns(!amaiilikc; not .v/jiy>-
thape ; in siiort, it was disgraceful to the navy. One evening the sliip's
coin|)any were astounded by an extraordinary announcement made at tho
maiii-halcinvay of tiie gun-deck, by the boatswain's mate there stationed.
"D'ye liear th( re, fore and aft? Ail you that iiave long hair, cut it siiort;
and all you that have large whiskers, trim th(;m down, according to tho
navy rcguhitions." The excitement was intense throughout tiiat whole
evening. One and all, they resolved not to succumb, and every man
swore to stand by his beard and his neighbor. Twenty-four hours after —
at the next evening quarters — the captain's eye was observed to wander
along the men at their guns — not a beard was shaven! When the drum
beat the retreat, the boatswain — now attended by all four of his mates,
to give additional solemnity to the announcement — repeated the previous
day's order, and concluded by saying, that twenty-four hours would be
given for all to acquiesce. But the second day passed, and at quarters,

untouched, every beard bristled on its chin. Forthwith Captain C

summoned the midshipmen, who, receiving his orders, hurried to the
various divisions of the guns, and communicated thern to the lieutenants
respectively stationed over divisions. The officer commanding mine
turned upon us, and said, "Men, if to-morrow night I find any of you with
long hair, or whiskers of a standard violating the navy regulations, the
names of such offenders shall be put down on the report." Though
many heads of hair were shorn, and many fine beards reaped that day,
yet several still held out, and vowed to defend their sacred hair to the la.st
gasp of their breath. Wnen the proper time arrived, their names were
taken down by the officers of divisions, and they were afterward summoned
in a body to the mpst, where the captain stood ready to receive them.
Tho whole ship's co-npany crowded to the spot, and, n'^id the breathless
multitude, the venerable rebels advanced and cnhattcf' ') he rebel beards,
headed by old Ushant's, streaming like a commodore ■ «/^ec, now stood
in silence at the mast.

"You knew the order!" said the captain, eying them severely; "what
does that hair on your chins?"

"Sir," said the captain of the forecastle, "did old Ushant ever refuse
doing his duty? did he ever yet miss his muster? But, sir, old Ushant's
beard is his own!"

"What's that, sir? master-at-arms, put that man into the brig."
"Sir," said the old man, respectfully, "the three years for which I
shipped are expired ; and though I am perhaps bound to work the ship
home, yet, as matters are, I think my beard might be allowed me. It is

but a few days. Captain C ."

"Put him into the brig !" cried the captain ; "and now, you old rascals !"
he added, turning round upon the rest, "I give you fifteen minutes to
have those beards taken oflf; if they then remain on your chins, I'll flog
you — every mother's sonof you — though you were all myown godfathers!"
The band of beards went forward, summoned their barbers, and their
glorious pennants were no more. In obedience to orders, they then

2S2 now TIIEY LIVP: IN AN AMKIilCAN MAN OF WAR.

pnriKi.d thcrnsclvoH at the niJiHt, and, addrcssinjr thr ciplain, said, "Sir,
our Muzzlrlit.ihiii^ii art' cast oH!"

On 111.' morrow, allcr brcuikfast, Ut<hant was taken out of iroiiM, niul,
with tlu' masl<T-al-arnm on one Hide and an arincil s.'niry on tiic ollior.
was rsrorUHi alon« tho unn-dock and up tho ladder to the tnamimiHt.
Th.-r<- the captain stood, firm as before. They must Iimvc (fuarded the
old man thus to prevent his escape to the shore, somelhinR less than a
thousand miles distant at the time.

"Will sir, will you have that beard taken off? you have sbpt over it
a whole 'ni«ht now ; what do you say? I don't want to flog an old man
like you, IJshant!"

"My beard is my own, sir!" said the old man, lowly.

"Will vou take it off"?"

"It is mine, sir!" said the old man, tremulously.

"Rif; the ^-ratinjjs!" roared the captain. "Master-at-arms, strip him!
(luarler-master, seize hirn up! boatswain's-rnates, do your duty!"

VViiile these executioners wore employed, the captain's excitement had
a lilth^ time to abate ; and when, at last, old Usiiant was tied up by the
arms and le"s, and his veaerable back was exposed— that back which
had bowed at the puns of the frigate Constitution when she cajMiired the
(iuerriere — the captain seemed to relent.

"You are a very old man," he said, "and I am sorry to flog you ; but
my orders must be obeyed. I will give you one more chance; will you

have that beard taken oil"?" ■ ^ u ■ u-

" Captain C ," said the old man, turning round painfully in his

bonds, " you may flog me if you will ; but, sir, in this one thing 1 can not

obey you." . , . . ,j /.

"Lay on! I'll see his backbone!" roared the captain in a sudden fury.

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve
lashes were laid on the back of that heroic old man. He only bowed
over his head, and stood as the dying gladiator lies.

"Cut him down," said the captain. , . • it u

When the master-at-arms advanced with the prisoner's shirt, L'shant
waived him off with the dignified air of a Brahim, saying, "Do you think,
master-at-arms, that I am hurt? I will put on my own garment. I am
never the worse for it, man ; and 'lis no dishonor when lie who would
dishonor you, only dishonors himself." ,, ,.,

"What says he?" cried the captain; "what says that tarry old philoso-
pher with the smoking back? Tell it to me, sir, if you dare ! Sentry, lake
that man back to the brig. Stop! John Ushant, you have been captain
of the forecastle ; I break you. And now you go into the brig, there to
remain till you consent to have that beard taken off."

"My beard is my own," said the old man, quietly. "Sentry, I am

ready." , , r. i •

And back he went into durance between the guns ; but after lying some
four or five days in irons, an order came to remove them ; but he was
still kept confined. Books were allowed him, and he spent much time m
readintr. But he also spent many hours in braiding his beard, and enter-
weavinl? with it stripes of red bunting, as if he desired to dress out and
adorn the thing which had triumphed over all opposition.

He remained a prisoner till we arrived in America ; but the very
moment he heard the chain rattle out of the hawsehole, and the ship
swing to her anchor, he started to his feet, dashed the sentry aside, and
gaining the deck, exclaimed, "At home, with my beard!"

^N OF WAR.

he caplaiii. saiil, "Sir,

kill out of iroiiH, mid,
I Hi'iilry on tlic oilier.
Idcr to thi! tiiiiliiiiiiiHl.
(list li'ivc f,Miiir(i((i the
something Uhs tliiiii a

you liavc slept over it
lilt to flog an old man

owly.

3ter-at-armH, strip him!
do your duty!"
iptiiin's exciteriieiit had
ant was tied up by tlie
is(.(i — that hnck which
wlion she cajitiired tlie

sorry to flog you ; hut
more chance ; will you

round painfully in his
this one thing 1 can not

iptain in a sudden fury.

line, ten, eleven, twelve

man. He only bowed

;s.

prisoner's shirt, Ushant
, saying, "Do you think,
ny own garment. I am
lor when he who would

ys that tarry old philoso-
' you dare! Sentry. lake
you have been cajitain
JO into the brig, there to
off."
quietly. "Sentry, I am

ns ; but after lying some
Tiove them ; but he was
d he spent much time in
ing his beard, and enter-
desircd to dress out and
riposition.

America ; but the very
hawsehole, and the ship
led the sentry aside, and
ly beard!"

HOW TIIKY LIVK IN AN AMKUICAN MAN OF WAR.

!^;j

Though, as F afterward learned, Ushaiit wa.s enrriesljy ''Utre'ited (o put
the cas(! into some lawyer's hands, hi; firmly (Icclined', saying *• I liavf-
won the liallle, my friends, and I do not earc for the pri/c-moiKV."
Years ago then" was a piinisliment inllirled in the llnglisli, and I lieli.'ve
in (lie Amerienn navy, calhul /vTZ-Af/i////!^— a jili rase still einpioyrd by
man-of-war'sMien when they would express some signal vengeanre upnti
a personal foe. The practice still remains in the French national marine,
Ihongli it is by no means resorted to so fre(|iiently as in times past. It
consists of attaching tackles to the two extremities of the tnainyaril. and
passing the rope iimler the ship's bottom. To one end of this roi)e liie
c.ulpril is aecur(;d ; his own shipmates are then made to run him up and
down, first on this side, then on that — now scraping the whip's hull under
water — anon, hoisted, stunned and breathless, into the air.

But though this barbarity is now abolished from tjie Knglish and
American navies, tiiere still remains anotlier practice which, if anything,
is even worse than knl-haulitiff. This remnant of the Middle Ages is
known in the navy nn ^'foffffirif,' throufrh the fcrtV It is never infFicted
except by authority of a court-martial upon some trespasser deemed guilty
of a flagrant oU'ense. Never, that I know of, has it been inflicted by an
American man-of-war on tin? home station. The reason, probably, is,
that the orticers well know that such a spectacle would raise a mob in
any American seaport.

All hands being called "to witness punishment" in the ship to which
the culprit belongs, the sentence of the court-martial condemning him is
read, when, with the usual solemnities, a portion of the punislunent is
inflicted. In order that it shall not lose in severity by tiie slightest ex-
haustion in the arm of the executioner, a fresh boatswain's mate is called
out at every dozen. As the leading idea is to strike terror into the
beiioldors, the greatest number of lashes is inflicted on board the ciiljiril's
own ship, in order to render him the more shocking si»(!ctacle to the
crews of the other vessels. The Hist infliction being concluded, the
culprit's shirt is thrown over him; he is put into a boat — the Rogue's
March being played meanwhile — and rowed to the next ship of tiie
s(|uadron. All hands of that ship are then called to man the rigging, and
another portion of the punishment is inflicted by the boatswain's mates
of that .ship. The bloody shirt is again thrown over the seaman ; and
thus he is carried through the fleet or squadron till the whole sentence

is inflicted. In other cases, the launch — the largest of the boats is

rigged with a platform, (like a headsman's scaffold,) upon which halberds,
something like those used in the English army, are erected. They con-
sist of two stout poles, planted upright. Upon the platform stand a
lieutenant, a surgeon, a master-at-arms, and the executioners with their
"cats." They are rowed through the fleet, stopping at each ship, till the
whole sentence is inflicted, as before.

In some cases, the attending surgeon has professionally interfered
before the last lash has been given, alleging that immediate death must
ensue if the remainder should be administered without a respite. But
instead of humanely remitting the remaining lashes, in a case like this,
the man is generally consigned to his cot for ten or twelve days; and
when ho surgeon oflicially reports him capable of undergoing the rest
of the sentence, it is forthwith inflicted. Shylock must have his pound
of flesh. To say, that afler being flogged through the fleet, the prisoner's
back is sometimes puffed up like a pillow ; or to say that in other cases
it looks as if burned black before a roasting fire ; or to say that you may

284 HOW THKY LIVE IN AN AMKRIOAN MAN OP WAR.

tra.k hi.n ll.ro.Kh tlw, «c,nu.lrou by the, 1.1.....1 on .1.., |'"1>:.«;';,; [j^ ^^^^'J
«t ., would only iK) sayin« svlwit many Hoiun.^n Inv.- s.m'm. S.^ •tuI ttO( R«

"'"" " ,1 ,■ „ i»„rii.ir ilic LTcatrr i)nit o I lat inlrrvnl In- Ik'h in

"%;.;„"?";;;«''";;:"' nm broke out nnar tbo po.a.r .-«-n«^i" -
A.n a, nllu..:^ sbip, ono of a s,na.l,on "t-"-'-' V' th^'lUlJlp wi^
T , ulnu,st alarm provaiUMl. A c-ry went ioro ""<! «'' ' ''^ ^ «^ I' ^^^

— — ^r-- - *— -■

MAN OF WAR.

in tln! l)ulwnrk« of every
vr MiMM. Si^vrral wnck»,
)r i^^^^ll^i<'n'"lly rfcovcn'tl
1)1" Unit iiiltTViil III- I'k'm iit
; uiul iiiiU'rtrt liu lias lli«
s till! man li<i whh bcfon;,
n Imnt'H, Minks into dinth
•») lu! has txpiroil the day

powtlfT niaKazinn in on
•lior in tlio Bay of Naples.

ami afl that the ship was
overboard in attVi{,'lit. At
picked up. Ho was tried
ec, and condemned to be
(Iron made sail for Algiers,
junishment was inflicted —
s of an absolute king, not
n of American naval law.

NARRATIVE

or AN

OLD ENGLISH SAILOR,

Tir unto, ULATKn nr niMXELr, in a rttle or amusinu aiuruoiTT, and wiowinu

VIVIDLY TUK MANY VIUI8B1TUDU1 WHICH FORM

LIFE EXPKRIENCE8 ON THE OCEAN.

I AM writing this to show the wondorfiil mnrcios tho Lord has sl

shown

mo in fifty years' lifetime at sea, and I hope that whoever may have a
chance to look at it, it will teach lliem not to despair, or give tlicmseivcs
up for lost; for by perseverance, and a firm trust in the Almightv, wo
can do anything that tho giver of all good will allow us to do; fortliern
is a"Swoet little Cherub that sits up alort, keeps n watch for the life
of poor Jack." By accounts that I had from my friends, when I came
to the years of recollection, I was informed liiat I was born at sea, in the
year of our Lord 1777, on tlio 20tli of August; my father being master
of a brig belonging to Hull, in Yorkshire, and when I was born, ho was
bound on a voyage from London to Hamburgh ; but my mother being
very poorly, she and I were Icll at a place called Cuxhaven, at tho
entrance of the River Elbe. But my father being obliged to proceed
upon his return voyage, my mother and me were left at Hamburgh, at
the consul's. And the winter setting in sooner and severer than my
father expected — for he expected to make another voyage before tlie
winter aet in — me and my mother were left at Hamburgh all the winter;
but I being very poorly, and not expected to live, my mother was pcr-
iuaded to have me christened; and I was christened at St. Catherine's
Church at Hamburgh, when I was four montlis old.

My father was expected to be at Hamburgh in the be ginning of the
next year; but in the first voyage that he was going to make, in tho year
1778, he was cast away, and all hands drowned, at the entrance of tho
river, near about the same spot where I was born. My mother belonging
to Kirkwall, in the Orkneys, she and me went down there, and there I
spent my childhood, till my mother died, when I was about eight years
old. My mother having a sister who lived at Boston, in Lincolnshire,
who was down in Kirkwall when my mother died, she, after all things
were settled, took me with her to Boston, where I had a grandmother
living, and. b. twien my aunt and my grandmother, I soon became a
spoiled child : lor as young as I was, I soon found out that they were
very fond of me ; for my aunt had no children herself, and my grand-
mother never had any more children but my father; so if I committed
a fault at my aunt's, where I lived, I only had to run to my giandinollier'!*,
and she was sure to take my part; and tho same if I committed mysioif
Rt my grandmother's, my aunt was sure to take my part. It was my
misfortune to lose my parents so soon. I sha'n't say nothing of the
many tricks and pranks I played my poor old grandmother and my auni ;

f285)

J;
li

28r NARIIATIVE OF AN OLD ENGLISH SAILOR.

I .ot ..•.jua.nted '' '^'J ^y'\"Z\J''m- to Bonton, and tl.cy wanted

board ol a '»['« ^a " '!' J^^ ^^ ..^.^y j,ood man as far as soamaii-

rioclilS !., 1 »oo,, forgot it, .0.1 1 thought w,.h,.. myscll 1 .hould

:X7,;;enr„r'n,U'°Lck again i" B"'."" f "8 -'" j; ° J

a„oa„, to carry a cargo of pilcharJs from l"'"""' ; "il „f „
that .0 were '^'^l^'^ :;::'^ ^^^'^^X^^^^^o^^^^

ton wi?en^wo go^t therl,, I found that my grandmother was dead, and
mv .unt as «oin<r to live at Hull. What property my grandmother had
r^^. lift fn no- Imt bcinL' vouna and foolish, I soon got clear of it

al "ml nfr brirbeil^ bo^Si Lon^clon again, where we arrived at the
all , ana our un|, ^^ Cardill, in Wales, to

'refr;L"i of irofjto k^^^^^^^^^ We'.ailed from London in the

No V I forgot to mention how many hands we carried in the br.g
when we sS from London; we had eight on board altogether-namely,

Err.r.r:;s;r r:.e?Lvr£Ve«^."ir^^^^

miles off the land; and it blowing a heavy gale of wind, and, at the

3H SAILOR.

ijr of llic year 1790, when
aine of William Jackson,
Borfton, and tiicy wanted
andmolher to let nio go a
r suinnKH-tiinc, ami fine
'rotiirn';d to Boston, 1 was
Tclow; and ' was put on
' The master of the brig,
)d man as far as soaman-
i of very bad morals ; and
ything by it, for what good
St; for 1 had always been
J at my mea^ ; but, seeing
;ht within myself 1 should

as from Boston to Loudon
»ve got there safe, as many
arly the whole three weeks
month of November, and I
Boston along with my old
came to London ; for, when
to Naples, up the Meditcr-
Falmouth. When I heard
rgot all the troubles of my
rocceded on our voyage to
died from Falmouth as soon
I's End of old England the
to Clod, wo arrived safe at
't wish to trouble the reader
traded to, but we stood up
» another, till the year 1794,
( arrived safe in August the
, our brig was obliged to go
fc-as done, we went down to
grandmother was dead, and
roperty my grandmother had
bolish,' I soon got clear of it
ain, where we arrived at the
, go to Carditi; in Wales, to
u sailed from London in the
north-cast gale to drive ua
Land's End of England, the
) the Bristol Channel ; so we
Mount's Bay till the weather
1 from the north north-cast,
inds we carried in the brig
on board altogether — namely,
mast, and two boys; and \m!
ird when we got under weigii
, on board when our misfoi-
of March, about two o'clock
md, we struck upon a rock
lunt's Bay, about three or four
vy gale of wind, and, at the

NARRATIVE OF A\ OLD ENGLISH SAILOR.

287

sumo time, a heavy sea running, our poor old brig soon went to pieces;
but tlianks be to God Almighty, who allowed us time enough to get our
long-boat out before the mast wont out of her, and si,\ of us, out of the
seven, got safe into iier before the brig went to pieces; the other man
must have been knocked overboard wiien the mast fell, for we could see
nothing of him, for it was very dark, and we that were in tlie boat saved
nothing, only what we had on, and I had the misfortune of losing my
shoes olf my feet in getting into the boat. After we got clear of the
wr<!ck, we tried our best to get the boat in shore, but it blowing so liard,
wo could not hold our own; and, when daylight came, we found our-
selves aoout six or seven miles from the land, and still drifting out as
fast as we could. The weather being clear, we could see the islands
of Scilly to leeward of us, and our master being a man that had been
brought up in the coasting trade, was well acquainted, for he had been
several times in the Scilly Islands; so we determined to bear up for a
place called Grimsby, and our master intended to go through a place
called the Crow Sound; but our misfortune was not complete yet, for it
being nearly high water by the time we got near the islana, and the
rocks being nearly all covered, our master mistook the channel, and we
were hove in among the breakers, though we tried our best to get clear
of them , and the second sea that struck us capsized our boat, and I
found iiiysi^lf hove against a middling steep rock, where, by God's help,
I contrived to hold on; and, having no shoes on, I got up to the top of
the rock, where I could see my sliipmates trying to get; but only one
succeeded in getting up, and that was our old mate, a man nearly sixty
years of age, and he kicked off his shoes before he succeeded in getting
where 1 was: and here now I had a great cause to be thankful to the
Almighty Giver of all mercies for his providential care over mo in
making me lose my shoes before I left tlie brig; for what I thought the
greatest misfortune to rr.e ten minutes before, proved the only means for
me to preserve my life; for if I had been struggling in tlie water along
with my shipmates, 1 should have had no thought of kicking my shoes
off to preserve my life ; for I know myself that three men out of the
four that we saw struggling for their lives had heavy sea-boots on, and
they, being full of water, caused thorn soon to go down ; for the mate
told me himself afterward, that the rocks being so slippery, that he would
never have got up if he had not hove his shoes away; so here we got on
the top of the rock, seeing our poor shipmates drowning one after the
other, and we were no*, able to help them. But, as I said before, that it
was near high water when our second misfortune happened ; and we
soon found that, as the tide ebbed, the water got a good deal smoother,
and me and the mate considered it best for us to contrive to get nearer
to the island, from which we were about three quarters of a mile. So
we waited till about half past two o'clock, for the mate had his watch in
his pocket; and then we contrived to get in shore, and a tiresome job
we had of it, for we had several places to swim across; and the mate,
being an old man, was very much fatigued, being wet and cold such a
long time — for a north-east wind blows pretty cold in the monlii of
March. But we contrived to get to the main island about six o'clock
that evenmg, and we both kneeled down to thank the Almighty for his
mercy to us.

And now, that through the mercy of the Almighty we got safe landed
what to do next was to be considered; for you may depend that we both
were hungry, and night coming on, and in a strange place, where there

288 NARRATIVE OF AN OLD ENGLISH SAILOR.

A. ♦„ HirPct vou— for 1 had been upon the highest rock that I
are no roads to direct you lor i anvthine of a house, or any

could sec near us, to see if I 7"'** .'"^^/XS • so we resolved to
signs of any hab tafon J"tJ -uM -t^^^ ^^ ^^^ ,

try to get under the »«« f^f^f^^/^'^'i^ft the beach, I went to see if I
part of the island ^^^^LiV^'^^r pinching me since I came on
could find any shell-fish, for 1 »«";";»; J"^. ^^^\ ^ok them up to my

shore, and, thanks be to ^°j' \£""\'„7afterward we went to look for
partner in ^'f ess and we^te them and a^l^er^^^ ^^^^^^^_ ^^^^^ ^^^_.

some place ^^^^^^^^ /„'. J^ke a cave under the lee of a rock; and
little time, we found a ?/'»«%' fj ^'^r^u^ater, which we wanted very
close by I found a small P»/^f 'f "^^^^^r ^-turning thanks to the
much, for we were very t^'raty; anj, alter ^tu fe .^^ ^^^^

Almighty, we laid ourselves d«wn to sleep, and I slept y ^^^^^

„.ornmg when ^J P/^^^^^l trTstiff wh^^YfirTtVot u/;' but I soon
not stand upon his legs, i len vuiy partner was not

got pretty -H again. And now wesold -Msj,y P„, ^„y,„, ,,

able to move, I was to go by 'ny^*"; J:" something to eat; for the

help me to bring my partner =y;^7'''"J/;/,'ii,°„T,f and sixpence in his
old mate, as luck would have it, '''"^.J'^f^^t' ^"^^^ "a ^d I parted from
pocket, beside his watch: the ™«"^y^« f XouTd ne'v<>r see him again
Sim with a heavy heart for Ij^^^^J^J'tent and "Sen I found for^the
alive, for he was very bad; so "^^^y/J^^^y/Jf^^e I had traveled, I
first time what it was to be alone '«^ J^ff ^„P^;"";„ bay, where I «aw
suppose, about two "»'»««' ^^""""^ '"depend Twas glad enougl. at
some ships lyingat an anchor; ^"^^ /"" y,,,^^P^," ^sure of seeing some
seeing them; and shortly afterward I ^ad the pleasure o „ ^.^^

houses, but I was still a good f •^^"^^f^f °™ ^^t^on of selg two men.
I got pretty near them, when I ^^J ^^^^^ 'Sr oH^^hig them again; but
I sung out to them as loud as I ^«"*^\^°7'Ynd\^ien^I came to them, 1
they heard me, and they came toward ne ana wnen ^^^

told them my case, and they very kindly ;««*^ ™«/"J^^ „f oJ, old

gave me something to eat and to dnnk; and ^o^ them ot y P .^ ^

partner that I had left m the ^^^^^'^^J^f ^^^f "^V but they refused it;

SflFered them some money for ^.I'^V^^l^.fJ^i™'^' me to elt, they took

and as soon as I had finished ^f^^^ '"^^tlfo I found after'ward, was

me to a man by the name of '^;- ^''^;'^' '^ m he was; and he sent

the head man in the P'^^f ' ^'^/J^aHrtrr from the cave, which,
three men along with me to f^^ch my old partner trom , ^^ ^^^

after a great deal of trouble -found ^dj^tLthPng to eat and to
that he was alive : ,^nd,atter giving ^^^^ ^^^^ ^^ ^^^

drink, we carried the old man to Urimsoyior^ kindly; but

place I had been ^o, ^here the people used u^^ y^ ^y , ^.^^

my poor old partner got worse ?n«i w°;\" ^^^'gl Gary's for him, which
bert was kind enough to send f«\*/j^^"\'J, gjith day after we were
is the head town in the island Jo Jj^^^he sixth y^ ^^^ ^^^^

wrecked. As 5^';,;»f,«^^'d\ot„,7myordhipmate, I shipped myself
staying and lending ^ ^^nd *«^^»;y "irj^^i^^^i^ ^ Bridgewater, which
on board of a brig f«"ed the Hope be^on^^ « ^^ ^^ ^.^^^^^^

was bound to London. But boforo Uetj UW ur. y, . ^^ ^^^^

where the owner of the brig "^''^^ ']^^' l^^^J^^^h^ ^^^ been al during
he might get paid f^*'^J^"'^%jf,rnTa„d weather would permit, I
our stay there; and as soon as the w'"° * , ^f her was a very good
sailed for London in my new brig The mj^^te' ot n ^^^ j^^^^^^

man, and we arrived m London the 17th day oi Aprii i

SH SAILOR.

)on the highest rock that I
ything of a house, or any
nything; so we resolved to
were still on the windward

beach, I went to see if I
iching me since I came on

and I took them up to my
erward we went to look for
1 the weather; and, after a
ler the lee of a rock ; and
Iter, which we wanted very
ir returning thanks to the
,nd I slept very well till the

was very poorly, and could
m 1 first got up; but I soon

that, as my partner was not

if I could find anybody to
3t something to eat; for the
ihillings and sixpence in his
ve to me, and I parted from
hould never see him again

; and then I found for the
je place. I had traveled, I
' an open bay, where I saw
depend I was glad enougli at
lie pleasure of seeing some

them; but I traveled on till
sfaction of seeing two men.
laroflosing them again; but

and when I came to them, 1
ok me home with them, and
d I told them of my poor old
It state I had left him in. 1
ave me, but they refused it;
id given me to eat, they took
who, I found afterward, was
odmanhe was; and he sent
lartner from the cave, which,
id glad enough I was to find
I man something to eat and to

for that was the name of the
e used us very kindly; but
every day. Though Mr. Oil-
• to St. Mary's for him, which

the sixth day after we were
ell in a few days; and aftjr
i shipmate, I shipped myself
lon<'ing to Bridgewater, which
)ld Grimsby, 1 told Mr. Gilbert
lad been cast away in, so thit
penses he had been at during
1 and weather would permit, I
master of her was a very good
day of April. My new master

'Tf-

MARRATIVE OF AN OLD ENGLISH SAILOR.

289

liked me very well, and he wrote to Mr. Ingelow. in Boston, about me.
to let him know where I waa; and Mr. Ingelow, having no ship that
wanted an apprentice, sent mc my indentures and my wages, after
serving him five years out of the seven years that I was Imuiid for; so
my new master got me bound apprentice to him for three years. I sailed
in the "Hope," of Bridgewater, till the year 1798 — chiefly in the coastinp
trade — and I was very well contented, for our master was a very good
man, and the owners had promised me a mate's situation as soon as 1
got out of my time. And in April, in 1798, we were bound from London
to Bridgewater, and getting down the Channel as far as the Lizard, and
we being bound ofi* the Bristol Channel, the wind being at that time
about north-east, and blowing a strong gale, and our ship being rather
light, we got blown off the land; and the gale continuing for eight or
ten days, we got drifted a long ways off; and our master not being a
navigator, though he was a very good coaster, so that when the gule was
over, and we got fine weather, we did not know where we were, but we
knew well enough that we had been drifted to tiie westward. We had
to run back to the eastward, and the second day after wo had fine weather.
We fell in with a Mount's Bay boat, who, like ourselves, had been
blown off the land, who was very short of provisions and water, ot which,
thanks bo to God, we had plenty; and we gave them some, and they
gave us some brandy and tcbacco^for they were smugglers — for the
provisions which we gave them; and they directed us wiiat course to
steer in for tiie land, and we parted company. And the next day morn-
ing we fell in with the " Brilliant " frigate, who made us heave to, and
she sent a boat on board of us to go a pressing ; and our master being
half drunk, and the rest of the crew being no better, we got a quarrel-
ing, when the lieutenant of the frigate came on board, and, through our
master being drunk, I got pressed ; for I being out of my time two days
before this happened, and the master told the lieutenant so when we
were mustered; so I was sent on board of the frigate; and a fine large
ship I thought she was when I first got on board of her, and I was put
in the maintop; but I soon found my mistake out, for the very first night,
at reefing topsail, I saw seven men flogged for not being smart enough;
and me never seeing a man flogged before, I wished myself back again
in my little brig. So here I could see the fruits of drunkenness; for if
all hands had been sober aboard of the " Hope " when we fell in with
the frigate, I should have been stowed away; but it was my lot, and
I was obliged to content myself where I was, for our usage on board of
the "Brilliant" was very cruel; for we had nine men doing duty aa
boatswain's mates on board of her, and there was starting and flogging
all day long, and the usage was very little fit to reconcile me to a man-
of-war; but being young, and finding it was no use to fret, I made the
best 1 could of it. And our ship being only just come out of Plymouth,
and being bound on a six months' cruise in the Bay of Biscay, we went
away to the westward on a cruise , and on the 20th of October we fell
in with part of a West India co'ivcy, homeward bound, who had been
separated in a gale of wind on the banks of Newfoundland, and had
lost their commander; and thci« being no man-of-war along with theni)
our captain found himself in t.uty bound to see them safe into port; and
away we went along with ti.em for Old England, and in five days we
arrived safe in Plymouth Sound, having a strong westerly wind all the
way. And one of the masters of one of the ships told our captain, that
about a week before they fell in with our ship they had been chased by
19

290 NARRATIVE OF AN OLD ENGLISH SAILOR.

« Frrnch nrivateer, and thattho privatoer had taken two ships belonging

S.;tirnr rcir^uainting the ^rSetU' t^ to' ^t
.outhU U ho ga - P~;-V:£ of '^^^^^^ and

t'TaS f^m P ylii' in the S'dlo of Nivember, and having notl,i..g

hn^tronV westerly winds against us, we wore nearly three weeks before
but strong wcsier«y wma fe ^^ ^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^^^^^ ^j-

TaS two pri s-Cone^th^vLy pfivateer that had taken thoUvo
shShTtwe were going to cut out. She was a fine l^"ga«'.|e, belong-
ing to St Maloes, and The other a ship belonging to Bristol, that had
be'ei taken by the privateer, homeward bound, only two days before we

*'tnJ'n";w?Sl";ing arrived off the island, we arranged everything to go
in tl thr'boats t^ cut the two ships out, and on the 4th day of Decern-
her we left the ships, about four o'clock in the afternoon rherc were
se^en boasof us dtogether-four from our ship, and three trom the
" TaJbot^' The boat ^that I was in was a five-oared boat, halt g.g and
half cutter. She was a very fine boat, and the commanding officer was
inher whkh was the first lieutenant of our frigate, who Pu"od . •'^'^ J-
ward ^nTforward to the rest of tho boats, to encourage tiie ;n;^^>y'^d to
Tve his orders. We got into Santa Cruz harbor about ten o'clock in the
eleniig, Ind we were lucky enough to board one of the ships, and get
nossessi^n of her without'getting any one hurt; but not ««;v;";;he
Sther shtp, for the noise we made in boarding the hrst ship put t n^n on
Seir euard, and she, being a ship which mounted ten g.ins, opened her
fie on our boats, which wire three bo:.ts which had to hoard her; and
I bebnging to the commanding officer's boat, who was on hoard o the
first ship that had been taken, and who was under ^^'S^ by this t me,
and was going out of the harbor with a light breeze of wind oft the land,
»nd our officer seeing how the other boats were likely to be hand cd,

1 e and it Le ng very dark bv Uiis time, and our boat being very soon
Jillo'f water, we ^could not giVe any assistance to our shipmates, nor
could we Jull back to the prize; so we were obhged every man o do
the best thev could for themselves, and 1 was once inore left in a baa
Suatfon, but, thanks be to God, I could swim very well, and I seeing a
vesse lying pretty close to me, I swum to her, which P'-«^/fJ« ^,« ""
American s^ch^oone'r. I hung on by her cable some time and he people
being all on deck, I could hear them speak English; and at last "ne m
thorn looking over the bows of the schooner, I spoke to him, a"d asked
him tolt me come on board, and he gave me a rope's end, and I soon
ao?on board When I first got on board of her, I was taken aft to the
Se and Hold him how I came there, and he told the captain, who told

foVwe could not see anything of her in the mormng. When morn.ng

3AIL0R.

n two ships belonging
privalccr iiad takon
r«neritlc, onu of ttie
mival tliat vas in Ply-
ineriffe and try to cut
ir, aloiig with us ; and
er, and having nothing
rly three weeks before
I the good fortune of
lat had taken tlio two
ine brigantine, belong-
[ig to Bristol, that had
dy two days before we

anged everything to go
the 4th day of Dccem-
fternoon. There were
ip, and three from the
ired boat, half gig and
jommanding officer was
jate, who pulled back-
ourage tiie men, and to
about ten o'clock in the
e of the ships, and get
rt; but not so wilii the
le first ship put tlicm on
;d ten guns, opened her

had to board her; and
vho was on board of the
ider weigh by this time,
Bze of wind oft' the land,
re likely to be handled,
) the assistance of their
le quarter of the ship, a
e man, and wounded two
our boat being very soon
;e to our shipmates, nor
obliged every man to do

once more left in a bad
very well, and I seeing a
r, which proved to be an
ome time, and the people
[iglish; and at last one of
[ spoke to him, and asked
! a rope's end, and I soon
er, I was taken aft to the
told the captain, who told
jre, in the morning, to the
ve me some dry clothing,
:t, they behaved very well
, the boats, and the boats
r the forts, getting alarmed
its got their ship safe out,
morning. When morning

NARRATIVE OF AN OLD ENGLISH SAILOR.

291

was come, and I could see what sor* of people I had got amongst, I saw
a young man on board of the schooner that I thouglit I had seen aome-
whcrr; and, when I came to inquire, I found that he was an old ship-
mate of mine, and fellow-apprentice in the " Joseph and Ann," and he
was second mate of the schooner, and his name was James Martin.
And, when we began to know one another, he told the cajitain of the
schooner that I was a man that served my time to the sea service; and,
the schooner being short of hands, the captain of the schooner .sent for
me, and told me that, as I was a young man that served my time out of
Boston — and he had no business to know what Boston it was, whether it
was Boston in England or America — and if I had a mind to sign the
Articles, he would put me on the schooner's books, and give mo thirty
dollars a month; and ho would take good care no one should know how
I got there.

Now you may depend I was not long considering about what to do ;
for, if I had refused to join the schooner, I should have had to go to a
Spanish prison ; so I agreed with the captain of the schooner — she was
called the " Speedy," of Baltimore. Now this schooner had brought
out a new governor, from Cadiz, for the islands, and she was going to
carry the old one home again, to any part of Spain or France she might
be able to pitch into ; and we laid at Tenerifte for nearly two months
before the governor was ready to go, and by this time I got quite com-
fortable on board of her. And we sailed in the latter end of February,
1799, from Teneriftb; and, after being chased by many of the English
cruisers, for the "Speedy" sailed remarkably fast, we got into a place
called Cordivan, in France, the entrance of the Bordeaux River, by the
latter part of March ; and we got up to Bordeaux by the i)oginning of
April. And, after the governor was landed, and hia things out of"the
schooner, and there being no freights for the schooner, the captain sold
lier to the French Government, she being a very fast sailing vessel.
And the crew, me in the number, wore paid our wages, and sent about
our business; and me and my old shipmate, James Martin, went and
shipped on board of a large ship, under Hamburgh colors, that was taking
in a cargo of wine for Hamburgh; and you may depend thai me and my
friend were glad to go somewhere, for it was dangerous to be ashore ;
for if the police knew that you was a sailor, and not belonging to any
ship, they took you and sent you on board of one of their frigates ; but,
thanks be to God, we kept ourselves clear of them; and, by the latter
part of April, our ship being loaded, we sailed from the town of Bor-
deaux, and we got clear of the river by the beginning of May. And,
after being at sea some days, our captain called all the men aft, and told
them that he was not bound to Hamburgh, but that he expected to go to
Loudon, but that his orders were to go to the Island of Guernsey, and
wait for orders ; and, after a long and tiresome passage, we arrived at
Guernsey in the middle part of June. And me and my old shipmate,
knowing well enough that if the ship went to London, we should be
pressed, and having such a great dread of an English man-of-war, on
account of the usage I had received, we went to our master, who was a
very good man, and asked him for our discharge from the ship ; and,
after telling him our reason for doing so, he gave it to us, and paid ub
our wages ; and ashore we went at Guernsey. And, after staying ashore
three or four days, me and my shipmate joined a privateer, called the
" Blue-Eyed Maid of Guernsey." Our vessel was lugger-rigged, and
mounted sixteen gunsj and we carried one hundred and twenty men,.

^ HARRATITB OF AS OLD EH0LI8H SAILOR.

ru'.7c;"?eLrr^e' "".»"'"«.-. U- -e and ., p.«n..

and fifty pounds, wages »"°^P"'=^™„ j/t'ending to go to Boston, where
friend went from «"°^°«^y ^^.J^?;,'^"^ old fri^ But this is the way

we had served our time, '»«''. ^^,'*';?"he Almighty disappoints: for the
of the world, for man ■^Pn^'oidon-wherTwe got in June, 1801-1
second day ^^er I arnved m Lond«n wh ^ J ^^ .^^ ,^^

was taken very bad of a fever and^ o,d%hipmate, who, during iny

months; but I soon got better And rny^^^^ ^^ \^i^,^ to London again
illness, had gone to Boston, »°J ^^^P^^'J^did not; for, poor fellow, he
as soon as his business was «««2t that I had, as soon as he arrived in
was taken with the same ^^^^ll'^^'J^.^Z So now, being left to
Boston, and died in a w«e»^/"" -^^^^ ^ea I intended to settle myself
myself again and being t.red f g«^,^"^g,^° £ '^Jovel, who was owner of
J shore. With this '"*«f ;/ ,^3^ V,ed t^ discharge and take in the.r
several wharves, where he ^--aders useu 10 « ^^ likewise to

cargoes, and spoke to h.m, ««f /^i^^.^^i ZTZke of my money; and
ask him what the best uso wou d ^e that 1 couUl y^^^^^ .^

he was very kind to me and ^''^^J.''''^ ' ovment kt any wharf that he
bank, and that I should have constant employmen ^^^^y ^^^^^^^^

had, that I was a mmd to choose And ""^'^^ ; "„ jilness a young
I go't to come to another; and that '«' ^ £ I h'^d^ot very fond of
wSman that used to attend on me, I found tnaw f, :^^^ .^^.^

her, and I could see, by the "^t ''nt.on she paid me, tna ^ ^^^^^^ ^

ferenttohnr; and as I was going to stop on s^^^^^^^ ^^^ ^, ^,,

and having money I ««» "Pif^iJ^be "^^^^^^^ and my wife we done
and wood, and coals; and, ^^^anks be 10 , .wharves, loading ana

very well, for I used to go every f y J^^J^^j'^ided the shop. And so
discharging coasting J--^^;,^^^^^^^ of July, 'iSOS, when

things went on quite co™^^? with out an end to all my happiness for a
a strange accident «cc""«^.^^"^^ P"\?Jlg m„ther-in-law was a woman
long time. The case was thi^: myj''^;,™^^ ^jfe and get things
greltly given to ^""^^^^^^^^SVemoiey^n drink;' and having run up a
EVP-r^e^my'Xspo^^^^^^^ he\ about it; but she, be.ng half
drunk, abused my wife, and struck her. ^ ^^,^ ^^ „f

''Sy landlord, Mr. ^\^l^^:ZVtfZrTrJ^>or^ng; and I ran
,t, for my house was close to the whart wn ^^^ ^^^ ^^

up directly, and ordered *»«5 «"*fi**;Sd between us; and at last
there any more; and a g^^.^^'^^.^.JItrT^ her out of doors; but
■he told me she would make ">« «»"/ '"' j^n to be sorry for what had
I did not mind her. But I scKm had o^^asmn t y^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^

happened; for the war between France and g^^^^^.^^^^ ^^^ ^

again, and the press was ^^J^*'*. informed against me that I was a
Se lieutenant of the presB-gang, ^d m orm g^ ^^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^

seafaring man, and "?"«t«Tlhenl w«i going «« "hut my shop up, the
o'clock that same ©Temng, just when 1 was g«iuB

: SAILOR.

I, thanks be to God, we
prizes and recaptures-
id me and my partnei

id about three hundred
ether; and me ami my
r to go to Boston, where
ds. But this is the way
hty disappoints: for the
ve got in June, 1801 — 1
I to keep my bed for two
lipmate, who, during my
> return to London agam
not; for, poor fellow, he

as soon as he arrived in
. So now, being left to
intended to settle myself
iovel, who was owner of
charge and take in their
atcnlion, and likewise to
I make of my money; and
best put my money in the
iicnt at any wiiarf that he
having tiiis point settled,
uring my illness a young
,at I had got very fond of

mc, that I was not mdif-
loro, I thought 1 wanted a
her consent, and we got
iley Street, in the Borough,

e to Pickle Herring Stairs;
;ll cabbages, and potatoes,
me and my wife we done
at the wharves, loading ana
ninded the shop. And so
r part of July, 1802, when
d to all my happiness for a
nother-in-law was a woman
, to my wife and get things
Irink; and having run up a
out it; but she, being halt

came down and told me of
re I was working; and I ran
le. and told her not to come
ised between us; and at last
irningheroutof doors; but

lion to be sorry for what had
md England had broke out
wife's mother-in-law went to
med against me that I was a
ea; and about half past ten
going to shut my shop up, the

NARRATIVE OF AN OLD ENGLISH SAILOR.

293

pross-gang came and took me, too. I had a scuffle for it before I was
takuu, j^r 1 knocked the first two down that came into my house; but I was
soon overpowered, and was taken by force, and taken down to the boat
which they had biouglit to Pickle Herring Stairs; and from there I was
taken on board the " Enterprise," whicii lay at Tower Hill Stairs, where
I was put, both legs in irons, and my hands tied behind me ; and there
I laid till the morning, when ine and some more pressed men wore put
on board of a tender, and sent down to the big Nore on board of the
*'Oid Nauiur," which lay flag-ship there; and ne.\t morning I was sent
on board of the " Childers," ten-gun brig, to be sent round to Spithcad,
where we arrived on the 6th of August, 1802. And now having come
a liitle to myself, you may depend my feelings and my mind was none
of the best.

The chief thing that grieved me was thinking about my wife ; for I
knew siie was about seven months gone in the family way; but the only
way 1 had left to do her any good was to write to her; and having, by
good luck, three guineas in my pocket, which I put there in the evening
before 1 was pressed, to pay for some potatoes, in the morning, which 1
had bought, 1 went and bought some paper, and pens, and ink, and I
wrote a letter to my landlord, Mr. Bland, and told him where I was; and
I told him to go to Mr. Scovel, the gentleman that had my money, for
him to got two substitutes for me, which would come to about sixty
pounds per man, and to let me know how my wife was, and to be sure
not to lot my wife's mother-in-law come there. I directed this letter to
Mr. Bland, for fear, if I directed it to my own house, it might have been
stopped. I remained on board of the " Childers" three days after we
arrived at Spithead ; and then I was sent on board of the " Royal
William," which lay flag-ship at Spithead. And now all my hopes being
at an end of getting an answer to my letter, as my letter would be
directed to the " Childers," I turned to and wrote again, and told them
where I was; but I might have saved myself the trouble, for I was only
three days on board of the "Royal William" before I was drafted to
the " Albion," of seventy-four guns, and she was bound to the East
Indies for to take out a convoy of merchant ships. We sailed from
Spithead in the beginning of September, 1802; and I left England with
a heavy heart, not having heard from my friends. I often thought that
none of ray letters had gone; and being very careless of myself 1 gave
way to all sorts of badness, gambling, drunkenness, cursing and swear-
ing, which brought me continually into trouble.

We were obliged to bear up in a heavy gale from the westward, for
Plymouth, after being clear of the Land's End; and after having all our
defects made good, we sailed from Plymouth the 29th day of September,
1802, with a tine breeze from the north-east, and we had a very fine
passage till the 5th of November, when we fell in with two French mer-
chant ships, who did not know that the war had broke out again between
England and France, and so they became easy prizes to us ; and I had
the good luck to be sent on board of one of them, called the " La
Favorite." She was from the Isle of France, and was bound to Bor-
deaux, in France; and after the exchange of the crew, and our captain
sending water and provisions on board, we parted company from the
fleet for Old England; and you may depend I was glad enough. But
the ship that I was in was a very dull sailing vessel, and she was very
leaky, so wt made very slow progress across the Trade Winds ; but by
the beginning of December we fell in with a westerly wind, which was

NiBRATIVE OF AN OLD ESOUSH SAILOR.

and parted company ^''^^"t m' of her, which was a very rascally
wind and wc never saw ^11""°'^ °'J''' ,eaky, they ought to have
,rick of them; for they kn«*'"8 ^^!'!'fnd Jd fine weather, we kopt on
"topped by us. But we havmg a fair w'"" wja nn December; and

trio Jo till wo got into Boandmgs on h IJth day^^^ ^^^^ ^.^^^^ ^.^^^

the next day. m the ™«"";8'V\,i,'h proved to be a French pr.vateer.
we saw a lugger close to us, «^hich P^ ^^ „ight have had a h«ht
Now if our partner had been '^'«"8^^^'' ""'";;„„ four guns, and being
Zl: hut being by ourselves and on^y -ouf-»/,^^ «?veral day., and
.hort of P^°v.s.ons, for we had been s^x P^ ^.^^^^ ^^ ^^ ^^^^ ^ ^^, i

being continually at the Pvimp«' «« ^ and twenty men; ho we were
mounting sixteen guns, and on« ''"»";^ , fo„nd that our other prize
boarded,'and taken by J^" P^^^f ^/^ ,,« same lugger. For getting
had been taken two ^ayB helore by f, ^^J^^ ^^, another ship

information from some of the *rencmn ^^^^^ ^^^^^^ ^^^ j

coming, she l/'d ^o for us m ^^^ t^^l^'^^^j ^^^ i had a sure prospect
sent on board of the French '"gse^- J^ ^j,^ ^^^y commencement of
before me to be^made a priso^r of w ' at ^ ^e ^ J^i.^ f the

it; but, thanks be to God d'd "ot ^y^ ^^y J^^ ^^^ j ^^^ „^, ^e

Frenchmen on board of the 'WJ " j^^^ j f^ll in with a young man on
many days on board of the ^gg^^..^, " g^if ^ho had been a shipmate

the same. , . . . „ f^j gt Maloes, and we got into the

We steered, with the P"^« "/"^gOS Now the captain and the mate

harbor on the fifth f J «J ^^^.^'an E^nglish prison, U they had been

keep us out of prison. -^ g^ Maloes, it was late

Now when the privateer and the pr>zes got ^^ ^^^^ ^

in the afternoon and the crew binjog^ ^ ^^ d

and got them all safe m, and tneir ir ^^^^ ^^ ^^g

bringing them something to ^-^^ and to Jr «>; jnat y^.^^^^^^_ ^^^
S th'cre was scarce a sober r^an on b« rd^ol ^^J ^.^^^

captain not being able to s^nj us on sno ^^ ^^^^ ^^ ^„ ^^

us to look out for onrsf es, for he wouW ^.^s ^.^^^^^ toward us
in the morning. We thanked him Kmaj ^^^^^^ ^^e most of it

and me and the G!^«^r?y ""^^ .^'twed astern of the privateer, and
Now one of the prizes boats was towea ^^^ ^^^^ ^^.^^ ^^

with her we attempted to ^'^^ ""^.^^^''^Pf'^ur fellow-prisoners we could
after it was dark, was to see how many o t ^^^^ ^^^.^^ ourselves

get to go along with us; ^"^/^^^^J'Cl the boat up along side, and
h^n^r":?yt£| ZT^^ necessary for our voyage, such a.
provisions and water.

AILOU.

made the best use wc
Bcks' provisions when
, and still were a long

1 deal better than us ;
,fter. We had a fair
i was a very rascally
ky, they ought to have
le weather, we kopt on
day of December; and
r, and very little wind,
»e a French privateer,
might have had a fiKht
IT four guns, and being
tr for several dayn, and
ttle fit to fight a vo^sel
irenty uien; so we were
nd that our other prize

lugger. For, getting
there was another ship

were taken, and I was
yv 1 had a sure prospect
very commencement of
long with them ; for the
well, and 1 had not been
in with a young man on
rho had been a shipmate
" who could speak the
ing, and he told me that
d help it, and I told him

does, and we got into the
the captain and the mate
.rison, and they had been
im spoke very good Lng-
go to prison; and he told
anything in his power to

nto St. Maloes, it was late
I at taking so many prizes,
coming to see them, and
s, that by the time it was
of the privateer ; and the
the evening, he kindly told
)bliged to send us on shore
his good wishes toward us,
)uld make the most of it
rtern of the privateer, and
and the first thing we done
,r fellow-prisoners we couW
,ne more beside ourselves,
he boat up along side, and
ary for our voyage, such as

NARRATIVE OF AN OLD ENGLISH SAILOR.

295

;
i

We had the good luck to find two breakers of water, each breaker
holding about seven gallons; and, as I told you before, the Frenciimen'a
friends fetched plenty of bren'l and other things on board ; we found a
pretty good stock of it, enough, with care, to last us two or thrno days,
by which time we expected, with (iod's help, to be in England. And
aft(!r getting one of the privateer's compasses into the boat, we wore
all ready; but it would not do for us to start before the rounds had been,
which was a guard-boat that pulled round the harbor once a night; so we
dropped our boat astern again, and laid down quietly till tiie giiard-iioat
was past, wliich came round about ten o'clock in the morning. And our
Guernsey man was lucky enough to hear the watchword for the morning;
for in going out of the harbor, we had to pass close to a fort on our star<
board hand, and the sentry was sure to hail you to ask tiie countersign.
So after the guard-boat was gone, and everything was quiet, we started,
and we passed the fort about three o'clock in the morning; and, thanks
be to God, wc got clear of the mouth of the harbor long before
daylight.

Now the wind, when we left the harbor, was about east-south-cast, and
we being bound to the northward, we had a fair wind, and a fine breeze;
and we all expected to havf made some part of England by the next
day; but our hopes were very soon all frustrated, for toward the middle
part of our first day at sea, the wind came round to the north-east, and
from there to north-north-east; and it came to blo'.v very hard, and we
were obliged to close-reef our sails, and lay as close to the wind as we
could: and we made our course nearly north-west, which was four points
off our course that we intended to steer for. It blew very hard all night,
and it was very cold, and you may depend we were all very glad when it
pleased the Almighty to send us daylight once more; but we could not
see anything of any ship or land, and we all sat down to eat our scanty
breakfast; but before we sat down, we all went to prayers to return
thanks to God for preserving us during the night, and hoping that the
Almighty would protect us during the day.

After we had done our breakfast, the wind lulling a bit, we shook one
reef out of our foresail. But not to tire my reader with everything that
we done; we stayed in this condition for four days, the weather being
very thick and hazy, and very little wind. We saw a large ship close by
us, and being all hands very weak, we got our oars out, and pulled after
the ship, which at last we accomplished; and she proved to be a ship
belonging to Bremen, with emigrants from Hanover; for the French had
drove them out of their country, and they were bound to Baltimore, in
America. When we first got alongside of the ship, the people on board
of her came to the gangway, and seemed quite surprised to see so many
poor wretched looking men in so small a boat; for uur boat was only
twenty -five feet long; and they asked us, in German, where we came
from, and what we wanted. Now I being the only one that could under-
stand a little of the German language, which I learned at the time
that I belonged to the Hamburgh ship that I mentioned, I told them that
we were Englishmen that had run away from a French prison.

As soon as they heard it, they told us to come up; and you may
depend we were glad to hear that ; and we tried our best to get up, but
we could not, for we were so weak, and so cold, that we could not stand
upon our legs. So the captain seeing this, he was kind enough to send
some of the crew into the boat to help us, and they were obliged to haul
us up the ship's side with ropes; and, thanks be to God, we all got safely

NARRATIVE OP AN OLD ENGLISH SAILOR.

well as 7«^ l/,^!,'. "^'^^ 3/«ome very squally weather, we nplit a
servers ; lor w« J*' '"f ';j"be"„7a middliig good sail-maker, I was

d oe no" mt: than'Vs duty; but, as we --.ver^ short c^cloth.ng, he

would give us a suit of cl^^^^^^^^^^^

i°^A^ Tr Z L^nd offer and he gafe us our clothes; and, in fact, every

brothers; and we a I were vpry coniio ,. . . • j^ j j ogj licr

men overboard when th« *cf ^^JiKe b^ardof the brig to assist our

.p.,e .p.r fQr w ''«• '"'' ? '"f f 'V plewed God lo .end him .aft
X'oi' 'wr;UbtkrCc".pau?hL«il,forhi. ti„dne.. »«.d
UB, and we parted company. ,, Spring-flower,"

Now the brig that we S^'^^^^'^^^^^ZmPori Royal, Jamaica,
belonging to Liverpool; and she J^ J^^^^yal under^onvoy of a
bound to Liverpool. She 8»'»fa '™™J"^ very dull sailer, she lost the
ftigatej.but be ng very deeply lade^^ ^,^^ .^, ,,^ ^^,

convoy m a g'^l^ «f J'^J'i^'eberg, and lost her foremast and bowsprit,
fortune to run foul of »° '^^'^^8' ^^ „„ board of the brig, we found
and five of her men. When we came on b ^^^

the master, two men, and ^ boy, and "^»'» P»">;;| ^^^ „„, ;,,,,,3 „p,
aUogether; aBd we turned to^^^^^^^ God's help we

StiTtteTe oL^dXT-Sat we w'^rJ able to set a maintop-gallant

SAILOR.

1 boon ntarly five days
lad Hciircoly provisions
losod, in tin) month of
BDOW bealiiig about us;
nd if tlioy had given U8
pen our legs. But the

and tl>e doctor had us
I a little sago and Home
icit I did not awako till
id people's care, I was
but wo hud the misfor-

the day after wo were

some of them were a
;eii days' time, I was as
)me service to my pre-
lUy weather, we split a
good sail-maker, I was
a very much. Now the
n, and she being a very
the boat to him; for 1
is the reason the captain
boat was of any use to
ly opinion, we owed him
r his kindness toward us
it that price, for he had
ery short of clothing, he
shirts a piece out of the
:e, and thanked him very
jthes; and, in fact, every
f we had been their own
board of her, till the 16th
ish brig, who had lost her
ieberg; and she lost five
1 had only four men left.
:d of the brig to assist our
f the brig; and you may
iry heart, for they all had
kind enough to give ua a
lid the master of the brig
id God to send him safe
f for his kindness toward

illed the " Spring-flower,"
)m Port Royal, Jamaica,
Royal under convoy of a
sry dull sailer, she lost the
Lerward she had the mis-
er foremast and bowsprit,
»ard of the brig, we found
coming on board, made ten
11, and got our shears up,
hich, with God's help, we
ble to set a maintop-gallant

(

NARRATIVE OF AN OLD EN0LI8H SAILOR. 297

sail for a foro-tojisnil, and a lower studding-sail for a furosaii, and a fore-
topmast stuysiiil tor u jib.

Now the (iiijtaiii of the brig being well ploas(3d with our work, and
soeiii;,' \v(! wiiit! veiy uliort of clothing, and especially when lie heard
how \vc '^ol uii lK)!ird of the lireiuun ship, was kind enough to ^rivc us
the nun's clotiins that had been drowned, for our use; and tiie mute of
the brif,' ixiiig drowned, he made mo mate in his Htead, tor I whs i\w
only niiin out of the wiiolc that could read and write. Now the bri^r had
l)(!t'ii out u long time at scu, and though she was bound to I'^ngliind. we
could itot attempt a |>assage to England in that time of the year, and the
state the vessel was in. The island of Bermuda was the nearest land
to us, so wi. Htfercd for Bermuda, where wo arrived safe on the 3d day
of March, IBU.O.

And now being upon my own hands again, and having a little money,
and a fcvvclotiios,mc and my old shipmate, the Ciuernsoy man, shipped on
board of u brig called the " Sprightly," about one hundrtnl and twenty
tons burden, and she was bound to Barhadoes, one of tiii! West India
Islands, and we suil)>d from Bermuda on the 2d day of April, 18U3, and
we arriv(!d at the island of Barhadoes, after a pleasant passage, the
latter end of April; and I traded, on board of the "Sprightly," from one
island to another, till August, 18U4. And I had made a good bit of
money by this time, when, on the 24th day of August, 1804, we were
coming up to windward, and I had the middle watch: it was Just after
two o'clock in the morning, for I had just been relieved from the helm;
the weather being very thick and hazy, we were run down by a largo
ship, called the " Big Ann," of London. She came down upon us so
quick and unawares, that I had only just time to get hold of her bohstays,
and I sung out to the rest of them that were on dock; but only one,
beside myself, had the good fortune to save himself, and that was the
mate of the brig. The rest of the crew, six in number, found a watery
grave. The captain of the " Big Ann " tried the best that he could do,
for he hove to directly, and lowered two boats down, and pulled about
in our direction.

We could not see anything of the brig, or of the unfortunate crew;
so, when everything was quiet again on board, and made sail again, the
captain called the mate and me, and asked us the particulars about our
brig, and we told him all we knew about it. He sent us down below,
and told us to lay down till the morning, and he would see what he
could do for us; but, for my part, I could not sleep, and I believe my
partner in misfortune was the same, for I heard him getting up, every
now and then, and singing out for one of his old shipmates, or singing
out " Hard a starboard! there she comes!" I went to him and tried to
quiet him, but it was of no use, for by the morning he was raving mad;
and the captain and some of the passengers did all they could for him,
by bleeding him, and giving him what medicines they thought would do
him good; but all was of no use, for he died the next day about four
o'clock in the afternoon. And now I being the only one that was saved
from the " Sprightly's" crew, however all well and hearty only twenty-
four hours ago, I knelt down and thanked the Almighty Giver of all
good for his wonderful mercy toward me; and I felt greatly relieved
afterward.

Now the ship that I was in was from London, bound to Port Royal,
Jamaica, and she had a good many passengers on beard, and the
captain was kind enough to mako a coUectiou for me, and he collected

.,9ft NAURATIVK OF AN OLD KNOMSH SAILOR.

.1 y « Auk .Ht,"l804, and I wan obliged to R" «" «''""', l! "^^ I , v"
""" , ^ \ , ... ,,,11 -n tlini I know about the los« ol tlio '•W)irit,'l>iiy

s'ri;;' "tiu':" i' " ,i L Iti .-."^.i .h. ».„.« .!.». «» ,.,,.■ .......

PrPnch ft L'atca were cruising in their track, from the coast ot A ii. a o

the West Indies 80 our captain altered bin mind, and, .n n.on. o ^m, g

.l.P VvUt ml es we steered for Rio de Janeir.., on the <-oasl ol the

Brazils where we 'arrived on the 16th day of April 1005; an, as hoo„

"'sr'S'l wafoTce more on board of an English man-of-war; and I

warm work whde ,t >^« j^J' ^^\'j,^^^^^"^^^^^ ^^^s se"t on board of one of
gained the -^^ . ^"d f er the actmn ^^^^^ ,^^^,^^^f^^„ ^, , „;,,«„-
the prizes, a Spanish seventy. our an j^^.^^^^^ before we got on

FI 8AIL0R.

n, ill tho namo of thfi
tiiriu'd tli<!in my f<inc«rr
d 1110 llmt, if I liked, I
lint thn Hhip lay in I'ort
I Port lloyal on tlu« 20th
in Hlioro the next day to
f! loss of tho '-HiiriKhtly"
lAf^vM that waH due to nio

about one hnmlrcd and
a rood stock of clothes,
r.ard the " Biir Aim" till
hoard of a ship l)eioii;,'ing
«. was bound to the coast

ship, inonntinK ei;»hteen
Icttcr-of-inarquo comini»-

f September, and wo had
d we arrived on the coast
latter part of November;
'. got our carfjo, which we
806; but just before we
hat arrived there, that two
•om the coast of Africa to
ind, and. in room of >.'oing
iineiro, on tiie coast of the
• April, 1005; and as soon
ihip cleaned, w(; took in a
om Rio de Janeiro the last
1; and we had a very <;ood
I becalmed for twelve days,
hat WPS just after we had
) brec/e across the north-
. we fell in with a lleet of
ttcr-of-marque commission
d presset' forty men out of
t on board of the "Spashot,"

English man-of-war; and I
iged to Hamburgh, in C«er-
t would not do; they would
et clear, I contented myself,
Wc kept cruising at sea,
the month of October, when
ore ships; and then wc were
-first of October, when we
action; and we had pretty
to God, we beat them, and
was sent on board of one of
had lost her fore and mizzen-
aftcrnoon before we got on
and exchanged, it was nearly
fore, and mizzenmast ; but by
I mizzen standing; but they
cT on a gale of wind, we soon

NARRATIVF, (Jf AK om KN0LI8H SAILOR.

290

lost our jurynifist again, .did we were u, ^"in;^ as fast as we could toward
llie Spaiiisli sli, '• It is Irfnl enough to (n- on a Icc'-shori' in a gahi of

wind at any lim<', tvU especially when thiit I shore is an eiitiny's

coast; but we found thiif, if the gale cMff'^'niied, we siiould have to go
on slior<< before morning; mi our commanding oliiccr thought best to run
her on shore v/hile it was daylij/ht.

To etl'oct this, we had lo get the ship before tho wind, which we could
not elfect without cutting away the mainmiiHt, which we were obliged io
do, and iIkmi sitting a spritsail upon the bowspiil. ^'^<' got the ship beCoro
tlu; wind; and as soon as we got the ship bet'ore the wind, we opened
the hatches lo let our prisoners come up, so that the poor fellows could
look out to save their own lives; but tho ship run upon a sandy bench,
hut, thanks be to (iod, being nearly a new ship, and very strong built,
she k(;pt togethi^r, and she soon workijd herself broadside on; and us on
board, heaving all thi; starboard guns overboard, and rolling all the shot
we could get at, or any heavy thing, over to the larboard side, we mado
shifl to give her good list in shore. And the ship having worked hiirsrlf
broadside on. and well into the sand, we contrived to get ashore under her
lee, which we did by cutting her port gangway :ind hammock neltiiigs
away, and launching her boom-boats, which wc etl'ected after a good
deal of trouble, and by which I got my right li!g ami my arm hurt a
good deal, which laid me up for some time afterward. Now, aftir wo
got the boats bailed out, we sent thi; prisoners ashore first, and thi.'ii fol-
lowed ourselves afterward; and by four o'clock the next morning — that
is to say, the 23(1 of October^we all got safe on shore.

Now tli<» Spanish prisoners that had come on shore llrst, some t)f them
had been and seen their friends, and, as daylight came on, they came
down to assist us, which Uwy did, fur they brought us some brf^ad, and
some tigs, and some wine, to refresh us, which wc wanted very much,
for we had scarcely tasted anything the last twenty-four hours ; and the
Spaniards behaved very kind to us. As for myself, after I had oaten
some bread and fruit, and drank some wine, 1 tried to get up, but I could
not; and one of the Spaniards, seeing tho state that I was in, was kind
enough to get two or three more of his companions, and lifted mo up in
one of the bullock-carts, in which they had brought down the provisions
for us, and covered mo up with one of their great ponchos; and he
tapped me ou the shoulder, and said, "Bono Knglish!'' And, being
upon the cart, I was out of tho wind and rain — for it blew a heavy gale
of wind; and I felt myself quite comfortable, only my leg pained me a
good deal ; but, thanks bo to God, I soon fell into a sound sleep ; and,
OS I heard ailerward, the French soldiers came down and marched the
rest of my shipmates up to Cadiz, and they put them into a Spanish
prison. As for my part, I was taken up to Cadiz, in the bullock-cart,
and my kind friend took me to hia own house, and had me put to bed,
whore I found myself when 1 woke.

Now in tlie house where I was, it happened to be a boarding house,
and a good many American sailors boarded there, and when 1 came te
myself, my friend, the Spaniard, brought one of the American sailors to
me, for to ask me if I wanted anything. 1 told the man very kindly tiiat
I wanted some one to look at my leg; for I felt my leg very painful.
Now this young man was mate of an American ship tliat was getting
repaired at Cadiz, and he spoke very good Spanish, so he told the Spaniard
what I wanted, and my friend went away and fetched a doctor, who could
speak very good English, who dressed my leg, and assured me there

300

NARRATIVE OF AN OLD ENGLISH SAILOR.

were DO boncB broken, only he told mc that I must keep mysolf very
quiet, and to bu sure not to drink any spiritd.

I forgot to toll you that the first niylit that I got on board oi" tiie prize,
while 1 was down below, to look lor 8oine rope, for to lush iho jury fore-
mast to the stump of the old foremast, 1 picked up a belt; but, being iu
a hurry, I never look 'd into it, but put it around me, under my fiock,
and, being busy at work all the time that I was on board of her, 1 never
thought no more about it till, now I was laying in bed, 1 felt it uncom-
fortable round me, and I asked my new friend, the American male, if he
would bo kind enough to take it off me. But what was my surprise
when, on overhauling of it, I found that there were forty doubloons, ten
dollars, and some smaller u^oney in it! My surprise was so great that
my young friend perceived it, and I told hina the whole truth of it, how
I came by it. My friend advised me to keep it quiet, and say nothing
about it ; I told him J would. And now it came into my tliougiits that
the money might be serviceable to me, to keep me from going to prison;
and I spoke to my young friend about it, and he went down and spoke
to the old Spaniard about it, who came up to me directly, and he told
the American mate to tell me to make myself quite easy about that ; for
he had been to the prison to hear if he could find out that I had been
r !ssia^, and, when I had been missed, that they supposed that I had
been drowned; so he said, "It will be your own fault if you goto
prison."

You may depend I was very glad to hear what he said, and I offered
the old man a doubloon for the kindness he had shown me, which he at
first refused; but, aller a good deal of persuading, he took it for to pay
tiie doctor. And now this affair being settled, I rested myself quite
contented till it pleased the Almighty to restore to me the use of my leg
and arm, which got quite well in about a month's time; and me and the
American mate got quite friendly together; and, their ship being nearly
ready for sea, he persuaded me to join the ship that he belonged to, for
they were several hands short, and they would be oDliged to ship
Spaniards, without they cou'd get any of my former shipmates to run
awuy out of prison and join their ship; so I agreed to go along with
him, and I joined the "Matilda," of Boston, on the 1st day of Decem-
ber, 1805. On leaving my old friend, the Spaniard, who had been so
kind to me. I made him a present of iive Spanish doubloons, which he
accepted; and 1 parted from him with a sorrowful heart.

Wlien I came on board of the " Matilda," I was quite surprised to
find four of my old shipmates there before me. They had made their
escape out of prison through the assistance of some good Spaniards, and
had got on board there before me. But you may depend that their sur-
prise was great to see me, for I was believed, by every one, to be
drowned; but we soon reconciled ourselves; and by the 4th day of
December we were out at sea, clear of them all; and our ship, the
"Matilda," was bound to Boston, in America, where we arrived the 26th
day of January, 1806. I liked my ship so well, that I agreed to go along
with them another voyage; and we sailed from Boston in the beginning I
of March; and we went back to Cadiz again, and 1 had the pleasure of(
seeing my old friend, the Spaniard, again, who was well and hearty.

And now I must tell my readers that I staid in the " Matilda," of I
Boston, till, in a voyage from Boston to London, in the beginning of thej
year 1807, I was pressed out of her, while lying at the Big Nore; and
was taken on board of the "Namur," guard-ship at Shoerness, and froiiil

NARRATIVE OF AN OLD ENGLISH SAILOR.

301

ISH SAILOR.

It I must keep myself very

1 got on board ol" tlic prize,
pe, for to bsh iho jui y fore-
ied up a belt; but, being lu
round me, under my fiock,
vas on board of lier, I never
yiflg ia bed, 1 felt it uncom-
id, the American mate, if he
But what was my surprise
•re were forty doubloons, ten
ly surprise was so great that
n the whole truth of it, how
sep it quiet, and say iiothuig
came into my thoughts that
eep rae from going to prison;
id he went down and spoke
, to me directly, and he told
elf quite easy about that ; for
uld find out that I had been
lat they supposed that I had
your own fault if you go to

,r what he said, and I offered
G had shown me, which he at
rsuading, he took it for to pay
lettled, 1 rested myself quite
>3tore to me the use of my leg
nonth's time ; and me and the
■; and, their sliip being nearly
e ship that he belonged to, lor
sy would be ooliged to ship
■■ my former shipmates to run
80 I agreed to go along with
ton, on the 1st day of Decem-
le Spaniard, who had been so
Spanish doubloons, which he
jorrowful heart.

Ida " I was quite surprised to
,re me. They had made their
ce of some good Spaniards, and
you may depend that their sur-
believed, by every oiie, to be
jelves; and by the 4th day of
,f them all; and our ship, the
»rica, where we arrived the 25tn
o well, that I agreed to go along
d from Boston in the beginning
igain, and I had the pleasure of
in, who was well and hearty.
,t 1 staid in the "Matilda," of
London, in the beginning of the
die lying at the Big Nore; and 1
aard-ship at Shoerness, and from

there I was drafted on board of the " Spitfire,'' sloop-of-war. Although
I was on the books as a foreigner, 1 could not got clear; so I wrote up
to my old landlord, Mr. Bland, to hear if I could learn anything of my
wife; and I asked him if he would be kind enough to come down to me
and see me, and bring my wife along with him. I sent this letter away
on Friday, and on Sunday morning Mr. Bland came on board of the
" Spitfire " to see me. When we got down below, I asked him how my
wife was; and then I heard that my wife was dead; that she died the
day after I was pressed ; that through the fright she got, she was taken
in labor, and she died in childbed, but that the child lived, and was
grown a firie boy, and that he would be five years old if he lived till
July; and he told me that he had never received only one letter from
me, and that was the one I had sent from the " Albion," before I sailed
in her; and Mr. Bland tcld me that he and his wife had taken care of
everything; that after my wife was buried, and they got a nurse for the
child, they sold everything that I had in the house ; and knowing that I
had money in Mr. ScovePs hands, he went to him and told him all about
it; and Mr. Scovel had allowed him seven shillings a week for to take
care of the child and pay the nurse; and he showed me the account of
the expenses he had been at, and I found that it amounted to nearly
ninety-five pounds; so Mr. Scovel was still a debtor to me.

After we had settled all our accounts, I gave Mr. Bland thirty doub-
loons, and about one hundred and twenty Spanish dollars, and told him
to take them to Mr. Scovel, to put to the rest of my stock; and I told
him to be careful of my boy, and whatever he wanted, to get money
from Mr. Scovel, and get it for him ; and I gave him two doubloons —
one for himself, and the other for his wife; and I returned him my kind
thanks for the trouble he had been at on my account. And after Mr.
Bland was gone, I sat down and had a good cry for the loss of my wife ;
and I returned my sincere thanks to God for his great mercy to me for
raising up friends to look after my child. And now this business being
settled, I went on deck to my work, and the next day we sailed for to
join a convoy in Yarmouth Roads, and from there we went to Gottenburg,
where we arrived in May.

Nothing particular happened to me while in the " Spitfire," sloop-of-
war, not till the 1st of August, 1810, when an accident happened to me.
We were cruising oflfthe coast of Norway, and the weather being rather
thick and hazy, for it had been blowing strong all night, and in the morn-
ing, sending our topgallant yards up, a strange sail was reported froni
the mast-head on the lee-beam; and the hands being turned up to make
sail, and I being at the mast-head, binding the topgallant yard; but not
getting our jewel-blocks on the yard before we were ordered to loose the
sail, and was obliged to put them on after the sail was set; and I being
out on the starboard foretop-gallant yardarm, and the slack of the lifts
not being taken down, the topgallant halyards carried away, and the
■lack of the lifts caught me under my rump, and hove me right over the
yaru; but, as luck would have it, I caught right across the topgallant
bowline, and it being slack, I lowered myself down, till I got hold of the
leech of the topsail, just before the ship was luffed to the wind. I men-
tion this to show the wonderful mercy and care of God Almighty over us
poor mortals; for if I had fell down on deck, I must have been killed
upon the spot; but I got safe down on deck without any hurt, and I got
the name of the "Flying Dutchman" among my shipmates. During
our cruise off the coast of Norway, we took several prizes, and our

302 N4BKATIVE OF AK OLD EHOLISU SAllOB.

war broke out; and tho l^r*^^'"^"'' ; ,. .. .^ Sintfiro," sloop-
Rotors was off the Non^^^

"elir^? ItXwet^on^orr nU Cape to protect our trade, and

to sec if we could see anything of h..n. ^^^ ^^ ^^^^^ j,

We arrived off the Capo in ^^c ^f " '^'^yi^ toth of June, when,

very cold there; and we kept c"..Bing there d the UHh o ^^^ ,^^ ^^^

aboit four o'clock in the .^ft^"-""""' ^^^^Sna wi h her : she was about
American frigate and a large schooner ah>"g w.m n ^^^ .^ ^^^^^

five or six miles dead to leeward of us, and we m ^^^^^ ^^^ ^^^„.,„der
Now our ship would ""'^''^^^^^^J^h^ for she was too heavy a ship

would not allow us to go;>«"Y£ Ull the 4th of June, when both she
for us to engage; so ^^e chased her till the l ^^^^ ^^ ^^^ ^^

and us got stuck among the ce, Jje nau .^ ^j^^^

three ^rees of north at.tudeNow^ tt brill daylight We
part of the world, there ts scarce y any S ' ^^^ j^^ ^roke

stuck fast among the ice till h« Hth day o , ^^ ^^^^ ^^^

up; but the " President" getting ^J^*' ^y^'^^'; ^ elear, we could see
best of his way to the «''"\'?^:,^1 "^"^Jth^ corveUe had been sent aRer
nothing of him, .lor any ° '^jJ'P',/?, ' ^e had been drifted off the ice
the schooner, and the - Alexande J'''^«^^ " ,,^ » Alexander" till the
by strong currents, and we did not f'^" '"^JIV" ^ j, ^^ Cape again,
alt of June, and tj"" ^y^.'^^e'had tfkcn a great many^of our Arch-
Now the "President'^ ^""^p^.San vessels, before we came on the

angel traders, and a g"^^,"'^"^ f "^^^^j S^' ^'^''^^ '^ "" '"^' ^"^^
coast, and taken them into a P'f « ^^/''^"^ ;,^,bor. And when she got
with very good anchorage and a v ry good ^.arb ^^^ ^^ ^^^^ ^^.^^^^ ^^^

them in there, they took J\« ^f/jj^^'^^ „? ^^^ Greenland ships, belong-
then set fire to them; ''"f^'^ylTn^^^h prisoners on board of her, and
ing to Hull, and had put all the l^nf ^^"^ P" ,i ^^,^^ about twenty

the Russians they had-t ashore at Cl^^^^ ^^^.^^^^^, ^^^,^,,

miles up the river; so the Russians were V ^^j^^ „,y story.

the Americans. I '"f^'"" jj'' J^^S North Cape till the latter part

and purser went ashore to go a ?n«otmg. ^.j^ j.^^^^

the r'est of the officers »" ;j/^J„^f„;fel\atnTave me orders to land
where our people were at work; and our cap g ^^^^^ ^^ ^^^^

the provisions, and then come back tor tnem ovisions I had

dinner: and accordingly wej«°t' ^"J ^,^,11^"^ telling him the orders
to the officer in charge of the «o^^'"g /"^t me away to obey them ; and
that I had received from the '^^^'^'^l^^; ll^J^^^^l could not, for the
we tried to go back the ^'^^^.^yj'f.jr round the island where our
tide run so strong that we couW ii°t f^^h n, ^^^ ^^^ ^^^

captain was, so we tried to go round the omer y, ^^^^

was in vain, for the more ;;«. P""f^;S.„r in th? resolved to f

island ; and having no grabbhng «r 2;°;^?.^ ^ere lying there, to hold
ftlSlTJ d^r/rhrtdfand the pe%!e on board of

m SAILOR.

1812, when tho American
ican frij,'ate, Commodore
ip, the " Spitfire," sloop-
j, and tho " Bonne Citoy-
5 to protect our trade, and

; of May, and wo found it
11 the 10th of June, when,
ir clearing up, we saw the

with her: she was about
re made all sail in chase,
ihips, but our commander
r she was too heavy a ship
th of June, when both she
ased her as far as eighty-
d time of the year, in this
-ht, but all daylight. We
June, when the ice broke
jefore we did, he made the
we got clear, we could see
orvette had been sent after
lad been drifted oft" the ice
h the " Alexander " till the
the North Cape again,
a great many of our Arch-
lels, before we came on the
?olla, which is a large bay,
harbor. And when she got
vanted out of the ships, and
ur Greenland ships, belong-
isoners on board of her, and

a small town about twenty
iry much embittered against
it interferes with my story.
North Cape till the latter part
, we put into CoUa, for to
k and people being sent on
re every day.

Colla, being the 1st day of
boat; and our captain, doctor
We landed the captain and
ut a quarter of a mile from
iptain gave me orders to land
em to take them on board to
Uvercd what provisions I had
y; and telling him the orders
it me away to obey them ; and
ne, but we could not, for the

round the island where our
other way; but all our trying
further we got away from the
in the boat, we resolved to g9
hich were lying there, to hold

and tho people on board of

NARRATIVE OF AN OLD ENGLISH SAILOR.

303

them seemed to be glad to receive us. Now these vessels were fisliiug-
vdssels, seemingly waiting for tlie tide to slack before they could go to
sea; and the one wu got on board of liailod another that lay pretty close
to us, but we could not understand a single word they said, and we liad
no suspicion that they were talking about us.

So we laid ourselves dowu (|uite unconcerned, for the weather was
warm, and wo being rather tired after our long pull ; and wo might have
laid down about two hours, for 1 could not sleep sound, for I knew that
our captain would be very angry for not fetching him to go on board to
his dinner. But what was my surprise, on getting up, to sec two large
boats, with al)out twenty men in each, close to us. And, coming along
side, they took us out of our boat, and tied us back to back, and beat us
unmercifully, and called us American spies, for they took us and our
ships to be Americans ; and they had such a spite against the Americana
for burning their ships, that they would not hearken to anything that we
had to say if they could have understood us.

So after they were tired of beating and ill-using us, which they did in
a cruel manner — for they were a cowardly set of men, for a coward ia
always cruel when he gets the upper hand of you; — so, after they were
tired beating of us, they took our boat in tow, and took us up to Colla,
the name of a small town in Russian Lapland ; and when we got there,
we were put into prison, and they gave us some black bread to eat, and
some water to drink, and the next day they put irons on us, and joined
two and two together ; we had a shackle round one of our legs, and
another on our hands, and so we were chained together; and then they
sent a sergeant and eight soldiers as a guard along with us to marcii us
to Archangel, which was about one thousand two hundred miles distant.
And so we started on our travel in a very helpless condition. Our first
fortnight travel was tho worst, for we traveled through nothing but woods;
and when our stock of black bread got low, they used to feed us upon
the bark of trees ; for every fir-tree has three different barks or rinds
upon it, and the middle rind, when roasted by tiie fire, makes a good
substitute for bread. But this was not the worst misfortune we had to
deal with, for, having irons on our legs and arms, we could not pull oui
clothes off*.

And so we traveled on till we got clear of the woods, and we got in
among what they called their towns; and here we got a good deal better
used, and our traveling was a good deal better, for we used to get horsea
from place to place; and they tied the two horses^ heads together, and
when we were mounted on them, chained together as we were, our poor
horaes had to keep regular step together, or else we were likely to be
hauled oft* our horsea, which was very painful to our legs. And some-
times we traveled in boats for whole daya together; and the nearer we
got to Archangel our food became a good deal better, for they used some-
times to give ua some milk, along with our bread, in the room of water ;
and in this way we kept on traveling till the beginning of September,
when we arrived in Archangel, where we were put into prison.

We had been in Archangel prison two or three days, when we found
out by the few words of Russian that we had picked up, that we were
going to be sent to Siberia along with some more prisoners. And now we
Uiought our fate very hard to be transported without having a trial ; but it
happened otherwise. For one morning, when I waa out in the prison-yard,
I heard two gentlemen talking together in German, and me understanding
a little of the German tongue, I made bold to speak to one of them as well

304 NARRATIVE OF AN OLD ENGLISH SAILOR.

as I could. I told him what we were, and what ship we belonged to. Now
this gentleman that I spoke to happened to be one of the English consul^
clerks and he soon spoke to me in good English,and told me tha ho would
^peak to'he consul a'bout us; and he was kind enough to;:ut h.s hand ,n
h 8 pocket and give me a silver ruble, and away he went And I went
to acquaint my shipmates of the news that I had to t-.U them; and you
may depend they were very glad to hear the news, especially when I
Zwed'^them theSilver ruble that the gentleman had been kmd enough
to give me. And I went and bought something to eat with part of the
money; for you may depend we were kept pretty short of prov's.ons;
Td after J had eaten our bellies full, we «'" '«t«^"«f »';,^,f,«^'f ««^
for his kindness toward us, and waited with patience »>» f «»^ ha f past
ton o'clock, when the turnkey came in and called us, and told us that

"^VhJn weTame into the room where the gentleman was that I had
spoken to the day before, he told me that the consul would be there
dSy ; and, when the consul came, he spoke to us, and asked us wha^
ships belonging to England were stationed oflF the North Cape, and how
v^^'cameto^leave our ship. We told him; and he spoke to the governor
and the next morning we got our discharge from the prison. Now, in the
«tato that we were in, we were not fit to go into a dean house or among
clean people; so the consul put us into an outhouse that he had, and
gave us some' clean straw to lie on, and two duck frocks and trowser,
ipiece, for our old clothes were fairly worn out. And he "8ed to send
7. our provision every day from his own house; and in a week's time
we were clear of all vermin, and as clean as anybody need to be And
the English merchants and their ladies who 'f^^l^'dj.t Archangel, when
they came to know how we had been served by the Russians, made a
subscription for us, and bought us many thngs that we stood ,n need of.
We stopped with our good consul til ^^e latter end of September
when the « Oberon," an English gun-brig, arrived at Archangel, to take
a convoy home to England f and the captain of her. Captain Young, a
Jery good mTn, heard about us, and seeing the stato that we were m-
for^th^^places hat the vermin had eaten into us were not quite healed
uJ-he told us that he would take us to England. And on the first day
Kctober we were sent on board of the « Oberon," -d ^he <.jU.n
and officers behaved very kindly to us; and we sailed from Archangel
2 the 4th day of October, and on the 17th of^Ocioh^^v^hennp^
off the North Cape, we fell in with our ship, the « Spitfire, and the

" W?w"errsl?Lntoard of our ship ; and, to our Sre'^'^^rpns'Z'Znl

nut in irons. So Captain Young stated to our captain the s ate he found

Ssii at Archangel, and the punishment that we had received trom the

Russians. But our captain swore that we '^'^fiZ.X^djSZ

the ship, and we were kept in irons til we a7'«J ?i.^« %«f ^^'J hJ

orders came on board to let us out of irons; for Admiral Young had h«

Sag at Leith Roads, and his son, the captain of the ." Obe'on^' J*f

acquaintod his father with the stato he had found us in a Archan^^^^^^

And so now we thought it was all over with his affair; but t was not "J;

for our ship received orders to go round to P'>''tsmo"th to be refitted,

and in going round from Leith, as soon as we left th«J)ow"s-for we

v.ere then under another admiral-our captam turned the hands up, and

save me and a man, named Andrew Paddon, three dozen lashes apiece,

for he swore that we two had been ringleaders, and that we intended

SH SAILOR.

ihip we belonged to. Now
ne of the English consul's
,and told me that he would
enough to rut his hand in
'ay he went. And I went
lad to toll them; and you
I news, especially when I
in had been kind enough
ng to eat with part of the
pretty short of provisions;
ill returned thanks to God
atience till about half past
sailed us, and told us that

gentleman was that I had
le consul would be there
e to us, and asked us what

the North Cape, and how
d he spoke to the governor,
im the prison. Now, in the
to a clean house, or among
juthouse that he had, and

duck frocks and trowsers
DUt. And he used to send
use ; and in a week's time
anybody need to be. And
resided at Archangel, when
d by the Russians, made a
Ts that we stood in need of.
' latter end of September,
rived at Archangel, to take
1 of her. Captain Young, a
he state that we were in —
a us were not quite healed
land. And on the first day
«Oberon," and the captain
we sailed from Archangel
h of October, when nearly
ip, the "Spitfire," and the

I our great surprise, we were
ir captain the state he found
it we had received from the
intended to run away from
rrived at Leith Roads, when
for Admiral Young had his
tain of the "Oberon," had
1 found us in at Archangel,
this aflfair; but it was not 80,
to Portsmouth to be refitted;
we left the Downs — for we
lin turned the hands up, and
I, three dozen lashes apiece;
aders, and that we intended

NARRATIVE OF AN OLD ENGLISH SAILOR.

806

to run away from the ship. The other two men he forgave: and thus
this aflfair ended.

Now when we arrived at Portsmouth, we refitted our ship, and we
were sent to cruise oflP Cherbourg along with some men-of-war. On
the 10th day of February, 1813, it being a fine morning, wo chased a
French lugger close into the land, and the wind dying away, and what
there was coming from the northward, the lugger got clear of us; and
we being close in shore, and standing away to the westward, I happened
to be at the mast-head to look out. It was about half past ten o'clock in
the forenoon, and I was sitting on the maintop-ga'iant yard, when a
little battery, which we had not seen before, opened fire upon us, and
the second or third shot they fired carried away our maintop-gallant
mast; and me sitting on the maintop-gallant yard, I had a very clumsy
fall; but our mainsail being hauled up, I had the good fortune to fall
into the belly of the mainsail, where after some time lying there sense-
less — for I must have struck against the mainyard in my fall, for I was
bleeding a good deal — when there were some hands sent to help me out
of the mainsail; and when I got on deck, I was obliged to be sent to
the doctor, when I soon got well. And by the time that our ship came
out to Spithead again, and was ready for sea, we were sent on board of her
again, and we hoisted the convoy signal for the coast of Africa; and, on
the 20th of April, 1813, we sailed from Spithead with about three
hundred sail of ships, all under ditferent convoys.

We staid on the coast till the beginning of May, 1814, when we fell
in with an English brig from London, who brought us the news of the
peace, and of Bonaparte giving himself up; and the brig brought us
some newspapers, and some letters for the captain and officers, for she
had been to Sierra Leone. You may depend we were all very glad to
hear of the news of peace ; and the next morning we went to sea, and
shaped our course for Portsmouth, where we arrived on the 20th of July.
Now when we got home, an order was issued from the admiralty, that
all men that had served eleven years, and all foreigners, were to be dis-
charged. Now I being entered as a foreigner on the ship's books, I
claimed my discharge; and I got my discharge from the service on the
2d of August, 1814; and I went to Portsmouth Dockyard to get my pay,
and as soon as I got it, I went to the coach-ofiice and booked myself
for London.

By six o'clock that evening I was on my journey, and I arrived safe
by seven o'clock in the morning, after being away from London a little
better than twelve years. I was well and hearty after all my trials and
crosses; and, as soon aa I got some breakfast,. I went to Vine Yard to
see Mr. Bland ; but, when I got there, Mr. Bland was not at home, but
Mrs. Bland was. I soon told her who I was, and asked her where my
boy was. She told me that the boy was very well, and that he was at
school; but she soon sent for him. And I told her not to tell him who I
was, for I wanted to surprise him myself. At last, when he came into
the room where I was, I could see a good deal of his mother's face in
him, and it was not long before I had him in my arms, for I could not
keep mydeif from him; and the poor boy, when he was told that I was
his father, fell a crying ; but he still crept close to me, and we soon all
got reconciled together. And, when Mr. Bland came in, we passed the
day away in talking over past affairs; and the next day me and Mr.
Bland settled our accounts together, and I went to Mr. Scovel. I found
that I still had better than a hundred pounds in his hands; and, after all
20

gOe NARRATIVE OF AN OLD ENGLISH SAILOR.

heon . ™..s.e,', m..c .long w,.h m, ,n .he _^ SpRh e, »'l h^^;;'

n!;ri.': ^-- -- rhi°NS^s:erwet;^v:r'. «>«» ..«

;«h of Julj-Tnd", a» «.o„ » our cargo w.s discharged, «c commcocod
''on^i;c°5■L ori^pLtrfrWng S»nd., ™„,ni.g,.hc b,ee» h.,ing

r;7.t Sn-i'iih L,™rp ".^-.i: s-f f:p£|

and in a .ery fe» minute, oar main rigging was in a blaze. And now
Ml chance oLa.ing .ho .hip was ^'^^ ''rh^ir'r^'co'l^'no. go.

ts«rau'i':f LrcKr.o°r..rrn.:^r o^ i»^

ihree boats-that is, the long-boat, pinnace, and jolly-boat; and we lay
by the ship till she was burnt to the water s edge

But Lf ion wi t^und apprentice to Mr. Mellish for Boven years, and

SAILOR.

kindness that ho had

t <lo. He told ino that

present, till I saw how

a great stagnation in

of his 'vharvea, and he

I agreed with him.

mate of mine, that had

Spitfire," and he was

and he was hound to

I told him my circum-

. So I wont. We had

we arrived at Riga the

harged, wo commenced

ningjthe breeze having
me to call the mate ; for
d it, too. I advised the
3t the boats out before
e. turned the hands up,
them, and then we took
ut a good deal of smoke
le bales of flax on deck,
r, and we mustered all
place where the smoke
the after hatchway was
wn there ; but no sooner
struck up the after part,
as in a blaze. And now
ire spread rapidly. The
it were aft could not get
)t get aft; so we found it
lo all hands got into the
ir clothes, and some pro-
-boat. Now there were
divided ourselves in the
id jolly-boat; and we lay
^e.

luld see an island in the
:h we pulled, taking the
seeing the fire at sea, the
assistance, which we met
I they very kindly offered
anked them kindly, and
about eight o'clock in the
) days we were sent in a
ill the 20th of September,
" and arrived in London
y and Mr. and Mrs. Bland
; proL'Vcsss in his learning,

nany country bankers, and
is obliged to stop payment,
le monev he had of mine,
sllish for seven years, and

NARRATIVE OF AN OLD ENGLISH SAILOR.

301

Mr. Mollish told me, when I told him of my misfortune, to make myself
quite easy about him; that he had taken a great liking to tlio boy,'and,
if h(! l)ohaved himself, he would be as good as a father to him; and, as
Mr. Mollish had a great many South-Seamen, and I wanted to make a
long voyage, I had best join one of his ships; and there biiiig a ship
of Ills, called the " Policy," now fitted out, if I liked, he would spoak
to tiie captain of her for me; and I, being tired of these short voyages,
agiei'd with the captain. When the captain was gone, he callfd me to
him, and said to me, "Upon account of your late misfortune, lo.-ing
nearly all, I make you a present of this for to fit you out for the voyage;"
and lie gave me two five-pound notes. 1 thanked him very kindly."

On the 20th of June, 1816, we sailed from Oravesend, and we had
a very good passage, and we got round Cape Horn by the beginning of
October, and we soon had the pleasure of getting into the Pacific Ocean.

On the 20th of May, 1817, we saw the spout of a fish, about four
o'clock in the afternoon, and there being very little wind, we lowered
our boat, got up to her, and made fast to her. She run us about five
or six miles, when she hove to, and we soon killed her; but by the time
that she was dead, and we got her in tow, it was past sunset, and we
could scarcely see our ship; but we pulled toward her as fast as we
could, and the ship, the last time we saw her, was coming toward us;
and when it got dark, we hoisted our lantern at our mast-head, so that
the ship might see us. We kept pulling away till about twelve o'clock
at night, when our candle went out, and being all very tired, the mate
ordered us to lay our oars in, and rest ourselves a bit, and told all hands
to look out sharp, to see if they could see anything of the ship; but we
could not see anything of her.

Si», after having a small drop of rum and water, and a bit of biscuit,
we got our oars out again, and pulled in the direction where we had
seen tiic ship last; for we could still see a large rock, called Rodondo,
and we steered for it, and we kept pulling till daylight; and then, to
our great misfortune, we could not see anything of the ship, and we
were a long way drifted from Rodondo. And we, finding that our pull-
ing was of little use, laid our oars in, and we had a consultation what
was best for us to do; and after different opinions, we agreed that, as
there was a little breeze of wind, we should set our sail, and stand to
the northward, in hopes to fall in with some ship. For when we started
from our own ship, there were six of us in the boat, and all the pro-
visions we had was a breaker of water, which held about six gallons,
and about a dozen biscuits, and about a pint of rum, and as we had not
been very careful of it, the first night we had very little of it left. So
wo were not in a very fit state to pull, and we thought by sailing we
might have a chance of falling in with some ship. And now we had a
hard chance before us, in an open boat, in the great Pacific Ocean, and
nearly under the equator, with the sun hot enough to roast us, and
scarcely any water to drink, and very little to eat; but it was of no use
to fret about it, and we were obliged to make ourselves content, and
pray to God to release us out of our calamity.

We staid in this way in the boat for three days, when we had the
last cup of water; and you may depend that we were all hungry
enough, and some of our men hauled up to the whale, and cut some
of his tail off, and broiled it in the sun, and ate it. And I and the mate
tried to persuade them from doing it, but they took no notice of it; and
the consequence was, that it made them sick, and caused them to heave-

NARRATIVE OF AN OLD ENGLISH SAILOR.

!!lhat littlclTsIcc they had on their Btomachs. Ajd^H^e^ncxt ^ay

Irning, being the f^^J w'^ sa J atw prayers over him. >ve com-
doad in the boat; and after wo s"'" » '^ , r ^. fo^ we were all very
Sed his body to the/eeP w't'.^;7°yltS ti/ ,,,„ek, another of
weak by this time. And that ^ame ^ay, au j himself a good

L boat mates was taken ravmgm^^^^^^^^
deal, he jumped overboard, and the 9ha« ^^^^^^^ ^^ j^, i

Now there were only four ^^ "J '^"'!, but I was terribly dry; and
with thirst. I can't say I was very hungry, but 1 ^^^^^^ ^^ ^^^

the next morning, be.ng th« fiftj/^y'^^^^^^ do to heave h.m

mates dead. It was as much as the J^hree o^ u ^^

overboard, for we were so weak *« "'"'.'V "° ^ ^f the boat. And after

after a good deal of ^^Pf ^f 'J Ve jew °«" h" """' '"^ '^' ^°''' '**
that, we turned to and licked the oe^ on u. ^^^ ^^^^

qutch our thirst; and - -^ P;^^\'ae S^we h^^^^

Sme during the night our ^the'^P^J^S^ytht' came, the next mornmg,

we could not help him. And when «ayu[,ii » ^^^^^^ ^^re so

^Vht^^m:T»'fot^^^^^^

belonging to London, and that iny P^^^^f/^^Vf her, and the doctor
had dted^bout four ^ours after he^ got "boa^d"^^^^^^ i found

told me that there was no f«« /^ ™« '^d „pon my legs. Now the fou
mvself very weak, and I could not ^tana upo j e ^^^^^ ^^.^^

S that dfed in the ^^J^ere the four -^^^^ called the

we were towing off The ship J^"" . ,V ^ borne in her. .

u Noptune," bound home, and I J-^^ "^^J of September, after being
We arrived safe at G ^vesend the 24th day ^^1^ ^^.^ ^^^^ ,„,^ „,e
awav two years and four months. Aucr >^ 8 ^ ^ ^y surprise
docks, 1 wlnt to Mr. Mellish's to see my son but >v^ ^^ ^,, 'jead, and
To find that my son had gone to sea a°d tha m ^.^^ ^^^ j.,;, j

that his widow had gone into the •^^""t'ry to i ^ „,igfortune, had

Mr. Mellish told me that my f°"' f^^^^o fea in one of his ships,
Teen continually teasing h'-" %l«t h m go to s^ ^ ^^^

for he said he wanted to J^^/" .^'' „ ^nd he sailed in a ship called
to sail, he at last consented to let him f'^"" ". ^ ^bout five months.

be "Seringapatam," --^y^y^ZATen^^Tsoo^ '^^' "^^ *'f ''
And Mr. Mellish told me that he had been y S ^^^^ ^^^ j

was very sorry to lose him from his sail lou- • t„.three pounds, for

Told, Irlceived my wages, which .-^^""^^VgVirpaVme for the whole

r captain and Mr. MeUish were kind enough to pj^^^^^^ ^^^

time that I h:.d been away fr««» t^".,';'Ph„es, and they got a good many
have no monthly wages, but go b^ the shares ^^^J^ no acquaintance

S^I^nTn^/frSld'- .': i^^ sbip that was bound to the South

^«s;;£^htia^;;rwing^^^^^

■■1--^^*^^!^-

^^^ i^V ,tU.„-^LVT^

SA.ILOR.

hs. And the next day
■ our boat mates lying
ers over him, we com-
•f for we wore all very
bur o'clock, another of
ill-using himself a good
finished him.
e suffered a good deal
I was terribly dry; and
nd another of our boat
I could do to heave him
itand upon our feet; but
of the boat. And after
,e oars and the boat, to
e fiflh day. And some
we heard him groan, but
came, the next mornmg,
and my partner were so
.Ives; but I made shift to
en she came close to us,
as along side of the ship;

tell. „ , ,

IS on board of a whaler,
,er,the mate of our ship,
rd of her, and the doctor
,er only kept off. I found
n my legs. Now the four
that ate of the whale that
n board of was called the
to go home in her.
of September, after being
got the ship safe into the
• but what was my surprise
t Mr. Bland was dead, and
live along with her friends,
ring of my misfortune, had
to sea in one of his ships,
r; and, having a ship ready
d he sailed iu a ship called
England about five months,
a ;ery good lad, and that he
And now, after our oil was

i to ninety-three PO«n"i«' ^
ugh to pay me for the whole

[n a South-Seaman the men

>s, and they got a good many

now, having no acquaintance

, that was bound to the South

I the "Spring Grove," and 1
ed from Gravesend on the 3d
,d passage to James' Island,
ut It ihi land, where there
By goin nside of the reef.

NARRATIVE OF AN OLD ENGLISH SAILOR.

309

you Clin fetch your anchorage without making a tack. Now on the
eveniiiir of the 2d of February, it being a fine night, our captain
iiitoiiilcd to go inside of the reef. I reasoned against it as much as I
could, but it was of no use, for the mate said ho had been throu','h the
passage a dozen times, and he could take the ship through it ; for he
said if we went outside of the reef, it would take us a whole day to
work up to our anchorage ; and accordingly we went. I liad the first
watch on deck, which is from eight o'clock till twelve at night; but the
captain being on deck all my watch, everything went according to his
direction.

At twelve o'clock the mate came up and took charge from me, and i
went below to my cabin, and I soon went to sleep; but I had not laid
long, when I was awoke by the ship striking upon the rocks. I jumped
up, and put on my trowsers and my old jacket, and on deck I went; but
when I got tiiere, the sea was making a clean breach right over the ship.
And as soon as I got clear of the companion hatch, a cross sea took me
and hove me against the larboard bulwarks, and carried me, bulwarks
and all, away overboard; and I tried to swim a bit, but I still kept hold
of the piece of bulwark, till another tremendous sea took me and hove
me on shore. But the blow that I received knocked me senseless, and
there I lay till about seven or eight o'clock next morning, when I came
to myself, and I found our dog Nero standing along side of me, licking
my wounds; for my head was cut, and my left side, where I had been
hove against the rocks.

When I got up, which I could scarcely do, I looked round to see if I
could see anything of the ship, or any of my shipmates; but I could see
nothing, only the dog, and he kept running to a short distance from me,
and kept barking at something, and then came back to me again — as
much as to say, " come here and look." And at last I went to see what
it was, though I iiad a good deal of trouble to get there : and when I
got there, I found one of my shipmates lying among the rocks, and you
may depend I was glad to see it; but when I tried to get him up, I found
he was quite dead, for his head was cut all to pieces. The man that 1
found was our carpenter, and his name was James Roberts.

Now when I found that he was quite dead, I sat down beside him,
and I cried like a child, for I was in great hopes that I should have had
a partner in my misfortune ; for I could sec nothing but starvation before
me, and I had a great mind to lie down along side of my shipmate and
die; but the dog would not let me, for he kept pulling me by the trowsers
for to get up; and the sun was very powerful and hot; so up 1 got to
look for a place to shelter myself, and at last I found one under some
trees, where I sat down to rest myself; but I had not sat there long,
before I heard my dog barking again very loud, and I got up in hopes
of seeing some one alive beside myself, but 1 could not see anybody;
and when I came to my dog, I saw that he had found a land tortoise,
which I knew was very good eating, but I had no fire to cook it by; but
I knew that the land tortoises have three bladders in them — one full of
blood, and two full of water; and, as I was very dry, I killed the
tortoise, for I had my knife about me, the only thing then, excepting the
clothes I had on, that I had saved from the wreck; and I took one of the
bladders of water out of the tortoise, and I drank it, and I found it very
good, and I gave the one full of blood to my dog ; and I ate some of the
lean of the tortoise, and cut it in thin slices, and beat it, and spread it
out in the sun to dry for myself to eat, and the rest I gave to my dog;

.i;j.^%m':

mm
1 ^'IW'

8,0 NARRATIVE OF AN OLD ENOLISH SAItOR.

,„d the other bladder of w-r I burie^ in the «and, ;•- to .ho^ treej

where I had fixed my present *»»'''*»i''\"^ , "(."^er, and I kn-lt down to

S tS ^^t::^^'^^^^^^^^^^ -- ^« '- '«

:ZU^l!!tZ^ ryX^ a^nPe of .e. and soon feU .ieep,

Tnd I slept^ery --"^'^ ^'JlXa^'h to^r'tcould find anything washed
After I awoke.I wenttothe beacniosee 1 ^^^ ^^^^.

on shore from the ship, though I found '7 ^''^^ """ 'J ^nd ixxt thing
;ri could find nothing that had been — . « ,^°rfiint ; for .ny chie?
I looked for was to see if I could find any g ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^^^^ ,,,y ,„„^j
object was to try to get a fire, for t en I sl.ou ^ .^^,^,^^ ^^j

fo! I had found, in my poor «»2ff Jj-j'^X^^^^ a„d his knife on all the
a few nails, and some chalk; and I '"^f "^J "[^^ ^^ but I could not find
stones that looked like fl'"*-^^""^,;. ^ j^^ViTad to 1^ was to try to get
any that would do, so the only ^^'''fj^f'^l^^^. ^,^, ^ow I had nothing
two pieces of touch-wood, ">V . /hat wUh God"-^ ''^Ip^ ^ «l>ould be
but t'wo pocket-knives, but » bought ha^w.thOoa^^^^^ p,^^^ ^^^^^^^ ^,^^
able to manage it. And I went back to my g , ^^^^ ^,^^ ^.^^^

„.ght before, to Sf^ HO">?^'""f;*^J,^^ wiich has a small leaf, and a
way that I went, I fo""V. Thinrto ouench your thirst; for the stem
^S:^ S;:. o?^lSra?S it i a very good suhstUute

^^;;tLgU.spn.,l..r„edmyhea^^^

me in the way to hnd it. ^'^''^"-^j .L gorrel and it nnde it more
tortoise's bladder was very good, ^^'.^J^^/^^^'^yTst, w<' wont to look
doasant; and, after I and ™y d°g "'^J/,"; God, found, after a ,ood
for sotne touch-wood, which ^'i^^^J .7,, ".^ ^^nth's tro.ble and hard
.leal of trouble. And it cost me nearly ^^^^^^^^ ^^„ ;,,,. of woo-i
work before I got a fire w 1 . ch 1 ^'^ J^ ^ f, i have mentioned, uuly
together; and during this time lived W .^ „,. , ,agus which
.h-at I tried several ™»;;^/5;^„ '„?"! ^e, which was a great help to

Zt 1 g^t on better and better every day. ^^ ^.^^^_, ,

Now! must tell you '^^ .^^^.{^X ^^rZ^es, ^nd\h^ day that
two holes in the earth ''"^ 1 got thirty sm^ ^^ February, I counted

was cast away upon the island being »»« •*" / ^ole every day, till the
from that time, and put a stone "J«^';« J^/Life, I cut a great notch
thirty stones were f^ gone ; and then, w tu y ^ ^ ^^^^^ ^^^
on a tree that stood close by , so, by in ^ ^ ^^^^ j ^^^^ ^

days I had been on the '«^°f • .^ ^f J^fo'^able as' my circumstances
Jk my meat, and ™»ke myself ^« j^°™^° ^^aps, wish to know what I
would allow me to be. ""^ y°" "'f "'^/d the top shell of the tortoise
did for a pot or a i'y^^S-P^lr.^^l' LZlV^l And 1 took great care
tor a pot, and the under shell for a try ng p ^^^^ ^^ ^^^^^^

Ihat t'ny'fire should -^/i^^^^trmer trials, that the wood would
Ct :iiglVw£lwfwL\Tt o/it left, but it would never come to a

SAILOR.

land, closo to tho trees
alter I hail oiilun, and
r, and I kn-'lt down to
derful meicy to me, to

le me feel a good deal

1 then made my bed,

ne, and soon fell asleep,

lid find anything washed
md my head very sore;
shore. And iK'xt thing
ike a flint; for my cliief
e able to cook my meat;
I knife and a gimlet, and
and l)is knife on all the
fire ; but I could not find
to U was to try to get
r- but now I had nothing
aod'-^ halp, 1 should be
,0, where 1 had sU'\>i the
coming back the same
has a small leaf, and a
four thirst; for tlie stem
is a very good substitute

hanks to God for sending
^r that I g"' ""^ "^ ''^^
?rel and it m ui« it more
reakf;ist, w<- went to look
od, I found, after a ^^ood
month's troible and liard
ig the two pieces of wood
as I have mentioned, only
1 sort of asparagus, which
,hich was a great help to
)f trees to make sometlung
ying a good many, I found
Jery well; so, thanks be to

ccountof my time:— I dug
stones, and the day that I
lay of February, I counted
pty hole every day, till the
ly knife, I cut a great notch
4ns, I could tell how many
after I got a fire, I used to
table as my circumstances
rhaps, wish to know what 1
the top shell of the tortoise
an. And 1 took great care
as plenty of cork or match-
trials, that the wood would
but it would never come to a

NARRATIVH OF AN OLD EN(5LIH11 SAILOR.

311

blaze; and, to prevent my fire from going out, I always had two or lliroe
pieces alight.

Being busy the chief part of the time that I had been on the isl:tii(l in
making a firn, 1 had scarcely gone any distance from the bourh, and
from my grove. I resolved now to go into the interior of the .sliind,
and, with this intent, 1 lighted a couple of large pieces of maU'ii-wood,
that I knew would last two or three days, and away 1 and my d«>>r stiirted
for the middle part of '.he island; and we traveled on a good whil<s when
my dog foil a barking at something; and, to my great surprise, what
should it be but two wild goats, that had been laying down, when tho
dog came close to them. Now my seeing these goatn, put a desire into
my head, that 1 should like to get some of them; for 1 thought tiiat I
might gel some goat's milk, which would be a great addition to mo.

I began to get tired of walking, and I went and got a small tortoise,
and killed him; and I found plenty of sorrel hero, so I gave my dog
something to eat and to drink. I had some myself; for 1 had taken care
to bring a piece of match-wood along with me, and there Ixiing plenty
of dry brushwood, 1 soon made a fire, and roasted my meat; and after
1 had my dinner, and returned thanks to God, I and my dog went on our
travels again; and we traveled a good distance, and wo saw plenty more
goats. And by tracing the goats, 1 found a small spring of water, and
you may depend that! shall never forgot how sweet the first drop of
water tasted, that I had; and after having a good drink, 1 returned
thanks to the Almighty for his wonderful mercy to me. And now, as
it was beginning to be late, I resolved to stop where I was for the night;
so, on that account, 1 began to look out for a place to shelter from the
dew; and when I had found one, I gathered some loaves and some moss,
and made myself a bed.

As it was early yet, I looked round to see what sort of place I had
got to; but I soon found that I had nearly got to the north-east part of
the island, for I had not walked far from my now habitation, when I
could see the sea: and finding the place so convenient to the sea, and
more cool than the lee-side of the island, I resolved to shift my habita-
tion round to this part of the island ; and, with this intention, I went to
my new lodging; and after I had some supper, and given some to ray
dog, and returned my sincere thanks to God for the many blessings he
had showered down upon me, I laid myself down to sleep; but I could
not sleep for a long time, for my thoughts were occupied how I should
be able to make myself master of some of the goats that 1 had seen.
At length I came to the resolution to make myself a bow and some
arrows; and I thought that if I was able to wound a goat, my dog would
be able to catch him. And, with this thought, I went to sleep, and I
Hlept very soundly till the next morning, when, after returning my thanks
to God for preserving me during the night, I made a fire, and cooked
myself some breakfast; and after I and my dog had done, we traveled
on to my old habitation, and soon packed up ray all.

When I counted ray stones, I found that 1 had been one hundred and
fifteen days on the island. And away I and my dog went, back to my
new lodgings ; and we got hack before sunset, for we had taken a nearer
road than we did the first day. And after I had put all my store in my
new house, I went to bed, for I was tired; and the first thing I did, next
morning, was to regulate my time-keeper, in digging two more holes,
and put my stones in them, and cutting my notches in a tree that stood
close by. And now I began to work at my bow and arrows; for that

i;^Z^-, :^t^\-j'-'^y^-^

819

NARRATIVE OP AN OLD ENGLISH SAILOR.

purposn I killed a largu tortoiHO, to get his f{ut to mnko a HtriiiK fui my
bow; and al\er ({cttiiig a piccu of wood, lit lor a bow, I iiiiidu it; and I
found my gimlet that 1 found in my poor shipinato^H trowHcrs^ [uickot
vury handy. And ai\or my bow was douo, 1 wunt to work to mako tiio
arrow, and 1 tininhed my weapon iu three dayH, which I dun^t liiiuk
very lunn, considerinf; I had nothing but my knife to do it witii, uud I
had everything to look for before I could utie it.

I was Hoon repaid for my trouble ; for the fourth day ihat I waH out
witii my bow and arrow, and my dog, i wounded an old aiie-goat, and
my dog Boon caught it; and as he and I were bringing tUr goat homo, I
found tiiat two young ones followed the old one; and aH the old goat
WOH only wounded in the leg, I tied her up outHido my grove ; and 1 had
the pleasure of seeing them come to the old one, and sucking her.
Atler they wero tired of sucking, they laid down hcsido the old dam.

My next trouble was to make a place to keep my goats in; and 1
turned to, and fenced a piece of ground all round, wliich cost me a good
deal of trouble ; but I completed a piece in four days, and I put my
goats into it: and now, keeping the young ones by themselves, I had
some milk to drink, which was a great help to mo : and I returned the
Almighty God thanks for his wonderful inercy to me. And now that I
saw 1 had made a good job of the fence, that [ had made for my goat:*,
I intended to make a sort of fence round my dwelling-place, and to try
to co<'er it more from the sun, for rain is scarcely evisr known in these
islands, for I had been here now one iiundred and eighty-four days, and
I had no rain all that time; so to work I went, and linished my job in
about thirty days, and I found myself a good deal more comfortable than
I was before.

I had not long finished my job, when one night, which I believed to
bo nearly the latter end of September, it came on to blow and rain as if
heaven and earth were coming together, and very heavy lightning and
thunder along with it. It was a night such as 1 had not experienced
since I had been ca the island, and I thanked the Lord Almighty lor
putting it into my head to put my house to rights, in order to shelter mo
from the weather. But about midnight, as near as I could guess, the
roof, and everything that I had put on my house, was blown olf, and I
was exposed to the open air. The only thing that I was fretting about
was, that the rain would put my fire out, which I had been at so much
trouble in getting; but about four or five o'clock next morning, the rain
ceased, and the wind died away, and by sunrise it was quite a line
morning. And, thanks be to God, my fire was not gone out; but on
looking round me, to see the destruction which the wind and lightning
had caused, and still I was saved among the living to praise the Lord,
which I did, I hope, with a true heart, I had the misfortune to find that
one of my young goats had been killed by lightning, for he was black
and blue all over; my house was much damaged, and my bed soaking
with rain.

Repairing my house and bed cost me a good deal of trouble and time,
for I had never been properly well since the night the hurricane swept
over the island, and I found myself getting worse every day. My legs
began to swell very much, so that I was scarcely able to go to the spring
to fetch my water, or able to catch a tortoise ; but my dog, my only com-
panion, used to fetch them to me. But at last I got that bad, that I was
not able to get up out of my bed-place, and I nearly gave myself up
for lost.

'"%.

H SAILOR.

to mako a fltriii)? for my
a bow, I iiiiido it ; mxl I
(inatti'H trowaiTs' pocki^t
ont to work to inaki) tlio
lyH, which I don't liiiuk
nifo to do it with, uml I

fourth day that I was out
icd an ohl alic-soat, and
jringing lli" jjoat homo, I
ano ; and a« tho old Roat
side my urovo ; iind I had
d one, and sucking her.
ivn hesido tho old dam.
keop mv goats in; and I
ind, wliich cost mo a good

four (lays, and I put my
inos hv themselves, I had
to me : and I returned the
y to nie. And now that I

I had made for my Koatc,
r dwelling-place, and to try
rcely ever known in these
1 and eigluy-four days, and
nt, and finished my joh in
deal more comfortable than

I night, which I believed to
le on to blow and rain as if
d very heavy lightning and
, as 1 had not experienced
ked the Lord Almighty for
ights, in order to shelter mo
near as I could guess, the
house, was blown ofl, and I
ing that I was fretting about
hich I had been at so much
lock next morning, the ram
sunrise it was quite a fine
I was not gone out; but on
tiich the wind and lightning
e living to praise tho Lord,
d the misfortune to find that
y lightning, for he was black
inaged, and my bed soaking

rood deal of trouble and time,
le night the hurricane swept
a worse every day. My legs
ircely able to go to the spring
,e; but my dog, my only corn-
last I got that bad, that I was
and I nearly gave myself up

[

NAHRATIVK OK AN OLD EN(JLI8H JSAILOU.

nut

I liad iiiiii in ihJH state two or thriMt days, whrn onr diiy, as 1 was
n«!urly faiiiisliiiiL' willi thiixt, 1 heard my dog harking u good (Icui ninr*'
luiii ho u.s( il lo do. 1 triod to got up, but i oould not. I (iillfd my
tio* ■Ntio! NtMo!" a.-t loud u.s I (umhl, but still lio ki'pt on harking,
lull . lould hoar that ho was getting mniror to my habitation. Hut what
wu.i my surpriso whoii 1 hourd a human voice singing out to .some ouc,
•■(.'omi! along, .lack, I must go and see whoro this dog is going to!" 1
nuinot express my foiliiij^s at tiio lirst sound of a human voico. Joy
and four ovorcamo mo, so that 1 waw nearly fainting away when my dog
<amo in, and two mon close to him. Thoy wore (juito jfiirjirisr-d at
tiiiding mo tiuMo, uiul thoy askod mo sovoral ijuostioii,'*, which I was
sicarcoly uhh^ to aiiswo-r; liiit aftor u littlo while, 1 askod ono of tiiom to
1,'ivo mo a drink of wator, which 1 had in my hat, and aftor 1 got a littlo
rovived, 1 askod tliom how thoy cbuk; lix-ro.

They told mo liioy hoh)iig(!d to an American sclKwnor, culled tho
"Flying Fish," of lliiltiiiioro, ind that they caino on shore thoro to got
soiiu! wood, and to try if tlicy could tind any water, and that, on landing,
thoy hud soon the dog; and being surprised at seeing a dog upon tho
island, which thoy know wua uuinhabitod, the second male and oiu; man
had followt.d tho dog till thoy found me; and I told thorn, as vvoll as I
was able, how I camo on the island, and liow long I had boon there.
Tho second mute, who was talking to mo, told me that lie would go on
Iward of tiio schooner directly, and acipiaint the captain of the schooner
of my condition; but I begged of him to allow his shipmate to stop along
with me while he was gone, to which iie agreed, and away ho wont;
but my feelings during the tiino he was gone I can't express, for hope
and fear were mixed together.

i askod the man that was left along with me to make my fire up, and
fry some tortoise, for the dog had dragged a large one close to my hut,
and my new companion soon killed liim, and cooked the best part of it,
untl before it was quite done, the captain of the schooner camo up to
my hut, and ho brought four men along with him, to carry mo down to
tho boat, and he brought some rum, and some wator, and .some biscuit
along with thoiii, for mo to have sometliiug to eat and to drink before
they took me away; and the captain and the men iiad some of my
tortoise that their shipmate had cooked, and they liked it very well.
But the first morsel of bread that I tasted I could scarcely get down, for
it was now two hundred and seventy days since I had tasted a bit of
bread; and still the Lord had* been kind enough to preserve me, and
send me help when 1 was in the greatest distress, and could not help
myself; and liow wonderful that the dog should be the means of my
deliverance ! It was a long time before I came to again, when I got on
board the schooner; and the people on board told me aflerward that
they could not keep the dog from me during the time that I was lying
senseless; and as soon as he saw that I moved and spoke again, he ran
fore and aft the decks like as if he was mad.

When I came on board of the " .Flying Fish," it was the 29th day
of October, 1820, and 1 was cast away on the 3d day of February, which
made exactly two hundred and seventy days that I had been on James'
Island. Now the schooner lay there eight or ten days after I had been
on board, to get wood and tortoises on board; and then we sailed from
tho island, and the schooner being bound to Baltimore, in America, wo
Weill to windward. In the beginning of January, 1821, but a few days
after we got round Cape Horn, and being off the Falkland Islands, a

NARRATIVE OF AN OLD ENGLISH SAILOR.

\''\

!l.

i;|i!iti|

sad misfortune befell me: I lost my dog, who died through oating some
porpoise liver. Some of tiio crew of the schooner had caught a jioi poise,
and Uio dog, being used so long to live upon raw meat, ate too greedily
of the liver, and he died on the 16th day of January, and you may
depend thai I was very sorry for it; but he was gone, and all the fretting
ahoui him would do no good; so we kept on our course, and arrived in
Baltimore on the 2d of March, 1821. Now the captain and the crew
had given mo a good many clothes on the passage, for what I liad on the
island were all worn out, and my legs were a good deal better; and the
captain of the schooner took me up to the owners, and told them what
state he iiad found me in; and the owners were kind enough to send
nif! to a hoarding-house, where I was to stay till I got well, and they
made me a present of twenty dollars, for which, and all the other kind-
nesses wliich I had received from them, I thanked them kindly.

I staid in Baltimore till the 20th day of April, when I found myself
quite well, and shipped on hoard of a brig, called the "Buck," of
Boston, and she was Iwund to New Orleans, where we arrived on the
16th day of May. I forgot to mention that before I left Baltimore I sent
a letter to Mr. Mellish, in an English ship bound to Liverpool, to acquaint
him witii the loss of the "'Spring Grove," and I acquainted him that the
ship had one thousand three hundred barrels of oil in her when she was
lost, and every other particular about her; and I told him that I intended
to come to London myself as soon as I had an opportunity.

Now when we arrived at New Orleans, our brig was found unfit for
sea, for she was very leaky, and we, the crew, were discharged from
her; and I being in a strange place, and having very little money, I was
obliged to look out for another ship as soon as I could; :md 1 shipped
myself in a steamboat, called the "Olive Branch," to go from New
Orleans up the Mississippi to the Falls of Ohio; and I got twenty-five
dollars per month. I went up in the "Olive Branch" as far as a jjlace
called Shipping Point, close to the Falls of the Ohio; but it now being
the latter part of June, and the river being very low, our steamer was
laid up, and I was paid off. I got back to New Orleans on the lUth of
December, but I had the misfortune to hurt my leg on the passage down;
and when we got to New Orleans, and our cargo discharged, I ibund my
leg so bad that I was obliged to take my discharge from the " Lafayette,"
and go on shore under the doctor^s hands; and I was obliged to go to a
boarding-house; but, thanks be to God, I had saved a little money.

Now the house that I was recommended to was kept by a widow
woman, and she seemed to be a "ery industrious woman, but she was
obliged to keep a bar-keeper, or a man to look after the business. Now
after I had been in the house for about two months, she asked me, one
day, if I could read and write; I told her yes. She asked me if I would
be kind enough to have a look at her books, for she was pretty well sure
that the man that she had for a bar-keeper had cheated her. I told her
that I would do it with pleasure; for my leg was getting nearly well;
and, on overhauling her book, I found a great many frauds. And when
the man was asked about it, he said that he would settle everything in
the morning; but that night he ran away, and took nearly fifty dollars,
that he had received from different people, along with him; and we
never saw no more of him.

Now my leg, as I told you before, was nearly well; and she asked me if
I would be kind enough to look after her bar; and, after a little conside- 1
ration, I consented. And 1 showed her what money I had of my own

SH SAILOR.

died throuHh oatiiiR some
ner had causht a porpoiao,
raw meat, ale too fjrcoddy
of January, and you may
s gone, and all the fretting
our course, and arrived m
the captain and the crew
sage, for what I had on the

nood deal better ; and the
wners, and told them wliat
vere kind enough to send
ly till I got well, and they
ich, and all the other kind-
inked them kindly.
Vpril, when I found myself
a, called tlie " Buck," of
r where we arrived on the
e!fore I left Baltimore 1 sent
ind to Liverpool, to acquaint
id I acquainted him that the
s of oil in her when she was
nd I told hini that 1 intended
an opportunity,
our brig was found unht tor
crew, were discharged from
ivina very little money, 1 was
,n as I could; ;.ud I shipped
: Branch," to go from New
■Ohio; and I got twenty-five
,e Branch" as far as a place
f the Ohio ; but it now being
„„ very low, our steamer was

New Orleans on tlie lUth ot

my leg on the passage down;

cargo discharged, I found my
Bcharge from the " Lafayette,

• and I was obliged to go to a
had saved a little money.

ded to was kept by a widow
idu&trious woman, but she was
look after the business. Now
vo months, she asked me, one
yes. She asked me It I would
ks, for she was pretty well sure
:r had cheated her. I told her
yleg was getting nearly well;
great many frauds. And when
t he would settle everything m
V, and look nearly fifty dollars,
fople, along with him; and we

learly well; and she asked me if

• bar; and, after a little conside-
r what money I had of my own

NARRATIVE OF AN OLD ENGLISH SAILOR.

315

before I had anything to do with her money; and she agreed to give me
twenty dollars a month, and my board; and I went and took charge of
everything. But, to make a long story short, before I had been hnr bar-
keeper two months, I became iier liusband; for 1 married her the 5th of
April, 1822; and, thanks be to (lod, a very good wife she proved to bo.
And I began to look upon myself as settled; and I wrote a letter to my
son and to Mr. Mellish, telling Mr. Mellish that, if he thouglit my son
deserved it, or stood in need of it, to let him have the sixty pounds that
I put in his hands when I was paid otf from the " Policy."

I was beginning to do very well; but we appoint, and the Almighty
disappoints; for, the sickly season setting in very severe, my wife, my
dearest Martha, caugiit the fever, and died in three days after she was
taken bad; and I buried her on the 25th of July, 1822. I hiid not been
long at home before I was taken bad, and the; doctor adviscid me to go
to the hospital, which I accoidifgly did; but, before 1 went to the hos-
pital, [ had my house siiiit up, and 1 left what goods there were, in cliarge
of my late wife's sister; and I took about two hundred dollars, in notes,
along with me in the hospital. I staid in the hospital about six weeks,
when it pleased God to let me recover, and get to uiy senses again; for
I had been oi-t of my mind nearly all the time that I had been there.
And when I came to inquire after my late wife's sister, I was obliged to
hear that she died about four days after I had gone into the hospital.
But I soon got better, and I came out of the hospital on the 1st day
of October; and I felt myself very weak when 1 came out into the
fresh air.

When f got home to where I had lived, I found an empty house ; for,
after my sister-in-law died, everything was taken out of the house, and
was ordered to be burnt. So here 1 was again, nearly as bad as I was
when I first came to New Orleans; and I began to take a dislike to the
place, and I intended to leave it as soon as I could; and the very next
day I shipped myself on board the "Friendship;" and we sailed from
New Orleans, the 10th day of October, for Campeachy, to take in a
cargo of logwood, to take to London; and, thanks be to God, I got quite
well again. And we soon got our cargo; and we sailed from Campeachy
the 2d of November, and we had a very good passage home, as far as
the English Channel, when the wind got round to the eastward, which
delayed us three or four weeks. Our provisions got very short, and
especially our water; and, our ship being very leaky, we were obliged
to put into Falmouth harbor, where we discharged all her cargo; and
the owners came down to Falmouth, and, finding that the ship wanted a
great deal of repair, they paid the crew their wages, and I was dis-
charged on the 5th day of January, 1823.

Now it being the dead of the winter, and knowing that tbere would
be very few ships, in London, to be got at that time of the year, I shipped
myself on board of a brig, belonging to Bangor, in Wales, called the
"Jane Ellen;" and she was bound up the Straits, to Smyrna, with a
cargo of pilchards. And we sailed from Falmouth the 12th of January;
and, thanks be to God, we had a very good passage out to Smyrna, and
we arrived there the 3d day of March ; and we kept trading from one place
to another till the latter part of 1824; and nothing particular happened
during that time. And, thanks be to God, I was in good health, when,
on the 10th of October, 1824, when we were lying at Cephalouia, our
captain got a freight for London, to take a cargo of currants there; and,
when we got our cargo in, we sailed from Cephalonia on the 24th of

ffl ':("■'■

316

HAHEATIVEOFANOLDENOUSHSAILOB.

and, thanks be to God, we aniveu

December. ,„ , .omething fresh o" ^^ard for U r s

about ;vcBt ;y Bouth^ut ,^.,,,,, ^^^ .^ ^ °u';,^°nnd I wanted

'mmmmmm.

C- and there were only thre« ««" J^J V„en a hundred g"'"^'^!,- . ,,
If. »!nt I could not help them, it 1 naa g ,, jg^^g Ellen.

i„ereas,ng, and there w ^^^^^^^ ^^ j me a ^,^^

But I could "«;X,m daylight next morning. Bu ' was .^^

tlunk,Ididnotknow, ,^ .gents ^S'''"' ".^^ ^fe was lost ; and they

pcnshed. went «) > ^^^ ^^^^^ ^j, ^^ ected she wa ^^^^^ ^^^

SS t af-I o?gh? to think myse f very -ky j'^^^^^ to send ar;y of

the "Jane

: SAILOR.

wn as far as the rock of
bound for several days,
held on, though a great
re driven on shore ; but
i we got under weigh,
e Dow us on the 24th ot

resh on board for Christ-

me of the Deal boats, to
ry poorly, and he was not

brig for about eighteen
from England with us, at
1 when I loft the brig, the
, year, and the wind \ya8
3n shore, when the wind
line on to blow tremendous
the beach. And I wanted
sedtogoofftilUowwate,
,oon, and when I landed, It
Qd the weather came on m
ats tried to get off, but both

nen, belonging to the boats,
; a heavy gale of wind and

; for our captain, as 1 told
o ever since we left Gibral-
o boys on board bes.de hiin-

en a hundred g"i°«^%- . „ „
,oard of the "Jane Ellen.

d go off with me, I went to
tafsituated, fori knew ha
told me that I must content
, would take care to send me
t came on, the gale was still

e getUng o^ board that night
,nle offered me a bed, and 1
t But it was still blowing
Jwe could see no vessel m
,t was a man-of-war, and the
een What to do, or what to
'he brig was lost, and a^^ hands
„,and asked them what they
npcted she was lost; and they
Svtlmtlwasonshoreout
vas to blame to send any o
she was lying in an open road.
;and^hatiasallthesatistact.on

moneyinmypocket;forIhad

hid no occasion to draw any
ned her% had my pay fVom the

NARRATIVE OF AN OLD ENGLISH SAILOR.

317

to travel up to London, and go and see if my son was alive or not. Now
all the money I had in my pocket when I "started from Deal, which is
seventy-two miles from London, was three shillings and sixpence ; and it
was bitter cold weather, for I started from Deal on the 2d day of January,
1826; and, thanks be to God and good friends, I arrived in London on
the 6th of the month ; and tired enough I was ; and all the money that
I had left was twopence. I had middling good clothes on my back, and
I went to Mr. Mellish to inquire after my son; and when 1 told Mr.
Mellish of my new misfortune, he told me that I was a wonderful man ;
but when I asked him concerning my son, he told me that he was
married to. his housekeeper, and that they were doing very well ; and
that he had paid the sixty pounds to my son, according to my wish. I
thanked him very kindly; and he told me that my son, in coming home
in the " Seringapatam," had the misfortune to fall out of the maintop,
and broke his left arm, and it not being properly set, he had partly lost
the use of it; and when he came home, having a very good character,
Mr. Mellish made him wharfinger at his wharf, and after a little time ho
got married.

I told Mellish how I was situated in regard to money, and he was kind
enough to give me five pounds ; and he told me, that if my circumstances
would ever allow me to pay him, I might, but he should never ask me
for it. I thanked him very kindly for it, and I asked him if he would be
kind enough to send for my son, which he did; and when my son came
in, he was quite surprised at seeing me, and he and I went home to his
house. And when I came to tell him how I was situated, he called his
wife in, and told her that I should have to stay along with them a few
days, and that I was his father; but I could see by the first appearance
of her actions that I was an unwelcome guest, for she said she did not
know how to make room for me.

I told my son; "Francis," said I, "seemingly your wife, whom I
thought to embrace as a daughter, is not agreeable for me to stay here.
Give me a few sailings, so that 1 can go and get a lodging somewhere
for the night;" for I did not let him know that Mr. Mellish had given
me five pounds. He told me he would try what he could do, and away
he went; and I heard him and his wife having very high words outside
of the room, and between other words that passed, I heard her calling
me a beggar. My temper, at that present time, could not stand that,
and I got up and went out, and wished them a good night, and I left the
house, and I have never seen her since; and away I went down to
Tooley street, in the Borough, and there I got a lodging.

In a few days I got pretty well round again, and I went to Lloyd's
office to report the loss of my brig, and likewise to see if I could recover
any of my wages; for I was sent on shore on duty, and certainly I ought
to be entitled to my wages to the time we sailed from the last port; and
they told me that as I gave in my claim for wages due to me for the
"Jane Ellen," that as tsoon as they had returns from Sierra Leone, they
would pay me what was due to me.

I staid in London till the middle of March, when I shipped on board
of a brig called the "Intrepid" packet, and she was bound from London
to Gibraltar, and from there to Buenos Ayres. And we sailed from
London the 2d day of April, 1825, and, thanks be to God, we had a very
good passage to Gibraltar, where we arrived the Ist day of May, anil
sailed from there the 6th of June for Buenos Ayres, where we arrived
cm the 30th day of July.

318

NARRATIVE OF AN OLD ENGLISH SAILOR.

Now at this present time the Buenos Ayreans wore at war with the
Braziliiuis, and the River Plate was blocited up; so wo were obliged to
go and lay in a place called Helsinado, about seven miles from Buenos
Ayres, and there we laid till March, 1C26, when our captain got a freight
for (iibraltar, to carry some of the old Spaniards home to their own
country; and we sailed from Helsinado on the 6th of April, 1826. But
coming from Helsinado, down the River Plate, we were caught in a very
heavy Pampiro, and were very near losing the brig; for our mate that
came from England with us, had left us at Buenos Ayres; and the young
man that we got in the room of him was not experienced with the country
he was sailing in ; and at twelve o'clock, when I came on d»ck, he told
me to clear away the flying jib, and I told him, " You had better shorten
sail as fast as you can, or else you will lose every stitch of canvas that
you have got set, for I see it arising;" and I showed it to him; but he
said, " Never mind, do as you are told." And I told him that for the
safety of myself and the brig, I could not do it; but if he would not
shorten sail, I should be obliged to call Captain Gordon, wliich I accord-
ingly did. And when ho came on deck, we began to shorten sail; but
it was too late then, for the Pampiro struck the brig, and she was hove
on her beam-ends, and every stitch of canvas that we had set blew into
• ribbons.

I advised our captain to let go both anchors, so as to fetch the ship's
head to wind, that she might righten; and accordingly I went forward,
and got some of the men to lend me a hand ; and I let go the best bower
anchor, which brought her head to wind; and the brig rightcned, for
she had then been nearly a quarter of an hour on her beam-ends; but
still she would not bring up; and, with a good deal of trouble, I got the
small bower anchor clear, and let it go. And she took the chain to the
beam-end, but still she would not bring up, but still kept drifting; and
we were afraid we should drive on a sand called the English bank. So,
after a good deal of trouble, we got our stream anchor clear, and let it
go; and after she got tl'3 best part of the stream cable, she brought up
in five fathoms water. But all this time neither the captain nor I could
see pnything of the mate, and we were afraid that he had gone over-
board, and had been drowned; but after we got everything middling
snug, we found our mate stowed away down in the fore-hold, among the
water-casks; and he said that he was knocked down the fore-hatchway
when the squall first struck the ship. We did not believe his story; but
the captain had been obliged to make him mate, for he was one of the
owners' nephews.

Now after we got everything pretty snug, we set the watch again, and
next morning it turned out to be very fine, and we went to work to bend
a fresh set of sails, for our old ones were all blown to pieces; and after
getting our anchors up, and stowing them, which took us two days, we
went down to Monte Video, where we arrived on the 12th day of April.
And after putting everything to rights, we sailed for Rio de Janeiro,
where we arrived on the 1st of May. Now as I told you that we had
lost all our canvas in the Pampiro, and bent all new ones, except what
we called our fore and aft spencer, and the brig having only one on
board, I was obliged to make a new one, for the captain knew that I was
able to do it ; and accordingly the captain bought the canvas, and I cut
the sail out; and on the 18th of May I and the mate were working about
the sail, and I saw him putting a piece of canvas the wrong way; and I
said, " Mr. Middleton, you are putting that piece in the wrong way.*'

OR.

; at war with the
I were obliged to
iios from Buenos
ptain got a freight
me to their own
\pril, 1826. But
! caught in a very
or our mate that
s; and the young
I with the country
on d«ck, he told
lad better shorten
eh of canvas that
it to him ; but he
1 him that fur the
if he would not
1, which I accord-
shorten sail; but
md she was hove
had set blew into

a fetch the ship's
Iv I went forward,
go the best bower
irig rightcned, for
r beam-ends; but
trouble, I got the
>k the chain to the
kept drifting; and
English bank. So,
or clear, and let it
le, she brought up
aptain nor I could
e had gone over-
erything middling
re-hold, among the
the fore-hatchway
ieve his story; but
he was one of the

e watch again, and
mt to work to bend
) pieces; and after
)k us two days, we
12th day of April,
r Rio de Janeiro,
1 you that we had

ones, except what
liaving only one on
tin knew that I was
e canvas, and I cut
vere working about

wrong way; and I
I the wrong way.*'

NARRATIVE OF AN OLD ENGLISH SAILOR.

319

He told mc to mind my own business; and words arose between him
and me, and at last he jumped up and struck me. 1 was obliged to
stand in my defense, and 1 gave him a good boating, so that he was
obliged to go below. Now I knew well enough that when the captain
came <m board, he would take the mate's part, and I should have to "o
on siiore to go to prison, which I dir'. not like at all.

Knowing the " Ranger" frigate wanted hands, I hailed the '• Ranger's"
boat, and she came along side, and I told tlie officer of the boat what
had happened, and that I intended to enter for his Majesty's service,
upon which he told me to get into the boat; and so I got once more on
board of a man-of-war. My old captain tried all that he could do to get
mc back again; but I found that a man-of-war was quite different fiora
what it was when I was in them in war time; for there was no starting,
or fears of any flogging; and if a man was only attentive and clean, and
did what he was told, he never needed to he afraid of getting liimsolf
into trouble. So, after I got settled on board of the " Ranger,'"' tiu cap-
tain was kind enough to give me the rate of gunner's mate; and I did
very well. And we sailed from Rio de Janeiro the latter part of May,
bound to Callao, on the coast of Peru. We had a long and tedious pas-
sage round the Cape, but arrived safe at Valparaiso on the 19lh of June,
after a passage of seventy-seven days. We staid on the coast of Peru
till the beginning of 1828; and on the 6th of February a sad accident
happened to me — for 1 was both sliot and drowned on that day!

To explain this, 1 must go to some particulars that occurred when we
were lying at a place called Coquimbo, the last place we were going to
touch at before we went round the Horn. And the governor of the place
and his suite being on board to take their farewell of our captain and
officers, and our ship being iiove short, and all ready for starting, and
our captain intended to salute the governor when he left the ship, and
in getting the ship under weigh, I was sent to look out for the buoy.
And I being in the larboard fore-chains, when the anchor was up to the
bows, and after the anchor was settled and fixed, I went forward upon
the anchor, to try to get the buoy-rope clear of the anchor-stock; and
while in the act of going forward, they fired the forecastle gun, which
was a long nine-pounder; and the whole charge reached me, and hove
me away from the ship, and knocked the senses out of me, so that I laid
upon the water like one dead ; but I soon began to go down. But there
was an English brig lying there, called the " Mediffival," of London,
and her boat had been on board of our ship, to put some letters on board,
for us to take home ; and she shoving off" from the ship when the accident
happened, they saw my hat, and they picked it up, and then they saw
the wake I made in going down, and they hooked me with a boat-hook,
for I was going down as fast as I could ; and they hauled me into the
boat, and brought me on board of my ship. But I was senseless to the
whole of it; so I did not come to myself again, not till next day, about
dinner time. And I was told that our doctor said that I was dead, and
that they were going to heave me overboard; but a young gentleman, a
doctor's mate, a passenger, said that I was not dead; and he, with Ciod'a
help, saved my life. If anybody should doubt my tale about being shot
and drowned, I could bring plenty of witnesses that saw it, both olliceis
and men.

The next day, when I came to my senses, I felt very weak; but I soon
got better, and I was able to go to my duty in about a fortnight's time.
And we had a very good passage round Cape Horn; and we arrived in

«iRR*TIVE OF AN OLD ES0U8H SAILOR.

ordered to go ^^J^^^-J'^^dow woman, who was X/on account that she

where we arrived on ^^^ \*;;bar; and our captain, ^od b^^ss h^^ ^^.
,„ go to Oporto to lay off the^^b^^^:,,,,er. , ^nd on the 3t of^^^^i^^ ^^
kind enough ^o make me q ^^ deck, that >s from tw ^^^^^^

he was in, i *^o" ," „ij j^ for him; and he asucu ^.j^

laid in my power I would dolor ^^^ uj know I can t iiv^^ ^^^

We arrived in i'lymouiu J ,. Portsmouth, to taKeui j^

refitted om .hip, ««2nV»T» «»-"■" ^'"o V«, I^e djrt.om

3B.

e completed our

head on the 10th

r" frigate, and 1
or a petty cfficer,
We went to jom
5 command of Sir
nning of August;
[1 there we went a
try, 1833, we were

tham, fitting out, 1
my own age, and a
,n account tliat she
i do no better with
r, and, thanks be to

red to go to Lisbon,
re we were ordered
Sod bless him, was
the 13th of Septem-
m twelve o'clock at
,is name was Henry
ly men came to me,
r, was very bad, and
3ion from the officer
found Ellis very bad,
morning.

,eing in the state tha
um that anything that

sd me to speak to the
ow I can't live much

said to me, "Swear
„v wife and children.
Kttime,Ihadlittle
perform it, for my wife

only promised him to
hortly after I had left
id was to acquaint the

very kindly granted it;

he waB buried m the

came out from England
ship, to attend upon the
S to see her friends^
Uil; and after we had
, to take the state barge
e; and from Portsmouth
aueen came down from
t to Helvoetsluys, on the
wewentbacktoSheer-

at Lisbon. And on ho
, and went down to th.>
4 o'clock in tlie morning,
i wind about north-nortl.-

NARRATIVE OF AN OLD ENGLISH SAILOR.

321

east. And a little after six o'clock in the morning, being just below
Dover, wn had the misfortune to run the " Cliainclcoii," revonuc-cutter,
down ; and out of seventeen men and officers on board of her. we could
only save two men and two boys. Though our ship was hove to instantly,
and our quarter boats down, we could not save more; so there were
thirteen poor souls drowned.

We .staid by the spot some time afterward, but we could see no more
of anything belonging to her. And we proceeded down to Plymouth,
and there we had a court-martial upon our captain and officers, and our
captain was honorably acquitted; but our third lieutenant was dismissed
the service, and all hands on board were very sorry for it, for he was a
very good man. And after the court-martial was over, we sailed for
Santander, on the coast of Spain, where we arrived on the 1st of Octo-
ber; but it being a very bad roadstead for ships to lay in, in winter tiine,
we went down to a place called Passages, and there we got our ship in,
and moored her. But we found that our ship struck at low water, and
we were obliged to go from there to Santander again ; and we went into
Santander harbor, and there we lay snug enough.

One of my shipmates that came out of the " Castor " along with me,
got married^ and he lived at Gosport ; and he asked me to come over
with him, one night, before I left the ship, to spend the evening with
him and his wife, and I agreed ; and enjoying ourselves till it was too
late for me to go on board, I was obliged to get a bed somewhere for
the night; and my shipmatti's wife took me to a widow woman who let
beds. What was my surprise when I found this woman to be the widow
of my old shipmate Ellis, our butcher in the "Castor" frigate! All
my promises that I made to him came fresh in my mind ; and after pay-
ing her for my bed, I gave her half the money that I had in my pocket,
which was no great deal; and when I left the "North Star," I took my
chest and things to her house, and she washed my clothes for me, while
we were fitting out; for my wife lived round at Chatham; and after the
" Princess Charlotte " was ready for sea, we sailed from Spithcad on the
3d day of July; and we were bound up the Mediterranean, to relieve
the " Caledonia ;" and we relieved her on the 2d day of August.

We kept cruising about at sea, for we could not go into Malta, for it
was very sickly. We arrived at Malta the latter part of October; and I
had not been there long, when I received a letter from Chatham,
acquainting me of my wife's death. She died the same day that I
sailed from Spithead, after being bad only twenty-four hours. We lay
in Malta all the winter; and the latter part of January, 1838, 1 was taken
very bad; and I was obliged to be invalided on the 14th day of February,
from Malta hospital As soon as I was able to be moved, I was sent
home in the "Portland" frigate; and she took me and some more invalids
as far as the Rock of Gibraltar, where we were sent on board of the
" Bellerophon," and she took us to Portsmouth; and we arrived at Spit-
head on the 8th day of April. And from her I was sent on board of
the fla^-ship, and from there I was discharged. And after I got my pay
from the " Princess Charlotte," I went up to London, to pass the Board
of Admirahy, for my pension; but all that they gave me was seventeen
pounds, four shillings, per annum. And from there I went to Chatham,
to see my late wife's family; but I found that they had made away with
everything that belonged to me. And when 1 found how things were, I
came back again to Gosport, with a full intent to fulfill my oath, that I
swore to Henry Ellis, when he was dying. And accordingly I told Ellis's •
21

^•

322 NARRATIVE OK AN OLD ENGLISH SAILOR.

.ido.aU that had happened betwee^^^^^^^

told her that I would do ''"yj*^ "8 '^tJu Cy ait wife had been dead a
and that, if she was a mind to jait t'» ^ ' ^ u^ie consideration, she
rl=%U^l' :ried"^S; t; .eth day of July, 1838, .n

'Tn t^S-a of August, 1844, « - Stpf^tJSri^nit^^
granted me a pension of twenty-oue Pouj^s JfJ ^ circumstances will
^ith what little I «»° «""' \l'i%'17rX th«^^^^ to the Lord for the
allow me to be: and I hope ^^.'^/.^""/eceived at his hands through
many blessings and merc.es ^ha* l/"^" 'J^*^''^,^ ^ing along without
life/ Oftimes, when I see a poor man or wornao g g k^j^^^^j.^^
^y shoes on them, or scarcely "»y f "^^es Jj cove » ,^^^^ ^^
I am to feel that I have got a bed ^«^;«°°\:'J^Jei deserved to be thus
a house to shelter me f!°"» f^«N„ but it is God's mercy that provides
favored any more than them? JNo.duii ^^ ^j^^^ ^^^

forme; and I hope that he W w.ll gra^^ V 3^^ ^^ .^^

contentment with the lot thejim.ghty has^^e^/^e thankful for; and
And I find every day new blessmgs and mer ^^^ ^^ ^^^

especially for health, which "°;V* *;;„? ^id, and knocked about at
ei^oy ; for here I am, a man ««'«"*J- f '^i^e^per^^^ some hard trials;

aei better than fifty y«"«^ '"; *JJ'^L ™I w^lKbove twenty miles, which
r. ^^il^f^:::^^^^ i-^ know th. the Urd fits the
back to the burden.

lILOR.

ato husband; and 1
r and her children;
■e had been dead a
e consideration, she
lay of July, 1838, in

, Ind the Admiralty
innum for life; and,
8 circumstances will
I to the Lord for the
it his hands through

going along without
• them, how thankful
hes to cover me, and

deserved to be thus
» mercy that provides
le prayer, and that is,

pleased to give me.
, be thankful for; and
est blessings we can
, and knocked about at
aced some hard trials;
e twenty miles, which

that the Lord fits the

DESTRUCTION

OP THB

OCEAN STEAMER ARCTIC,

BT OOUISION WITH THB VB8TA, A niENOH PKOPILLEB, ON THE BANKS OF NlWrOUNDLAOT)
ON WBDNI8DAT, THB STth OF 8BFTE1UIB, 1854, BY WHICH DISASTER '

MORE THAN THREE HUNDRED PERSONS PERISHED.

The Ocean Steamer Arctic formed one of the Collins' line of American
8teanicr«, plying between New York and Liverpool, so called in contra-
distinction ti, those of the Cunard or British line, the latter having been
built in England, and owned and controlled by an English company.
The Arctic was built in New York, in 1860, at an expense of nearly
one million of dollars, and was one of the largest and noblest steamships
in the world. Of beautiful proportions and great speed, she was the pride
of her countrymen, as a specimen of their attainments in marine
architecture.

On her homeward bound passage, at noon, on the 27th of September,
1864, she came in collision with the French propeller Vesta, on the
banks of Newfoundland; and a few hours thereafter the last vestige of
her noble form, together with more than three hundred of her passengers
and crew, disappeared beneath tho waters. The fate of the smaller
vessel was more fortunate. Provided by her more cautious builders
with bulkheads, or water-ti^ht partitions, between her different sections,
she succeeded in gaining port in safety.

When tidings of this awful event reached our country, a profound
sensation was created. The people of the city of New York, the most
mercurial and impulsive of any in America, the earliest to be aroused
by, and the earliest to forget, any startling event, were most intensely
excited. The Arctic was a New York vessel; the pride of the great
commercial metropolis; and numbers of her prominent citizens were
known to have been on board of her. To give an idea of the effect
thare, we make brief extracts from a city paper of the day.

" The sorrow and excitement in New York, on the reception erf the
sad tidings, were beyond expression. Thousands of our citizens are
bereaved of relatives, and tens of thousands have lost friends and
acquaintances. Early in the morning the newspaper offices, and the
office of the steamship company, were thronged with anxious inquirers
for further news, and all day long the crowds were kept up by fresh
arrivals. The flags on the City Hall, on the hotels, and the shipping in
the harbor, were at half-mast through the day. Business was neglected,
and the whole town bore on its outward features evidences of the sorrow
within. There were hundreds of persons crowding Adams & Co.'8
Office, waiting their several turns to see Mr. Burns, one of the saved;
and each concerned to ascertain whether there was not some possible

(323)

..nv OF THE OOFAN STEAMER AUCTIO.
09A DESTRUCTION OF THB u _^ ^^^^ ^^^^.^.^ ,^^,,

telling the.r grief to the pa .^ ^^ ^^ P""\"''nn>nr\rtora of tl.e li"". a

In the office «f ^; J^'^^^eted. A large crowd la. ^ ,„,.nt,

similar scene was bemgcna ^^ ^^^^^^^ ''^ ^'''J'cSe showed that ho
the report of Mr »f J^J ;,ark9 of e'^'^^^f ^^Jf *^ A'doop f.^olinfr of
^hose careworn ook , an ^^ ^^^^ -^.f j;£t, and eager quoslious

was one of the 9«^^ ^^ ^,^e minds "^^ P';' "^ion- So'"*' d.-scnbod
anxiety «««'"''J '° ,? Mr. Brennan in rapid «"«^«««'5^,„, by affinities and
were proP"""'^'^ Va.ance of ab.enl ones, bound to then ^ ^^^^^^^^^,
the personal appearance oi consanguinity, ana o j.

dee? friendship, «ome by ^ ^^ .,,,d if he h-^^.^^^^j'^n which hc'was
nearer and dearer [''^'/J^^gel previous to he ^ast oj^. « \ns\-,i»cvM

»'- r h1 't d1' te'^nxiiusly >vaited for and^;"^^ , ,ead

t;:;ter^Uci;^tto^uc^;jp;^:c:^

nrbritfit W^^^^^

of the telegraphic d-spa^chfrorn^^ mingled hope and fear th y^^^^^^^^
of the room, anf'^rfJX words of the dispatch ead JY ^^^^^,,^^
in breathless silence to in ^^^ ^^^^^ "waulc the names of

connected with thj^/'^fi-^patient exclamations bec^i'^e ^^^^^^^^^
finished, many were the y J ^^^.^^^^ ""' "^^,d when, at lust,

the saved, in the boats whicn catastrophe , an. ^ ^^^^^^

of Mr. Baalham's account oX ^^^ ^„^^ JL t U^* ^"^^'^^

the concluding portion onhe^^.^P^ ^^^^ K'tnou---^ -f '^ T'"'
of those who were saw expectation of the annou j j „ioom.

V r '\rmS fhem "jS, or drive them m o ^ Je^^t ,f ^e l
which was to make n ^^-"^^^^enced. ^hc ann ^^^^, ^d with

The reading ot t.^^e ii» exclamations of "^eep PX' ^ ^,,em. As
names was received wtj. ex ^ ^^^ the mercy extended ^^^^^

words of thankfulness to l^e ^^ed, deeper sighs wer ^ ^^ ^^^^ „

the end of the list J^^ ^Pfj^^ „^n,e8 had been all read' ^^^^^

when it was announc^^ tha th^^ ^^^^ ^ ^e deep ^^ g^^^

of such exciting interest, ^^^ ^^^ ^^^^^^j

^^^ the announ.n^^tJ-:;rsSrm Q;^^

intelligence, and fearing th^^ ««t justified by the facts^ ^^^ ^^^^^^ ^
ment was pre^^'^^ure, an ^^^^ ^^^ "*ulS and make himself

and another ^'^.P'^'^'i^'Xse to stand by the v^re^^^^^^ amounting to
the noble captanwh^cho^^^ ^^ ^''^^'/Ifl'l wa announced tha
his last thought m bis ^^^ ""^I^iL telegraph, the most

enthusiasm «e«""^ij° nTwas being forwarded by telegp,^^^.^^ .^

Saturday, October 14, 1864.

^WWtilJt^-

RCTIO.

the Arctic, had
chihlrfu, and
rcHcrve which

ara of tlic lino, a

coUcc ted I.) lif'ar
,nery dcpmtin.nt,
c, showed that ho
L deep fcclin-,' of
,d eager qucslioua
Some dcHcrili<.'<l
■m hy affinities and
[I others ho\nid hy
them enter any of
c on which he was

in some instances
,t in others to lead
^ on earth,
al of an installment
„ all to another part
d fear, they listened
read bv a gentleman
the installments was
,ca«9e the names of
,rwarded first,. nstead

and when, at last,
he list of the names
i hearts heat heavily
ouncement of a name
to a despairing gloom,
iouncement of several
joy, accompanied with
xtended to them. As
ghs were drawii. and
%Uread, 'Oft/.od.'
the deep anguish hat
t only confirmed their
more dispatches would
r had been the scene
jsed for the balance of

ptain Luce, and several

I in Quebec, the entire
/din confirmation of the

wLd be that the state-
e facts. But as another

explicitly the safety of
reck and make himself
ing of joy ar^ount.ng to
, it was announced that
d by telegraph, the most

words. The following is
^q. and dated at Quebec,

DESTRUCTION OF THE OCEAN STEAMER ARCTIC.

325

"It becomes my painful duty to inform you of the total loss of the
Arctic, umior my command, with many lives; and I fear among them
must bo incliiilcd your own wife, daughter and son, of whom I took a
last leave the moment the ship teas going down, without evor expecting
to SCO the light of another day, to give you an account of the heart-
rending scene.

The Arctic sailed from Liverpool on Wednesday, September 20th, at
eleven a. m., with two hundred and thirty-throe passengers, and a crew
of about one hundred and fifty. Notliing of special note occurred
during tiie passage until Wednesday, September 27th, when, at noon, we
were on the Banks, in latitude 46° 45' north, and longitude 52" west,
steering west by compass.

The weather had been foggy during the day; generally a distance of
half to three quarters of a mile could be seen, but at intervals of a few
minutes a very dense fog, followed by being sufficiently clear to see one
or two miles. At noon I left the deck for the purpose of working out
the position of the ship. In about fifteen minutes I heard the cry of
" Hard starboard " from the officer of the deck. I rushed on deck, and
had just got out, when I felt a crash forward, and at the same moment
saw a steamer under the starboard-bow; at the next moment she struck
against our guards, and passed astern of us. The bows of the strange
vessel seemed to be literally cut or crushed off for full ten feet, and
seeing that she must, probably, sink in a few minutes, and taking a hasty
glance at our own ship, and believing that we were comparatively unin-
jured, my first impulse was to endeavor to save the lives of those on
board the sinking vessel. The boats were cleared, and the first officer
and six men left with one boat, when it was found our own ship was
leaking fearfully.

The engineers were set to work, being instructed to put on the steam
pumps, and the four deck pumps were worked by the passengers and
crew, and the ship headed for the land, which I judged to be about fifty
miles distant. I was compelled to leave my boat with the first officer
and crew to take care of themselves.

Several ineffectual attempts were made to stop the leak by getting
sails over the bows; but finding the leak gaining on us very fast, notwith-
standing all our very painful efforts to keep her free, I resolved to get
the boats ready, and as many ladies and children placed in them as
possible; but no sooner had the attempt been made than the firemen and
others rushed into them in spite of opposition.

Seeing this state of things, I ordered the boats astern to be kept in
readiness until order could be restored, when, to my dismay, I saw them
cut the ropes in the bow, and soon disappear astern in the fog. Another
boat was broken down by persons rushing at the davits, and many were
precipitated into the sea and drowned. This occurred while I had been
engaged in getting the starboard guard-boat ready, and placed the second
officer in charge, when the same fearful scene as mth the first boat was
being enacted — men leaping from the top of the rail, twenty feet, crush-
ing and maiming those who were in the boat. I then gave orders to the
second officer to let go, and row after the ship, keeping under or near
the stern, to be ready to take on board women and children, as soon as
the fires were out, and the engines stopped. My attention was then
drawn to the other quarter-boat, which I found broken down, but hanging
by one tackle. A rush was made for her aiso, and some fifteen got in,
and cut the tackle, and were soon out of sight. I found that not a

82fl DESTRUCTION OF THE OCEAN STKAMKR ARCTIC,

.caman wan loft on lK.nr.1, nor a carpontcr, and w« wrro without nnyt.K^
["a Hi"t '.H in l.uil<linR a raft, a8 our only hope, Tho only oflu.r hft
vva" Mr. oian,thothird mate, who aided me, wUh th« «««'«-'-• of
na ny of the ,,.« enger., who deserve Rrcat pra.se for the.r co..ln- .h -"'»
Sy indoiMKallin thoir power up to the very latest nu.meni
the sliip Hunk.

and
x'for*'

with a part of his assistance, had taiten our

. JCm* ek.r.r.nd bZ; rh. .hip w.„. .lo.„, nuUd .w., wi>„

""^U'e tuuSZl in B.«in« .ho fc •"- ™i"-y«'l -i- ^.t
lant-vardfl overboard, and such other small spars and material as we
rm Id .oUcrt w en I was fully convinced that the ship must ro down m
a vc y shir timr«n.l m.t a Iment was to be lost in getting the spars
fashed toRether to form a raft, to do which it b. .amo necessary to got the
lifp-bnnt ^our only remaininc lx)at,) into the water.

TKbeC accomplished, I saw Mr. Dorian, the third otficer, m charge
of the boat" taking Lo to keep the oars on board to prevent them from
balnc the ship, hoping still to get most of the women and chddren m
h s boa At last tlfoy Imd made considerable progress ,n ^ff^^^^^;;^
soars when an alarm was given that the ship was sinkmg, and the boat
"wT^irov^S S without oa?s or anything to hc;lp ;»'--'v- -th;^^^^^
when the ship sunk, the boat had got clear, probably an eighth of a m.le,

*" \7an\ttant, about four and three quarter, v. «., the Mp went do.m,

TnSryitfhelu^, after a brief struggle with my
own Sless child in my arms, when again I felt mys; 'f .mpellcd down-
ward to a grea depth, and before I reached the su.n.c a second t.me
had near'y perished, and lost the hold of my ehild. As I »g«>n «»">f^^>«'J
to the surface of the water, a most awful and heart-rending scene pre-
sented i^sS to my view-orrr two hundred men, women and children
TtX^llS^toSr amidst pieces of wreck of every kmd calling on
SothTr fof help, and imploring doA to assist them. Such un appall-
ing scene may God preserve mo from ever witnessing again.

Vwas in the act of trying to save my child, when a portion of the
paSdTe-Jx came rushinl^ u'p edgewise, just g--"S -^.ff-^'^^';,' ^
with its whole weight upon the head ot my darling child. Another
moment T beheld him lifeless in the water. I succeeded in getting on
Tthe top of he paddle-box, in company with eleven others; one, how-
ever soon left for another piece, finding that it could not support so
man;. Othe 8 remained uniil they were one by one '^eheved by death.
We^stood in water at a temperature of 45°, up to o.r kn«es, and fre-
nuently the sea broke directly over us. We soon ^^y'lf""^ /'''"' J^^l
fSs on other parts of the wreck, and passed the night, each one of
lis exoectinff every hour would be our last. j„„„„

At last the wished for morning came, surrounding us with a dense
fo2-not a living soul to be seen but our own P^M'-^even men being
left In the course of the morning, we saw some water-casks and other
hfngs belonging to our ship, but 'nothing that we could get to afford us
any relief. Our raft was rapidly settling, as it r ^^orbed water.

About noon, Mr". S. M. Woodruff, of New York, was relieved by death
All the other"'„oi began to suffer very severely for want of water, excep
M George F Allen and myself. In that respect we were very much
fevoredraUhough we had not a drop on the raft. The day continued

AROTIO.

B williniit nny tdc'/s
iG only ofl'ii-cr li ft
tlio nHn'iHtnJMt' of
thf-'ir co«iln'''H nnd
lat luornciil Ix-foM*

f), hnd takfn our
pulled uwny with

rd and »wo topgal-
nd material as we
p must go down in
n getting the spara
iccosaary to got the

rd otficer, m charge
prevent them from
en and children in
!sa in collecting the
nking, and the boat
omselves wilii; and
ui eighth of a mile,

the ship went dn^m,

f struggle, with my
3( 'f impelled down-
fiuc a second time.
As I again struggled
:-rending scene pre-
rxrmen and childrrn
ry kind, calling on
iTi. Such !in appall-
ig again.

en a portion of the
ng my head, falling
ing child. Another
jeedt^l in getting on
■n others; one, how-
ould not support so
le relieved by death,
oar knees, and fre-
scparated from our
f night, each one of

ing us with a dense
y — seven men being
vater-casks and other
could get to aiTord us
irbed water,
'as relieved by death,
want of water, except
;t we were very much
The day continued

DESTRUOTIOy OP TIIR OOEAN STEAMER AROTIO.

327

foggy, except juHt at noon, tm near an wo could judge, w(< had a clear
horizon tor about lialf an hour, and nothing could be Meon but water and
xky. Night came on, thick and dreary, with our mindit made up that
niiither uf us would again soe the light of another day. Very Huun three
more of our sutfering party fell down from exhaustion, and were washed
oil' by tlui sea, leaving Mr. Allen, a boy, and myself. Feeling myself
giHting exhausted, 1 now sat down, fur tlio first time, about eight o'clock
in the evuuing, on a trunk, whicii providentially had been found on the
wreck, in this way I slept a little throughout the night, and became
somewhat refreshed.

Young lieyn, the (ierman boy who wos with us, Hufforod intensely.
He happene 1 to have some biscuit with him which had become soaked
with the salt-water, and eating these only increased his thirst, and to
make mutters still worse, he drank some of the sea-water. His suffer-
ings were bciyond all description. Twice ho jumped overboard, saying
he would rath(!r die than .sutler as he was doing; and each time we
pulled him back on the wreck. At one time he cut open a vein in his
arm and sucked his blood.

About an hour before daylight — now Friday, the 29th — we saw a
vessel's light near to us. We all three of us exerted ourselves to the
utmost of our strength iu hailing her, until wo became (|uito exhausted.
In about a quarter of an hour the light disappeared to the east of us.
Soon after daylight a bark hove in sight to the north-west, the fog having
lightened a little, steering apparently for us; but in a short time she
seemed to have changed her course, and again we were doomed to dis-
appointment; yet I felt hope that some of our fullow-suflerers might
have been seen and rescued by them.

Shortly after we had given up all hopes of being rescued by the bark,
a ship was discovered to the east of us, steering directly for us. We
now watched her with the most intense anxiety as she approached.
The wind changing, caused her to alter her course several points.
About noon they fortunately discovered a man on a rafl near them, and
succeeded in saving him by the second mate jumping over the side, and
making a rope fast around him, when he was got on board safely. This
man saved proved to be a Frenchman, who was a passenger on board
the steamer which we came in collision with.

Ho informed the captain that others were near, on pieces of the
wreck; and, going aloft, he saw us and three others. We were the
first to whom the boat was sent, and safely taken on board about three
r. M. Tiic next was Mr. Jatnes Smith, of Mississippi, second-class
passenger. The others saved were five of our firemen. The ship
proved to be the Cambria, of this port, from Glasgow, bound to Montreal,
Captain John Russell.

From the Frenchman who was picked up, we learned that the steamer
wkh which we came in collision was the screw steamer Vesta, from St.
Pierre, bound for and belonging to Grenville, France, and having on
board one hundred and forty passengers and twenty seamen. As near
a.s we could learn, the Vesta was steering east-south-east, and was cross-
ing our course two points, with all sails set, wind west by south. Her
anchor stock, about seven by four inches square, was driven through the
bows of the Arctic, about eighteen inches above the water line, and an
immense hole had been made, at the same instant, by the fluke of the
anchor, about two feet below the water line, raking fore and aft the
plank, and finally breaking the chains, leaving the stock remaining in

,„8 DE8TECCT.0N OF THE OOEAK STEiMEU ABCTIO.

..a *,«„«.. the .-.ae of .he AreUc^o, ;• j;; ^Vft"; "..""uSil
he, hows had !>"". ""'J"' '?',he lorn.? have been d,i.e.. through

r:taf r:.ir/r.rofor.?:;;j a, i fe„, hun,.,ea, o,- .».
-Sh° rsL. of c.pu>. tu« ---£t'cs."ii

J,„e» Smith, . »a.™ "J f^^'^J'X. ..".tive, .nd is e„h»oood b,

r^z^^^^irsr:^,,^ .. «...hot h.d

times when o\deck,see.ng the weather so ,^^^j^ ^^^ ^^^ ^e

than three or four of the ship a lengtns ^^ ^j^.^^,^^ ^^^er

going on at full speed, withou any alarm d , ^^ ^ ^^^^ ^^^^

fi'gnal being sounded at 'n^//^;,^,;™ A about fifteen minutes after
accustomed to ma f«g "^fJ^^lJ^'^truck, and while sitting in my state-

the meridian, ^ig^b^*\^. J'^Ju^'e^.neTcry of a voice on deck (who I at
room in the forward cabm, the earnest cry ^^ ^^^^^ ,, .

the moment took to be the man «„ ^h«J««^° ^^^if ,„d all others .n the

Cook, my room-mate, to calm he e-c.teme"t a ^^g^ ^^^ ^^^^^^^^
cabin, and before the man g.vmg the a ar ^^^^.^^ j, ^ somewha

engine-room, we were made '^J^^^ \"V",^,hing against the starboard
slight jar to our ship, '^^%«'"P^"'''i';>u ' e„se, but I think we all seemed
bow. It was a moment of awe and suspense, u ^^^^^^ ^^^ ^^

Jo iisfy ourselves that fh-^of -as sj^-gh , and tha ^^

large and strong avesse ,no ««"0"4 °'l™^^f g^ch a nature. With such
happen to such a ship, '" ."^ V'^I'^ate I was very quickly on deck,
a Reliance on my own m.nd, at ^"y ;^^^;g'J^,,3, ,/arned that a screw
and m detached --f°"f .^uu^k L^ol the^ta'rboard bow, and g anc-

steamer, with all sad ^'^^l ^^J^f ^eel-house, struck her again, and she
ing aft our starboard wheel ^°J wheel ^oj' .^ ^^^ ^^.^^ ^ j

passed oflf astern of us out «f f fj* ™'"ii ^^^ fight with iis, but instantly

In the first glance '^'^""^^'"^I^^L^^.een L " ^' °" '^'' ''^' ''^ ^' *"

began to get alarmed ^^ call for the passengers to keep on the port-

jlX^s°^r:e^i° rle'^'relt'd that oo, ship .^ .ait,„, round

in search of her also. „„adle-box, giving orders in one way and

I saw Captain l^»-f°" ^^^^f.^dm^a 'running here and there on the

another, and most ofthe officers and men^^^^^^^^^ ^^^„,.,„g ^^ know

deck, getting into an evident «tate^« am ,^^ ^^ ^^^ ^^j ,„ p„-

what was to be done or '^PPly;"^ ^^rs a other heavy articles over
ticulav, except in g«"'ng the anchors a ^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^ ^^^ ^^^

to the port-side of the ship, f '""'^^^ ^/ghip, from eight to twelve or
several large breaks in the side «f ^J ,3' J^nvinced that in the ten
?:;neen fe'et abaft of the -^^^^^J^terr further submerged in the
or fifteen minutes' time our wheels we ^^^^^^^ somewhat afte

Srng re dCk^^ePghl ^Z theTrtard,^,. it was too evident that

\RCTIO.

ly, as 80 much of
leavy longitudiaal
en driven througli
hundreds of most

f a'pns^iengrr, Mr.
of Mississippi. U
ind is enhanced by

1, the weather had
id alarmed several

I fancied not more
(1 be seen, and she
im whistle, or other
nner as I had been
ifteen minutes after

sitting in my state-
;e on deck (who I at
'stop her, stop her;
and all others in the
luld be heard running

deavoring, with Mr.
ng the ladies in the
eck had reached the
3sion by a somewhat
against the starboard
[ think we all seemed
hat, as we were on so
appened or could well
a nature. With such
rery quickly on deck,
, learned that a screw
rboard bow, and glanc-
ck her again, and she
a the thick fog. I saw
ht with lis, but instantly
the side we had been
s to keep on the port-
of our boats had been
and six of the men, to
• ship was making round

y orders in one way and
'g here and there on the
ithout seeming to know
Lo any one thing in par-
her heavy articles over

starboard bow and saw
from eight to twelve or
convinced that in the ten
irther submerged m the

herself somewhat after
t it was too evident that

■k:-'i

Etttored Mconilngto Act of CongreM. A. D. HDtrcLv, l.j' Henry Howe, in the clerk', offloe of the Diwrict Court of the United SUt«> for the Southern DUtrlct of Ohio.

TIu- Hbtive is a reprcsontution of ihc soom on the Arctic, a short time before she went down.
In the center sItiniU Cnjptiiin l.uce, with his young son clinging (o him. Beyond, a group of
the agonized passenger;' are in prayer. The background, partially enveloped in fog, discloses a
glimpse of the ocean, Wj ith a few Hgures on looting fragments. On the right, the brave Dorian

t mivmvV Dwu ol Wvilvt^tj cixv \W JWcVvc.

is busy gatherinij; materiale for the raft ; on the left, young Holland is applying the torch to the
cannon. •' Unimoved by the base desertion of others, he continued firing the signal gun, that
boomed like a djiath-knell over the waters, and when the wreck tank to its gloomy grave, be
too became num'iered with the dead. Was death ever more heroic?" — Page 340.

««MMf«>ftlMim««VW

applying the torch to the
ring the eignal gun, that
to its gloomy grave, he
-Page 340.

DESTRUCTION OF THE OCEAN STEAMER ARCTIC.

329

Captain Luce himself, as well as all hands, was becoming aware of our
danger; and, from the tremendous volume of water being thrown out
from our steam pumps, I was convinced we were making water at a
fearful rate.

Then came in full view before us the other vessel, presenting a
most heart-rending spectacle; the whole of her bow, for at least ten feet
abaA her cut-water, was literally crushed away, leaving, to all appearance,
an open entrance to the sea; and how she had remained above water for
so many minutes seemed a mystery. Her decks were covered with
people, and all her sails on all three of her masts were set. We merely
passed her again, and she was in less than a minute hid in the fog, but
scarcely out of sight when we heard arise from her deck a loud and
general wail of mourning and lamentation. It was just previous to, or
at the same time that we thus came in sight of and passed her, that our
wheels went over two or three separate individuals in the water, as well
as a boat and crew, who had evidently left the other ship for safety on
ours. One man, only, we picked up, an old weather-beaten French
fisherman, who, having leaped from the small boat before she went under
our wheel, caught a rope hanging from our ship, and was finally pulled
on board of us, and from whom we learned something of the other vessel.
Captain Luce had, by the time of our coming in sight of the Vesta,
become so convinced of our own critical situation, that our only or best
chance was to keep under headway as fast as possible toward the land.

A deep-seated, thoughtful look of despair began to settle upon every
countenance — no excitement, but ladies and children began to collect
on deck with anxious and inquiring looks; receiving no hope or consola-
tion, wife and husband, father and daughter, brother and sister, would
weep in each other's embrace, or kneel together imploring Almighty
God for help. Men would go about the decks in a sort of bewilderment
as to what was best to be done; now laying hold of the hand pumps
with redoubled energy, or with sickening eftbrt applying their power to
the hauling up of freight out of the forward hold, already floating in
water before the lower hatches were opened. System of management
or concentration of effort was never commenced or applied to any one
object. Two separate ineffectual attempts to stop the leaking by drop-
ping a sail down over the bow, were made, and the engines were kept
working the ship ahead toward the land ; but in the course of an hour, I
should think, from the time of the collision, the lower furnaces were
drowned out and the steam pumps stopped. Then it seemed to become
only a question of how many hours or minutes we would be above
water. The first officer with his boat's crew we had let behind from
the first. The second officer, with a lot of the sailors, had lowered
another boat and left the ship, and a general scrambling seemed to be
going on as to who should have places in the only two remaining boats
that I saw on deck. The stern tackling of another had given way from
the weight of persons in it while it was swinging over the side, and I
think several must have been lost with that. I saw one lady hanging to
the bow tackle of it afler the stern had broken loose. One of those
still remaining was a large one, on the quarter-deck, occupied by ladies
and children and some few gentlemen. The other was on the upper
dock forward, and in the possession of a lot of firemen. Things were
in this condition at about two hours aftet the accident. Captain Luce
was superintending the lowering of spars and yards, aided mostly by
passengers, for the purpose of making a rafl, and complaining that all

*-»*«Jfc^«**»fltaie*a^*«*:v>-- jft^JS.»*«Ufc,%*fcr*Jt». ,«^.fc. ■

380 DESTRUCTION OF THE OCEi STEAMER ARCTIC.

his officers and men had left him. Most of the women and children
terc collected round the boat on the quarter-deck seem.ngly resigned

^ Some few" gentlemen exerted all their powers to prevail on others to
work on the pumps, but all to no purpose, the ship kept on gaming .n quan-
Tv as steadiW as time progressed. The engines had stopped working, and
I Lelgthat the chief engineer, with some of his assistants md firemen,
had bK forward boat in the water over by the bow, under he pre-
tense I saw of working at the canvas, which was hangmg over the bow,
rMtos^nkitdownoverthe leaking places, but seeing as I thought,
flvZom of their real intention to get off from the ship withou too
S iHhe boat, I dropped myself down near by them on a small raft
"f thr^e planks Ibout a foot wide each, and ten or twelve feet long and
an inch Fn thickness, lashed together with some rope and four hand-
snikes and which I had just previously helped to lower into the wate
fo the purpose of working from about the bow of the ship. Finding it
bore me 3 HlSved off, intending to get along side of the engineer's
boat but a I shoved off several firemen and one or two pa^Bengers
Sropped down into the boat, the engineer protesting ^gamst their doing
so and at the same time pushed off, and pulled well away from the ship,
wUhaboit twelve or fifteen persons in »>- ^oat, dec a^ »; J-e on
board at the same time, that he was not going off, but would stay by the
sh?o to the last. At the same time, he, or those in the boat with hm,
Jjtinued to%ll away in what I considered was the direction of the
land and were in a few minutes lost in the tog. • u „

I now srwThere was no probable chance for me but to remain where
I was on mv frail little raft, until I could see some better chance after
or before t^e ship went dovin. She had now settled down to the wheel-
houses The upper furnaces had for some time been drowned ou .
So' on board were doing nothing but firing signal guns of distress
rryingto Jet spars overboard, and tearing doors off the hinges, nothing
else seemed tJ present itself, as the means of saving the lives of some
three hundred souls still on board.

I have crossed the Atlantic nine times now, and nearly every pre
vious time have had in charge one or more of my family or near rela-
ys Ctnow, I thanked my^Godthat I had not even an acquaintance
with me in this my adversity. I tightened up my little raft as well as I
Tould so as to make it wi hstand the buffetings and strainings of the
T^iy rollingseT, and, with the aid of a long narrow piece of plank
which torelp off the others, using it as a paddle, I kept hovering w. bin
tVo or three hundred yards of the sinking ship, watching operations
there! and keephig myself from being drifted out of sight, so as o have
whit company fhe?e iJight be left on rafts like my own after our doomed
Vessel had s/nk beneat? the surface In this position I -w;hr- diffe-
rent small rafts like my own leave the ship, one of them w th th ee and
another with two of the firemen standing erect on them the third with
the old Frenchman we had already picked up, and «"« «f '^^ "Jf ^^^JJ
of the shin sitting on it. Those three rafts all drifted close by me, so
tXXl hSled by one and another of them with the reques for
us all to keep near together, to which I assented, but told them .hat we
Tad all bette'r try Jd keep by the ship till she -ent down^ At th.
time, I noticed that the large boat, which had been on the quarter-deck,
was in the water, and was being freighted pretty ^f J' j" ^^^X raft of
with several females and a good number of males, and that the ratt ot

^^r-M' v^ ^y,^*-!.^id!,-«y-='M™^^

ARCTIC.

men and children
eomingly resigned

revail on others to
on gaining in quan-
opped working, and
istants r^nd firemen,
ow, under the pre-
ying over the bow,
eing, as I thought,
e ship without too
em on a small raft
velve feet long and
pe and four hand-
)wer into the water
e ship. Finding it
5 of the engineer's
or two passengers
against their doing
away from the ship,
daring to those on
it would stay by the
the boat with him,
he direction of the

ut to remain where
better chance after
I down to the wheel-
been drowned out.
lal guns of distress,
the hinges, nothing
g the lives of some

d nearly every pre-
f family or near rela-
/en an acquaintance
ttle raft as well as I
ind strainings of the
rrow piece of plank,
; kept hovering within
watching operations
if sight, so as to have
)wn after our doomed
ion, I saw three difle-
them with three and
them, the third with
one of the mess boys
rifted close by me, so
1 with the request for
Dut told them that we
went down. At this
1 on the quarter-deck,
illy, to all appearance,
, and that the raft of

DEaTRUCTION OF THE OCEAN STEAMER ARCTIC.

331

spars was at the same time being lashed together, and several getting on
it. I noticed also a couple of large empty wator-caaks, lashed togtiher,
with live men on them, apparently passengers, leave the siiip nnd drift-
ing toward me, while within about fifty yards they capsized witii the
force of a iieavy swell, giving their living freight an almost imnicdiato
watery grave. Three of them, I noticed, regained the top side of the
casks only to be immediately turned over again, and the casks separat-
ing, 1 saw no more of tiiem. My heart sickened at so much of imme-
diate deatli, and still 1 almost longed to have been one of them, for at
the same instant, and, as near as I can judge, at about foui and a half
o'clock, the siiip began to disappear — stern foremost she entered under
the surface, her bow rising a little as she slowly went under; and 1 dis-
tinctly heard the gurgling and rushing sound of the water filling her
cabins, from stem to stern, as she went under; taking, I should think, from
thirty seconds to a minute in disappearing, with a large number of people
still upon her deck. , .• i u

Thus went down the noble steamer Arctic, leavmg nothmg behmd but
a mixture of fragments of the wreck and struggling human beings. I
saw one large half-round fragment -burst above the surface, and several
of the struggling fellow-mortals get on it; this, and the raft of spars,
with several on it, and the boat full of people, were all that I could dis-
tinctly make out as being left in the neighborhood of where the ship
went down to windward; and the three small rafts to leeward, along with
my own, were left to pass the night now beginning to close in upon, and
hide away from my sight, I wish I could say from my memory, this
dreadful day; but such a nigh) of extreme melancholy, despair, and
utter loneliness, I hope I shall never again experience. I had, it is
true, become familiarized with death, and felt as if it would be great
relief to go immediately like the rest; and, for this end, I, with some-
what of satisfaction, thought of the vial of laudanum in my pocket, pre-
viously intended for a better use— but, oh ! how unprepared was I to see
my God, and for my family's sake how necessary I felt it was for me
still to live a while longer, else would I have emptied that vial or rolled
over the side of my plank most willingly.

The night was cold and chilly, the dense fog was saturating my
already wet clothing. I was standing to the ankles in the water, with the
the waves every now and then washing me above the knees, no hope in
my mind of being drifted to the land, and in a part of the ocean where
it is expected a thick fog continually hangs over the surface, precluding
the hope o? any chance vessel, in passing near us, being aware of our
situation— all circumstances seemed to say, it is but a question of how
long the physical frame can endure this perishing state, or how long
before a more boisterous sea turns over or separates the slightly fastened
planks. Thus reflecting, I offered up to Him who ruleth the winds and

waves to Him unto whom we all flee in our deepest distress — a sincere

petition for mercy, that, as I had now been called to account, I might,
notwithstanding my unworthiness, find an acceptance through the merits
of Him who suffered for us, and who stands ready to aid, and who says.
Knock and it shall be opened unto you — unto whom can we look, oh,
our God! but unto thee? — our whole life is, after all, as this hour, a
mere question of a few short days, and what are all the mere vanities
transpiring during an ambitious but short existence, compared to an
assurance which maketh our latter end a fearless one. Relieved
and consoled by this my last petition, I was somewhat calmly resignmg

„,, BK8T»nOT,ON OF THU OCF.AK STF.AMF.B AnCTIO.

ance could hold out, when I '*'^«"^*'"''\, „ steward's dish baskets it
with tin, floating »if »-• '^f., ("/-^To U I'gofu aboard, and with ti,c
proved to be-and, P'^d;"'"g "i%„d';„und my shoulders, I lasiied U
Lip of a small p.ece of "f / J^^" s, not only tending to make my
nrettv firmly on the top of the planK, ^"" ' • .' ^jy piaco to sit on
frire secure, but .«f 'd'"LTi„^^?u;m ng a slfeSer for my legs
,he edge of it, and, w.th 7 f^^^^jrA^^^ arranged, and while s.t-
up US high as my knees, ^fter gjU'ng J^ ^. ^^^r the top of it,
tillg watching the water every now and then f, g,j^^, ^,,j .^j ^o

and becoming ««n^'"^f^;t\Ce wdLht of the raft, I was again surprised
my discomfort, as we 1 as to th« ^.'S of the raft, which, proving to be
Jhear a distinct rattle again t the side ott ^^^ ^^ ^fe-preservers,

a small air-tight tin can, a P» "^ V.^^en of the presence of a protect-
I seized hold of it, as "J" 'jf/ ;^°,"t7of U with my pocket-knife, and
ing Providence. I cut out one ena 01 anything else, I then

ound it to answer the l-JPJf ^^« .^ i ^^renablel to keep my little
needed-a bailing-pot-and ^^y ".;";, ^ protection from "e cold,
shelter clear of water; and so acceptable, as a p ^ jj.

trip blast, did I find this »>" « -'XepTng 'not o^; my feet and legs,
cramped down into the '"^'^^l'^"' ^ warm. Tn this sort of s. ua-

butthe lower part of n^J ^^^^y.^^^ he b™'^^'"^ '^'^^^ '"'"'* ***
S^n, I wore away the t«d>ou8 nigh , and the b^ea g. ^^^^^^^

-SrS:;i:rcl.red^awayt^

was truly grateful, but, oh! how dj^o "J^J^Xle b?oad expanse of waters,

the prospect he thus unfolded "jer tne ^^^^^ ^^^^ ^^

not a sail could be ff'^^^^if/SLT erect, and showing themselves
about half a mile distant, stdlstancimg _^^ ^^^^^

at intervals, as every heavy sweU raised tr ^^^ ^^^ ^ ^^^

yet felt either hunger or thirst for wmcn ^^^^ ^ ^^^^ determmed

but a handful of dry broken <^'ackers m my ' ^^^^ ^^^ craving of
to save to the last, and of ^«""f^";„^S about an hour before nightfall,
either. The day >^ore on st 11 ^^^J "^j^J.^^e of whom I had worked
when the two firemen (^/^'n hailmg di^a ^^^^^^.^^ ^"^^"V''/

my way again) discovered a ship under ^ ,^^^^ handkerchief,

but it was with faint hopes of s«cc«f J" „g\„„ ^s a paddle, the firemen
^"ed to the end of the strip wood I was J.ng ^^J ,,,, The

doing the same with a shorter V ece o w ^^^^ ^^^^^^ ^^^ ^ ,

ship, at one ^'^'.^J^X had discovered something, but the night closed

taSa^d^JuKat^^^^^^^^^^

'" iTa^'ed through this "ig^t m a doz.rjg, dea^^, sh-^^^ g-^^

sort of state, with all sorts of ^J""" ^^^^^^^^^ moments, both

disordered mind, and all sorts of pictureyn^^^^ ^^^^^^ ^^ ^ j^

of a pleasing and of a >^«^«^»'"g,^5 [hen during the night, I fancied
dark Surface of the water- Now and then dur.^^^^ as'l was at the
.nyself hailed by various surrounding pa , ^.^^^^^^ but the two

same time, that none « hers were withm ^^ ^^^ ^^^^ '^^J'.^f,

firemen. My disordered f''"^/' JJ^^'^.^P „„der the firm belief that
t^:in:Sr^:^:<^^ .ear^h for us, and .ost lu.td,

.,...{-~y'"

I ARCTIO.

d power of cndur

jquarc basket, lined

•d's dish basltots it

joard, and, with the

loulders, I lashed it

tendinj; to make my

dry piaco to sit on

shelter for my legs

igcd, and while sit-

^ over the top of it,

tly filled and add to

' was again surprised

which, proving to be

sd as life-preservers,

resencc of a protect-

ny pocket-knife, and

anything else, I then

led to keep my little

)tection froni t'c cold,

I soon found myself

mly my feet and legs,

In this sort of situa-

:ing dawn revealed to

rolling waves, and my

e that the night closed

indthe heat of his raya
y cheerfulness, seemed
road expanse of waters,
ires of the two firemen,
ad showing themselves
n its crest. I had not
ruly thankful, for I had
which I felt determined
ireaded the craving of
in hour before nightfall,
of whom I had worked
il, broadside toward ua;
aiated my handkerchief,
as a paddle, the firemen
1 their possession. The
ler course for a moment,
ling, but the night closed

y, shivering, half sensible
ly drowsy and somewhat
f wakeful moments, both
Dating before me on the
ring the night, I fancied
jiivinced, as I was, at the
ing distance but the two
me for more than half
under the firm belief that
1 for us, and most lustilj

DESTRUCTION OP THE OCEAN STEAMER AH OTIC.

33?>

did I answer every fancied or real signal. The morning dawned again,
and with it a horrid scene of despair at the gloomy pros|>(.>ct of the same
dense, foggy atmosphere, now and then full/ developing tu view the
same two erect figures dancing about on the rolling surf; and, in my
selfish liberality, I bargained with myself that I would endure still
during this day, seeing that my two companions, who were obliged to be
on their feet, supporting each other in a very precarious looking back-to-
back attitud-e, were able to still exist. I felt a little hungry this morn-
ing, and ate half a biscuit. While warming myself by about two houre'
paddling up toward them, during which the fog partially cleared away,
and while close to them, we all became excited at the sight of a sail far
to the south, as I thought, but broadside toward us. Like the one on
the previous day, 1 had little hope of her coming much nearer; but,
being determined to leave no etTort unttied which might possibly attract
their notice, I stript myself, and takin;;* off my shirt, tied it by the sleeves
to the end of my paddle, and, with my handkerchief on a small strip of
wood tied on above it, I thought I had a tolerably conspicuous signal,
and waved it to and fro for more than an hour, until the ship was nearly
out of sight — and just as I had lowered it, in utter hopelessness, we all
descried, at the same instant, in the opposite direction, cnotlier sail —
and on to us — just entering, as it were, into our grand amphitheater,
through a cloud of mist that seemed to rise and clear away above the
vessel, forming a grand triumphal archway around, our Eureka, like a
tower of promise, in the center. Feeling sure, at first sight, that this
one was standing toward us, I did not long remain undeceived, for she
began to increase in size as time wore slowly on; and, although she was
falling to leeward considerably, as she advanced, still I felt sure, if she
kept on the same tack, she would undoubtedly see our signals before
passing beyond. My large signal, too, continued to drift me nearer to
her track, and took me almost out of sight of my two companions.

When within about two or three miles of us, and about an hour and a
half a(\?r she first hove in sight, we were relieved by her backing her
sails, altering her course, and lying-to for awhile; then, hoisting a signal
on her spanker-gaif, she put about and bore away, on and on, far in the
distance, on the opposite tack, until my heart began to fail again, doubt-
ing whether she was beating to windward for us, or had gone on her way,
rejoicing in the discovery and rescue of only a portion of the unfortunate
wretches within range of her. But, again, how light and buoyant was
the joy, as she at last put about, and stood directly for us; and on and
on she advanced, like a saving angel, until we could see her noble look-
ing hull distinctly rise and fall; within little over a mile distant from us,
when she backed her sails again, and waited for some time in the prose-
cution of her mission of mercy, no doubt, relieving some of our scatter-
ing companions from a like precarious state. Soon, she filled away
again; and, at last, lying-to close by the two firemen, I saw her boat
lowered with five men in it, who, picking up the two firemen in their
course, came dashing along direct for my raft, and soon Iwuncing along
side, I allowed myself to tumble aboard of them, unable, physically, to
adopt anything of a grateful action, and, morally, overpowered with
gratitude to God and to those his instruments.

I remained speechless until I got on board the ship. Before getting
on board, however, the boat went away off some distance to windward,
and picked up the three other firemen, whom I had seen leave the
Arctic, but who had been ever since out of view. We all got huddled

1 1

334 DESTRUCTION OF THE OCEAN STEAMER ARCTIC.

upon the deck, somehow, although rather awkwardly, and making my
way down to her neat little cabin, as well as my stiff feet and legs
would allow, I had the pleasure of paying my respects to Captain John
Russell, and found myself on board the ship Cambria, of Greenock,
bound from Glasgow to Quebec. Captain Russell, the Reverend Mr.
Walker, of the Free Church of Scotland, and his vary kird and atten-
tive lady, Mr. Sutherland, of Caithnesshire in S;;otland, Mr. John Mc-
Naught, and several of the passengers of the steerage, paid us every
attention that I could have desired; Captain Russell giving me up the
berth which he had been using himself, and putting everything on board
in requisition that might tend in the least to relieve and make us com-
fortable. I was surprised to learn that the old Frenchman, whom we
had picked up from the Vesta, was our good genius on this occasion;
being directly in the track of the approaching Cambria, he was picked
up by the second mate of the Cambria, Mr. Ross, jumping overboard,
with a line, and, seizing hold of the old man, they were both pulled on
board; and the rescued Frenchman, in the best English he could muster,
made Captain Russell aware that others were near, who then went to the
mast-head, and, with his glass, made out the other four pieces of wreck,
which we were all on, and, making his long tack to windward, came
back in the midst of us, picking up first, from that half-round piece
of wreck that I saw burst above the surface at the time of the ship
going under, Captain Luce, Mr. George Allen, of the Novelty Works,
and a young German, a passenger on the Arctic, by the name of
Ferdinand Keyn.

They, along with eight others of those who went down with the ship,
had gained this piece of wreck, which turned out to be a segment of dne
of the paddle-boxes — and, singular as it seems. Captain Luce, who had
stuck by his sinking ship to the last minute, was thus saved at last on
the very boards, which, as commander, were his post of duty. The
same thing, however, had caused the death of an interesting son, by
striking or falling on him as it burst above water. The eight others, who
had gained it with them, had, from time to time, perished on it; and Mr.
Keyn was on the point of making the ninth, when the Cambria hove in
sight. Mr. Allen, too, although saved himself, lost his wife and several
other relatives, who were on board with him, and whom he saw placed
on the raft of spars before the ship went under. I found those three my
companions in the cabin of the Cambria, and being attended to like
myself. The old Frenchman and the five firemen were comfortably
quartered away in the forecastle, all suffering much ; and the old man
having lost his ' compagnon de voyage,' the mess boy, who held out as
long as he could, but finally rolled overboard. In the course of a few
days, we all began tc get around and feel pretty well, with the exception
of the severe pains in our feet, which continued with very little intermis-
sion ; and, at the same time, it was most congenial to our feelings, that,
through the leadership of Mr. Walker, we had the daily opportunity of
rendering praises and thanksgiving to a gracious God for his mercy and
goodness toward us. Captain Russell feels the circumstance of his
instrumentality in the matter with great gratification, on account of
Captain Nye, of the Collins' steamer Pacific, having, some years ago,
run great risk in saving him and his crew from off the sinking Jessie
Stevens, in a severe gale on the Atlantic."

Of the five boats that left the Arctic, only two were ever heard
from, the one commanded by Mr. Francis Dorian, the third mate, the

' n '^' l r!' -"' ' * ' -'^!' '^

«H rt »^?»' B * ■■» *< *■

I AROTIO.

ly, and makinji; my
stiff feet and legs
cts to Captain John
nbria, of Greenock,
the Reverend Mr.
3ry kind and atlen-
and, Mr. John Mc-
age, paid us every
giving me up the
everything on board
and make us com-
enchman, whom we
s on this occasion;
l»ria, ho was picked
jumping overboard,
ircre both pulled on
ish he could muster,
fho then wont to the
ur pieces of wreck,
to windward, came
at half-round piece
e time of the ship
the Novelty Works,
, by the name of

own with the ship,
ve a segment of dne
•tain Luce, who had
IS saved at last on
post of duty. The
interesting son, by
le eight others, who
shed on it; and Mr.
e Cambria hove in
lis wife and several
lom he saw placed
und those three my
ig attended to like
I were comfortably
; and the old man
ty, who held out as
e course of a few
with the exception
very little intermis-

> our feelings, that,
laily opportunity of

for his mercy and
rcumstance of his
in, on account of
^. some years ago,
the sinking Jessie

► were ever heard
the third mate, the

DESTRUCTION OF THE OCEAN STEAMER ARCTIC.

33.5

other by Mr. William Baalham, the second mate. The remainder,
doubtless, sunk in the storm of the succeeding Saturday. The persons
in these boats, with eight or ten more on the raAs or fragments of tiie
wreck, comprised all of the survivors of the catastrophe. Not a single
female on board was saved — all perished!

Mr. Dorian's conduct, during these trying scenes, was noble. He was
the only one of all tho principal officers that remained faithful to the
orders of his superior to the last. The recital of Peter McCabe, a
waiter in the cabin, the solitary survivor of the large rafl, which Mr.
Dorian worked to construct with much zeal, unfolds to us other ter-
rible incidents of this calamity. In common with the rest of the crew
and passengers, McCabc seemed at first to have had no idea tiiat the
ship had encountered serious damage by tho cuilisio.), but when he came
on deck, he was soon undeceived. Ho was busy ^t work on the riifl,
when there came a dull rushing sound, and a lon<i wail, and the Arctic
went down. He was himself ingulfed in the vortex r/.' the sinking ship, and
gave himself up for lost. The waters had closed ovor him, but presently
he perceived, as it were, a dim light over his head, and he rose to the
surface. He caught hold of a door, then of a barrel, then he swam to
the raft, to which the seventy poor creatures were clinging. The sea
was rough — not strong; but, in the confusion, the rafl had been so im-
perfectly constructed, that the waves dashed over it, and the miserable
passengers were swept from their hold. What follows, we will not
attempt to paraphrase. Has human eye ever witnessed a scene of more
awful and protracted agony?

" Those who had life-preservers did not sink, but floated with their
ghastly faces upward, reminding those who still remained alive of the
fate that awaited them. In the midst of all this, thank heaven, I never
lost hope, but retained my courage to the last. One by one, I saw my
unfortunate companions drop off; some of them floated off, and were
eaten and gnawed by fishes, while others were v ashed under the rafl,
and remained with me till I was rescued. I could see their faces in the
openings, as they were swayed to and fro by the waves, which threatened
every moment to wash me off. The rafl, at one time, was so crowded
that many had to hold on by one hand. Very few words were spoken
by any, and the only sound that we heard was the splash of the waters,
or the heavy breathing of the poor sufferers, as they tried to recover
their breath afler a wave had passed over them. Nearly all were sub-
merged to their arm-pits, while a few could with great difficulty keep
their heads above the surface. The women were the first to go; they
were unable to stand the exposure more than three or four hours. They
all fell off the rafl without a word, except one poor girl, who cried
out in intense agony, *Oh, my poor mother and sisters!' When I had
been a few hours on the rafl, there were not more than three or four
left."

One of these three or four gave to Peter McCabe a paper, which he
describes as like a " small map," and which, as he thought, was some
kind of title-deed. A few minutes afler he had given it, as though all
energy had been exhausted in the preservation of that precious docu-
ment, which he had at length been compelled to consign to the custody
of another, his gtasp gave way, and the owner of the title-deed was
washed away. It is strange enough that McCabe, despite of uU )iis
efforts, could not succeed in preserving that precious paper; he mude
ineffectual efforts to get it into his pocket; he swam with it some time

336

DESTRUCTION OF THE OCEAN STEAMER ARCTIC.

l)otweon his teeth, but all was in vain; the t\v.v.A, whicii had boon so
dearly prized, was carried away from iiis month, and added for a moment
to the relics of the wreck — then seen no more. A little incident of this
kind feems to bring the scene before or. -. eyes with a more vivid reality
even than the recital of the greater and more sweeping destruction.
Before eight and a half o'clock that evening, every soul on the rail with
McCnbe were either dead or washed otf; and " I," says ho, " wan left
alone! But a few minutes before the last niiin went, I asked him the
time. He told mo, and died in Jive minutcn afterward ! ^^

Nothing could have been more exemplary on this occasion, than the
resignation of tlic women, or the ready obedience displayed by the pas-
sengers. If all hod acted as they did upon that fatal day, we should
now be commenting upon a far less distressing tale; but the flight of the
seamen and officers in the boats, full two hours before the vessel sunk,
was the cause of all the multiplied horrors of the disaster.'" Individuals,
however, displayed undaunted courage. The good conduct of one young
man, who fired the cannon, an engineer learning under instructions,
named Stewart Holland, was more conspicuous than that of any other
person on board. "A more brave, courageous and self-sacrificing
being," says Captain Luce, "I nevfT saw." He tried to save all, with-
out seeming to think anything al)out bis own safety, never attempting to
get into a boat. His end was heroic. Unmoved by the base desertion of
others, he continued firing the signal gun, that, like a death-knell, boomed
over the waters; and when the wreck sunk to its gloomy grave, he, too,
became numbered with the dead. Was death ever more noble?

Holland was from Washington City. His father, on first learning of
the event, still clung to the hope that his son had escaped the perils of
the wreck, by some such miracle as saved Captain Luce. He exclaimed:
•'My son is not lost; I will not give him up; but," he continued," better
a thousand times that he should perish in the manly discharge of hia
duty, than have saved a craven life by such cowardice and selfishness as
marked the conduct of many of the crew." Such sentiments show a
father worthy of such a son. Soon afler his arrival in New York, Mr.
Dorian addressed the following letter to Mr. Isaac Holland:

" I am a stranger and can oiler no apology for addressing you, further
than my desire of adding my humble testimony to the merits of your
noble boy. He was in the habit of daily coming to my room, telling me
funny stories, etc., and, in this way, I had the pleasure of forming an
intimate acquaintanceship with him. Believing that anything connected
with him in the last scene might possess a dear, though painful, interest
to you, I send you all I know. I regret it is so exceedingly scanty.

About two hours afler the Arctic was struck, the firing of the gun

* A larger part of t)ie seamen were foreigners, the ofTscourines of the marine servic«
of many countries. Had they been of that class of brave, hardy, right-principled
men that, years a^o composed the crews of our merchant vessels, their conduct mi^ht
have V^oii mnre like that exhibited on board the British steamer Birkenhead, which
was lost on the coast of Africa a few years since. That vessel struck on a hidden
rock, stove a plank at the bow, and went down in half an hour's time. A regiment
of troops was on board. As soon as the alarm was given, and it was apparent that
the ship's doom was sealed, the roll of the drum called the soldiers to arms on the
upper deck. That call was promptly obeyed, though every gallant heart knew
that it was his death summons. The women and children were placed in the boats,
and lu-nrly all saved. There were no boats for the troops, but there was no panic,
no bliinchi^d, quivering lips among them. Down went ttic ship, and down went the
hi^roic band, uhoulder to shoulder, firing • feu d* joie as they sunk beneath the
waves.

C-.U

■■"<.i,. ,--•

DESTRUCTION OF THE OCEAN STEAMER ARCTIC.

RCTIO.

ch had bcon so
il(!(l for a moment
1! iiuidont of this
more vivid rtiality
.ping (U-fttiuction.
i\ on tl.o rart with
ays ho, " wa» left
, 1 asked him the

jccBsion, than the
,,laycd by the paa-
al day, we sliould
ut the flight of the
e the vessel sunk,
Iter.* Individuals,
nductofonc young
under instructions,
1 that of any other
and self-sacrificing
h1 to save all, with-
nevcr attempting to
»e base desertion of
deatli-knell, boomed
oomy grave, he, too,
more noble?
on first learning ot
caped the perils of
,ce. He exclaimed:
,e continued," better
inly discharge of hiB
ice and selfishness as
h sentiments show a
al in New York, Mr.
Holland:

Idressing you, further
o the merits of your
o my room, telling me
eafeure of forming an
at anything connected
lough painful, interest
iceedingly scanty,
the firing of the gun

rings of the marine serviM
,e.Wdv.right-pr."cipled
easels, their conduct mi^ht
rteamer Birkenhead, «h.ch
vessel struck on a hidden
rhour-stime. A regjoieut
1. and it was apparent, that
the soldiers to arms on the

every gallant heart knew
„f vere placed in the boaU.
pa, but there was no panic.
L ship, and down went the

aa they sunk beneath the

337

ittracted my attnition; and I recollect lliat, when I saw Mr. Holland, it
tttruck mo us rcmurkaljly strange that he uioiu', of all lieiongin^; to tiie
iiigiiiei ring dt pttrtinent, should be there. Ho must have liud a good
clianie la go in the chief engineer's boat and be saved, hut he did not,
it .siMins, make tluf slightest exertion to save himself. His wiiole con-
duct ciin l)(! accounted for by the simple word duty, and nothing else.

1 recolloci that, about an hour before the ship HUidi, I wa.s hurriedly
searching lor s|)ikos, to help to form a raft. I had just passed through the
saloon; on the sofas were men who had fainted — and there were many
of tliem, loo — the ladies were in little groups, clasped together; and they
seemed to mo to be strangely «juiet and resigned. As I emerged from
the saloon, tho scene that presented itself was one I hope never to sec
again. Tlie passengers had broken up tho bar; the licpiors were flow-
ing down the scuppers. Hero and there were strong, stout-looking men
on their knees, in tho attitude of prayer; others, when asked to do
anything, were immovable, perfectly stupefied.

la the midst of this scene, Stewart came running up to me; his
words were: 'Dorian, my powder is out; I want more; give me the
key.' 'Never mind the key,' I replied; 'take an ax and break open
tiio door.' He snatched one close behind me. and down into the ship's
hold ho dived, and I went over tho ship's side to my raft. Half an hour
later, when busy at the raft, a voice hailed me, and, on looking up, 1
again saw Stewart, when ho hurriedly asked: 'Dorian, have you a com-
pass in your boat?' 'No,' I replied; and oft' he went. He knew that
any chance I had would be shared with him; and I have often thought
how strange it was that that young man should, for a moment, quit his
gun to inquire after my safety, and never, for a moment, think of his
own. But such was Stewart Holland. I recollect distinctly his appear-
ance as ho hailed me from tho deck. The right side of his face was black
with powder, and two large spots on the left side. When he spoke, his
countenance seemed lighted up with something like a quiet smile."

The clergy of our large cities preached discourses upon tho loss of
the Arctic. We conclude this article by a pathetic extract from a sermon
by tlie Rev. Henry Ward Beecher, delivered in his church of tho Pil-
grims, at Brooklyn, the power of which will strike every heart. The
text was the forty-sixth Psalm, first three verses: "God is our refuge
and strength, a very present help in time of trouble: therefore will not
we fear, though the earth be removed and the mountains be carried into
the midst of the sea; though the waters thereof roar and be troubled,
though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof."

" It was autumn. Hundreds had wended their way from pilgrimages;
t'rom Rome and its treasures of dead art, and its glory of living nature,
from the sides of Switzer's mountains, from the capitals of various
nations; all of them saying in their hearts, we will wait for the Septem-
ber gales to have done with their equinoctial fury, and then we will
embark; we will slide across the appeased ocean, and in the gorgeous
month of October we will greet our longed-for native land, and our
heart-loved homes. And, so, the throng streamed along from Berlin,
from Paris, from the Orient, converging upon London, still hastening
lOward the welcome ship, and narrowing every day the circle of engage-
ments and preparations. They crowded aboard. Never had the Arctic
twrne such a host of passengers, nor passengers so nearly related to so
many among us. The hour was come. The signal ball fell at Green-
wich. It was noon also at Liverpool. The anchors were weighed ; the
22

. _^*Eiii*-

„nT,nN OP THK OCEAN BTEAMF.U AUOTIO,
«„o DESTUROTION OF TUis. . , . ^ Htrea.nn.l ul.roud,

Mersey, a.ul turns I ^^ ^,,^

homeward run. , ^„d men saw h.m. '''^' , j,/ „n „,e

'^''" ''11tv"e£lS him/ Whoever stoo.l^^^- ,.

prow, an«! no eye di" ^ stecrcil the ^f*"'- ..rmiul And so,

hope was c»"'fJ* ' , „,, j,,o incouvenicnccs ot tlio v yj ^^^j

eJ,y Kuest Amu aU the „,„„,ur-/iome » "o«/' J cvc.n"«' ""«
Btill that «!"f.^"7;iiU one ni«ht nearer homo, and a ^.^^^^^^

every morn.nK, It was 9 ^^^^ ^^,^j. Vw« of Newf.>und\«nd.

J"yj"'7mUtTa fiievcr hlunts ^^o vast « -1^^^^^^^
ttvlh Udtatit,andplunBn.g.n,^^UM^^ l,„, rt,,i,.d trom

B«'<i>y %JJ\^,M never en.er«e. ^e last su «^^^^ ,^^ j,, ,„,„„,
about. 1 "fy »' vovaae is done to snip »"" ^ i„strum<'nt of

that deck. 1 he »'\«; ,7y7,^ii,,,, Horn the nortl> tha »"*^'' ' ^,,- ,„i,i,

there cau.e --^ ^ 'm "orious «hroud t hat vas t.nc^^^-^^^

wheels, but >nv-;^-^„,,^, , wi.hi.n^ail and beann« r ht^^^o^^^^

in the «orf» ol ™V, TUcy dcpiitlcd, »nil w lU > "" ' ' ' „„ ,|,e

K'rt :""•-»'" 'if'"'' oWi" no» ' "' ""«"' "rl Th^

' Gourl.e, been «» ^l^.^^^^i ^ho commander's w'"-^;? 'ecVcancy of the

built .« .n.ple ''l^' 7|J'„m he •'"'''"S '!;''',""'i''i c "ft ha pa.« »»J
*""''"";« 2.v" £ hSeJ by .»"■« of «« "'^ "i'^id ^vaa lost
H„„,. «»»W ^,X „,. It «M not "'» X de"pe..le .elS.lmcs. of
repass *«' '" '"f b/„„e topulso, "^ *''Tt.7'bandoncd thoit pos"

They deserted their duty. i

'"*

U AUOTIO,

rclioc.^ in upti" ("very
y fully forlli fri'i'i iho
niusl, imd bcyuis her

Death bbI »|)on the

tlio wheel in nil the

ft, nncJ none knew it.

hJH errnml. Ami so,

self, nnd joy was with

Ik; voyage, there was

not far away. And

p., and at eveninj;, one

,cy belichi ilmt distant

0W8 of Newfoundhind.

wreaths wrapped them

\\^^\^V has flanhrd from

i)af.8i;nRer8. At noon,

.ul fateil instrument of

ant atmosphere of nii«l,

sliiuff prow and roaring

•e, u"nron8ciouH, and at

nring ri(,'lit toward each

, emerging from the gray

oke to the Arctie. llie

lull Slie ucither reeled

rs deemed that they had

his nama be ever spoken
, boat with the first oiliccr
Aadourlie went over the
d to the brave commander,
ent thc'^c abide in the ship
,ith them the iiope of the
,ld and rising up vipon the
aw that stern, bravo mate,
re wont to mmd— had he

will we may believe that

lice and recreancy of tlie
>parently, each subordinate
0, and so honor,
iremen, engineers, waiters,
oned the helpless women,
„i Four hours there were
catastrophe of sinking. In
,, well directed, might have
cssity, filled the boats with
with a flotilla, that ere many
,e many craft that pass and
,6 All command was lost,
the desperate selfishness of
They ahandoned their posts
sd their commander. Tliev

DESTRUCTION OF THK OCEAN BTKAMKR ARCTIC.

339

yielded up to death moro than two hundred helpienH hoiiIs committed to
their trust. And yet, even for tliose, let there be some thought of
charity. Li^t u.4 not forgot the wcaknosi of tho Hesii ; tiio al)s(Mico of the
first mate, wlinm they woro wont to obey; llio terriblt! force of panic,
even upon bravo men; tho sense of the hopelcsMness of eHbrt to 'iive
so many, and tho instinctive desiro of iiclf-prosorvation. All this is but a
little.

But so much extenuation as there may bo, let them have its benefit
who certainly need every cover of charity, to save them from tho indig-
nation of a grieved and outraged community. Let it be roiiiembered,
also, that individuals among them acted most nobly, and, because tho
multitude wero base, lot not tho exceptional cases be forgotten. Let
that single otVicor, who did cling to the last manfully to his duty — tho
thirti mate, Dorian — bo remembered; and that man who was set to fire the
signal gun of distress, young Holland, who stood by his post until the
ship sunk, and was in tho very act of firing as tho last plunge was
ma<le ; and that engineer, who had a boy under his care, but refused to
leave in the first boat, where a place was offered him, be(-nuse he could
not find his ward, and would not go without him. Let us charitably hope
that many irioro such individual acts occurred, unnoticed and unreported,
to redeem the crew and engineers from such disgrace us weigiis heavily
upon them. Many a poor follow lies beneath the waves, unable to
defend himself, who may have lost his life because he \ra» faithful to the
last; and his heroism may bo without a witness, his name witiiout a
defender.

llow nobly, in the midst of weakness and terror, stood that worthy
man. Luce, iu this terrible scene — calm, self-sacrificing, and firm to tho
end. Of all the witnesses, but one has disparaged his exertions. He
says, that this noble commander 'seemed like a man whose Judgment
was paralyzed.'' Yet this man says, that when he was rushing despe-
rately for the boat. Captain Luce withstood him, and tore the very
raiment from his back, exclaiming: ^Let the passengers go in the boat;''
and with disgraceful naivettc he says: ^ No more attention was paid to
the captain than to any other man on hoard. Life was as sweet to us as
to others.'' — (Patrick Tobiu.) Without doubt such a man would think his
judgment was paralyzed who would not run; whoso life was not so
sweet as his duty; who could die, but could not abandon a trust as sacred
as was ever committed to human hands. Nor do I remember, in all my
reading, any Roman heroism that can compare with one incident recorded
by one witness. When Captain Luce was urged to enter one of the
boats, he declined utterly. He was urged to lot his son go in — that son
whom, afterward, sinking, he carried in his arms — that son that, rising
from the wave, was slain irt his bosom by the stroke of a piece of the
wreck. But should a man give precedence to anything that belonged to
him, over the hundred helpless creatures that clung to him? His thrico
heroic reply was: 'My son shall share his father's fate!'

Now, all over tho deck, was there displayed every frantic form of
fear, of anguish, of bitter imploration, of transfixed despair. Some,
with insane industry, strove at the pumps; others rushed headlong over
the sides of the ship; the raft was overburdened ; the sea was covered
with men struggling for a little time against their fate. But let us
remember that there were other scenes than these. There were scores
there who had long known that, by death, heaven was to be entered.
There were those who had rested the burden of their sin upon Him

340 DESTRUCTION OP THE OCEAN STEAMER ARCTIC,

. *v,o ain of the world. Not in vain had they
who came to take away *^«. ^.j/^- J^e ready whenever the Son
prayed every day, for y«"«^;^*>^j;,»;^yitVthere^ when the nrst

of Man should come. 1 here were mo if it were to dream m

«hock was over, sett ed ^^^^^/^^^^.^''..t looked upL that tremendous
peaceful sleep. Maidens ^ere there, who^.oo v

tour as the bride for her br.degrootn Oh >";'> ^j. ^,,^ ^^^,,,,

that mournful sea, wh.ch m.s^s •^^^^^^j^^^^'^iJ^; ,here that could say,
might not be seen <>f ^^^ ^^^'^.^a r"i« present help in trouble!^
<God is our refuge «"f »""f "f '*' ^JraLs- they determined to die,
There, friends exchanged thei last e^^^^^^' 'Jf J,^ j ether their
holding in their arms those bes^belovedan^^^^^^^ ^^

lives to the hands of ^"i^^^: ^"Se wUh true grandeur! Oh, noble
triumph over all fear, and crown the J.te w.th g^ ^^^^^ ^^^^^

trust! tlut,inthe shock of such a sudden ae , ^ ^^

waves, and behold the R«dee"^er, and re. m n™ ^^^^ ^j^^ ^^^^^^

ail fear! 1" such an hour, every one wat^ey^ ^^^ Then it was

the timid became heroic, ""J ^^« ^^^^^'^^^^^ ,etense, that could give
neither weaUh, nor hcmors, nor sta on nor p^^^ ^^^^ ,^^ ^^^

help, f ^"g^^^'/^^.SeJed S that could behold the Invis.ble-a
of worth, except a cl«ar-eyed p>« y Creator, and a hope

faith that could rest the very oulnt^ ^^ .^^ ,„„

that could behold so much innba , staterooms, many a prayer
uponthe earth I will not doubt tha,m^^^^^^ ^ .^ ^^^^ ^,^^^.^^^

was uttered, which /"«"d.ng angels wa ^^^^ ^^^^^^^ ^^ ^^^

there were men and worn n wl- wa.te^^^ J^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^^
waits for the morning, ^t 'en^tn me ^^ .^^ ^^^^^^^ ^^ ,,

the last groan of the ship itself. ^^^^ f^^m his

Oh, what a burial was here! Not as wh^^^^^^^ ^^ ^^^ ^^^^

home, ainong ^fP^'g^^S the turf and the flowers. No priest stood
and laid peacefully beneath the luri a ^^^^ ^^.^^^ ^^^^^

to pronounce a burial service. It wj\« J'" °3| ^he grave, nor sexton
shrouded the hurial-pb^ce. No spade prepare^ ^^^

filled up the hollowed earth ^^'j^^^^^^j left the sea as if it had
returning waters, smoothed out every rippi*-,

not been."

.,%r--'

^v^.)j-;»^-- ^.riirp^^iP

-1

ARCTIC.

in vain had they
whenever the Son
lat, when the first
vere to droani in
in that tremendous
dread crisis, upon
gedy oi' the waters
re that could say,

help in trouble!''
determined to die,
1 up together their

in such an hour
mdeur! Oh, noble
mount up above the
the taking away of
allible tests. Then,
med. Then it was
se, that could give
eless. Nothing was
old the Invisible— a
Creator, and a hope
ngly let go its hold
■ooms, many a prayer
aven; in that cabin,
ir the event, as one
id. That great ship,
its wounds, gave her
ipany were whelmed;
aring from the black,
[1 were mingled with

le 13 borne from his
i to the green fields
era. No priest stood
ave. The mists alone
the grave, nor sexton
sunk, and the quick
efl the sea as if it had

THE

LOST RUSSIAN SAILORS,

WHO wax ABANDONED ON THE DESERT ISLAND OK EAST SPITZBERaEN: TO WHICH IB
ADDSD THE NARUATIVB Oir THE MISFOBTDNES Of THE CEBW OF THE

RUSSIAN SHIP ST. PETER.

In the year 1743, Jeremiah Okladmkoff, a merchant of Mesen, in the
province of Jugovia, and the government of Archangel, fitted out a vessel
carrying fourteen men. She was destined for Spitzbergen, to be employed
in the whale and seal-fishery. For eight successive days after they had
sailed, the wind was fair; but on the ninth it changed, so that instead of
getting to the west of Spitzbergen, the usual place of rendezvous for the
Dutch ships, and those of other nations annually employed in the whale-
fisheries they were driven eastward of those islands; and, after some days,
they found tiiemselves at a small distance from one of them, called East
Spitzbergen.

Having approached this island within about three wersts, or two English
miles, their vessel was suddenly surrounded by ice, and they found them-
selves in an extremely dangerous situation. In this alarming state a
consultation was held, when the mate, Alexis Himkof, declared, he
recollected lie had heard that some of the people of Mesen, having some
time before, formed a resolution of wintering on this island, had accord-
ingly carried from that town timber proper for building a hut, and had
actually erected one at some distance from the shore.

This information induced the whole company to resolve on wintering
there; if, as they hoped, the hut still existed: for they clearly perceived the
imminent danger in which they were, and that they must inevitably perish
if they continued in the ship. They, therefore, dispatched four of the
crew in search of the hut, or any other succor they could meet with.
These were Alexis Himkof, the mate; Iwan Himkof, his godson; Stephen
Scharapof, and Feeder Weregin. As the shore on which they were to
land was uninhabited, it was necessary that they should make some pro-
vision for their expedition. They had almost two miles to travel oyer
loose bridges of ice, which being raised by the waves, and driven against
each oth' by the wind, rendered the way equally difficult and dangerous.
Prudence, therefore, forbade their loading theni-elves too much, lest being
overburdened, they might sink between the pieces of ice and perish.

Having thus maturely considered the nature of their undertaking, they
provided themselves with a musket, a powder-horn, containing twelve
charges of powder, with as many balls ; an ax, a small kettle, a bag with
about twenty pounds of flour, a knife, a tinder-box and tinder, a bladder
filled with tobacco, and every man his wooden pipe. Thus equipped
these four sailors arrived on the island, little suspecting the misfortune
that was about to befal them. The first thing they did was to explore
the counirv, and soon discovered the hut they were in search of, about
. (341)

842

THE LOST RUSSIAN SAILORS.

ill

rwetcte; bid w3 tS'two doors, one to ^^I^^^J^^;
he other to communicate with the inner ^^-^ ^/^ Z £1 room w s
.« irni^n ihp larjrer room warm when once heated, in tne large n^uin •»

very cold weather, to sleep upon. . , , Uo^gyer.

This discovery gave our adventurers great joy. The hut had, "owever,

had landed, they saw nothing but an open sea, free from ice, wn.cn mu
ntht had been the cause of this disastrous event. But they could not

°\to'tnl«'e«M deprived the wretched mariner, of .11 hop. of
r J j„=„o;. Their firqt attention was emnloyed, as may easny l^

"''U hasalready been observed that the hut discovered by the sailors had
sus taLed some dar^aga. There were cracks in many places between the
ErXo' r buUdinl, which allowed ^e^ admission to the air. This

which wooden houses must always be liable. ^^^P"'." °' *f'',, JJ" g^Q

'Xtre;roVt^-r;ti£rieTo:.TS^
'Th'^'iSrSd ':hi:r:°.Ctiro;, d™.... h.bit.bie u. „ few

.peee, oT.n1n,.l., render, them »■!"•' ^ t iff.S T ."n", of ,°h
sailors. Without fire it was impossible to resist the severity oi u.

-jKT.-.;-S(iSrin'

in length, eighteen
intechamber, about
ut the exterior air,
contributed greatly
the large r<jom was
that is, a kind of
either for baking,
lussian peasants in

_ hut had, however,
built a considerable
morning hastened

ir success, and also
on, ana >ther neces-

tho island. Their
le place where they
from ice, which but
easily ue conceived
uring the preceding
But they could not
le vessel, had been
), and shattered her
ea by the current, a
Whatever accident
lO tidings were ever
he sunk, and that all

riners of all hope of
ed to the hut full of
lyed, as may easily be
ice and repairing their
d brought with them,
1 animals the island

red by the sailors had
\y places between the
ion to the air. This
they had an ax, and
to make the boards
great abundance all
ill up the crevices, to
airs of this kind cost
ssians, for all Russian
bouses, and being, in

habitable to so few
>r the production of

found on any of the
ilarming nature to our
leverity of the climate;
I or supported? Pro-
icular the sea supplies
beach they collected
5 waves. It consisted

THE LOST RUSSIAN SAILORS.

at first of the wrecks of ships, and ailerward of whole trees with their
roots, the produce of some more hospitable, but to them unknown, country.
During tlie first year of their exile, nothing proved of more essential
service to these unfortunate men, than some boards tiiey found on the
beach, having u long iron hook, some nails about five or six inches in
length and proportionably thick, together with other pieces of old iron
fixed in them, the melancholy relics of some vessels cast away in those
remote parts. These were thrown on shore by the waves, at a time when
the want of powder gave our men reason to apprehend that they must
fall a prey to hunger, as they had nearly consumed the reindeer they
had killed. This circumstance was succeeded by aiiother equally fortunate;
they found on the shore the root of a fir-tree, which nearly approached
to the figure of a bow.

As necessity has ever been the mother of invention, so, with the help
of a knife, they soon converted this root into a good bow; but they still
wanted a string and arrows. Not knowing how to procure these at present,
thjy resolved upon making a couple of lances to defend themselves
against the white bears, tiie attacks of which animals, by far the most
ferocious of tiieir kind, they had great reason to dread. Finding they
could neitlie' make the heads of their lances, nor of their arrows, without
the help of a hammer, they contrived !o form the largo iron hook men-
tioned above into ono, by heating it, and widening a whole it happened
to iiave about its middle, with the assistance of one of the largest nails.
This received the handlo,and a round knob at one end of the hook served
for the face of the hammer. A large stone supplied the place of the
anvil, and tongs were formed of a couple of reindeer's horns. With
these tools they mado two spear-heads, and ai\er polishing and sharpening
them oa stones, they tied them as fast as possible with thongs of reindeer
akin, to sticks about the thickness of a man's arm, which they got from
some branches of trees that had been cast on shore. Thus equipped
with spears, they resolved to attack a white bear; and aflcr a most dan-
gerous encounter, they killed the formidable creature, and thus obtained
a fresh supply of provisions. The flesh of this animal they relished ex-
ceedingly, and they thought it much resembled beef in flavor. They
perceived, with great pleasure, that the tendons might, with little or no
trouble, be divided into filaments as fine as they pleased. This was,
perhaps, the most fortunate discovery these men could have made ; for
beside other advantages, they were thus furnished with Firings for their bow.

Tlie success our unfortunate islanders had experienced in making the
apears, and the great utility of the latter, encouraged them to proceed,
and to forge some pieces of iron into heads of arrows of the same shape,
though somewhat smaller than those of the spears. Having ground and
sharpened these like the former, they tied them with the sinews of the
while bears to pieces of fir, to which, by means of sinews, also of the
white bear, they fastened feathers of sea-fowl, and thus became possessed
of a complete bow and arrows. Their ingenuity in this respect waa
crowned with success far beyond their expectation; for, during the
time of their continuance upon the island, they killed with these arrows
no less than 250 reindeer, beside a great number of blue and white foxes.
The flesh of these animals served them also for food, and their skins for
clotliing, and other necessary preservatives against the intense cold of
a climate so near the pole.

They, however, killed only ten white bears in all, and these not without
the utmo&t danger; for these animals being prodigiously strong, defended

'-• T"^ .rtW/

111

THE LOST RUSSIAN SAILORS.

... -„J fiirv The first they attacked

themselves ^^^h aBtonishmg vigor and fa^y^T^e^ ^^^ ^^^^

designedly, but the «th«r nme they k^"^^^^^ ^^l^,,, ^oom of their hut in
of these creatures even ^«f >^5«\^^;^f J j not, it is true, show an equal
order to devour them. AH the bears oia , ^^

degree of fury; either because some w^ele^s p ^^^ ^y.^^ ^^^^^^^
were naturally of a less ferocious «'«P^f 'Xht on the first attempt of the
the hut immediately betook themselves to A.ght on^^^^^^ formidable'attacks

sailors to drive them ''^fy- \ 'JP"';' "ty, as they were in almost per-
threw the men into great terror and anxiety as y ^^^ ^^.^^

Ces' aS ; it^;£rt r/ete I^ f^d the^ wretched mariners
[S TuriLg their continuance in thaUrearyabcKle. .^ ^^^

In their excursions through he island they n ^^.^ ^^, ^^^^^ ^^^^^
middle of it, a slrniy loam ^^ ^ ^ind ot clay. ^^ .^ ^„.

to formautensil to serveforalar^p^^^^^^ To have been

stantly burning with thefatof he animals ^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^ ^^^

destitute of light, in a ^^^^J^'^^^XncLsed their other calamities,
sevcralmouths together would have greatly. nc ^^^^^ ^^.^^

Having, therefore, ^^^loned a kind of lamp they ^^ ^

doer's fat, and stuck in it somejinen tw.s'ea f_^^ ^^^^^^ .^

But they had the mortf atio" to find ^h^^^^^ .^ ^^ ^,i ^.^^^^^

not only soaked into the ^lay, but Ja.rlyjan S ^ ^^^^^^. ^^j^

It was, therefore, necessary to ^o"*"'?, """J.^™. but from the substance
inconvenience, which did "/ P:.°<;«^^/;"1^^^^^^ made another one,

of which the lamp was made being too porous, l y^^ ^^^ ^^^^
dried it thoroughly in he ^.r, then heatea ^ ^ ^^

quenched it in their Settle, m which they had boil^^^^^^ ^^,J ^^^^ ^„^^

flour to the consistence of starch. \j^^^";P ^ • ^ ^^at it did not leak,
with melted fat, they novv found to the.r great joy, ^^^ ^.^j^

But, for greater ^-urity they d pped l'^«" ^^g^c^^^^/i^ ,his attempt

to make wicks fo. Iheir lamp. .Y'''°l,,a^d the deficiency. By these

rn, '°iK »™ch Tas'L. V their .rn»l on the ,sl.„d, nn.,1
Utat of iheit embarkation for their native connlr^
" The necessity of conv«.t.ng the ™''«f™;;»',Sed. exposed theS,
, .uch a. Iherr shirt, and <1""«'''| :*e The?" J fonnd themselves in

*LT.h'L'"h<:;raf/»: -h^^^^^^^^^

St:S5;'.;Ve\trnVSs:t%ail. m .he trying hen, of

distress. r i •„» /^f ftivnq and reindeer, that had hitherto

They had abundance of «,'""«.;f ["J^"^^^^^^^^
served them for bedding, and which they now thoug ^ ^,^^ ^^^^

more essential service, but \bey were at a loss how ^^^^^^

SS^ISs*. ■''■''

.■3j;j??5^':"

THE LOST RUSSIAN SAILORS.

345

rst they attacked
defense; for some
)in of their hut in
le, show an equal
scd by hunger, or
sral which entered
first attempt of the
formidable attacks
rere in almost per-
le blue and white
wretched mariners

ound, nearly in the
is they found means
)sed to keep it con-
kill. To have been
arkness reigns for
leir other calamities,
d it with some rein-
tie shape of a wick.
13 the fat melted, it
]gh it on all sides,
d of preventing this
It from the substance
ly made another one,
1-hot, and afterward
1 down a quantity of
then dried and filled
that it did not leak,
their paste, and with
ceded in this attempt,
1 accident, that at all
rhich they determined
urposes.

3d to be cast on shore
imong the wrecks of
m, which served them
33 began to fail, their
deficiency. By these
mission, from the day
?al on the island, until

parts of their clothing,
pecified, exposed them
D found themselves in
s; and as winter was
jourse to that ingenuity
3 in the trying hour of

ideer, that had hitherto
[ht of employing to some
low to tan them. After
lowing method: They
, till they could pull off

the hair pretty easily ; they then rubbed the wet skin with their hands
till it was nearly dry, when they spread some melted remdeer lat over
it, and again rubbed it well. By this process the leather was rendered
soft, pliant and supple, and proper for every purpose for which they
wanted to employ it. Those skins that were designed for furs, they
soaked only one day to prepare them for being wrought, and then proceeded
in the manner before mentioned, excepting only that they did not remove
the hair. Thus they soon provided themselves with the necessary
materials for all the parts of dress they wanted.

They made a curious needle out of a piece of wire; and the sinews
of the bear and reindeer, which they split into several threads, served

them to sew with. • • i .

Excepting the uneasiness which generally accompanies an involuntary
solitude, these people having thus, by their ingenuity, so far overcome
their wants, might have had reason to be contented with what Providence
had done for them in their distressful situation. But that melancholy
reflection, to which eacii of these forlorn persons could not help giving
way, that perhaps he might survive his companions, and then perisli lor
want of subsistence, or become a prey to the wild beast, incessant y
disturbed their minds. The mate, Alexis Himkof, more particular y
suff"ered: having left a wife and three children behind, he was deeply
afflicted at his separaion from them. He declared, after his return, that
they were constantly in his mind, and that the thought of never more
seeing them rendered him very unhappy. _

When our four mariners had passed nearly six years in this dreary
place, Fcodor Weregin, who had from the first been in a languid condition,
died, after suffering excruciating pains during the latter part of his lite.
Though they were relieved by that event from the trouble of attending
him, and the pain of witnessing without being able to alleviate his misery,
yet his death affected them not a little. They saw their numbers dimi-
nished, and each of the survivors wished to be the next to follow him.

As he died in winter, they dug a grave in the snow as deep as they
could, in which they laid the corpse, and then covered it to the best ot
their power, that the white bears might not get at it. The melancholy
reflections occasioned by the death of their comrade were still tresli in
their minds, and each expected to pay this last duty to his remaining
companions in misfortune, or to receive it from them, when, on the titteenth
of August, 1749, a Russian ship unexpectedly appeared in sight.

The vessel belonged to a trader, who had come with it to Archangel,
intending that it should winter in Nova Zembla, but, fortunately for our
poor exiles, the director of the whale-fishery proposed to the merchant to
let his vessel winter at West Spitzbergen, to which, after many objections,
he at length agreed. .,,

The contrary winds they met with on their passage made it impossible
for them to reach the place of their destination. The vessel was driven
toward East Spitzbergen, directly opposite to the residence of our man
ners, who. as soon as they perceived her, hastened to ligiit fires upon tlie
hills nearest their habitation, and then ran to the beach, waving a flag made
of reindeer's skin, fastened to a pole. The people on board, perceiving
these signals, concluded that there were men upon the island, who im-
plored their assistance, and therefore came to an anchor near the shore.
It would be in vain to attempt to describe the joy of these poor people,
at seeing the moment of their deliverance so near. They soon agreed
with the master of the ship to work for him during the voyage, and to

g^g THE LOST RUSSIAN SAILORS.

nav him eighty rubcls on their arrival, for taking them on board with all

foxes and those of the ten white bears they had ki led. Ihey tooK care

S?s;::tsSi=;;is:K«s^

kept in a blrbox, very ingeniously made with thc.r kn.te on.y; and m

"'CV^rd?eSe;s^K:at at Archangel on the twenty-eighth of
SeXhc'S, having spent six years and three months .n the.r dreary
80litudc The r^omentof their landing was near proving fatal to Jje
lov inn and beloved wife of Alexis Ilimkof, who bemg present when the
3 c^me 1X0^, immediately knew her f-band and ran w.th such
eagerness to his embraces, that she slipped into the water, and very

"Ml::ril"a"?ivaT:e"re strong and healthy, but having lived so
long without bread, they could not reconcile themselves to the use of it,
and complained that it filled them with wind; nor could they bear any
spiritous liquors, and therefore drank nothing but water.

LOSS OP THE RUSSIAN SHIP ST. PETER.

On the coast of Beerings' Island, in the Sea of Kamtschatka, and
subsequent distresses of the Crew.

Tnv Russians though of all the European nations the most interested

eVnSnce Uil lieuten.n« were a Gsrman, nmcd M.rlm Spanborg
'aKsSikof. a Ruaaian. Be.ringa .and ^ia ^^XetS

te"S»"?of w^n ir.""'''e fear of being blocked up by the ,co,
B Kinfs uSi ove'r land to Irkutzk in Siberia and proceeded to

I'm

THE LOST RUSSIAN SAILORS.

347

on board with ull
is weight of rein-
)f blue and white
They tooit care
life and ax. which
lidi thoy carefully
inife only; and in

! twenty-eighth of
iths in their dreary
oving fatal to the
present when the
and ran with such
le water, and very

but having lived so
res to the use of it,
luld they bear any
sr.

ER.
lamtachatka, and

the most interested
sver, roused to any
is of the English to
'he Czar Peter, was
id himself drew up

)Ut who had served
head this expedition.
I fortitude and great
i Martin Spanbcrg,
rs spent almost five
e voyage itself.

coast, and wintered
d the Island of St.
( east coast of Asia.
;ked up by the ice,

eighteenth of Sep-
ka. They quitted a
an the fifth of June,
lence that they could
As they found no
lied the southermost
k. From that place
1, and proceeded to
li, 1730.

rse of his navigation,
ees, he had observed

sians which seemed to indicate that there was some coast or land toward
the oast. This declaration was confirmed by the testimony o his
lieutenants Spanberg and Tschirikoff, and they proposed a second ex-
pedition to Kamtschatka, to explore tho regions which separated tlie
Asiatic continem from the north of America. Tho Russian Oovermncnt,
seiisiblo of the importance of the project, acquiesced in the proposal ot
Bceriu.'s, wlio was appointed to conduct the new enterprise, wilii the
rank ot" commodore, while his two lieutenants were nominated captains

""cominodore Beerings went on board the St. Peter, and Captain Tschi-
rikoif took tlie command of the St. Paul. Two other vessels carried he
provisions, and another had on board two academicians, sent out by the
Russian Academy of Sciences, and their baggage. A tew days previous
to their departure, Beerings called a council, in which it was resolved,
first to CO in quest of the land laid down in the chart as having been seen
by John de Gama. On the fourth of June, 1741, the two captains se
sail, steering tho direction which had been agreed upon till the twelfth
of that month, when, being in the latitude of forty-six degrees, they were
convinced that Gama's land did not exist, as they had met with none
during that run. They immediately put the ships about, and stood to the
northward, to the fitleenth degree, without making any discovery 1 hey
then agreed to steer eastward for the American continent, but on the
twentieth the ships were separated by a violent storm, succeeded by a

*^ Nothing of consequence occurred till the eighteenth of July, when
Beerings, still hoping to meet with tho St. Paul, and continuing to steer
to the northward, perceived the continent of America Having cast
anchor, the commodore sent Chitroff, the master, with a few armed men,
to survey the coast, while another shallop was dispatched in ques ot
water. Steller went on board the latter, and in an island on which they
landed he found several empty huts, whence it «"? conjectured tJiat tho
natives of the continent visited it for the purpose of fishing. These huts
were of wood, wainscoted with planks well joined together. They here
found a box of poplar wood, a hollow ball of earth containing a small
pebble, as if to sefve for a child's plaything, and a whetstone on whch
were visible the marks of copper knives that had recently been whetted

""steller made several observations in the huts. He found, arnong other
thiugs, a cellar containing smoked salmon and a sweet herb, ^^ady dressed
for easing, in the same manner as vegetables are prepared m K^Jf ^^^J-
There wl^e likewise cords, grindstones, and utensils of various k'n^J. Hav-
ing approached a place where the savages had been d-n-ng'/l^^y f •^"f
himselves to flight as soon as they perceived him. He there found a dart
aid an instrument for producing fire, of the same form as those made use
of in Kamtschatka. It consists of a board perforated m several places;
the end of a stick being put into one of these holes, the other extremy
ia turned backward and forward between the palms of the hands till, with
the rapidity of the motion, the board takes fire, on which the sparks are
received upon some matter that is easily inflamed.

The watering party related that they had passed two places where fires
appeared to have been recently made, that they had observed wood which
had been cut, and the track of human feet in the grass. They had I ke-
wise seen five red foxes, which showed no shyness or timidity on mee ng
Uiem. They carried nothing with them from the huts but a few smoked

-ssasES:

& m

THE LOST RUSSIAN SAILORS,
fish resembling carp, -d-hich proved very good ea^^^^^ convince

the natives that they had °°t»>'"g •^J'" .^hSrc a few prose.Us for
h.n.l.-d on their coast, the com'nodo^« eS two i on POts, two knives,

Sy:rX««^e^:5::alrp:;n^ w.^ch he pre.un.d

would prove extremely acceptable to the savages.

The Russians now stood out f ««"; "^"f JuTv discovered an island,

without seeing land, they, ""^.'^^ »*;;;» £r hey Lvet^^^^^^^ of Foggy
to which, from ^he thickness of the weather t^^^^^^^ ^^ ^^^^ ^^_

Island. 'rh« -^ole nf Aegarf to TaEei with scSrvy, and the
in the meantime the crew ocgun »« p j^ ^^^^^

commodore hi-self was in a worse s.tu^ ^, ^..^ ,,

beainning to run short, ^^e .^"«^''*"'',?" continent. The coast in this
stood to the north, and «oon Jscovered the cont ment^ ^^ .^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^

part is extremely steep, and ''»«°7'*J)"J;thirtieth the pilot, Andrew
UichtheSt.Petercametoananchoi Onth^^ .^^^J^ .^^ ^,,^^^ ^^

Hasselherg, was sent to one of ^'^f.^^'^'Jinjens, taken out of different

fresh water. He soon returned with t^« JP^^™'^';^, „« time to be lost,
lakes,whichweremoreor esssaU. Bu,a8th^re^ ^^^^^ ^^

it was judged prudent to takyn a quant yof^^^^^ ^„, „,„ ,,

which at length Proved fatal to a great part of he crew ^^^ ^^ ^^^

In the morning the R^^^'^J^ h«j/^ "'goon afterward, two savages,
islands, and likewise saw a fir^ ^here »««^ ^ approached the
each in a canoe resembling ^^o^^ //^^Yr^or/s a^a geslures they invited

purpose the great shallop was h«'«*f ** Jl\i'j;!,cd went into the boat,
LcLpanied by Steller and nine -;"/;" ^™f„\L'number of nine,
and proceeded toward the island. The savages, ^^ ^^^^ ^^ ^^^ ^^^^^^

appeared on the shore, and were >°77\!„ fv,„ ° i„ng that were made, nor

rocks, as they had been ordered. savases but being unable to

These men were kindly received by the savages, but p ^^,^^

understand each other, they were obged to con^^^^^^^^
latter, with a view to regale t*^« .Jj^f'^^J'fad wUh them. It appeared
flesh, which was the only P^°^'«'«f .\^',Je "tiipo e of catching whales,
that their residence here was only for the purpos b ^^^

for on the shore was observed as "»"/ ^oats as men b ^
a woman among them; «« t*^«*' P;''^!?' ^.^^frows noi^my other arms that

■,i:^:a«i

THE LOST RUSSIAN SAILORS.

849

ig. To convince
irangers wlio had
few prcsoiits for
pots, two knives,
dich he pretiumed

)ecn several days
overed an island,
he name of Foggy
nding off and on;
h scurvy, and the
her. Fresh water
|r-ninth of August,
The coast in this
of islands, among
1 the pilot, Andrew
slands in quest of
ken out of different
i no time to bo lost,
ter rather than be
Ling, and thus the
ey could procure a
i with it. To the
acks of ihc scurvy,
w.

men on one of the
ward, two savages,
;rs, approached the
restiires they invited
presents which they
, to entice them into
they returned to the

) land, and for this
Lieutenant Waxel,
went into the boat,
the number of nine,
come to the shallop,
that were made, nor
ntinued to invite the
, among whom was a
shallop to one of the

, but being unable to
rerse by signs. The
id them with whale's
1 them. It appeared
e of catching whales,
n, but no hut, and not
> permanent habitation
jr any other arms that
1 one of them had the
to be the oldest person,
with a glass of brandy,

but that liauor appeared c^u^'y ^^^^--J'::;!:^^:?;;^^ ^
.pitting it out o >-•■;-., -« " to crj _out, ^ ^^ ^J^,^^^^^ . ^^^^^^_

counlrymon that the Kussians vvcrt g ^^^^^ ^^^^

Bible to appease hun; "P'^'^ f'J^^^iiil! • .mediate y returned to the

'f'i " d"w:xel didtt idg rudent to detain hinJauy longer. At
island, and Waxel diU not juug \ ^ ^^^^^^ ^ ^„ ^,,0^^.,

the same tunc he cal e^J off the t >Jtc n^cn w. ^^^^^ J^ ^^ ^^^^^^^

The savages at first showed ^'1'8P"''"';" '" j^ j ^ ^ the interpreter.

they suffered two of •^^ ^^^.^^'^l \y wl ch t sLlop was m'oored,

Some of them ^^^f'^f^'^'.'tl' managed as one of their canoes, or
thinkinu ,H. doubt she was as easily "'^"»g ,p ^ ^i.^i, jesign,

hoping to .lash I'^VrJ^Thrfrrprcter meanwhile entreated not to bo
Waxel cut the cable. 1 he '"«;;P'^^\^; " , ; ^^at wore made them
left behind. The «'^7g^«,d'«J«";„^''Se^^^^ with a view to

to let him g«' ^;^^VSe sTces an^r^^^ ^he report,

fr ghten tlicm only. 1 ho success -i'!"^ .^ , , ^ ^ gy^h a degree
re-echoed by a neighboring n'°"»'«^^' J^" J^,^„' \e, im.nediately n.ade
that they fell down on the ^^^^^S^c, and, /y their

his escape. The «^^''8^^/°°^„ ,,^ i,,:.»ted. Waxel did not think proper
cries and gestures, appeared high yirrtattcK coming on, the sea grew
to remain there any longer, as »'« "g ^^J 7™'"«^ ;„j ^ h,if.«
very rough, and the vessel ^^ ^^^^^fj ^^^^^he Luth, in order to get
Leaving the island, the "l^^'^'^^^f^w.tlie autumn, the wind scarcely
off the coast, .^^^m ih.sium X^\ (^r ^ni\^^^^^ This was a great

varied, excepting between W- S- JV. ana ^^^^^^^^^ ^^^

obstacle to the sp-dy ve -n oHhe s p. Besid^^ ^^, ^^
a most always foggy, so tliai iney wt- ^„,,„„f,uentlv, without being able
without seeing either sun or «f «' J^^^'^JJ^S" if 'i^ easy to conceive
to take the altitude or correct f ^^'^J''^^"^ °J„,ed, wandering in such
the inquietude which they must h-e^ expeoenced w^^ ^^ ^^^^ ^

uncertainty in an ""known sea^ Lore disagreeable than that of navi-

|;fe;;S^ i^S^-oS ^^^'L. anxiety in regions
''^Z:^f ^th -;ary w^nds ^nd .m^^^^

the coast, they reaolved ^« ^^ffP »^>^^V„^'P^2 d.ove th^ very far to the

the west, «"«-^^tlVs" oS inu d Leven^^^^^^ iJermission

gouth-west. /?'8 tempest coniinue/ acknowledged

and was so furious, that Andrew Hasselberg in P^^^ ^^^
that, during the forty years >° J^ich he hjd served ^t , ^^^^^H^^^

of the world, he had never seen ^^ythrng equal ^ ^^ ^y ^^^^ ^^^_

:^ii:uXn^urectu^^^^^^^^^^

J the scurvy extended jt-^-J^L^^ghT e le^ft fn L\uh^"o
^^sed without a death and scarce^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^ ^^^^ ^^^^^^

navigate the vessel. In ^^ s melancno y s j .^ ^^.^^

ggQ THE LOST RUSSIAN SAILORS.

and they had no hope ^f/^'st nten"o ffiand incessant ra'n. continued
The crow, exposed to the most ™«" ^^ ^^ g^eh ravages that

to lower those which might be loo m"« • ^ ■ ^^A there

""Vt'inci. ,.in, which h.d '""-/J^i-^^^rrdtge,?.'™
.„d .now. Th. nightt grew l»"e" ™""'^'„';„™„ E'.cSn to .p-
con.eq«ei.tly l.c.e..e<l, !>"""» '''"I'/S ™ o 1" their f.™h ««»-
prohend that the .h,p r"!lf ^„„4.e w „ became i„.,.ppo-t.bl. to
ZrraXTt!,tj:Se?in"-he.,h.n>,wh^^^^^^

from iheir misery. ,„„„;nf.i1 without a steersman, and as

During several days the vessel 7J'"/™X^ she received it

if motionless on the water; or il she ^^^ ^"y ^j^fj^ ,he was consigned.

only from the inipulse of the winds and waves to ^v^^^^^^^^^^^ J.^^^^

lt.'ould have 1^-n.nvain to so^t o^^^^^^^^^ ^ ^^^^

drven to despaii. In tins '"'"'^'""J pvhnrtincthemnot to donpair

deck and work the ship as k>ng as ^h^y J^^^^";'°,;,,,„, on the fourth ol
Such was the dismal situation of the crp,W ^^^

November, they again began to sad ^^ ^c^fro rKliatka. They
what latitude they were, or at ^^at cl'«Unce trom ^^ ^^^^^

fcir'whtt^rthf Io%f trSlitihen, .^Jt eigh. i„

the morning, they J'8'^«y,«'"f ''^^"JL .u„ geamen mustered up the little

^' '^V° rTl;r itv eXavored toTpproach it, but it was still

strength they had left. Ihey f^^^J"' • [jf^ gnow-covered summits

at a great distance, for they could ^^'X^^'^JlXylefir it, night arrived.

i;L;!i'Lerr'r:rrw°rf7'Sir -». N^ithing ,„.,.

: ne"e».'y to render Ihei, -"''ffrrneTSer to the eonimodore,
Waxel having made hVV''luwffi«,. ™d o «M«lt with them wh.^

t'fo"^,';o:sse\rKi''sri» *" '- -*«» *-

jwlowskn, appeared
icil held on board,

^t of Kamtpchatka,

advanced Bcapon.

^ant ra'n, continued

such ravageH that

J)ortcd in his station

fnt strength to keep

lor to steer, another,

le. They durst not

Jhero was no person

themselves were so

o pieces, and there

lich they had taken

8 succeeded by hail
1 their dangers were
had reason to ap-
mc their fresh water
ime insupportable to
n summoned to their
ler exertions. They
able, to deliver them

a steersman, and as
ment she received it
eh she was consigned,
(leasures with a crew
pted a more prudent
ig them not to despair
ir to make a last eifort
Tiuch nearer than they
ded them to keep on

len, on the fourth ot
out knowing cither in
Kamtschatka. They
;y could hope to reach
when, about eight in

mustered up the little
ach it, but it was still
now-covered summits
near it, night arrived.
iT not to risk the loss
of the rigging on the
ieces. Nothing more

er to the commodore,
onsult with them what"
Id. They considered
azy ship which it was
t the cordage which

THE LOST RUSSIAN SAILORS.

851

ratr.r.sii/ri'/jWJa

remained whole was as much worn as tiiat which had broken, as the ri^'iring
was huurd snapping overy inouion:, and even during tiie time ot tiieir
deliberation. Tiie water diminished every day, and the sickness grow
wors(! ; they had before suH'orcd from the rain, but they now felt rnucli
greater inconvenience from tho cold, which, instead of becoming more
moderate, grew every day more intense. Tiiey determined, in conseqnenco
of all these considerations, to diseiribark on the land which they '.ad (Ji»
covered, as tiieir lives would at least bo safer there, and probably tiiey
might find some method of getting the ship into a place of safety.

Tlic Russians, conformably to the decision of the council, steered for
the land, but only under the small sails, on account of the weak condition
of their innsts. At five at night they came into twelve fathoms of water,
where they cast anchor, and veered away three-fourths of the cable. At
six the cubic gave way, and the waves, which were of prodigious size,
drove the ship against a rock, on which siio twice struck, and yi^t the
lead indicated five fathoms of water. At the same time the sea broke
with such fury against the sides of the vessel that she shook to her very
keel. A stjcond anchor was thrown out, but the cable broke even bcl'oro
the anchor appeared to have taken hold. Fortunately the remuiningono
was not in readiness, otherwise, in this extremity, that also would have
been thrown overboard, and thus they would have lost all their anchors.
At tho moment when they were busily employed in getting ready the
third anchor, a prodigious sea took the shii) and drove her clear olf the
rock. Th' Russians suddenly found them.selvcs in calm water, and
anchored in four fathoms and a half, and about three hundred fathoms
from the shore.

On the 8i.\th of November, at one o'clock. Lieutenants Waxel and Steller
went on shore, and found the land sterile, and covered with snow. A
stream which issued from the mountains and fell into the sea not far
from the spot, was not yet frozen; its water was limpid and very good.
No trees were to be seen, nor even any brushwood for fuel; the sea had,
however, thrown .some ujmn tho beach, but being concealed beneath the
snow, it could not easily bo found. This account was not calculated to
produce the most favorable impressions. Where were they to procure
the materials necessary for constructing habitations? where could tho
sick be placed in comfort? and how could they be preserved from the cold?
Man, however, should never abandon himself to despair; for the nioro
forlorn his situation, the more ingenious is ho rendered by necessity.
Between the sand-hills, bordering the stream al)ove mentioned, were holes
of considerable depth; these it was pro))oscd to clean out at the bottom,
to cover them with sails, and thus take shelter in them till they could
collect a suflicicnt quantity of drift-wood to erect huts. In the evening
Waxel and Steller returned to tho ship to make their report to the
commodore.

Immediately upon their return a council was called, and it was resolved
to send on shore, tho next day, all those of the crew who were siill in
health, to prepare some of the holes for the reception of the sick. This
being done, on the eighth of November the weakest were carried on
shore. Some expired as soon as they were exposed to the air, even
before they reached the deck, others upon deck, or in the boat, and
several after they had reached the land. The country swarmed witn a
species of foxes, called in the Russian language Pestzi. Steller has
given a very interesting account of these animals, which the reader will
find introduced at tho conclusion of this article, in order to prevent the

3;VJ

THE LOST UUSSIAX SAIT-ORS.

interruption of thn narrntivr. On th. ninth of ^^^^'^^^'^ l^'^^fZl'
v.ll r, v.-r.-.l ..t-ninHt tl.c .•xtorni.l air, was .arncl ..n sl.o <■ l.y h.-.r i... n,
, ki n.i of iimr form. .1 of two ,.ol..s ,roH..Mi wit , .-ord.. A ..,"^^"10
, h ,o..n ,.r.,.ar.Hl for Lis ro.-,.,,.ion Tlw l,us,n.-sH ot ..■mov.nj
sick rontinn.a ovory .lay, and not a ,lay ,.a.s...l w.lhout «' ; " "
hnn .lylMK. Nono of Hu.so wi.o hml k.'i't H.'^m L'-ls on boa.. I the h.p
!< .r.l: thoywcr.. prim-ipally tlu.so «l.o, out ol nulil -r.MK.^ to i.fo,
or th U H..iilanin.ity, ha.l HulV.^ro.l tho .llH.-a..^ to «•>> tl..; u,.,..>r han I
T . s Lcurvy b.-Klns will. .'Mr.Mno la.situ.l.s w ...-I. «...,;« tl.. who o
l,o. y nndnrn ti.o ,nan in.lol.nt, .liH^...tH hi... w.tl. ovrythinK. .•nl.r..-ly
t^:^ his HpiritH, an,l «ra.U.ally n.r...s a kin.l .. asth.na, w 'U^l. n-.m. |^
its If on tho sliKhtcst movc.n.u.t. It ..sually hapiuns «.'"'' '''»"«;"
nlVrH lvi..« .lown to wnlkinff, a...l in this ..ase lu, .s .nev.lal.ly 1. st. All
to ncnE aro soon artlictcfd with a...to ,.ains, tho .•«« «wel Itho com.
'xbn .."•..«.■« yellow, tho l.o.ly is covc-r.-l with l.v.. »!...«,. he mou h
I .1 ;.. ns 1.1...1, ..n.l to.,.th «.ow I.h.«o. 'n.o ,at.cnt tl.on toe s n.. . c .-
nation to stir, a..<l it is in.liir.3rent to him whether he l.ves or .!,.«. i hcHe
i yrr.t 8taL.'H of the (li«cnse an.l th.-ir etreCs were o .serve, o.. board,
wir kewise r...narkc,l that so.no of tho sick were se.zecl w.th a pan.c,
anS su r,l..l at the least ,...ise, and at ev.=ry call that was ^-rvc-n .n
tl"3 ship. Others ate with a very hearty appet.te, an. .l.d not .mag.no
the..." Ivos in danger. Tho latt.ir no sooner heard the o.der g.ven lo
thcren.7val f thc^ick,than they <l"iUed their ha.n.n.Kks and dressed
,c...se les not donhting b..t that they should spced.ly r.-cover. But
cSng u. from b.low, saturated with humidity, and out of a corrup cd
aZsphere, tho fresh air which they inhaled on deck so.m. put a per.od

^'^ Thos.!'only recovered who were not so far overcome by the disease as
,0 b blSd continually to keep their beds, who re.na..,ed as lo..g as
possible or' their legs, and in ...otion. It was ow.ng ° ^'-[J'-^^V^^J
ihcir nat.iral gayety that they were not dqected l.ke the others. A man
Sis dis^osi^iJn sLved .Utf.e same ti...o for an -an.pb and encouraged
bv his conversation those who were in the same condiUon. I he goou
%^. ^f exet'dse were par.ic.larly apparent in the officers who w^-'
constantly employed in giving orders, and "''^S^;*^^" 'l^, ^r'Ve.e
greatest part of the tin.e, lo kcp an eye on what passed 1 '-y ^e «

f ways i..' action, and could not lose their p''"l«'/,'>^^^';,7 ';!t,od chcer-
thcm Steller was a physician of the soul as well as of the body , cheer
furess was his constant companion, and he comrnunicated .t to all around
S Among the officers, the commo.loro was the only person who sunk
ben;.thtT disease ; his age and his constit..tion rendered h.m more
S spoi fo resrthan'to activity. He at length became so susp.c.ous, and
was so impressed with the idea that everyone was "^ ''nemy, that a last
even StoZr, whom he had before regarded as h.s best fnend, durst not

''''?f ^le'rand SiUoTiemained in tolerable health as long as they were
at ZT They remained in the ship till the last, resolv.ng that all the

c eTshould le put on shore before they -P^-^^/j^'^^, .•^XaUo^i
Thr^v likewise had better accommodat.ons on board. Ih.s situauon,
S^eVr had nearly proved fatal to them, either because they no longer
had so much exercise, or were exposed to the nox.ous vapors wh.ch
J J r »i,« hr.]A In n few davs they were taken so ill that they
rrX" be cli.d L'mTh'Vhip J.he .ho,„ «>d .iU. P«.p.r
prJcutioM on their ren». J into the .ir, they both recovered.

THE LOST RUSSIAN SAILORS.

353

till! cnmiiioilorc,
orr liy lour iiii'ii,
lis. .\ !<c|mrate
rsH of" i(tiii)viiij(

lltlldllt HIMITIll of

III lioiiril tlie Mliip

iiriTCMci! to life,

llir ii|i|)i!r hand.

Hi'izcH till! whole

crylhiiiK, iiiliri.'ly

|, which iiiiiiiilV'tits

tiiiit till! patient

iviliiiily lost. All

Hn swell, Iho coin-

H|)otH, the mouth

en leels no incli-

s or tii«!H. Thc80

i.sirvcd on bonrd.

i/i'(l with a punic,

tiiiit wns ^'iven io

(lid not imagino

le Older given for

ocks find dressed

lily recover. But

out of a corrupted

soon put a period

by the disease as
inaincd as long as

> their vivacity nod
10 others. A man
le, and encouraged
Jilion. The good
officers, who were

> be on deck the
ssed. Tiiey were
L>y had Steiler with
f the body; cheer-
ited it to all around
f person who sunk
ndered him more
so suspicious, and
enemy, that at last

It friend, durst not

long as they were
)lving that all the
iiither themselves.
I. This situation,
ise they no longer
ious vapors which
ken so ill that they
e, and with proper
M>vered.

Deeriiigi (lied the cightli of Dcccmlicr, 1741, ami tiie iNlanil wax callud

itV-r

11.4 n:iiii>'

ft inuy aliiiiist bo Hiiid tliiil lii.> wn^ biiiicil allw. llavi

"«

Ir.'eti carricil nti Mliorc with the grentent precaution, lie was jilai nl in thf
l.irgesf and Ica-'t incoinmodioii.s hole, ami a covering,' wan caiel'ully creeled
iiviT liiiii ill till! form of a tent. The xand hooii began to fall down friim
tiie sides of the hole in wliicli he lay, and every inoiiieiit covered his feet.
It w i( iiiiiiiriliately removed by tlione who attended him; but, at \mI, he
Mould no! Miill'er it to be taken nway, thinking be fell some wuiinth from
it, tiic vital lii'at having already forsaken tiic other part.M of bis body. The
.4.111(1 gradually acciiiniilaliMl, till it covered him up to the belly ; and when
lie had expinil, his people were obliged to dig him out, in order to giv*

eceiii intoriiient.

dcii

Rii

f the commodore,

rni.-<fortiiin' to lo.se the'r vessel, the only resource capabh; of extricating
tlieiii from thoir forlorn situation. She was at anchor, as wc have seen
above, and e.xpo.sed to the violence of a tempestuous sea, when, in the
niglit, between thi; twenty-eighth and twenty-ninth, a furious storm arose,
the c.ible parted, and the vessel whh driven ashore, very ncor the donH
of till) lliissiaiis. She was found in the morning buried in the snnd to
the deptii of eight or ten feet. Upon inspection, the keel nnd sides wore
found to lie liioken to jiieces. The water, which entered the .ship and
ran olf below, had washed awny or 8poile(i the greatest part of the re-
maining provisiions, consisting of flour, oatmeal, and salt.

Sitiiiited as the unfortunate mariners were, this loss was e.xtroinely
afHicling: but appi^ared niiirh less when they reflected tiiat the vessel,
tlioii;,'h iniK'h damaged, had been thrown upon the sand ut their feet, and
not carried out to sea; they still entertained hopes that, even if she could
not be got afloat again, they might with the materials build a bark capable
of carrying them to Kamtschatkn.

The events which had occurred since their shipwreck had diverted
the attention of the Russians from two important objects in their situation;
in tiio fiiHt place, to take a survey of the country in which they iiad landed,
and, in tiic .second, tu provide for their subsistence. After reconnoilering
tlu; island, they proceeded to examine the provision which had been saved
from the ship. Having first deducted and stowed away eighteen hundred
pounds of flour to servo them on their passage from the island to Karnt-
.scbatka, the remainder was divided into equal portions. Though these
were very scanty, and thirty of their number died during their stay oil
the island, yet they would not have been suflicicnt, but for the seasonable
oupply which the marine animals aflbrded.

The first which served them for food were the otters. Their flesh
was hard, but they were obliged to put up with it till they could procure
some less disagreeable in its stead. After they had ceased to use them
fur food, the Russians killed a great number of these animalu for the
«ake of their beautiful skins, nine hundred of which they collected during.
tboir residence on the island. In the month of March the otters disap-
peared, and were succeeded by another animal, called the sea-cat, and
afterward by seals. Their flesh wasexceedingly disgusting to the Russians,
who fortunately, now and then, surprised a young sea-lion. The latter
trc excellent eating; but they never durst venture to attack them excepting:
«hen aaleep.

The sea-cow likewise proved of great utility to the Russians. One of
tiiesc animals which they took, weighed eight thousand pounds, and fur-
nished them with food for a fortnight. Their flesh may be compared to

354

THE LOST RUSSIAN SAILORS.

beef, and the fat, with which it is covered to the depth of three or four
inchofi, resembles that of pork. This they melted down and used instead
of butter. They likewise salted a considerable quantity of the flesh and
filled several casks, which they added to the provision already destined
for their voyage to Kamtschatka. During their residence on the island
two whales were likewise cast on shore, and these furnishea them with
an abundant supply when other marine animals failed.

On the melting of the snow, about the end of March, 1742, the Rus-
sians began to think seriously of their return. Being all assembled, to
the number of forty-five, they took into consideration the means of
returning to Kamtschatka. The state of perfect equality in which
they had lived since their landing on the island produced a variety of
opinions, which were warmly supported by those with whom they origi-
nated. Waxel, to whom the command by right devolved, conducted
himself under these circumstances with great art and prudence. Without
giving ofiense to the authors of the different plans, he opposed them to
each other, and destroyed them by means of a third, which he again
overthrew by objections which appeared unanswerable. At length he and
ChitrofT, who acted in concert, proposed their opinion, which was to take
the vessel to pieces, and to construct another of a smaller size, but suffi-
ciently spacious to hold all the crew and the provisions. In discussing
the business, tJiey laid great stress on the consideration that all those who
had suffered together would not be separated; that none would be left
behind ; that if a new misfortune occurred, they would be together, and
that none of them would be exempted from it. This opinion being unani-
mously approved of, a paper was drawn up to the efi'ect, and signed by
all t.'^e crew. The favorable weather at the beginning of April permitted
them to put it in execution. The whole month was employed in breaking
up tl\e ship, and the officers, by their diligence, set u laudable example
to tl)o rest.

Op the sixth of May they began to work upon fheir new vessel, which
was forty feet in length and thirteen wide. She had but one mast and
one deck, with a cabin at the stern, and a kitchen at the head. At the
same time they likewise built a boat capable of holding nine or ten
persons.

The vessel I^eing completed, was launched on the tenth of August, and
named the St. Peter, afler the ship from the remains of which she had
been constructed. The balls and superfluous iron-work served for ballast.
A calm, which continued six days, enabled them to fix the mast, rudder
and sails, and to take on board the provisions.

On the sixteenth they put to sea ; and, with the help of oars, got clear
of the rocks and shallows near the island. They then set their sails to
take advantage of a breeze which sprung up. They had the satisfaction
to find that their vessel was an excellent sailer, and might be managed
with the greatest facility. On the eighteenth they were overtaken by a
contrary wind, which blew with great violence at south-west. Being
apprehensive of a tempest, they resolved to lighten the vessel, by throwing
overboard part of their ballast. On the twenty-fifth they came in sight
of Kamtschatka, and, on the twenty-seventh, came to an anchor in the
harbor of Petropawlowska. It is scarcely possible to express the transports
of the Russians when they again found themselves in the midst of comfort
and abundance.

Afler passing the winter at Petropawlowska, they again embarked in
the month of May, and arrived nt Ochotzk. Waxel repaired to Jakutsk,

Icpth of three or four

lown and used instead

fantity of the flesh and

ision already destined

isidence on the island

furnishea them with

liled.

Jarch, 1742, the Rus-

leing all assembled, to

leration the means of

ict equality in which

produced a variety of

with whom they origi-

it devolved, conducted

,nd prudence. Without

ns, he opposed them to

, third, which he again

able. At length he and

nion, which was to take

a smaller size, but suffi-

ovisions. In discussing

3ration that all those who

that none would be left

would be together, and

his opinion being unani-

he eftect, and signed by

nning of April permitted

L-as employed in breaking

!, set H laudable example

n their new vessel, which
le had but one mast and
hen at the head. At the
3 of holding nine or ten

n the tenth of August, and
omains of which she had
on- work served for ballast,
sm to fix the mast, rudder

the help of oars, got clear
hey then set their sails to
They had the satisfaction
r, and might be managed
they were overtaken by a
ce at south-west. Being
ten the vessel, by throwing
ty-fifth they came in sight
came to an anchor in the
lie to express the transports
Ives in the midst of comfort

a, they again emoarkcd in
iVaxel repaired to Jakutsk.

THE LOST RUSSIAN SAILORS.

355

where he resided during the winter. In October, 1744, he arrived at
Jeniseisk, at which place he found Captain Tschirikofi*, who soon after-
ward received an order from the senate to repair to Petersburgh; on
which Waxel succeeded him in the command of the crews of both vessels.
With these he proceeded to the same city, where he arrived in the month
of January, 1749, which may be considered as the conclusion of the
second expedition to Kamtschatka, after a period of sixteen years from
its commencement.

The Arctic fox, of which the Russians found such numbers in Beerings'
Island, is of a bluish gray color. The hair is very thick, long and soft,
the nose sharp, and the ears short, and almost hid in the fur. The tail
is shorter, but more bushy than that of the common fox. The following
is the account given by 8teller of the habits and manners of this extra-
ordinary animal.

" During my unfortunate abode on Beerings' Island I had opportunities
more than enough of studying the nature of this animal, which far ex-
ceeds the common fox in impudence, cunning, and roguery.

" They forced themselves into our habitations by night as well as by
day, stealing all that they could carry off; even things that were of no
use to them, such as knives, sticks, and clothes. They were so incon-
ceivably ingenious as to roll down our cas!:s of provisions, several pounds
in weight, and then steal the meat out of them so ably, that at first we
could not bring ourselves to ascribe the theft to them. As we have
stripped an animal of its skin, it has often happened that we could not
avoid stabbing two or three foxes, from their rapacity in taking the flesh
out of our hands.

" If we buried it ever so carefully, and ever added stones to the weight
of earth that was upon it, they not only found it out, but with their
shoulders shoved away the stones, lying under them and helping one
another with all their might. If, in order to secure it, we put an animal
on the top of a high post in the air, they either dug up the earth at the
bottom, and thus tumbled the whole down, or one of them clambered
up, and with incredible artifice and dexterity threw down what was
upon it.

" They watched all our motions, and accompanied us in whatever we
were about to do. If the sea threw up an animal of any kind, they
devoured it before we could get up to rescue it from them; if they could
not consume the whole of it at once, they dragged it in portions to thr
mountains, where they buried it under stones before our eyes, running
to and fro as long as anything remained to be couveyed away. While
this was doing others stood on guard and watched us. If they saw any-
thing coming at a distance, the whole troop would combine at once and
begin digging all together in the sand, till a beaver or sea-bear would be
so completely buried under the surface that not a trace of it could be
seen. In the night, when we were asleep, they came and pulled off our
nightcaps, and stole our clothes from under our heads, with the beaver
coverings and the skins we lay upon. In consequence of this we always
slept with our clubs in our hands, so that if they awoke us we might drive
them away or knock them down.

When we made a halt to rest by the way, they gathered around us
and played a thousand tricks in our view, and when we sat stili thuy
approached so near that thoy gnawed the thongs of our shoes, If wc lay
down, as intending to sleep, they came and smelt at our noses, to try
whether we were dead or alive ; if we heid our breath they gave us such

►»*<»w»*vi"'*".'Y"

»-a THE LOST RUSSIAN SAILORS.

a tUff by the nose as if they would bite it off. On our first arrival they
Ji off the toes, fingers, and noses of the dead while we were prepanng
the grave, and thronged in such a manner about the mfirm and sick, that
it was with difficulty we could keep them off.

"Evrrv rnoTning we saw these audacious animals patro ling about
among thl TeluoL and sea-bears lying on the fand, smellirg at such
M were asleep, to discover whether some one of them might no be dead ;
?f tha happened to be the case, they proceeded to diss.ct him imme-
diate?i S7Zn afterward all were at work in dragging the parts away:
2 xa7ser sea-lions :n their sleep overlay their young, tl,ey ej-y mom mg
examined, as if conscious of this circumstance the whole herd of them,
one bj one, and immediately dragged away the dead cubs from their

On the th d day after my arrival I knocked down upward of seventy of
Sem with a club, within the space of three hours, and made a covering
« TvT t of l"°ir skin- They were so ravenous, that with one hand
we cCuld holr;; them ; pie J of flesh, and with a stick or ax in the
other could knock them on the head.

"From all the circumstances tliat occurred during our «>»y'J.' «"
evidenUhat these animals could never before have been acquaintea with
mimkind, and that the dread of man is not innate m brutes, but must be
grounded on long experience."

our first arrival they
;e we were preparing
I infirm and sick, that

uals patrolling about
and, smellirg at such
m might not be dead;
to dissoct him imme-
gging the parts away:
ig, they every morning
whole herd of them,
lead cubs from their

ther by night or day,
I young and old, and
hen we awoke in the
been knocked on the
iuring my slay in the
s with my own liands.
upward of seventy of
, and made a covering
s, that with one hand
I a stick or ax in the

uring our stay, it vvas
been acquainted with
in brutes, but must be

EXPERIENCES

BRITISH NATAL OFFICER.

MB OITEK BT OAFTAIN BAaiL BilX, OF THK

ROYAL NAVT.

Various circumstances conspired to give me, very early in life, what
is called a taste for the sea. In the first place, I came into the world
in the midst of a heavy gale of wind; when such was tlie violence of
the storm, and the beating of the rain, that there were some thoughts
of removing the whole party to a less rickety corner of the old mansion,
which shook from top to bottom. So strong, indeed, was the impression
made on the imagination of those present, by the roaring of tlse surf,
close at hand, the wiiistling of the wind in the drenched forest, and the
obvious rocking of the house, under the heavy gusts of that memorable
gale, that, as soon as I was old enough to understand anything at all, the
association between the events of my future life, and those of my birth-
night, began to be sown in my mind. Thus, long before I shipped a
pair of trowsers, I felt that a salt-water destiny was to be mine; and as
everybody encouraged me to cherish these early predilections for the
sea, I grew up with the certainty of becoming a sailor.

It is clear enough that no boy, instruct him as we will, can form
correct ideas of what he is likely to meet with in any profession. The
incipient difficulties and discomforts of all professions are, probably,
pretty much alike ; and the boy who has not energy enough to set his
face resolutely against the eaily discouragements of any particular call-
ing, will, in all probability, be successful in no other. It is, however,
so great an advantage to have a young person's own feelings, and his
point of honor heartily engaged in the cause in which he has embarked,
that, if circumstances render such a thing at all expedient, or not quite
unreasonable, the choice of a profession may often be conceded with
advantagr But such free choice ought to be afterward burdened, with
a positive interdict against change. In the case of a sea life, this
appears to be quite indispensable; for the contrast is so striking, in most
cases, between the comforts of home and the discomforts of a ship — to
say nothing of rough fare, hard work, sea-sickness, and strict discipline —
that, if an opening be constantly presented for escape, few youngsters
will have resolution enough to bear up against those trials to which they
must be exposed, and which they ought to hold themselves prepared to
meet with cheerfulness.

Perhaps the naval profession owes a good deal of its peculiar char-
acter to these very disadvantages, as they are called; and though we
may oflen regret to see young men, of good abilities, dropping out of
the navy, who, if they had only cast on the right tack, might have done

(367)

353 BtPEMENOES OF A BRITISH NAViO, omOER.

£;"Xj;i;"upr*'»tCb:io', ««ed . ,»... ^u p-b..

more » less precision, the d«8«« 'J" "^ ^ ;, „„,;.. dlfflcltj in
ii likely lo be culled upon lo P'""'"','. ° ' ':,,,. even in a vague way,
col/to any j-t concl^-;P- ^^^^^^^^ the .hofe world;

in the life of a sailor. .."I'^/^^f^J three-decker, or be wedged into a
he may be lost in the wilderness f» ^ jre ^ .^ Spitzbergen; he

cock-boat; he may b« f"«''^^„^7S 1 days of the week in the
,nuy be cruismg, or .''^ >" ^,^f f_ ^iUuie on t^e seventh; or he may
mi^st of a fleet, and fl°«f j^^^^g'.^re Ist fatal to subordination; or
waste his years '"P^f^^^^^l'll-jr and hear from his friends every day;
be employed on the home «tat'on, and "^aj ^.^^^^^ getting a

or he may be ufteen months, as ^ ^^^^ J^jf °;\„ easy-going commander,
better, or seeing a newspaper. He may have ^n easy g^^ g^ those tight

v^hich is a very great evil; or h'« capU^" J ,,ery one on board
hands, who, to use the slang of J"® cock g k h ^ ^^^ ^^^ ^^

u und;r the fear of the Lord and -^'Zm^u, and hardly 'two days alike .
to sea for tweixty ^^"^21?,^ soiirminds and productive in them ot
AH this, which IS del»g™ to «T.^,™V ^ ".ery often ruinous to
every kind of resource, is utterly *''^*'™,^; t:„eritv ; and weak minds
JZl Weak frames generally ^l^^"" 'd the ^" eAsity of its aclion.
become confused with its -™P»>;^7^?^;,X;J;i TbouUess, ^
But, on the other hand, the variety jj '^« "''S,^ the wear and tear of
a young man has only strength of body, to^enau ^^^^ ^^ ^^ ^^^^^

watching, and other ^n^^'^'^^'^J'^SntJ of openings occurring, sooner

'.sSirriS'iTf S'r, tz^. u, .. posiu.ei, 0.0.

from tetreal. ,. enthuslMm, when the actual time

I mnst own that, in spi e »'_ »J' "^ "°'"^j plunging quite alone and

came for fairly leaving tnends and home, Mtl P g b -l^^^ ^.^^^^ ^,

irrevocably into a new '*, I W' '^"e^rulte strange, I scarcely knew
myself, which, as these feelings were^qu^ 8^ „(^,,i,,

how to manage. I had been «"»»«y> "■, , ,,„^„ „i,hed, when the

irue, and was •'»•)" f Xt I^had not b'een taken at my word, I car,
actual moment arrived, that 1 »•" »» ^ , f,,, p,etly much as if I

TvilTttrgl orSei: wCr c'arrlage that was to convey m,
•Trer,:b:f,rs'f?rinhe«den^^^^^^^

Ca^er.ta.t»ym,'frmJ^SiT^^^^^^^^^
dTy-fS. iSed-V .°:ieSir;S'iha. w J disagreeable.

, .oeu a different course. ^^ ^ ^___^ ^^^^ ^^^ ,^^ ,,„,

..D..n Fa™«.=-Aft.. ^ ^ lo"n'i wKr^S'nte SfddTeS
rSit^oSe-i-ltu^r wS/rU°l'w..en . came down, there

OFFICER.

e is no denying that

npanions, whom they

make useful public

ate beforehand, with
k which a joungman

peculiar difficulty in
even in a vague way,
des the whole world ;
, or be wedged into a
n in Spitzbergen; he
i of the week, in the
5 seventh; or he may
il to subordination ; or
his friends every day ;
time, without getting a
asy-going commander,
be one of those tight
ps every one on board
In short, a man may go

hardly two days alike.
1 productive in them of
I very often ruinous to
verity; and weak minds

intensity of its action,
is so boundless, that if
re the wear and tear of
; also strength of char-
inings occurring, sooner

find profitable employ-
ion of a sailor might be

it, are positively cut off

I, when the actual time
lunging quite alone and
anxiety and distrust of
trange, I scarcely knew
my own profession, it is
ilmost wished, when the
ken at my word. I can
I felt pretty much as if 1
e that was to convey me

jccurred yesterday, most
a letter, written only the
^_in the unknown world
py, and might easily have
y what was disagreeable.

rDER, June 12, 1802.
ent down into the mess-
h a table in the middle ot
Vhen I came down, there

EXPERIENCES OF A BRITISH NAVAL OFFICER.

359

were a grcnt many cups and saucers upon the table. A man came in
atid poured hot water into the teapot. There are about fourteen of us
mess at the same time. We were very merry in this dark hole, whore
we iiad only two candles.

•' We come down here, and sit when we like ; and at other times go
upon deck. At about ten o'clock we had supper upon bread and cheese,
and a kind of pudding, which we liked very much. Some time after
this 1 went to a hammock, which was not my own, as mine was not
ready, there not being enough of clues at it, but I will have it to-night. I
got in at last. It was very queer to find myself swinging about in this
uncouth manner, for there was only about a foot of space between my
face and the roof; so, of course, I broke my head a great many times
on tiie different posts in the cock-pit, where all the midshipmen sleep.
After having got in, you may be sure I did not sleep very well, when all
the people were making such a noise, going to bed in the dark, and the
ship in such confusion.

" I fell asleep at last, but was always disturbed by the quarter-master
coming down to awake the midshipmen who were to be on guard during
the night. He comes up to their bedsides and calls them; so I, not
being accustomed to it, was always awaked too. I had some sleep,
however, but early in the morning was again roused up by the men
beginning to work.

" There is a large liole which comes down from the decks, all the
way through to the iiold, where they let down the casks. The foot of
the hammock that I slept in was just at the hole, so I saw the casks all
coming down close by me. I got up at half past seven, and went into
the berth, (our mess-room,) and we were all waiting for breakfast till
eight, when the man who serves and brings in the dishes for the mess
came d.wn in a terrible passion, saying that as he was boiling the kettle
at the stove, the master-at-arms had thrown water upon the fire and put
it out. All this was because the powder was coming on board. So we
had to want our breakfast for once. But we had a piece of bread and
butter; and as we were eating it, the master-at-arms came down, and
said that our candles were to be taken away; so we had to eat our dry
meal in the dark/'

■ HIDSUIFMENS' PRANKS.

During the long winters of our slothful discontent at Bermuda, to
which island our ship had been sent, caused by the Peace of Amiens,
the grand resource, both of the idle and busy, among all classes
of the Leander's officers, was shooting. The midshipmen were gener-
ally obliged to content themselves with knocking down the blue and red
birds with the ship's pistols, charged with his majesty's gun-powder,
and, for want of small shot, with slugs formed by cutting up his majesty's
musket-bullets. The officers aimed at higher game, and were, of course,
better provided with guns and ammunition. Several of these gentlemen
had brought from England some fine dogs — high-bred pointers; while
the middies, also, not to be outdone, must needs have a dog of their own :
they recked very little of what breed; but some sort of r.nimal they said
they must have.

I forget how we procured the strange-looking beast whose services
we contrived to engage; but, having once obtained iiim, we were not
slow in giving him our best affections. It is true he was as ugly as any-
thing could possibly be. His color was a dirty, reddish yellow; and

14-

ft.

M'^'-

EXPERIENCES OF A BRITISH NAVAL OFFIO-.R.

!1 u parTofTirhair twisted •J^^f^^J' Jj/idJ SL'To^ a1?The
quie straight, al-st to the ground He wa« u^^^^^ ^,^^ ^.^^
purposes of real sport, but ^^'^e gooa en g ^^^^j^.^ ^^ ^,j

'V«"'^°'Ste;;ei7s;anlX^aL;:^^^ to the exalted

People will differ If;"/^^^™;,':';,^ tt ot^^ers on board, though the
to the great superiority of «"" °\^ ,„ „ g^ch confidence on our part,
name te gave him ^'t^J'^lf ^ ^J^^^fded to call him Shakings. Now it
After a full deliberation, it was dec^°«° -^^ ^^ .mall fragments of

must bo explained that shaking 'the"a^^^ ^^^ lanyards-m

rope-yarns, odds and ends of ?«"'*8e, o'« « J ^f ^he ropes.

ghov.,'to any kind of refuse ans.ng out of the^^^^^^ ^

^::Si^^^:o:':£r^:^^^^ ^eLen the p^n.

of the deck, in the hot weather. ^^^ ^^^^t j-om-

'Sf old Shakings -- "^Ch ho d-rly "^^^ midshipmen, and

panionable of dogs; and ^^ough ho ««* ^ ^ ^,- ^he auinuil m

^as dearly beloved by ^ho^.;" /i^^i suVe in the society of his own
his compositionto take a st.l higher pi belonging to the

kind. So that, when the ^^'g^'^^f.' „ °"L;,,Pion, Mr. Shakings lost no
officers came on board, afte^a shooting -^---«"^';„,^,,^ ..^o liked this
time in applying to them for tie ^^ l\,\ngl ^W sorts of encourage-
sort of familiarity very ^^c", ga « PO"^ ^'^ = ^^ ,,, ,,,h an abomi-
ment. Not so their mas ers; they ^o"ia ^^ ^^^^^ ^^^ ^

nablo cur, as they «:^"'^'' *?" i*-^;"! eek and well-kept animals. At hrst
utterly useless, ^^'''"g ^'l^''^" 'u intultL expressions as these; then
their dislike was conhned to such msuiung v ^.^^ ^^^ ^^^.^^^

it came to an occasiona kick ^/^'^.^ cV.vith the hunting-whip.
of a fowling-p.ece; f ^^ '^'j y' *'*,^, j"" T.lace,took all this, like a sensible
Shakings, who '"/^'"?.^.7; ^ ^3, ^ en out of hearing of the higher
fellow, in good part, ^^^^'^ Vth ^^uf 'a^d deep, against the tyranny and
powers, uttered curses, both 1^^"^ ana o^ I k ^^^^ fancy, was

ilppvession exercised against an an»J^l;^'^^. ;„^ , together. They
declared to be worth all '^e dogs i« the w t^^^^ ^^^^ upon them,

krSSsS^S SrS.po.i*ea b„„.,c..ea o«,onc
"".Its., iolly-bo... a.d U„d .h.; infernA dirty, ugl, be». of a dog,

poor dear Shakings! midshipmens' berth at that moment,

^ If a stranger had come into th^ ™'«^, PJ^^i^g was about to be broken
he might have thought h,s |"-f ^^^ Xdtatioxi seLed utterly canceled

£S:' tS;:S; ;:r?:aCUting a .tter of remonstrance

FIOIR.

part hung down,

usclcsH for all the

aish the raids with

pigs, barking at old

ited to the exalted

re had no doubts as
n board, though the
idence on our part.
Shakings. Now it
. small fragments of
m, old lanyards — in
nd tear of the ropes,
itiful favorite in con-
j that of well-tarred
ed by many a dab of
I between the planks

least, the most com-
thc midshipmen, and
ugh of the animiil in
he society of his own
ers belon^ini» to the

Mr. Shakings lost no
inters, who liked tliis
lU sorts of encourage-
to see such an abomi-
curscdly diity, and so
iept animals. At first
essions as these; then
nose with the butt-end
ti the hunting-whip.
!. all this, like a sensible
■ hearing of the higher
rainst the tyranny and
n their fond fancy, was
m put together. They
ch soon fell upon them,

To their great horror
[1 at some liberty which
led boot, called out, one

rty, ugly beast of a dog,

(trokosman of the boat.
the shore, and pitch him
,0 doubt." So off went

berth at that moment,
•e was about to be broken
seemed utterly canceled
ms hurled upward at the
ibining to make our lives
r a lett"er of remonstrance

EXPERIENCES OF A BRITISH NAVAL OFFICER.

361

to the admiral against this unheard-of outriigc ; and one youth swore
deeply that he would leave the service, unless ju-^^ticc were obtained.
But as lie iiad been known to swear the same thing half a dozen times
every day since ho joined the ship, no great notice was taken of this
pledge. Another declared, upon his word of honor, that such an act
was enough to make a man turn Turk, and fly his country! At last, by
{jenoral agrcfMncnl, it was decided tliat we sliould not do a bit of duty,
or even stir from our seats, till wo obtained redress for our grievancos.
However, while wo were in the very act of vowing mutiny and disobe-
dience, tiic hands were turned up to "furl sails!" upon wiiich tlie whole
party, totally forgetting their magnanimous resolution, scudded up the
ladders, and jumped into their stations with more tiian usual alacrity ;
wisely thinking that the moment for actual revolt had not yet arrived.

A better scheme than throwing up the service, or writing to Iho
admiral, or turning Musselmcn, was afterward concocted. The mid-
shipmen, who went on shore in the next boat, easily got hold of poor
Shakings, who was howling on the steps of the watering-place. In
order to conceal him, he was stuiTed, neck and crop, into the captain^s
cloak-bag, brought safely on board, and restored once more to the bosom
of his friends.

In spite of all we could do, however, to keep Master Shakings below,
he presently found his way to the quarter-deck, to receive the congratu-
lations of the other dogs. There he was soon detected by the higher
powers, and very shortly afterward trundled over the gangway, and again
tossed on the beach. Upon this occasion he was honored by tiie presence
of one of his own masters, a middy, sent upon this express duty, who
was specially desired to land the brute, and not bring him on board
again. Of course this particular youngster did not bring the dog off;
but before night, somehow or other, old Shakings was snoring away, in
grand chorus, with his more fashionable friends, the pointers, and dream-
ing no evil, before the door of the very officer's cabin whose beautifully
polislied boot he had brushed so rudely in the morning; an offense that
bad led to his banishment.

Tills second return of our dog was too much. The whole posse of
us were sent for on the quarter-deck, and, in very distinct terms, positively
ordered not to bring Shakings on board again. These injunctions
having been given, this wretched victim, as we termed him, of oppres-
aion was once more landed among the cedar groves. This time he
remained a full week on shore; but how or when he found his way off
again no one ever knew; at least no one chose to divulge. Never was
there anything like the mutual joy felt by Shakings and his two dozen
masters. He careered about the ship, barked and yelled with delight,
and, in his raptures, actually leaped, with his dirty feet, on the milk-
white duck trowsers of the disgusted officers, who heartily wished him
at the bottom of the anchorage! I'nus the poor beast unwittingly con-
tributed to accelerate his hapless fate, by this ill-timed show of con-
fidence in those who were then plotting his ruin. If he had kept his
paws to himself, and staid quietly in the dark recesses of the cx)ck-pit,
wings, cable-tiors, and other wild regions, tlie secrets of whicii were
known only to the inhabitants of our sub-marine world, all might yet
hive been well.

We had a grand jollification on the night of Shakings' restoration; and
hi:' health was in the very act of being drunk, with three times three,
when the officer of the watch, hearing an uproar below, the sounds of

(

862 EXPERIENCES OP A BRITISH NAVAL OFPIOER.

which were conveyed dUtinclly up the wimbail, sent down to put our
U ht out and wo were forced to march ofl' srowhng to our han.mocka.
"ncvT hy!"o our surprise and horror, old Shakings was not to bo seen
or hoa . of Wo searched' every where, interrogated the coxswa.ns of
°lthJ oats, and cross-questioned the marines who had been son nes,
durina the night, on the forecastle, gangways and poop ; but all m va.n-
no trance of Shakings could be found.

At length the opinion began to gain g'°»"^VT^ Tn'And our^i^e
beast had been put an end to by some diabolical means, and our ire
mountTacS,rdingly. This suspicion seemed the more natural, as the
office ssad no a word about the matter, nor even asked us what we
omcers saia iio ^j^.^ ^^^^^ ^^ excitement and

iLtrSontr on til', one o^ the midshipmen, who had some dro lery
in is com, o ition, gave a new turn to the expression of our houghts

T isSem who was more than twice as old as mos of us ay
„hm tlStv hud won the aftoctions of the whole of our class, by the
Se. ss of ll manners, and the generous part he always took on our
SY^l^re among u« the pet name of Daddy; and certainly he was
1 Uo"« fith. o time anion.' us who, like myself, were quite ad nft in the
hr-itut any o^e to look after them. He was a man of talents and
ch sica d catL, but he had entered the navy far too late in lite eve
?o akc to cordially. His habits, indeed, bad become so rigid, hat
the V could never bo inado to hcnd to the mortifying kind of discipline
whiTitppear, every ottioer should run through, but which only the
vo «; and'^Eheart/d can brook. Our worthy friend, acconl.ngly,
I mU is abilities, taste and acquirements, never seemed at home on
boa d it^- an inU s a man can reach this point of liking for the sea,
he i bo 1^'r n si ore. At all events, old Daddy cared more about his
boo s tl In lut the blocks, and delighted much more in giving us
nssis.ince in our literary pursuits, and trying to teach us to be useful,
tl!an in renderhig himseff a proficient in those professional mysteries,
ivhirli he never hoped to practice in earnest himsell.

Wha this veryTnteresting person's early history was we never could
find otU nor why he entered the navy; nor how it came ^hat a man of
his powers and accomplishments should have been kept back so long.
hdJod he youngsters never inquired too closely into these mat ers
EgqtUte contented to have the advantage of h.9 protect^n against
thP oonression of the oldsters, who occasionally bullied them. Upon
a 1 occLion of difficulty, we were in the habit of clustering round him,
'o tell our grievances, great and small, with the certainty of always
findtng ?n him that great desideratum in calamity-a patient and friendly

''Twiil easily be supposed that our kind Daddy took more than usual
inte es in Ms affair of Shakings, and that he was applied to by us at
every t«"e of the transaction.^ He was sadly perplexed, of course
when the do2 was finally missing; and for some days he could give us
L comtt -r Suggest Ly mode\f revenge which --^J *- ^^^^^^^^^

'^Z's:r::^t:^^tn^.^, ■.. h. dry and

«llahtlv sarcastic way, which all who knew him will recollect as well a«
ffhev saw hmS, drawing his hand slowly across his mouth and
chn' «rre cl be'no harm', my boys, in putting the other dogs m

own to put our
our hammockH.
s not to bo seen
e coxawains of
been 8on*ric8,
but all in vain —

19, that the poor

ins, and our ire

natural, as the

cod us what we

excitement and

some drollery

our thoughts.

a most of us, say

our class, by the

ways took on our

certainly he was

{uite adrift in the

an of talents and

late in life ever

me so rigid, that

cind of discipline

nt which only the

end, acconlingly,

;emed at home on

liking for the sea,

1 more about his

lore in giving us

h us to bo useful,

ssional mysteries,

as \vc never could
ime that a man of
iept back so long,
nto these matters,
protection against
lied them. Upon
stering round him,
ertainty of always
atient and friendly

: more than usual
ipplied to by us at
ilexed, of course,
■s he could give us
as not too danger-
irudently observed,
foolish to get our-

d, in his dry and
ecollect as well ab
iss his mouth and
the other dogs in

EXPERIENCES OF A BRITISH NAVAL OFFICER.

3(];{

mourning for their dear departed friend Shakings; for, whatever is
come of him, he is lost to them as well as to us, and his memory ought
to be duly respected."

This iiint was no sooner given than a cry was raised for crape, and
every ciiest and bag ransacked, to procuro badges of mourning. The
pointers were speedily rigged up with a large bunch uf crape, tied in a
handsome bow, upon the leil leg of each, just above the knee. The
joke took immeiliately. The officers could not help laughing; for,
though wo considered them little better than fiends at that moment of
excitement, they wore, in fact, except in this instance, the best naturod
and most indulgent n>en I remember to have sailed with. They, of
course, ordered tiie crapo to be instantly cut off from the dogs' logs;
and one of tiio officers remarked to us, seriously, that as wo had now
had our piece of fun out, there were to bo no more 8u<;h tricks.

Oft" wo scampered, to consult old Daddy what was to be done next,
as we had been positively ordered not to moddlo any more with
the dogs.

" Put the pigs in mourning," ho said.

All our crape was expended by this time; but this want was soon
supplied by men whose trade it is to discover resources in difficulty.
With a generous devotion to the cause of public spirit, one of these
juvenile mutineers pulled off his black handkerchief, and, tearing it in
pieces, gave a portion to each of the circle, and away wo all started
to put into practice this new suggestion of our director-general of
mischief.

The row which ensued in the pig-sty was prodigious — for in those
days, hogs were allowed a place on board a man-of-war, a custom most
wisely abolished of late years, since nothing can bo more out of char-
acter with any ship than such nuisances. As these matters of taste and
cleanliness were nothing to us, we did not intermit our noisy labor till
every one of the grunters had his armlet of such crape as we had been
able to muster. We then watched our opportunity, and opened the door
so as to let out the whole herd of swine on the main-deck just at a
moment when a group of the officers were standing on the fore part of
the quarter-deck. Of course the liberated pigs, delighted witjfi their
freedom, passed, in review, under the very nose of our superiors, each
with his mourning knot displayed, grunting or squealing along, as if it
was their express object to attract attention to their domestic sorrow for
the loss of Shakings. The officers were excessively provoked, as they
could not help seeing that all this was affi}rding entertainment, at their
expense, to the whole crew; for, although the men took no part in this
touch of insubordination, they were ready enough, in those idle times
of the weary, weary peace, to catch at any species of distraction or
deviltry, no matter what, to compensate for the loss of their wonted
occupation of pommeling their enemies.

The matter, therefore, necessarily became rather serious; and the
whole gang of us being sent for on the quarter-deck, we were ranged
in a line, each with his toes at the edge of a plank, according to the
orthodox fashion of these gregarious scoldings, technically called " toc-
the-line matches." We were then given to understand hat our pro-
ceedings were impertinent, and, after the orders we had received, highly
offensive. It was with much difficulty that either party could keep their
countenances during this official lecture, for, while it was going on, the
sailors were endeavoring, by the direction of the officers, to remove the

,.. EXPKR.Ei.CB. OF A BBIT.B,. »*VA.. OPncEB. ,

"*"* -. L • „ If V.ovv< vcr, it bo difficiiU— M

bU. of «ilk from the lc^« «;*-../';« i.^^to'L^rnin,, it in a job ten
roost difficult wo found ''-'" P" .i"^,," ,St .jjain. Such, ut lcti«l, m the
times more troublo.omo t«/"^;'' '"'"i^ent/. the only ono, p.-rhaps, on
fair inference ^^"'^^'1^°. '7JSTo "m o what wo hud etro.i..d .n
rccord-for it cost »>*>f ^'^^ '"f. ^nS of the uncoasinK and outrugcous
less than an hour- to "^^V ""^'""B decks, especially un.ler the Runs,
uproar which took place »«"« J^^^ 'jSe Jullcy, where two or three
and even under the coppers, y^"'? ''^^,,,^9 apparently resolvecl to
ltt,rrSit'^- rCSon of'beln, deprived of the.

™7S was very ^re^^^^^^^ZllZ^^'^ ^
the course of the day, the real ^^^-^^^ °' ^'^j Two of the mids were
taking a pig out of •"7),?;"? ^on a » U olck bunting to the lc,g of a
detected in the very act "^ ^V "doc ared they had already cut off crape
BOW, from which the seamen J^^^J'^^J \ J, ^..-.t of black,
and'silk enough to 'i'^^^.'^i.^ ^ero ratted, the whole party of us
As soon as these fresh offenses wcj« I ^^^ ^^,^,^, yont to sit

were ordered to the '"'^«^-»'«'^'l ^^^/^u"; topgallant yard-arms, and one
on the topmast cross-trees, .o.ne J J^e U^pga» ^^^^ y^

Zm goLtleman being P'^;.';^^ '^^^'^^ the extremity of the gaff. n
balanced abaft by another ^ »«/»\P ^^j" fo, six or eight hours, as old
tddTrtSr uTwittT^rl^rvhe/we were called down as the

XJiLe..r:, fViend, being^r^her provoked ^^^^^tSX-
his young flock ""^^.^'^^^Virthe dot had eally been made away wtth
It soon occurred to h"", tha nf he dog n ^^hiut ,„„st have had

tobacco out of his mouth. ,; j^ ^jth which the butcher took

Old Daddy observed the peculiar rel.sh ^^^^ ^,,,i ,, before

his glass; and m.xmg ^nf "^r, a gooo ^^^^^^

" Surely, sir." suddenly asked the inquisitor.

;;?^d7n't\t':luMh:?sUmered the butcher, qutte taken b,
surprise, and thrown all aback. ^^^^^^^ y°Vr;?5

" !'^'\^'"'come tel us'^all about it now. How did you get nd of
north-wester, l^ome, leii uo »
the dog?-of Shak.ngs, I mejmT ^^ ^.^ .^ ^ ^ag-a bread-

«' Why, sir," said the peaching rogue, P

''•'E'Well-what then?" ovcrboard-out of the midship

« I tied up the mouth, and put him ovcro

lower-deck port, sir." ^ Daddy.

«»Ye8; but he would not sinkf sam ±^ :

'. iAftt* j.<K)tBa*-*i .

bn difficnU— M
, it is a job ten
, ut lcti»l, iH tho
>no, pi-rhnpH, on
hiul etliMi'^d in
and outiugeous
iiidcr the Runs,
ere two or three
ntly resolved to
cprived of their

Ihakings; but, in
nary difficulty of
f tho mids were
ig to tho leg of a
idy cut off crape
lack.

vholo party of ua
,c wore sent to sit
,rd-arn\s, and one
was vory properly
:y of the gaff. In
ight liours, as old
illed down as the

ho punishment of
[ fate of Shakings,
n made away with,
ity, must have had
lan in the evening,

s health?" said the
\ immense quid of

h tho butcher took
;nt, placed it before
I'ords :

iinane a man as any
well that ywu must

isitor.

cher, quite taken by

ass for you— a stiff
iv did you get rid of

n in a bag— a bread- ,
-out of the midship

EXPKUIENCK8 OF A IUUTI3U NAVAL OFFICER. 365

"Oh, sir," cried the butcher, now onlcrinj,' fully into tho merciless
«piril ol Ills trudi^, " 1 put a four-und-twonly-pouiul sliot into tho bag
along \s .1 I Shakings."

" Did yiiii ?— 'riuiii, Master Butcher, all I can say is, you aro as precious
a rascal as ever wont about unhanged. Tiiero, drink your grog, and bo
off with you!" .

Next morning when tho officers wore assembled at breakfast in the
ward-room, the door of tho captain of miirinos' cabin was suddenly
opeuod, and that officer, half siiaved, and laughing through a collar of
•oaji-suds, stalked out, with a paper in his liand.

«' Hero," ho oxclaimed, " is a copy of verses, whicli 1 found just now
in my basin. I can't tell how they got thoro, nor what they aro about—
but you shall judge."

So he read tho two following stanzas of doggerel:

" When tlio Nortlipni OuMfcd'racy thrrat«no(l our shores,
And nmstd Albion'H Liiiii, rpclinini? lo slpcp,
Pri'fervBtioii was taken of ail tlut Kins^'i* Stores,
Nor 80 much as a Hope Yarn was lauacliid in the deep.

" But now it is Peace; other hopes aro in view,
And all active service ns litjlit as a featlier;

The Stores may be , and iiiirnanity, too, •

For Shaki.nos and Shot are tlirown o'erboard together I'

I need hardly say in what quarter of tho ship this biting morsel of
cock-pit satire was concocted, nor, indeed, who wrote it, for there was
no one but our good Daddy who was equal to such a flight. About mid-
night, an urchin, who sliall bo nameless, was thrust out of one of the
after-ports of the lower-deck, from whicii lio clambered up to the marine
officer's port, and the sash liappening to have been lowered down on tho
gun, the epigram, copied by another of tho youngsters, was pitched into
tho soldier's basin.

The wisest thing would have been for the officers to have said nothing
about the matter, and let it blow by. But angry people aro seldom
judicious; so they made a formal complaint to the captain, who, to do
him justice, was not a little puzzled how to settle the affair. The reputed
author, however, was called up, and tho captain said to him:

« Pray, sir, are you the writer of these lines?"

" I am, sir," he replied, at\er a little consideration.

"Then all I can say is," remarked the captain, "they are cleTer
enough in their way — but take my advice, and write no more such

rerses." . , , . . , .

So the affair ended. The satirist took the captain's hint in good part,
and confined his pen to topics below the surface of the water.

KEEFINO WATCH.

With a few exceptions, every person on board a man-of-war keeps
watch in his turn: and as this is one of the most important of the wheels
which go to make up the curious clock-work of a ship's discipline, it
•eems to deserve a word or two in passing.

The officers and midshipmen are generally divided into three watches —
first, second and third. As the senior lieutenant does not keep watch,
the officer next in rank takes the first, the junior lieutenant the second,
and the master the third watch, in ships where there are not more than
three lieutenants. Under each of these chiefs there is placed a squad

'$}

860

EXPERIENOKH OF A HHITISU KAVAL OFPIOER.

of midnhipmcn; thu principal ono of whom in mate of thn watch, tho
noxt ill floniority iH Htationod on tho forecantlu, anil atler him comt-H tho
poop mid. Thu yoiingiitorH inmain on tho loc-iiido of tho qiiartor-deck,
hionjf with tho mato of tho watch. For it must bo obsorvod, that no ono
but tho captain, tho lioutenants, tho maater, nurj^con, pur'ser, and marine
officer is over allowed, upon any occasion n'hatsoovor, to walk on tho
weathcr-aidv). This custom has bccomo so much a matter of course,
that 1 hardly remember asking myself boforo, what may have boon tho
origin of tho regulation? The chief purpose, no doubt, is to dra-.v a strong
lino of distinction between tho difforeiit innks; although, independently
ot' this, the weather-side is certainly tho most convenient to walk upon
when the ship ib pressed with sail: it is also the best sheltered from
wind and rain; and tho vi>>'.>', both low and aloft, is more commanding
than it is from the leeward.

Every person, also, nui excepting tho captain, when ho comes on the
tjuartcr-dcck, touches his hat; and as this salutation is supposed to be
paid to this privileged spot itneif, all those who at the moment have the
honor to bo upon it are bound to acknowledge the compliment. Thus,
even when a midshipman comes up, and t.ikes oil' iiis hat, uU the officers
who are walking tho dock, the adrnitnl included, if he happena to bo of
the number, touch their hats likewise.

So completely does this form grow into n habit, that in the darkest
night, and when thore may not be a single person near the liatchway, it
i:i invariably ii{i{n:>ded to with the snme precision. Indeed, when au
officer of the navy happens to be on board a merchant ship, or a packet.
he finds it difficult to nvoid carrying his hand to his hat every timo he
comes on deck. 1, for one, at least, can never got over tho feeling that
it is rude to neglect this ceremony, and have oflen, when on board pas-
sage vessels, wondered to see gontlemen so deficient in good breLding,
as to come gaping up the hatchway, as if their hats were nailed to thoir
heads, and their hands sewed into their breuchos-pockets!

Of course, each person in the watch has a specific duty to attend to,
as I shall endeavor to describe presently; but, first, it may be well to
mention tj e ingenious arrangement of the hours by which tho periods
of watching arc equally distributed to all.

In speaking of the three watches, it will, perhaps, avoid confusion,
and rather simplify tho description, to call them, for a moment, not first,
second and third, as they are named on board ship, but to designate
them by the letters A, B and C.

Let us begin then by supposing that A\<3 watch commences at eight
o'clock in the evening; the officer and his party remain on deck till raid-
night, four hours being one period. This ia called the first watch. Bis
next roused up, and keeps the middle watch, which lasts from midnight
till four o'clock. C now comes up, and stays on deck till eight, which
is the morning watch. A then returns to the deck, where he walks till
noon, when he is relieved by B, who stays up till four. If C were now
to keep the watch from four to eight, of course A would again have to
keep the first watch on the serx>nd night, as he did it first starting; and
all the others, in like manner, would have to keep over again exactly
the same watches, every night and day. In order to break this uniform
recurrence of intervals, an ingenious d^'^ Ice has been hit upon to pro-
duce a constant and equitable rotation. When or where this plan
was invented, I do not know, but I believe it exists in the ships of
all nations.

?PIOER.

) of thn watch, the
fter him comos the
f tho qiinrtor-deck,
iRorvod, thai no one
puner, ami marine
lOT, to walk on tho
I matter of course,
may have boon the
t, is to draw a strong
)Ugh, independently
jniont to walk upon
tost sheltered from
1 more commanding

en ho comts on the
m is supposed to be
ic moment have the
compliment. Thus,
a hat, all tho officers
ho happen!! to be of

, that in the darkest
icar the hatchway, it
I. Indeed, when an
uit ship, or a packet,
is hat every time he
over tho feeling thai
, when on board pas-
jnt in good breeding,
a were nailed to their
ockets !

ific duty to attend to,
irst, it may bo well to
by which the periods

aps, avoid confusion,
jr a moment, not first,
ihip, but to designate

I commences at eight
main on deck till mid-
l the first watch. B is
;h lasts from midnight
deck till eight, which
;k, where he walks till
four. If C were now
v. would again have to
id it first starting; and
lep over again exactly
r to break this uniform
I been hit upon to pro-
n or where this plan
exists in the ships of

*^-

^>.

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■w

" . i> ' W ' ' a.a ' iiM»/J'^i*a Jti ' jiyj^^: - ' '-y'',S''^i5J!jSM< ' J'^--'''?--< ' ' ' ^-?-^*i'*" j*^*-'^'- ' ' ' " ''< ' '-'"• ">'"'"' 'M

EXPERIENCES OF A BRITISH NAVAL OFFICER.

367

The period from four o'clock in the afternoon till eight in the evening,
instead of constituting one watch, is divided into two watciies, of a couple
of hours each. These, I don't know why, are called the " dog watches."
The first, which lasts from four to six o'clock, belongs, on the second
day, according to the order described above, to C, who is, of course,
relieved at six o'clock by A. This alteration, it will be observed, gives
the first watch ^from eight to midnight) to B, on the second night; tlie
middle watch (from midnight to four) to C; and the morning watch
(from four to eight) to A; the forenoon watch (from eight to noon) to B;
and the afternoon (from noon to four) to C. The first dog watch (from
four to six) will now be kept by A, the second dog watch (from six to
eight) by B, and so on, round and round. By this mechanism, it will
easily be perceived, the officers, on each succeeding day, have a watch
to keep, always one stage earlier than that which they kept on tiie day
before. Thus if A has the morning watch one night, he will have tiie
middle watch on the night following, and the first watch on the night
after that again. The distribution of time which this produces is very
unequal, when the short period of twenty-four hours only is considered ;
but the arrangement rights itself in the course of a few days. On the
first day, A has ten hours' watch to keep out of the twenty-four, B eight,
and C only six. But on the next day, A has only six hours, while B has
ten, and C eight; while on the third day, A has eight, B six, and C ten
hours watchmg; and so on, round and round, from year's end to
year's end.

This variety, to a person in health and spirits, is often quite delightful.
Each watch has its peculiar advantages; and I need hardly add that each
likewise furnishes an ample store of materials for complaining, to those
discontented spirits whose chief delight is to coddle up grievances, as
if, forsooth, the principal object of life was to keep ourselves unhappy,
and to help to make others so.

The first watch (eight o'clock to midnight) which comes after the
labor of the day is done, and when everything is hushed and still, carries
with It this great recommendation, that, although the hour of going to
bed IS deferred, the night's rest is not afterward broken in upon. The
prospect of "turning in" at midnight, and being allowed to sleep till
seven in the morning, helps greatly to keep us alive and merry during
the first watch, and prevents the excitement of the past day from ebbing
too fast. On the other hand, your thorough-bred growlers are apt to say,
It IS a grievous task to keep thg first watch, after having gone through
all the toil of the day, and, in particular, after having kept the afternoon
watch, (noon to four o'clock,) which, in hot climates, is always a severe
trial upon the strength. Generally speaking, however, I think the first
watch IS the least unpopular; for, I suppose, no mortal, whatever he
might think, was ever found so Quixotic as to profess openly that he
really kked keeping watch. Such a paradox would be famously ridiculed
on board ship!

The middle watch is almost universally held to be a great bore; and
certainly it is a plague of the first order, to be shaken out of a warm
bed at midnight, when three hours of sound sleep have sealed up our
eyelids all the faster, and steeped our senses in forgetfulness, and in
repose, generally much needed. It is a bitter break, too, to have foTir
good hours sliced out of the very middle of the night's rest, especially
when this tiresome interval is to be passed in the cold and rain, or, which
18 fltten still more trying, in the siUtry calm of a smooth, tropical sea,

'Cf

,„, EXPEa.l5»0ESOrADB.T.»HSAVALO>-F.0EB,

°^^ -.1 „ na If thev had been dipped o»ei-

when the sleepy sails as -f^ ^^S, ng,t7so very gentf s bare y

lioll^ Sr Ce^lllc^Sn of .1: sound aW. so. .e to
^^^Seless the .uch abused ;.uldle .aU. has^^ J— , .
least for those ardent young «P';J^ Y ° ,^' There are full three hours
whose habit it is to make t^.e rno^t of h.ngs.^ ^^^ ^ ^^^^ ,^ j

and a l>alf of sound ^^^o^^^^^/^'^,. ^h, the mind, being rested as well
sleep" after it is over. Beside « ^^ ' . ^^^ come to their task bo
as the body, before the m.ddle ^^f ^^^^''^es to execute, they are
JrV; dy, thit if there be ,^^7 ^ard or anx.ous c,„ ^ ^^ ^^

promptly and well '^"en^f »«• fjj^^^f Jy entlmsiam may contrive to
ihe deck, tlie thoughts of an oflicerot ay ^^^.^^^.^^ ^^..^j, that

find occupation either in looking back, or in ^^J^ ^.^fully employed
Tndof cheerfulness which belongs to youtn ^^^^ ^^^ ^^^

AUhat season of the night every one e^se F^^^ ,ookout-m^n at

-\er at the con, the h^^^^^^^^ d the .uar er.

ErdK;;;.r;i;tions . K^Ssil^^iS^

Ind eSept, of course, the different drowsy m.^ ^j^ ^^^^^^^^^ ^„y„^,„g

thpir dineroni at<iv>""' -•• - " - ,irn«i8v miuaics, who, p""- • -

and eSept, of course, tlie ^fere"! ^'^^ ™ j ^„i forward, counting
leep tramming along the q»»^^^;-*^?f ;i,^:3T" looking wistfully at the
the half-hour bells with ^"'''""^^f J^J^^^' door shakes ever and anon M

^^|:^t?ioyous morning w^h ^^ ^ ^^llJ^ J j;::;^ ^^^^J

It is the beginning of a "e'/'^y "L^S^so that, when the first touches
arrattackeltoo,afteragoodn^h 3^^^^^^^^ .„ ^,, black «ky,

«f the dawn appear, and the ho"2on, p J j^,^g ^ tgeling

begins to show'i^elf in the -fj^^te en the dullest are not altogether

of elasticity and «t^«°g^^' °^„t; , I'nent when ^^^^^'^^\°[^^'l^Z
Sensible. In war time th^ is a "J"™^. j^ „„d happy is the «harp-

« Up with the helm!'' cries the officer^ ^^, Youngster,

studdi'ng-sails-rig out ^^J^^^ a strang'er on the ^ee-bow-aa^

;:: ttrw^t^mltinVaS sail. /^^^^Jf fSl7'^^^^^^^^ other ves-eV.

V. the merry morning ^"'"^V,^? be^fkenra- to the course steered,

hove in sight, fresh r^^-^,™"! th tS period of the day at sea.

characteristics of the profession. j^^ ,^^j^^ «".pV7™v1L1!

The morning watdi, also, '^f P^^^JJI^ d^y free, from eight o clock
hardly ever fails to afford, !"'«' '^^^ Je^^oul'brokea resolution .8 put
Su four in the afternoon. Many a P^J'^y ^o those, however, who
off o this period, only to be Jg^ »; J"'*^^^; ,„„ day in every three.

ER.

in dipped otei-
rently us barely
' with notes so
most sots me to

advantages, al
; them out, and
full three hours
,ng a " spell of
g rested as well
3 to their task BO
xecute, they are
g to do but pace
, may contrive to
brward, with that
seluUy employed,
jave the qiiarter-
lookout-men at
and the quarters,
vho, poor fellows!
forward, counting
g wistfully at the
ever and anon, as
uld be accelerated

universal favorite,
arize. Tho duties
en the first touches
t in the black sky,
ho spirits a feeling
are not altogether
ndreds of eyes are
happy is the sharp-
iltation:

topgallant and roysl
iboom! Youngster,
n the lee-bow— and

-uish."

an, and other vessels
the course steered,
,d of the day, at sea,
than any other tinae,
,t decision, and vigor
y, form the essential

active employment it
se, from eight o'clock
ken resolution is pu»
» those, however, who
»r day in every three,
BS, is of the greatest

EXPERIENCES OF A BRITISH NAVAL OFFICER.

369

consequence; though, it must be owned that at tho very best, a ship is
but a wretched place for reading. The eternal motion, and the infernal
noise, almost baffle the most resolute students.

For a hungry midshipman (when are they not hungry?) the morning
watch has attractions of a still more tender nature. The mate, or senior
man among them, is always invited to breakfast with the officers at eight
o'clock; and one or two of the youngsters, in turn, breakfast with the
captain at half past eight, along with the officer of the morning watch
and the first lieutenant, who, in many ships, is the constant guest of the
captain, both at this meal and at dinner.

I have already mentioned that the first watch begins, nominally, at
eight, and ends at midnight; but people are much mistaken, who Suppose
that a slcepy-hcadcd midshipman, with the prospect of a cold middle
watch before him, and just awakened out of a sound nap, is disposed to
jump up at once, dress himself, and run upon deck. Alas! it is far
from this; and no one who has not been exposed to the trial can conceive
tlio low ebb to which patriotism, zeal, public spirit — call it what you
please — sinks at such an hour in the breast of the unhappy wretch who,
in the midst of one of those light and airy dreams, which render the
night season of young people such a heaven of repose, is suddenly
roused up. After being awakened by a rude tug at the clues of his
hammock, he is hailed, after the following fashion, by the grulf old
quarter-master:

"Mr. Doughead!"

No answer. Another good tug at the hammock.

" Mr. Doughead! it's twelve o'clock, sir!"

"Very well, very well; you need not shake me out of bed, need you?
What sort of a night is it?"

" It rains a little, sir, and is just beginning to blow. It looks very
black, sir."

"Oh, plague take it! Then we shall have to take in a reef, I
suppose?"

" It seems very like it, sir. It is beginning to snuffle."

With this, Mr. Doughead gives himself a good shrug in his blanket,
turns half round, to escape the glare of light frpm the quarter-master's
lantern, hung up within six inches of his face, expressly to keep him
awake, and in ten seconds he is again tightly clasped in the arms of
Morpheus, the presiding deity of the cock-pit at that hour. By and by
comes down the quarter-master of the middle watch, who, unlike the
young gentleman, has relieved the deck twenty minutes before.

"Mr. Doughead! it's almost one bell, sir."

"Indeed!" exclaims the youth. "I never knew anything of it. I
never was called."

" Oh, yes, you were, sir. The man I relieved said you asked him
what sort of weather it was, and whether we should have to take in a
reef."

" I ask about the weather ! That 'a only one of the lies he always tells,
to get me into a scrape."

While they are speaking, the bell strikes one, indicating that half an
hour has elapsed since the first conversation took place, touching the
weather; and presently, before Mr. Doughead has got his second foot
over the side of his hammock, the mid who is to be relieved by him
comes rattling down the cock-pit ladder, as wet as a shag, cold, angry,
and more than half asleep.
24

Vxi

370 EXPERIENCES OP A BRITISH NAVAL OFFICER.

« I siiv Master Doughy, do you mean to relieve the deck to-nighl?

\°>"T' m ^MteTto keep .11 m? o«„ w..ch, ana g^nc.ll, l,.ir of
,1,0 P«"i=»,'=?»'=«'"'' "! Kf L of lho,o° »»«" i"'"> -I"" »"° '""''"

understood, when It is ™«"t'<>»«d \*'^^^J'\7^7i°\;^^^^^^ that 'the

described occupies less than ^^J^f^^ "^^.^^ ^^^^^restiy say, that the
hammocks touch one ^^^''^'^ •. ^f .'J^fSn, has been found in these
soundest sleep, by far, hat I ^»'^^%7^^"^^^"'^7', t^oug,, the recollection
apparently uncomfortab e pl^^-of,^^^; ;,"! l'i;Snced on making

Lss of interest, which only j^^^^; i;'^^„?f ^aV be managed in three

The wicked operation of » cutting f*".. 3 divide the foremost

ways. The mildest form IS to take a kmfo^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^

bringing tte lound stern of the J^^g «f ;^f '"^''^"^'feceive t. The
If 1,0 happons to bo .looping m <''V,'"'„^° , ™ rin„° I mo"o ruggod,

°lto,tlt' ao^ £'.i,n..ir»"S"L"r..n'bu. . .,«g of

""St.lTSr.hl. horso-pUyi. »n,eUn,o. y-jej l,! p.»;ng J
Uno ,o,.ncl .ho middle p.,. of .ho hammock »»^ f^^ ™ °8^ ,„j, „„

sr,LTo»\"iroi\L7:aii"do'rdni ^^ *» no^w

lOER.

ic deck to-ni{,'hl?
rn a lef» yot. 1 '11
elicf in tlio wliolc
generally lialf of
lieutenant t )-inor-
I means of making

"1 tell you, again,

Horn made; for all
c midshipmen arc
their own hands,
wn fashion, on any
dy gentlemen arc

occasions, is called
it be imagined from
of a thing a ham-
long by two wide,
sets of small lines,
e, which again are
>ng the beams. In
a couple of blankets,
d. The degree of
3 gentlemen may be
^ the apparatus just
width, and that the
loncstly say, that the
been found in these
(Ugh tke recollection
perienced on making
narling of a piercing
r leave my nfemory ;
; of evergreen fresh-
be managed in three
divide the foremost
nd of the hammock
ed out, feet foremost,
[ler lanyard to bo cut,
rn the sleeper's head
5 jerked into the air.
ich has the effect of
;ontact with the edge
s to receive it. The
lose on the deck; or,
Bt; on the hard bends
i much more rugged,
Fall is but a choice of

igmented by piecing a
id fastening it to the
myards at the ends are
[ freely; but the nobler

EXPERIEN'CES OF A BUITISH NAVAL OFFICER.

371

part of 'lim being secured by the bolly-band, as it is called, the futurt-
hero tit' Hdtiie future Trafalgar remains suspended ingloiiously, in mid
air, like tliu golden ilocco over a wollcn-drapor's shop.

These are but a few of tiio tricks played off upon those who will not
relievo tin! deck in proper time. I remember an incorrigible snotjzer,
who had been called three or four times, but still gave no symptoms of
any intention of "showing a leg," the only allowable test of sincerity in
the proc(!Ms called "turning out." About five o'clock, on a fine tropical
morning, when the ship was cruising off the Mono Passage, in the VVest
Indies, and just before the day began to dawn, it was resolved, in a full
conclave of the middies of his own watch, assembled on the lee-side
of the quarter-deck, that an example should forthwith be made of tha
sleeper.

A detachment, consisting of four stout hands, was sent to the ham-
mock of liie culprit. Two of them held the youth firmly down, whila
(lie otiicrs wrapped the bed-clothes round him, and then lashed him
up — tiiat is, strapped him tightly in by means of the lashing, a long
cord with which tiie hammocks are secured when brought upon deck in
the day-time. No part of the unfortunate wight was left exposed
except his face. When he was fairly tied in, the lanyards of his hamr
mock were cast off, and the bundle, half midshipman, half bedding, was
dragged along, like a log of wood, to the square of the hatchway.

When all was secure, the word "haul up" was given from below,
upon which the party on deck hoisted away. Tiie sleeper awakened,
vanished from the cock-pit, only to make his appearance, in a few
seconds, at the mouth of the windsail, half way between the quarter-
deck and the mizzen-stay. Of course, the boys watched their oppor-
tunity, when the officer of the watch had gone forward on the gangway,
to see how the head-yards were trimmed; but long before he came aft
again, their victim was lowered down, and the signal halyards unbent.
What to do with the wretch next was a great puzzle, till one of them
said, " Oh! let us stick him up on his end, between two of the guns on.
the weather-side of the deck, and, perhaps, the officer of the watch may
take him for an Egyptian mummy, and have him sent to the British
Museum, as a present to the king." This advice was instantly followed;,
and the enraged, mortified and helpless youngster, being placed so that
the first rays of the sun should fall on his countenance, there was no.
mistaking his identity.

jack's allowance.

The moment of noon is the most important of all the grand epochs
which mark the progress of time on board ship. It commences our day
in nautical astronomy, and is ushered in by a number of ceremonies,
some of which never fail to excite the ridicule of our " shore going "
friends who may happen to be on board; and who, from not well under-
standing the drift of what they see, are apt to fancy much of it unneces-
sary. Nothing is so easy, indeed, asto quiz those punctilious formalities
with which naval discipline abounds. But if experience has taugiit that,
many of the most valuable fruits of good order can be traced to th«
exact observance of these very forms, they surely lose none of their
importance from having been so long established that their origin is for-
gotten — still less from being laughed at by persons not having had the
happiness of being brought up at sea, and, therefore, by no means tlie
best judges of the utility of these refinements.

372 EXPERIENCES OF K BRITISH NAVAL OFFICER.

A, the hour of noon m^o..^...^^^^^^.o^ t^Z:^ ^n S
coming up rhe foro and ™-^'" ^'f^J'^.Y'jX a silver, and tl>e wood-
hands, tho hoops of ^l^'^j'/J^^iiSL moB tidy dairy-maid. The «rog,
work a« neat and f^^^^^jf.f'^ZL halMeck, by the quarter-
also, is now mixed in a arge »".^ "" u„ 'ther leading and responsible
maslcrs of the watch below, ^^^^^^^f^^'^^^^^eSnded, of course, by

,„cu among the sh.p'a <;°"W;„'S

the mate of the hold, to see that no liquor ^ ^^^ ^^

purser's steward, who regulates ^]'«J\*'=;iJ,»^„ext ,J^ it is to take
water to bo measured out. TJ^Vhl "have to mount to the mast-head to
the wheel, or heave the l^'^d^ °™/^7; ^ be planted as sentries at
lookout,aswell as he mat^nesj^ho are^t^^^^ P^^^ beforehand

Se7ertnrarrcl:d'"^^^^^^^^^ f- ^^^ ^°- ^' ^''''

they have their allowance «";«<* to *J^™' ^^^ ^„,^^^ other minor pre-
Long before twelve o'clock, al ff ««' "^"^ J" ^^ere ia generally a
paratio'ns, have been so completely mde,t^ J

remarkable stillness over the ^^e ^^.p j ^^ ^^^ break of the

moment of noon arrives T.^^^/^^l^'^^^'^hiX, in his hand, which ever
forecastle, with his bright silver '^all, or whistle, ^^^^^^

and anon he places just at the P^^^d^'j/^^^e a faint "too weet!
which threaten to >°t«^f«/«7'''' '*'JfiX attention of the boatswain's
too weet!" as a preparatory no c to fix jhe M ^^^^.^^ themselves

SrS:St mrdSrady'togive due accompaniment to

^'^^^S^r keeps his^eye cmUje group J^^-.;^;;^
knows when the "sun is "Pf'J'y '^^^^^^^^ out his^ latitude with a

astronomers, or by n°J'<='"gjh^,. "f ^t'. Z^n the edge of the hammock-
pencil, on the ebony bar of his ^"•'^^^"^'"Xn neat-handed navigators,
railing; though if he be one «f y«"'^ "f^^j^'one way or other the
he carries his little book for ^h'^ /"^P^^j^ ,\"igfied that the sun has
latitude is computed, a. soon ^ the master is saUs ^^^^^ ^^ ^^

reached his highest f '\";^^ '"^'^'tJSre ^^dock, communicating, also,
officer of the watch, and reP«7 V^^^^^^ observed The lieutenant pro-
the degrees and m mutes ^^^^e latitude observeu^^^^ ^^^^ .^ .^

rnf^atrnffiS^^

^Xt -Z^ evr ;? t ras'hi^ir assisted in making the

^r c^uin now says to the officer ^^^Cf^^^^"

It fat:i:?Xr:^ed-:r„gf o;t^:r "^^^'^^

eight bells!" »u„, «l,1 miarter-master, stepping down the

mmi»s,hi, «>b»»i^'''.•"'v•°.^,!rt^me.l Nol less reidy or le..

DER.

3C8 may be seen
ess-kids in their
, and tlie wood-
laid. The jLjrog,
, by the quarter-
and responsible
d, of course, by
, and also by the
,f spirits and of
turn it is to take
the mast-head to
3d as sentries at
grog beforehand.
10 hour at which

other minor pre-
re is generally a
re the important
• the break of the
hand, which ever
w out any crumbs
a faint "too weet!
>f the boatswain's
station themselves
accompaniment to

bservers, and well
3 place among the
his latitude with a
;o of the hammock-
handed navigators,
e way or other the
id that the sun has
len walks aft to the
jmmunicating, also,
rhe lieutenant pro-
ats that it is twelve,
round of reports is
IS heard every word
sisted in making the

" Make it twelve."
lake it twelve."
rter-master, "Strike

•, Stepping down the
■• Turn the glass, and

lis mouth for several
on the stop, ready to
at less ready or less
low-white deal tables
their mess-kids acting
the first stroke of the

EXPERIENCES OP A BRITISH NAVAL OFFICER.

373

bell, which, at this particular hour, is always sounded with jicculiar
vivacity, the officer of the watch oxclaims to the boatswain, '■ Pipe to
dinnt'r!"

Those words, followed by a glorious burst of shrill sounds, " long
drawn out," are hailed with a murmur of delight by many s hungry tar,
and miiny a jolly marine. The merry notes are nearly drowned, next
inHtaiit, ill the rattle of tubs and kettles, the voice of the ship's cook and
his matcH, bawling nut tho numbers of the messes, as well as by the
sound of feet trampling along the decks, and down the ladders, with the
steaming, ample store of provisions — such as set up and brace the sea-
man's frame, and give it vigor for any amount of physical action.

A seaman's «RAV£.

Independently of any personal interest, sailors are always very desirous
that no one should die on board — or rather, they have a great objection
to the body of any one who has died remaining among them. This is a
superstition easily accounted for among men whose whole lives art
passed, as it were, on tho very edge of the grave, and who have quite
enough, as they suppose, to remind them of their mortality, without the
actual presence of its effects. An idea prevails among them, that sharks
will follow a ship for a whole voyage which has a corpse on board; and
the loss of a mast, or the long duration of a foul wind, or any other
incoavcniencc, is sure to be ascribed to the same influence. Accord-
ingly, when a man dies on board ship, there is an obvious anxiety among
the crew to got rid of their late shipmate as speedily as possible.

It need not bo mentioned that the surgeon is in constant attendance
upon the dying man, who has generally been removed from his hammock
to a cot, which is larger and more commodious, and is placed within a
screen on one side of the sick bay, as the hospital of the ship is called.
It is usual for tho captain to pass through this place, and to speak to the
men, every morning; and I imagine there is hardly a ship in the service
in which wine, fresh meat, and any other supplies recommended by the
surgeon, are not sent from the tables of the captain and officevs to such
of the sick men as require a more generous diet than the ship's stores
provide. After the carver in the gun-room has helped his messmates,
he generally turns to the surgeon, and says, " Doctor, wh it shall I send
to the sick?" But, even without this, the steward would certainly be
taken to task were he to omit inquiring, as a matter of course, what was
wanted in the sick bay. The restoration of the health of the invalids
by such supplies is, perhaps, not more important, however, than the
moral influence of the attention on the part of the officers.

I have generally observed, also, a most valuable effiect produced on
the minds of the survivors, by the captain attending the death-bed of
any of his crew. It is astonishing, indeed, how far such well timed
notice, however small, goes with the sailors; and it is of importance to
remember that this is only one of numberless means by which a judicious
olVicer may always strengthen his hands, and improve the discipline of
his ship, at an extremely small sacrifice of time, and none at all of his
true dignity. For the men are vastly easier managed when they have
reason to believe their superiors enter into and respect their feelings,
than when, as sometimes happens, they see them act as if they scarcely
considered themselves of the same species. Sailors, indeed, will sub-
mit cheerfully to much greater hardships, and work with double energy,
at the word of an olficer, however strict, provided they are made sensible

•IT''-

„,, EXPERIENCES OF A BRITISH NAVAL OFFICER.

(no matter for how «hort a t me) by in ^^^^.ion^Uy, a,ul m the

whom tho surgeon /"^y .-^^J^J* " jXreat generals visiting hosp. als,
flourishing style with «h.c\we rej^ ot f ' H ^j^^^^.^^^ „, ,,,.1! as
but uniformly, and m th«Jl"'«\iJjjya man falling at his post m the
hearty consideration for J^/j^'/'JS" °* , a death is inferior, no doubt,
service of his country. Th« 6clat ot suat ^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^

to that which is bestowed \° »1^"*/ ' ^^ at our hands A man

very account the sacrifice d'^^^'.Y.f^ ""A" "^e to record his cxplo.tH, and

who is killed in action has J^V^^'^^i.^d h 1 de"^^'''^'^- ^"'' "m '"'["
the whole country may b« ^-^"^ ^» '^""j;'^, "__of the soldier or sailor who
is not less-^r may even ^^^^'^^^Jil'^Ts story untold, and his suftor.ngs
dies of a fever in a distant ?"a— '^'^^^.V.L to his frame, he may Iravc
unseen. In warring against climates "-^"'^^^J^^^^^^.e formidable tiuin
"crniered, in/he.pblic service enem.e often m.^^^.^^^
those who handle pike and gun Thero s ^^^ ^_^^^^ ,,,

therefore, at such a time, to show, not o J ^^^ apprcciatod.

.hipniates, and his fauuly at home, that his ^^ ^ ^,^.^ ^^^ ,

f r,.ne,nber, on one occasion ^^H^I^HJ,^ ,ee him sochco.tul
,>oor fellow who was almost g^n^'J'^^^y;''.,? j, Aad anything to say.

'"iSt^^rK'nS'Si;" -id his commander, " and to the satisH^ction
*'^r-r;;,nra7l w^^a to know sir,- repUed the rnan ^^ ^. ^^^^^ ^^
Tl cse few common-place --f^.^ ^ I atituie by the people under
his time, but were l«"ffJ3 £, «Uh^lny other gracefu acts of
his orders, and contributed, along w vn 3 ^.^^^jj jcsire.

'ousiderat; attention, to ^^^^^ ^^^ '^n who pleases him, he
If a sailor who knows »>«'« dying ha.s ^^ ^ ,\,,i-mi often

13 very likely to send a message by »^^^« . 8.,^ ^ut merely to say some-
to trouble his commander *'^h;ny comm ^^^^^^ ^^ grant such

ihina at .parting. No officer, of ««";«^' ^Jd alwavs be volunteered; for
n intervlw, but ^^^^^TJ^ Z\l^X'^^^ ^^^^^ ''''''''^"'' ''T "I

^^C;hortly after POor Jack dlea^eJs^P;^-^ for lu^^^^^^
grave by his messmates, who, with the ass.stan .^ ^.^ hammock, and
fi the presence of the master-at-arms, sew mm j ^^^^ ^,^^ j^^^y

ha'iiV placed a -"P^^;/, X an Egyptia^ —y) on a .pare gra^
(whicl. now not a little '•esembles an r-gyp ^ ^^je up m

„„ Some portion of the ^^^'l^'^g.""^.^^' form being too much seen.

he package-apparently ^« ?;«;«,";;] a-o^^ the after hatchway, the
.U is then carried aft, '^"'^' ^.^'"^Sometimes it is placed between two of
.rir^^artrhXd:ck; brglerany, I think, he is laid where I

ave' memioned, just abaft [^^ --J-^ ;„,„ ,, the surgeon's ineffectual
, should have mentioned before that as soon ^^^^ ter-deck, and

professional offices are at an end, he waiK

3ER.

levnrity, hn \\V.f-
ipiuess a itart of

jtain to bo seen
any of his jrcw
nally, and in the
/isiting hospitals,
neas, aa w(;li as
at his post in the
nferior, no doubt,
ollect that on this
ir hands. A man
I his cxploitH, and
1. But tlie merit
dier or sailor wlio
ind his sulVeringa
rame, ho may Iravc
re formidablo-tiian
thing loft undone,
ng man, but to liis
•0 appreciated,
of a sliip i<ay to a
ce him soclicorful
lathing to say.
mile, " I have done

,d to the satisfaction

an. .

not five minutes ol
y the people under
jr graceful acts of
he could desire.
;ho pleases him, ho
eg a visit — not often
merely to say some-
refuse to grant such
bo volunteered ; for
d disincline them to
listinctions are about

ed for his deep sea
f the sail-maker, and
in his hammock, and
It, they rest the body
nmy) on a spare grat-
e always made up in
eing too much seen,
e after hatchway, the
aced between two of
ink, he is laid where I

6 surgeon's inefiectual
the quarter-deck, and

EXPKIIIKNCES OF A BRITISH N.VV.'.L OrFlOEIl.

375

roiiorts to the officer of the watcli tliat one of IiIh patients has just
expired. At whiiti-ver hour of the day or nigiit this occurs, tlie captain
is immediately made acquainted with the circumstance. At the same
lim<! the uiastor-at-arms is ordered by the oflicer of the watch to take
imssession of the dead man's clothes; and his messmates, soon after-
ward, proceed to dress and prc|)aro the body for burial.

Next day, generally about eleven o'clock, the bell on whidi the iialf
hours are struck is tolled for tiic funeral by one of the quarter-masters
of liie watch below, or by one of the deceased's messmates; and all
who choose to bo prusonl assemble on the gangways, booms, and round
the mainmast, while the foropavt of the quarter-deck is occupied by

the officers. „ • •

In some ships — and it ought, perhaps, to be po in all — it is made
imperative on the officers and crow to attend this ceremony. If such
attendance bo a proper mark of respect to a professional brother — as it
surely is — it ought to bo enforced, and not lett to caprice. Tliere may,
indeed, be times of groat fatigue, when it would harass men aii<i officers
needlessly to oblige them to come on deck for every funeral, and upon
such occasions the watch on deck may be sufficient. Or, when some
dire disease gets into a ship, and is cutting down her crew by its daily
and nightly, or it may be hourly, ravages, and wlicn two or tiiree times
in a watch, the ceremony must be repeated, tiiose only whose turn it ia
to be on dock need bo assembled. In such fearftil times, tlie funeral is
generally made to follow close upon the death.

While the people are repairing to the quarter-deck, in oltodienco to the
summons of the bell, the grating on which tlie body is phired, bi'ing
lifted from the main-deck by the messmates of tiie man wlio hns died, is
made to rest across the lee gangway. Tlie stanchions for the mnn-ropcs
of the side arc unshipped, and an opening made at the after-end of tlio
hammock netting sufficiently large to allow a free passage.

The body is still covered by the flag already mentioned, with the feet
projecting a little over the gunwale, while the mcs.>sniates of the deceased
range themselves on each side. A rope, which is kept out of sight in
these arrangements, is then made fast to the grating, for a purpose which
will be seen presently.

When all is ready, the chaplain, if there be one on board, or, if not,
the captain, or any of the officers he may direct to officiate, appears on
the quarter-deck, and commences the beautiful service, which, though
but too familiar to most ears, I have observed, never fails to rivet the
attention even of the rudest and least reflecting. Of course, the bell
has ceased to toll, and every one stands in silence and uncovered as the
prayers are read. Sailors, with all their looseness of habits, are well
disposed to be sincerely religious; and when they have fair play given
them, they will always, I believe, be found to stand on as good vantage
ground, in this respect, as their fellow-countrymen on shore. Be this
as it may, there can be no more attentive, or apparently reverent auditory,
than assembles on the deck of a ship of war, on the occasion of a ship-
mate's burial.

There is no material difference in the form of this service from that
used on shore, excepting in the place where allusion is made to the
return of the body to its parent earth. T^erhaps it might have been as
well as to have left this unchanged— for ilie ocean may well be taken,
in this sense, as a part of the earth — but since an alteration of the words
was thought necessary, it could not have been made in better taste.

37(j KXPERIEN0E8 OF A BRITISH NAVAL OFFICER.

The land Horvico for the burial of tho dead contoius iho following

''°" Fo^Hinuch as it hath pleaied Almighty God, of his groat .ncrcy. to
take unto hin.self the soul of our dear brother hero departed, wo ther.-
i commit his body to the ground, earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust
lu dust: iu sure and certain hope," etc. , r r • i »„,i

very one, I am sure, who has attended tho funeral of a fnend-and
wl o w 11 this not includ;?-must recollect the solemnity of that stage of
Ui^Tco cmony, where, as tho above words are pronounced, there are cast
n^othegra;; three success vo portions of earth, which, falling on tho
coL, «e5d up a hollow, mourntul sound, resembling no other that I

""T'the burial service at sea, the part quoted above is varied in the

to take out of this world the soul of our deceased brother, we tl orclore
commU l5l body tothe deep, to be turned into -"uptjon, lo<^.ng for
the resurrection of the body, when the sea shall g.ve up her d«ad, c^^
At the commencement of this part of the service, one «f ^'? f^''-^^"
stoops down, and disengages the flag from the 'f ""^^^ jj /'';, f J^^ P,,
mate while the others, at the words, « we commit his body to the eo p,
Co'crie grating right into the sea. Tho body being loaded with shot
Tone end, glances off the grating, plunges at once into the ocean, and-

" In a moment, like a drop of rain,
He sinks into its denths with bubbling «™h"' v„own "
Without a grave, unknelled, uncoffined, and unknown.

This part of the ceremony is rather less impressive than the corres-
oondent part on land, but still there is something solemn, as well as
Sng,^n the suddek splash, followed by the r.ound ot tho grating, a.

' TnTfit ty"'a; set^tootfwtTand when all the ship's company
" „.l3, that i. i. c.lc»l.wd 10 l«..e e,ea chee.lul .mptc.oM o„

¥hTrUm7.'.^ e whirAtXcro'f .he number. I ha,e wUne»ed,
ihe ,ei w" *le.°y ne * profession for him, but ho or h.s f.iond.

r4e?^eai "ffi, b„. which ho jid j« - ^x'ho'::: W

for a seaman's grave.

lOEH.

lUH tho following

8 groat iiiorcy, to
ipartoii, wo thore-
lies to aslioB, dust

of a friend — and
ty of that stago of
;ed, thero aro cast
ich, falling on tho
ig no other that 1

e is varied in the

B wise providence,
ther, wo therefore
uption, looking for
up her dead," etc.
one of the seamen
ns of his late ship-
body to the deep,"
g loaded with shot
o tlie ocean, and —

iknown."

re than the corres-
solemn, as well as
1 of tho grating, as

the ship's company
scribed, although a
pleasing, all things
rful impressions on

could conceive, do
the sternest natures,
irs 1 have witnessed,

ate and fragile, that
it he or his friend?
h hia frame was no
a great favorite with
as they would havr
led him up with all
style which did not
ell resist, as it was
'ellow! — he was lonjr
ir complaint was, but
per might have done,
lestuous region. He
that he was prepared

KXI'KUIKNUKS OF A HKITlaU NAVAL OFFICER.

;{77

1 remenilier, in the course of tho day, going to tho side of the boy'n
liaiiuncx'k, and on laying niy hand u|H)n his breuNt, was a.^tiiiiishiMl to 'ind
it Hiill wiutii — so inui'li ho, that I almost imagined I could l\-v\ thi; heart
boat. 'VU\n, of coiiLso, was a vain fancy; but I was mutli ott.icliud to
my lilUe roiupiuiion, lu'iiig then not much tuMer myself; nml I win*
.sootiitid und gratiSed, in n cliildish way, by discovering that my friend,
tliough iiiuiiy hours dead, had not yet acquired the usual revolting
chilini'SH.

In atler years I have sometimes thought of this incident, when reflect-
iiig on the plt-asing doctrine of the Spaniards, that as soon as children
dit!, they are translated into angels, without any of those "cold obstruc-
tions" which, they pretend, intercept and retard tho souls of other
mortals. The peculiar circumstances connected with the funeral which
I am about to describe, and this fanciful superstitions of the sailois upon
the occasion, have condiined to lix tho whole scene in my nu;mory.

Sometliing occurred during tiie day to prevent tho funeral taking place
at the usual hour, and the ceremony was deferred till long after sunset.
The evening was extremely dark, and it was blowing a trc-ble-reefed
topsail breeze. Wo had just sent down the lopgalluut yards, und made
all snug for a boisterous winter's night. As it became necessary to have
lights to SCO what was done, several signal lanterns were placed on tho
break of the quarter-deck, aud others along the hunnnock railings on
the leo gangway. The whole ship's company and oflicers were assem-
bled, some on the booms, others in the boats, while tho main rigging
was crowded half way up to the cal-harpings. Overhead, the mainsail,
illuminated as high us tho yard by the lamps, was bulging forward under
the gale, which was rising every minute, and straining so violently at the
main-sheet, that there was some doubt whether it might not be necessary
to interrupt the funeral in order to take sail off the ship. The lower-
deck ports lay completely under water, and several times the nmzzles
of the main-deck guns were plunged into the sea; so that the end of
the grating on which the remains of poor Dolly were laid, once or twice
nearly touched the tops of the waves, as they foamed and hissed past.
The rain fell fast on the bare heads of the crew, dropping also on the
officers, during all tho ceremony, from the foot of the mainsail, and wet-
ting tho leaves of tho prayer-book. The wind sighed over us among
the wet sliiouds, with a note so mournful, that there could not have been
a more appropriate dirge.

The ship — pitching violently — strained and creaked from end to end:
so that, what with the noise of tho sea, the rattling of tho ropes, and
the whistling of tho wind, hardly one word of the service could bo dis-
tinguished. The men, however, understood, by a motion of the captain's
hand, when the time came, and the body of our dear little brother was
committed to the deep.

So violent a squall was sweeping past the ship at this moment, that no
sound was heard of the usual splash, which made the sailors allege that
their young favorite never touched the water at all, but was at once
carried off in the gale to his final resting-place !

TUB CUASE.

On the 8th of November, 1810, when we were lying in that splendid
harbor the Cove of Cork, and quietly refitting our ship, an order came
for us to proceed to sea instantly, ona cruise of a week off Cape Clear,
m quest of an enemy's vessel, reported to have boon seen from some of

378

EXPERIENCES OP A BRITISH NAVAL OFFICER.

the sij,'iial towers on the west coast. We were in such a. predicament,
that it was impossible to start before the next morning, tiiough wc worked
all nigiit. OH' we went at last; but it was not till the 11th that we
reached our appointed station. Toward evening it fell dead calm, at
wliich time there were two strange sails in sight; one of them a ship,
which we "calculated" was an American, from the whiteness of his
sails; the other a very suspicious, roguish-looking brig; but as both of
them were hull down, much of this was guess-work.

As the night fell, a light breeze sprung up, and wc made all sail in
the direction of the brig, though she was no longer visible. In the
course of the middle watch, we fortunately got sight of her with our
night-glasses, and by two in the morning were near enough to give her
a shot. The brig was then standing on a wind; while we were coming
down upon her, right before it, or nearly so. The sound of our bow-
chaser could hardly have reached the vessel it was fired at before her
helm was up; and in the next instant her booms were rigged out, and
her studding-sails, low and aloft, seen dangling at the yard-arms. The
most crack ship in his majesty's service, with everything prepared, «ould
hardly have made sail more smartly.

For our parts, we could set nothing more, having already spread every
stitch of canvas; but tiic yards were trimmed afresh, the tacks hauled
closer out, and the halyards sweated up till the yards actually pressed
against the shceve-holcs. The best helmsman on board was placed at
the wheel; and the foot of the foresail being drawn slightly up by the
bunt slab-line, he could just see the chase clear of the foremast, and so
keep her very nearly riglit aliead. The two forecastle guns, long nine-
pounders, were now brouglit to bear on the brig; but as we made quite
sure of catching her, and did not wish needlessly to injure our prize, or
to hurt her people, orders were given to fire at the sails, whicli, expanded
as they now were before us, like the tail of a peacock in his fullest
pride, oH'ered a mark which could not well be missed. Nevertheless,
the little fellow would not heave to for all we could do with our fore-
castle guns. At four o'clock, therefore, we managed to get one of the
long eighteen-pounders on the main-deck, to bear upon him from the
l)ridle-port. Still we could not stop him, though it was now briglil
moonlight, and there was no longer any tenderness about hurting his
people, or injuring Iiis hull. The vessel, however, at which we were
now peppering away with round and grape siiot, as hard as we could
discliarge them from three good s'nart guns, was so low in the water,
that siie offered, when seen end on, scarcely any mark. How it iiap-
pened that none of her yards or masts came rattling down, and that none
of her sails flew away, under the influence of our fire was quite
inexplicable.

The water stili continued quite smooth, though the breeze had
freshened, till we went along at the rate of six or seven knots. When
the privateer got the wind, which we had brought up with us, she almost
kept her own, and it became evident that she was one of tliat light and
airy description of vessels which have generally an advantage over larger
ships when there is but little wind. We, therefore, observed, with much
anxiety, that about half past four the breeze began gradually to die
away, after which the chase rather gained than lost distance. Of course,
the guns were now plied with double care, and our best marksmen were
straining their eyes, and exerting their utmost skill, confident of hitting
her, but all apparently to no purpose. One or two of the oflicers, iu

;^AL OFFICER.

e in such a predicament,
orning, tliougli wo worked
not till the llth that we
ling it fell dead calm, at
light; one of them a ship,
rom the whiteness of his
dng brig; but as bolh of
-work.

, and we made all sail in
10 longer visible. In the
got sight of her with our
; near enough to give her
id; while we were corning
The sound of our bow-
it was fired at before her
ams were rigged out, and
ig at the yard-arms. The
everything prepared, *ould

aving already spread every
I afresh, tlie tacks hauled
he yards actually pressed
lan on board was placed at
r drawn slightly up by the
ear of the foremast, and so
forecastle guns, long nine-
)rig; but as we made quite
3ssly to injure our prize, or
; the sails, which, expanded
tf a peacock in his fullest
be missed. Nevertheless,
ve could do with our fore-
managed to get one of the
bear upon him from the
though It was now bright
tiderness about hurling his
cwever, at which we were
siiot, as hard as we could
s, was so low in the water,
iy any mark. How it hap-
rattling down, and that none
ice of our fire was quite

1, though the breeze had
six or seven knots. When
)Ught up with us, she almost
e was one of that light and
dly an advantage over larger
ireforc, observed, with much
07.C began gradually to die
m lost distance. Of course,
md our best marksmen were
(St skill, confident of hitting
le or two of the officers, in

EXPEHIENCKS OF A RIIITISH N.WAL OFFICER.

379

particular, wlio piqued themselves on kno\»ing how to level a gun ou

principles quite unerring, in vain tried their infallible rules to bring our

persevering chase to acknowledge himself caught.

By this time, of course, every man and boy in the ship was on deck,

whether it was his watch or not; even the marine officer, the purser and

the doctor left their beds — a rare phenomenon. Every one was giving
his opinion to his neighbor; some said the shot went over her, .some

that they fell .^hort; and the opinion that she was a witcli, or the Flying
Dutchman, jr some other phantom, was current among tlie sailors, while

the marines were clicking their flints, and preparing to give our little
gentleman a taste of the small arms when within their reach.

While things were in this anxious, but very pleasurable state, our
foresail flappL^l slowly against the mast — a sure indication that the breeze
was lulling. The quadruple rows of reef-points were next heard to
rattle along the topsails — sounds too well known to every ear as symptoms
of an approaching calm. The studding-sails were still full, and so wore
the royals; but, by and by, even tiieir light canvas refused to belly out,

• so faint was the air which still carried us, but very gently, along the
water, on the surface of which not a ripple was now to be seen in any
direction. As the ship, however, still answered her helm, we kept tlie
<'uns to bear on the chase without intermission, and with this degree of
effect, that all her sails, both low and alolt, were soon completely riddled,
and some of them were seen hanging in such absolute rags, tliat tlie
slightest puff of wind must have blown them away like so many cobwebs.
By^five oVlock it was almost entirely calm, and we had the mortification
to observe that the chase, whose perseverance had kept him thus long
out of our clutches, was putting in practice a maneuver we could not
imitate. He thrust out his sweeps, as they are called, huge oars, recpiir-
ing five or six men to each. These, when properly handled, by a sutH-
ciently numerous crew, in a small light vessel, give her the heels of a
lar<re"ship, when so nearly calm as it now was with us. Vi^c w"ro not
going more than a knot through the water, if so much, which was barely
enough to give us steerage way.

The Frenchman got out, I suppose, about fifteen or twenty of these
sweeps, and so vigorously were they plied, that wo could see by the
moonlight, and still more distinctly when the dawn appeared, that the
foam was made to fly in sheets at each stroke of these gigantic oars,
which were worked together, by their looms being united by a hawser
stretching fore and aft. Our chief anxiety now was to pitch a shot
among hfs sweeps, as one successful hit there would have sent half his
crew spinning about the decks. But we were not so fortunate; and in
less than an hour he was out of shot, walking off from us in a style which
it was impossible not to admire, though our disappointment and vexation
were excessive. By mid-day he was at least ten miles ahead of us;
and at two o'clock we could just see his upper sails above the horizon.
We had observed, during the morning, that our indefatigable little chase,
as soon as he had row(5d himself from under the relentless fire of oiir
guns, was busily employed in bending a new suit of sails, fishing his
splintered yards, shifting his topgallant-masts, and rigging out fresh
studding-sail booms— all wounded, more or less, by our shot. As the
severe labor of the sweeps was never intermitted, we knew, to a certainty,
that tiie chase, tiiough small, must be full of hands, and, consequently,
it was an object of great importance for us to catch him. Of this, how-
ever, there now seemed but very little chance^ and many were the

380 EXPERIENCES OF A BRITISH NAVAL OFFICER,

hearty ..alocliction. he received ^1-1-^

5::^Lrrr2Surrx sice j.e. . . .«

''T^y seeded as if every o^ on bc^d l.d J>oc. sei^a with ^
fever-nothing else ^vas thought « ' «' ^"^ f^'^ "J' f^J,^, ekot spv-
every gla.s, great and small, was n "^^^s t' «' ^^«™ ^^ P,^ ^ ^_
glass of the youngest m.dsh.pinan, to ^l^*; *"7 '"^"g^.j^ee., and pointed,
Each telescope in its turn was I'^^f^^^/S^/Serng speck on the
with a sort of sickening cagernes, t^^?"^,^ ' , 'J\i « "f^ip^as planted
distant horizon. One m.ght '^J^" »»y« ^^fme o nume^ were the
in a grove of trees, m the 'l^'g^t °f X^frnd s one of our nautical
whistlers. This practice of whistling f""^ ^J'"^ '" ° f^^^^^, insensibly
superstitions, which, however groundless -nd -bs^jd fasten ^^^^ ^J
on the strongest minded sailors at such in es.^^1^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^^^

:r:=t:^=;'n;f:^^E SffSUemently disdaimed
all i)elief in the efficacy of such in^=^"^;;'«"- „^g^„ ^^jt,, the gales them-

cannot he materially altered. It '""'^ "'/^^y. • . ^^t imaginable excito-
Bcverc labor and complete indolence, of the h'ghest ^'^^« ^,^5^

ment, and of the most P-^^ ^f-;,^- , J^.^d^rhowhlw these caus.s.

water on the rudder. The ti e «"f '"™. ^^jg ^f ^ater were drawn
and, where its long spout could not reach, bucKeis

FICER.

true, by our own
he poor excuse of
fcA them as to th«

een seized with a
the French brig;
in the pocket spy-
•cus of the captain,
treey, and pointed,
ning speck on tlie
le ship was planted
numerous were the
me of our nautical
, fastens insensibly
d, I have seen many
d have even heard
emently disclaimed

vith the gales them-
1 bloweth only when
t of use one way or
in all time to come,
itellect; for, as long
lanage it as we will,
lade up of alternate
, imaginable excite-
not anxious at this
w how these causes,
of, leads to the for-
if have always been

n the mast-head, far
lur most experienced
a up. In the course
mt it could easily be
whistlers redoubled
was owing to their
>ther the wind, if h'ft
snture to pronounce;
were rejoiced by the
attered over the calm

I presume from the

touch the water, and
/md, the ripple from
roken the face of the
ed its approach, by
le rally supposed to be
s, do good service, by
to float far above the
he ship gathered way,
msman, when he fell
, by the action of the
carried into the tops,
of water were drawn

EXPERIENCES OF A BRITISH NAVAL OFFICER.

381

up, and thrown on the sails, so that every pore was filled, and the full
eflFect of the wind was exerted on the canvas. , , , . ,

The ship now began to speak, as it is termed ; and lookmg over the
Tan^way, we could see a line of small hissing bubbles, not yet deservmg
The name of spray, but quite enough to prove to us that the breeze was
bcf inning lo toll. It was near the middle of November, but the day was
asliot as if it had been summer; and the wind, now freshenmg at every
second, blew coolly and gratefully upon us, giving assurance that w«
should have no more calms to trouble us, whatever might bo our other
difficulties in capturing Monsieur Frenchman.

Of these difficulties, the greatest by far was that of keepmg sight of
the brif after it became dark. We overhauled him, however, so fast that
we had great hopes of being able to command him with our night-glasses,
in which case we made pretty sure of our prize. The night-glass, it
mav be right to explain, is a telescope of small power, increasing the
diameter of objects only about eight times. It has a large field-glass;
and, in order to save the interception of light, has one lens fewer than
usual, which omission has the eff^ect of inverting the object looked at.
But this, though inconvenient, is of little consequence, in cases where
the desideratum is merely to get sight of a veBsel, without seeking to

make out the details. ... i

Meanwhile, as we spanked along, rapidly accelerating our pace, and
rejoicing in the cracking of the ropes, and the bending of the ligiitest
and loftiest spars— that butterfly sort of gear which a very little wind
soon brushes away— we had the malicious satisfaction of observing that
the poor little privateer had not yet got a mouthful of the charming wind,
which, like the well known intoxicating gas, was by this time setting us
all a-skipping about the decks. The greater part of the visible ocean
was now under the influence of the new-born breeze ; but, m the spot
where the brig lay, there occurred a belt or splash of clear white light,
within which the calm still lingered, with the privateer sparkling in its
center. Just as the sun went down, however, this spot was likewise melted
into the rest, and the brig, like a poor hare roused from her seat, sprang
off" again. We were soon near enough to see her sweeps rigged in--to
the delight, no doubt, of her weary crew, whose apprehensions of an English
prison had probably kept up their strength to a pitch rarely equalled.

As the twilight— the brief twilight of winter— galloped .away, a
hundred pairs of eyes were almost jumping out of their sockets, in their
attempts to pierce the night ; while those who had glasses kept scrubbing
them without mercy, as if they imagined more light would be let into
the tube the more they injured the lenses. One person, and only one,
continued, as he asserted, to see the chase, faintly strung, like a bead,
on the horizon. 1 need not say that this sharp-sighted gentleman was
nailed to his post, and ordered on no account to move his head, fatigue
or no fatigue. There happened to bo a single star, directly over the
spot to which this fortunate youth was directing his view, with as much
anxiety as ever Galileo peered into the heavens in search of a new
planet. This fact being announced, a dozen spy-glasses were seen
wagging up and down, between this directing star and that part of the
horizon, now almost invisible, which lay immediately below it. Many
were the doubts expressed of the correctness of the first observation,
and many the tormenting questions put to the observer, as to which way
ihe brig was standing? what sail was set? whether we were drawing up
with her or npt? as if the poor youngster had been placed along side ot

3S2

the vessel

EXPERIENCES OF A BRITISH NAVAL OFFICER.

u.e V0S..1. These jo"^- -'^f --;';,!;:; r.^^if^ir^hrS.::;

bv l.i.lclin« th.! boy keep h.s eye f'^^,'^°" ;''"|,„„„c, altering the ship's
an.l tiun. without ac^uanu.nj|hunwh^

course lor hall a .nuiuto. 1 '"« ^J^l'V" " -• j.^.^ this very moniout ! I saw
,,.rore he cried out, '\IJ>7 '"^^^^f he si i,'s head was brought back
;;:;;el?;;irr^hc c^ci:S-rher^ she is a«aia,by,ugo! ..st

at the wheel could see .t sh.mng »'^ ^^^^^ ^^ J^^^ enabled to sle..r the
and that of the »opmast-s uddmg-sa. , and Nva^^^^ ,,^^^ j„„„ ^y

ship with much g^^-^^^^^^f '^'""'aiiZ as the breeze had freshened
the' con.pass alone. Before ny^» gl^*' J„ J," knots an hour, we had

greatly, and we were going ^^ .^^'l'^\H ^' one could see her with
5rawn\M> so much wah the privateer, Imt^eve^^^^^^^ ^^^^ .narksmen who

tire naked eye, and the g/^""^'^' ^' „^''X Jore fidgeting and fussing
had lost their credit on the P^«'^';d^'"f^„"'f ;*;;,, ,Ue prize, as they now
about the guns, eager o bo bangin aw y »- ^^,,^^j ^ dextrous,

began, rather P-™ ^a^t'lilSel^ Uo w "[J^^y '-u? to dLl with, and how

persevering, and gallant ittlc It ow j

much trouble he was yet to g'^c u^. ^^^^ ^^j^hi,, good

It was not till about t^^o o'clock tl at we one ^^^^^ ^^^^

shot of him; and as it had »'«.«" ^Sed^J^'t^ fe^^^ .^ .^^^^

quickly the night before, ^^"^Ji'^J.^^"' and the lanyard

Utmost attention was "ow pa d o W'ng t en P P - ^j^^g ^^e gun fell
of the trigger never P« ^^ .» ^L,^ appeared'to possess the same
confident of ^''Y"\J uJi^vTeZ' for we could neither strike her
witch-like, invulnerable quality asey^J' , j^ • jown a yard, nor lop
hull, so as to force her to -y'' P^,^;\^'',,,'^^ ., Jfctacle to'see a little
oft- a mast or a boom. It was eal y a cunou p ^^^^ ^

bit of a thing skimming away l^^f";? '^^ her, I'ke a voracious dolphin
as the Endymion tearing and Pl^.^g'^^/fl^Ji'Xh.
leaping from sea to sea m P"^"'^. °'^^,f/j;",f,uetion of the brig ; for, as
In time, this must h^^';,«^"*l"l'"j'^u, ,Uot"nust by and by have taken
we gained upon her rapidly, so.ne «f ""J ^'^f j™",i„ed, however, to enjoy
efte?t, and sent her to the ^^""'"•^^^'^^^rn perhaps would have been
a little longer existence. ^ i« P "P^J^ld reiched within musket-shot,
to stand on, firing at h«r sails, till we had r ^^^ ^^^^ ^^ ^^^^

and then to have knocked ^ow" he he m^^^^^^ y ,^^ ,,,,

deck. This, however, was not «"^ ^^P/^' K^^^ TtarboLrd broadside
impatient-at all events ho gave ordrs for the^^ ^^e whole

Not a mortal on board the f g^^ff^'l'i^f^^Jh^ g^oke blew swiftly past,
again. What, then, was our surps,w^ „,errily than before

to see the intrepid lit le ^ocKy Mmmg J general murmur of

As far as good discipline would ^"«J' ^^ere was g ^^^^^^^^

applause at the Frenchman's g^»;";7;„ .\",;^^^^^ the frigate's decks,
th's sound was converted -ntohear^^^^^ ^ ^^^j,

^S^d^r^r fi^^l^^C'thf brio's stern, as if in contempt of his

formidable antagonist's Prowess. ^ ^^ ^^^j^ ^nd in

,^':T^t'\!^A^^e:^^^^^^^ of our course, we enabled

FIOER.

d to, or noarly ao,
I to 1)0 tlio cliiise,
lUeving the ship's
y boon coiniutncud
■y momoul! I saw
was bioii^'ht back
gaiu, by jingo! just

e time. The man
of the foretop-sail
nablcd to steer the
aibly have done by
L'ze had freshened
is an hour, wo had
could see her with
the marksmen who
Igetiug and fussing
prize, as they now
ig what a dextrous,
leal with, and how

e camo within good
guns were fired too
;arc in pointing, the
rly; and the lanyard
g" along the gun felt
Uo possess the same
Id neither strike her
down a yard, nor lop
;tacle to see a little
such a huge monster
Lea voracious dolpli in

1 of the brig ; for, as
by and by liavc taken
led, however, to enjoy
ips, would have been
i within musket-shot,
every one else on her
or perhaps he became
)le starboard broadside
uv, poured the whole
iclim! .

r to see the poor brig
noke blew swiftly past,
e merrily than before,
a general murmur of
next instant, however,
er the frigate's decks,
a single small gun, a
if in contempt of his

)st a good deal, and in
)ur course, we enabled

EXPERIENCKS OF A BRITISH NAVAL OFFICER.

383

th( privateer to gain several hundred yards upon us; and second y, his
funny little shot, which had excited so mucli mirth, passed through llie lee
foretop-sail yardarm, about six feet inside the boom iron. Had it struck
on the windward side, where the yard was cracking and stiainiiig at a
most furious rate, the greater part of the sails on the foremast might have
been taken in quicker than we could have wisiied— lor wo were now
uoinu at the rate of eleven and a half, with the wind on the quarter.

Just as we made out where his first siiot had struck us, another cut through
the weather main-topgallant sheet, and so he went on, firing away briskly
till most of our lofty sails were fiuttering with tiie holes made in them.
His own sails, I need scarcely add, were by this lime so completely torn
up bv our shot, that we could see the sky through them all; but still he
refused to heave to— and, by constantly firing his single stern-chaser,
was evidently resolved to lose no possible ciiance of escape. Had one
or two of his shot struck either of our topmasts, I really believe lie mig it
have got otf. It therefore became absolutely necessary that we should
either demolish or capture him witliout further loss of time. Ihe
choice we left to himself, as will be seen. But such a spirited cruiser
as this was an enemy worth subduing at any cost; for there was no
calculating the mischief a privateer so admirably commanded might have
wroueht in a convoy. There was a degree of discretion, also, about this
exuert privateersman, which was very remarkable, and deserving of
audi favor at our hands as we had to spare. He took care to direct his
stern-chaser so high that there was little chance of his shot striking any
of our oeople. Indeed, he evidently aimed solely at crippling the masts,
knowine riglit well tliat it would answer none of his ends to kill or
wound any number of his enemy's crew, while it might irritate their
captain to show him less mercy at the last moment, which, as will be
seen, was fast approaching. , ^ • , i <

The breeze had now freshened nearly to a gale of wind, and when
the log was hove, out of curiosity, just after the broadside I have described,
we were going nearly twelve knots, (or between thirteen and fourteen
miles an hour,) foaming and splasiiing along. The distance between us
and the brig was now rapidly decreasing, for most of his sails were in
shreds, and we determined to bring him, as we said, to his senses at last.
The guns were reloaded, and orders given to depress them as much as
possible— tlial is, to point their muzzles downward— but not a shot was
to be fired till the frigate came actually along side of the chase. Such
was the poor privateer's sentence of death : severe, indeed, but quite
necessary, for he appeared resolved never to yield. , . • , r

On we flew, right down upon our prey, like the enormous rockbird of
the Arabian Nights. We had ceased firing our bow-chasers, that the
smoke might not stand between us and the lesson we meant to read to
our lesolute pupil, so that there was " silence deep as death along our
decks, and doubtless on his; for he likewise had intermitted his firing,
and seemed prepared to meet his fate, and go to the bottom like a m;.n.
It was possible, also, we thought, that he might only be watching, even
in his last extremity, to take advantage of any negligence on our part,
which should allow him to haul suddenly across our bows, and, by getting
on a wind, have a chance of escaping. This chance, it is true, was
very small, for not one of his sails was in a condition to stand such a
breeze as was now blowing, unless when running nearly before it But
we had seen enough, during the two days we had been together, to
apprehend that his activity was at least a match for ours; and as he had

38-t

EXPERIENCES OF A BRITISH NAVAL OFFICER.

already shown that he did not care a fig for shot, he might bend new
sails as fast as we could.

At all events, we were resolved to make him surrender, or run him
down: such was our duty, and that the Frenchman knew right well.
He waited, however, until our flying jib-boom end was almost over his
taff'rail; and the narrow space between us was filled with a confused,
boiling heap of foam, partly caused by his bows, and partly by ours.
Then, and not till then, when he must have seen into our ports and
along the decks, which were lighted up fore and aft, he first gave signal
of siirrender.

The manner in which this was done by the captain of the privateer
was as spirited and characteristic as any part of his previous conduct.
The night was very dark; but the ships were so near to one another
that we could distinguish the tall figure of a man mount the weather
main-rigging of the brig, where he stood erect, with a lantern in his
hand, held out at right-angles from his body. Had this light not been
seen, or its purpose not understood, or had it been delayed for twenty
seconds, the frigate must, almost in spite of herself, have gone right over
him, and the salvo of a double-shotted broadside would have done the
last and fitting honors over the Frenchman's grave.

Even as it was, it cost us some trouble to avoid running him down;
for, although the helm was put over immediately, our lee quarter, as
the ship flew up in the wind, almost grazed his weather gangway. In
passing, we ordered him to bring-to likewise. This he did as soon as
we gave him room ; though we were still close enough to see the efiect
of such a maneuver at such a moment. Every stitch of sail he had set
was blown, in one moment, clean out of the bolt-ropes. His halyards,
tacks, and sheets had been all racked aloft, so that everything not made
of canvas remained at its place — the yards at the mastheads, and the
booms rigged out— while the empty leech and foot-ropes hung down in
festoons where, but a minute before, the tattered sail had been spread.

Wo fared, comparatively speaking, not much better; for although the
instant the course was altered, the order was given to let fly the topsail
halyards, and every other necessary rope; and although the down-haul
tackles, clewlines, and buntlines, were all ready manned, in expectation
of this evolution, we succeeded with great difficulty in saving the fore
or main-topsails ; but the topgallant-sails were blown to pieces. All the
flying kites went off" in a crack, whisking far away to leeward, like dried
forest leaves in autumn.

It may be supposed that the chase was now completely over; and that
we had nothing further to do than to take possession of our prize. Not
at all ! It was found next to impossible to board the brig, or, at least,
it seemed so dangerous, that our captain was unwilling to hazard a fcoat
and crew, till daylight came. The privateer, having no sail set to keep
her steady, became so unmanageable, that the sea made a clean breach
over all, rendering it out of the question to board her on the weather
side. Nor was she more easily approachable to leeward, where a
tangled network of broken spars, half-torn sails, shattered booms, and
smacking rope's-ends formed such a line of " chevaux-de-frise " from
the cat-head to the counter, that all attempts to get near her on that gide
were useless.

The gale increased, before morning, to such a pitch, that, as there
was still a doubt if any boat could live, the intention of boarding our
prize was of course further delayed. But we took care to keep close to

»- J, ' "wl » in«»".f»"r»rn i i i i')g_ lp |1ir >

Lj g '.W > -''' ». ^ * iii(>M'ii|iiit » l ' i H' l I

< . j> » wnTri iiw '' i.« r'i i » iyi

OFFICER.

, he might bend new

rrender, or run him
ui knew right well,
was almost over his
led with a confused,
and partly by ours.
u into our ports and
I, he first gave signal

tain of the privateer
is previous conduct,
near to one another

mount the weather
irith a lantern in his

this light not been
I delayed for twenty
have gone right over
ould have done the

I running him down;
, our lee quarter, as
eather gangway. In
s he did as soon as
ugh to see the effect
ch of sail he had set
opes. His halyards,
everything not made
mast heads, and the
ropes hung down in
lil had been spread,
ter; for although the
I to let fly the topsail
lOugh the down-haul
anned, in expectation
ty in saving the fore
'n to pieces. All the
to leeward, like dried

iletely over; and that
n of our prize. Not
the brig, or, at least,
ling to hazard a boat
ig no sail set to keep
made a clean breach
i her on the weather
;o leeward, where a
shattered booms, and
evaux-de-frise " from
near her on that gide

L pitch, that, as there

ition of boarding our

care to keep close to

r. a-

,. ®

;■ »

- s

— »

r. C-

t: _

-I o

C o

• pr

o
4

§■

s
I

Br
a

-L

t^-.

:,,toy--"

w ^wl l lLMJIIIB'WfT

A^ i

EXPERIENCES OP A BRITISH NAVAL OFFICER.

385

her, a little to windward, in order to watch her proceedings as narrowly
as possible. It did not escape our notice, in the meantime, that our
friend, (he was no longer our foe, though not yet our prisoner,) went on
quietly, even in the height of the gale, «hifling his wounded yards,
reefing new ropes, and bending fresh sails. This cauuiid us to redouble
our vigilance during the morning, and the event siiowed that wo had
good need for such watchfulness. About three oVlock in the aflernoon,
the brig having fallen a little to leeward, and a furious squall of wind
and rain coming on at the same moment, she suddenly bore up, and set
off once more, right before the wind. At the height of the squall, we
totally lost sight of our prize; and such a hubbub I rarely recollect to
have heard in my life before.

"Where is she? — Who was looking outT — Where did you see her
last?^' — and a hundred similar questions, reproaches, scolds, and the
whole of the ugly family of oaths, were poured out in abundance ; some
on the privateer, whose adroitness had thus over-reached our vigilance;
some upon those who, by their neglect, had given him the opportunity;
and many imprecations were uttered merely to express the depth of
anger and disappointment at the stupid loss of a good thing, which had
cost so much trouble to catch. All this passed over in the first burst —
sail was made at once — the topsails, close reefed, were sheeted home
like lightning — and off we dashed, into the thick of the squall, in search
of our lost treasure. At each mast-head, and at every yard-arm, there
was planted a look-out man, while the forecastle hammock-netting was
filled with volunteer spyglasses. For about a quarter of an hour a dead
silence reigned over the whole ship, during which anxious interval every
eye was strained to tlic utmost, for no one knew exactly where to look.
There was, indeed, no certainty of our not actually running past the
privateer, and it would not have surprised us much, when the squall
cleared up, had we seen him a mile or two to windward, far beyond our
reach. These fears were put on end to by the sharp-eyed captain of
the foretop, who had perched himself on the jib-boom end, calling out,
with a voice of the greatest glee —

"There he goes! there he goes! right ahead! under his topsails and
foresail ! "

And, sure enough, there we saw him, springing along from wave to
wave, with his masts bending forward like reeds, under the pressure of
sail enough to have laid him on his beam-ends, had he broached to. In
such tempestuous weather, a small vessel has no chance whatever with a
frigate; indeed, we could observe that, when the little brig fell between
two high seas, her foresail flapped to the mast, fairly becalmed by the
wave behind her.

In a very few minutes, we were again along side, and doubtless the
Frenchman thought we were at last going to execute summary vengeance
upon him for his treachery, as we called it. Nothing daunted, however,
by the style in which we bore down upon him, the gallant commander
of this pretty little eggshell of a vessel placed himself on< the weather-
quarter, and with a speaking trumpet in his hand, indicated, by gesticu-
lations, a wish to be heard. This could not well be refused ; and we
steered as close as we could pass along without bringing the two vessels
in contact, or risking the entanglement of the yards, when we rolled
toward one another.

" I have been compelled to bear up,^' he called out in French, "other-
wise the brig must have gone to the bottom. The sea broke over us in
26

880

BXPERIENCES OF A BRITISH NAVAL OFFIOKR.

«uch « way that I have been obliged, as you may perceive, to throw all
my guns, boats and spara overboard. Wo have now aovcral loot of water
in the hold, in consequence of your shot, which you may likewise
observo have nearly destroyed our upper works. If, tiierefore, you
oblige me to heave to, 1 cannot keep the vesael afloat one hour in such

weather." »..,,, ...

"Will you make no further aMempt to escape?" asked the cnptam of

the Endymion.

"As yet I have made none," Ym replied, firmly ; "I struck to you
already. I am your prize, and, feeling as a man of honor, I do not con-
aider myself at liberty to escape, even if I had the power. 1 bore up,
when the squall came on, as a matter of necessity. If you will allow
me to run before the wind, along with you, till the weather moderates,
you may take possession of the brig when you please— if not, I must go
to the bottom."

Such was the substance of a conversation, very difficult to keep up
across the tempest, which was now whistling at a great rate. To have
brought the ships again to the wind, after what had been said, would
have been to imitate the celebrated "Noyades," of Nantes; for the
privateer must have been swamped instantly. Although we distrusted
our companion, therefore, most grievously, we sailed along most lovingly
together, as if we had been the best possible friends, for about sixty or
seventy miles; during the greater part of this interval, the frigate had
scarcely any sail set at all; and we sometimes expected to see our little
friend pop fairly under the water, and so elude us by fouiidering, or
escape by witchcraft, by the protection of which, in the opinion of the
Johnnies, he had been so long kept from us.

At eight o'clock in the evening, it began to moderate, and by midnight

we succeeded in getting on board the prize, after a run of between

three and four hundred miles. Such is the scale of nautical sport!

And where, I now beg to ask, is the fox-hunting, or the piracy, or

anything else more exciting than this noble game?

The brig proved to be the Milan privateer, from St. Malo, of fourteen
guns, and eighty men, many of whom were unfortunately wounded by
our shot, and several were killed. She had been at sea eighteen days,
but had made no captures. The guns, as I have already mentioned, had
been thrown overboard to lighten her. In the morning we stopped the
leaks, exchanged the prisoners for a prize crew, and put our heads
toward the Cove of Cork again, chuckling at our own success in having
nabbed the very vessel we were sent after. But this part of the exploit,
it seemed, we had no title to claim merit for, since the Milan had not seen
the land, nor been within many miles of it. This was a trifle, however; and
wo returned right merrily to tell our long story of the three days' chase.
The captain's name was Lepelletier— 1 have pleasure in recording it—
M. Pierre Lepelletier, of St. Malo; and wherever he goes I will venture
to say he can meet no braver or more resolute man than himself. Long
before he came on board he had well earned the respect of his captors,
high and low; and his manners and information, after we became per-
sonally acquainted with him, raised him still more in general estimation.

,.,.-,^ , ! ,.,,'....:,■,.. I '\,- ,«!:•>'* (if !- ■'' ■,■ -' ''V "i '■' '

f ti Irriffliii'#i<1 -

P-FIOKR.

rccivo, to throw all

ovcral t'oet of water

you may liknwiso

If, therefore, you

t one hour in Buch

iked the captain of

"I struck to you
lionor, I do not con-
power. 1 bore up,
If you will allow
weather moderates,
if not, I must go

[lifficult to keep up
•eat rate. To have
id been said, would
of Nantes; for the
ough we distrusted
along most lovingly
, for about sixty or
rval, the frigate had
;ted to see our little
8 by foundering, or
the opinion of the

ate, and by midnight
• a run of between
of nautical sport!
ig, or the piracy, or

Jt. Male, of fourteen
unately wounded by

sea eighteen days,
eady mentioned, had
ning we stopped the

and put our heads
vn success in having
s part of the exploit,
e Milan had not seen
a trifle, however ; and
le three days' chase.
(ure in recording it —
e goes I will venture
than himself. Long
jspect of his captors,
after we became per-
n general estimatian.

^^.U^M^bu^.«

NARRATIVE

A SAILOR AMONG SAA^AGES,

BHVa TUB ADVKNTUBKg Or JOHN a. JKWRTT.RUBVIVOR OK TIIK CllltW Or TIIK BIIIP BOSTOX
BiaiNO A OAKriVlTT or NKABLT TBRKH YKAMU, AMO.VU TIIK 8AVA0KS Of NOOTKA SOUNIl'
BT WHOM Hit

COMRADES WEUE MASSACRED.

I WAS born in Boston, a considerable borough town in Lincolnshire,
in Great Britain, on the twenty-first of May, 1783. My father, Edward
Jewitt, was by trade a blacksmitii, and estoeniud among the first in his
line (if business in that place.

When a child I was always fond of being in the shop, among the work-
men, endeavoring to imitate what I saw them do. I was at length intro-
duced into the shop, and my natural turn of mind corresponding with
the employment, I became, in a short time, uncommonly expert at the
work to which I was set. About a year after I had commenced this
apprenticeship, my father, finding that he could carry on his business to
more advantage in Hull, removed thither with his family. Among his
principal customers at Hull, were the Americans who frequented that
port, and from whose conversation, my father, aa well as myself, formed
the most favorable opinion of that country, as aflfording an excellent field
for the exertions of industry, and a flattering prospect for the establish-
ment of a young man in life. In the summer of the year 1802, during
tlie peace between England and France, the ship Boston, belonging to
Boston, in Massachusetts, and commanded by Captain John Salter, arrived
at Hull, whither she came to take on board a cargo of such goods as
were wanted for the trade, with the Indians on the north-west coast of
America, from whence, after having taken in a lading of furs and skins,
■he was to proceed to China, and from thence home to America. The
ship, having occasion for many repairs and alterations, necessary for so
long a voyage, the captain applied to my father to do the smith-work,
which was very considerable. That gentleman, who was of a social turn,
used often to call at my father's house, where he passed many of hia
evenings.

In the hours that he passed at my father's, Captain Salter, who had for
a great number of years been at sea, and seen almost all parts of the
world, used sometimes to speak of his voyages, and observing me listen
with much attention to his relations, he one day when I had brought him
•ome work, said to me, in rather a jocose manner, "John, how should you
like to go with me?" I answered that it would give me great pleasure,
that I had for a long time wished to visit foreign countries, particularly
America, which I had been told so many fine stories of, and that if my
father would give his consent and he was willing to take me with him, I
would go. " I shall be very glad to do it," said be, " if your father can be

(387)

,..,,.' * J-

388

NARRATIVE OF A SAILOR AMONG HAVAOES.

provailc<l on to lot you po, nnd aa I want an export mnith for nn nrnioror,
tlui on<! I linvo Hliippod for tlint imrpoHO not bcinj^ Hutlioif'tilly tnastor of
Ills tratio, i linvo no doubt that you will anawor my turn woll, and on my
roturn to America, I aliall probably bo able to do somothin^ much Ixttur
for you in Boston. I will tulco tho firat op|)ortunity of »poakin>,' to yonr
fathor about if, and try to porHuado him to consent." Ho acconiin^jly, tho
nR.xt evening that ho called at our houao, introduced tho suliject: my
fattier at first would not listen to tho proposal. But on Captain Siiiter'B
telling him of what benefit it would be to mo to go the voyage with him,
and that it was a pitv to keep a promising and ingonioua young fellow,
like myself, confinoil to a small shop in England, when if I had 'olorable
success, I might do so much bettor in America, where vagc, were much
higher, and living clieapcr, ho at length gave up his objt><.tion8 and con-
Bontod that I should ship on board tho Boston as an armorer, at tho ratu
of thirty dollars per month.

The ship having undergone a thorough repair and been well coppered,
proceeded to take on board her cargo, which consisted of English clothes,
Uutch blankets, looking-glasses, hoada, knives, razors, etc., which were
received from Holland, some sugar nnd molasses, about twenty hogsheads
of rum, including stores for the ship, a great quantity of ammunition,
cutlasses, pistols, and throe thousand muskets ami fowling-pieces. Tho
ship being loaded and ready for sea, aa I was preparing for my departure,
my fathor came to nic, nnd taking me aside, said to me with much emotion,
"John, I nm now going to part with you, and heaven only knows if we shall
ever again meet. But in whatever part of the world you are, always
bear it mind, that on your own conduct will depend your success in life.
Be honest, industrious, frugal, and temperate, and yon will not fail, in
whatsoever country it may be your lot to be placed, to gain yourself
friends. Let the Bible be your guide, and your reliance in any fortune
that may befall you, that Almighty Being who knows how to bring forth
good from evil, and who never deserts those who put their trust in him."
He repented his exhortations to mo to load an honest and Christian life,
and to recollect that I had a father, a mother, a brother, and sister, who
could not but feel n strong interest in my welfare, enjoining me to write
him by tho first opportunity that should ofifer to England, from whatever
part of the world I miglit bo in, more particularly on my arrival i'l Boston.
This I promised to do, but long unhappily was it before I was able to
fulfill this promise. I then took an affectionate leave of my worthy parent,
whose feelings would hardly permit him to speak, and bidding an affec-
tionate farewell to my brother, sister, and step-mother, who expressed
tho greatest solicitude for my future fortune, went on board the ship,
which proceeded to the Downs to be ready for the first favorable wind.
I found myself well accommodated on board as regarded my work, an
iron forge having been erected on deck; this my father had made for
the ship on a new plan, for which he aflervard obtained a patent; while
a corner of the steerage was appropriated to my vice bench, so that in
bad weather I could work below.

On the third day of September, 1802, we sailed from tho Downs with
a fair wind, in company with twenty-four sail of American vessels, most
of which were bound home. During tho first part of our voyage we saw
scarcely any fish, excepting some whales, a few sharks, and flying fish;
but after weathering Cape Horn we met with numerous shoals of sea
porpoises, several of which we caught, and as we had been for some time
without fresh provisions, I found it not only a palatable but really a very

■r.'^'v' !

\(1ES.

th for nn nrmorcr,
fuidiitly innstor of
II wrll, (iml on my
\\uuil mm-li Ixttor
■ H|)fakin>,' to yonr
acconliiiKly»tl'«'
tho Bul)jo«t: my
Captnin Siiltrr'B
voyaBt! with liim,
iuiis young follow,
. if I ha«'. •olcrable
vagc, wore much
olijoitions and con-
armorer, at tho rate

been well coppered,
1 of English clothes,
rs, etc., which were
nt twenty hogsheads
itity of nmmunition,
)wling-pinc(!H. The
ng for rny dnpartur»',
owith much emotion,
inly knows if we shall
orUl you are, always
your success in life,
you will not fail, in
ied, to gain yourself
liance in any fortune
ivs how to bring forth
lit their trust in him."
;8t and Christian life,
jther, and sister, who
enjoining mo to write
igland, from whatever
I my arrival in Boston,
before I was able to
e of my worthy parent,
and bidding an nffec-
lother, who expressed
at on board the ship,
le first favorable wind,
regarded my work, an
y father had made for
itained a patent; while
■ vice bench, so that in

i from the Downs with
American vessels, most
t of our voyage we saw
sharks, and flying fish;
umerous shoals of sea
had been for some time
atable but really a very

NAKilATIVK OK A HAILOK AMONG SAVAO^^S.

880

excellent food. VVitii a fair wind and easy weather from the t went)' -eighth
of l)t>('(;nil)ur, the period of our pasaiug C'npe llorn, w<> pursued ' vir
Toyaue to the norlhw:ird until tho twcinii of March, I8U3, vihttii we niadi
Woody I'oint, in Nuotka Hound, on tho north-west col^t of Amnrira, Wc
immediately stood up the Hound for Nootka, where Cu,t>tain Halt(>r htid
deterniint'd to stop, in order to supply the ship with wood Hrvd water before
proiecding up the i-oast to trade. The ship accordingly cain^ t'< anchor
in this place, at twelve n^clock at uight, in twelve fathom water, (noddy
bott<mi, and ho near the shore that to prevent tho ship from winding we
secur(!d her by a hawser to tho trees. On the morning of the next day.
tho thirteenth, several of the natives came on board in a canoe from tho
village of Nootka, with their king, called Maijuina, who appeared much
pleased on seeing us, and with great seeming cordiality, welcomed Cap-
tain Hulter and liis ollicers to his country. As I had never before behold
a sava^'C! of any nation, it may readily be supposed that tho novelty of
tJioir appearance, so dilferent from any people that 1 had hithortu seen,
excited in me strong feelings of surprise and enriosity. I wna, however,
particularly struck with tiie looks of their king, who was a man of b
dignitif*d aspect, about six feet in iieight and extremely straight and well
proportioned; his features wore in general good, and his face was rou-
dored remarkable by a large Roman nose, a very uncommon form of
feature among these people; his cornjilexion w.'is of a '!ark copper hue,
though his face, legs, and arms, were ou this occasion, so coverod with
red paint, that their natural color could scarcely be perceived; his eya-
bruws wore painted black, in two broad stripes, like a now moon, and his
long black hair, which shone with oil, was fastened in a bunch on the
top of his head, and strewed or powdered all over with white down, which
gave him a most curious and extraordinary appearance. Ho was dressed
in a large mantle or cloak of the black sea-otter skin, which readied to
his knees, and was fastened arouud his middle by a broad belt of the
cluth of the country, wrought or painted with figures of several colors;
tliis dress was by no moans unbecoming, but, on the contrary, had an air
of savage magnificence.

From his having frequently visited the English and American ships
that traded to the coast, Maquina had learned the signification of a number
of English words, and in general could make himself pretty well under-
stood by us in our own language. Ho was always the first to go on board
such ships as came to Nootka, which he was much pleased in visiting,
oven wlien he had no trade to ofler, as he almost always received some
•mall present, and was in general extremely well treated by the com-
manders. He remained on board of us for some time, during which tho
captain took him into tho cabin and treated him with a glass of rnm;
these people being very fond of distilled spirits, and somo biscuit and
molasses wiiich they prefer to any kind of food that we can offer them.

As there are seldom many furs to be purchased at this place, and it
was not fully the season, Captain Salter had put in here not so much
with an expectation of trading as to procure an ampio stock of wood and
water for the supply of tiie ship ou the coast, thinking it more prudent
to take it on board at Nootka, from the generally friendly disposition of
the people, than to endanger the safety of his men in sending them on
shore for that purpose among the more ferocious natives of the north.
With this view, we immediately sot about getting our water-casks in
readiness, and the next and two succeeding days part of the crew were
sent on shore to cut pino timber and assist the carpenter in making it

390

NARRATIVE OF A SAILOR AMONG SAVAGES.

into yards and spars for the ship, while those on board were employed in
refitting the rigging, repairing the sails, etc., when we proceeded to take
in our wood and water as expeditiously as possible, during which time
I kept myself busily employed in repairing the muskets, making knivea,
tomaxes, etc., and doing tiuch iron work as was wanted for the ship.
Meantime more or less of the natives came on board of us daily, bringing
with them fresh salmon with which they supplied us in great plenty, re-
ceiving in return some trifling artirles. Captain Salter was always very
particular before admitting these people on board to see tiiat they hud
uo arms about them, by obliging them indiscriminately to throw off their
garments, so that he felt perfectly secure from any attack. On the
iifleenth the king came on board with several of his chiefs; ho was
dressed, as before, in his magnificent otter skin robe, having his face highly
painted, and his hair tossed off with the white down which looked like
snow; his chiefs were dressed in mantles of the country cloth of its
natural color, which is a pale yellow; these were ornamented with a
broad border, painted or wrought in figures of several colors, represent-
ing men's heads, various animals, etc., and secured around them- by u
belt like that of the king, from which it was distinguished oiily by being
narrower. The dress of the common people is of the same fashion, and
differs from that of the chiefs in being of a coarser texture, and painted
red, of one uniform color.

Captain Salter invited Maquina and his chiefs to dine with him, and
it was curious to see how these people, when ihey eat, seat themselves,
in their country fashion, upon our chaiis, with their feet under them,
crossed like Turks. They cannot endure the taste of salt, and the only
thing they would eat with us was the ship-bread, which they were very
pDnd of, especially when dipped in molasses; they had also a great liking
tor tea and coffee, »vhen well sweetened. As iron weapons and tools of
almost every kind are in much request omong them, whenever they came
on board they were always very attentive to me, crowding around me at
the forge, as if to see in what manner I did my work, and in this way
became quite familiar; a circumstance, as will be seen in the end, of
great importance to me. On the nineteenth, the king came again on
i^oard and was invited by the captain to dine with him. He had much
conversation with Captain Salter, and informed him that there were pbnty
of wild ducks and geese near Friendly Cove, on which the captain made
him a present of a double-barreled fowling-piece with which he appeared
to be greatly pleased and soon afler went on shore.

On the twentieth, we were nearly ready for our departure, having taken
in what wood and water we were in want of. The next day Maquina
came on board with nine pair of wild ducks, as a present, at the same
lime he brought with him the gun, one of the locks of which he had
broken, telling the captain that it was peshak, that is bad. Captain Salter
was very much offended at this observation, and considering it as a mark
of contempt for his present, he called the king a liar, adding other op-
probrious terms, and taking the gun from him tossed it indignantly into
the cabin and calling me to him said, "John, this fellow has broken this
beautiful fowlinp-piece, see if you can mend it:" on examining it I told
him that it could be done. — As I have already observed, Maquina knew
a numboL of English words, and, unfortunately, understood but too
well the meaning of the reproachful terms that the captain addressed to
him. — He said not a word in reply, but his countenance sufficiently ex-
pressed the rage he felt, though he exerted himself to suppress it, and I

SAVAGES.

board were employed in

en we proceeded to take

sible, during which time

muskets, making knives,

as wanted for tb? ship.

ard of ua daily, bringing

ed us in great plenty, re-

n Salter was always very

ard to see tliat they had

inately to throw oflf their

um any attack. On the

al of his chiefs; ho was

obe, having his face highly

down which looked like

the country cloth of its

were ornamented with a

several colors, represcnt-

Bcured around them- by u

istinguishod only by being

s of the same fashion, and

larser texture, and painted

sfs to dine with him, and
ihey eat, scat themselves,
th their feet under them,
taste of salt, and the only
sad, which they were very
they had also a great liking
I iron weapons and tools of
them, whenever they came
ie, crowding around me at
my work, and in this way
ill be seen in the end, of
1, the king came again on
with him. He had much
! him that there were phnty
on which the captain made
ce with which he appeared
ihore.

our departure, having taken
The next day Maquina
I, as a present, at the same
he locks of which he had
hat is bad. Captain Salter
ad considering it as a mark
tg a liar, adding otiier op-
fi tossed it indignantly into
this fellow has broken this
it:" on examining it I told
y observed, Maquina knew
ately, understood but too
at the captain addressed to
ountenance sufficiently cx-
imself to suppress it, and I

NARRATIVE OF A SAILOR AMONG SAVAGES 391

observed him, while the captain was speaking, repeatedly put his hand
to his throat and rub it upon his bosom, which, he afterward told me, was
to keep down his heart, which was rising into iiis throat and choking him.
He soon after went on shore with his men, evidently much discomposed.

On the morning of the twenty-second, the natives came of!' to us, as
usual, witii salmon, and remained on board, when about noon Maquina
came along side with a considerable number of his chiefs and men in
their canoes, who, after going though the customary examination were
admitted into the ship. He had a whistle in his hand, and over his face
a very u^'ly mask of wood representing the head of some wild beast,
appeared to be remarkably good humored and gay, and while his people
sung and capered about the deck, entertaining us with a variety of antic
tricks and gestures, he blew his whistle to a kind of tune which seemed
to regulate their motions. As Captain Salter was walking on the quarter-
deck amusing himself with their dancing, the king came up to him and
inquired when he intended to go to sea? — he answered, lo-morrow. —
Maquina then said, " You love salmon — much in Friendly Cove, why not
go tiicn and catch some?" — The captain thought that it would be very
desirable to have a good supply of these fish for the voyage, and on con-
sulting with Mr. Delouisa, the first mate, it was agreed to send part of
of the crew on shore after dinner with the seine in order to procure a
quantity — Maquina and his chiefs staid and dined on board, and after
dinner the chief mate went off with nine men in the jolly-boat and yawl
to fish at Friendly Cove, having set the steward on shore at our watering
place to wash the captain^s clothes. Shortly after the departure of the
boats I went down to my vice-bench in the steerage, where I was em-
ployed in cleaning muskets. I had not been there more than an hour
when I heard the men hoisting in the long-boat, which, in a few minutes
after, was succeeded by a great bustle and confusion on deck. I im-
mediately ran up the steerage stairs, but scarcely was my head above
deck, when I was caught by the hair by on^ of the savages, and lifted from
my feet; fortunately for me, my hair boing short, and the ribbon with
which it was tied slipping, I fell from his hold into the steerage. As I was
falling, he struck at me with an ax, which cut a deep gash in my fore-
head, and penetrated the skull, but in consequence of his losing his hold, I
luckily escaped the full force of the blow; which, otherwise, would have
cleft my head in two. 1 fell, stunned and senseless, upon the floor — how
long I continued in this situation I know not, but on recovering my senses
the first thing that I did, was to try to get up; but so weak was I, from
the loss of blood, that I fainted and fell.

I was, however, soon recalled to my recollection by three loud shouts or
yells from the savages, which convinced me that they had g6t possession
of the ship. It is impossible for me to describe my feelings at this terrific
sound. — Some faint idea may be formed of them by those who have known
what it is to half awaken from a hideous dream and still think it real.
Never, no, never, shall I lose from my mind, the impression of that
dreadf^ul moment. I expected every instant to share the wretched fate
of my unfortunate companions; and when I heard the song of triumph,
by which these infernal yells was succ' eded, my blood ran cold in my
veins. Having at length sufficiently recovered my senses to look around me,
after wiping the blood from eyes, I saw that the hatch of the steerage
was shut. This was done, tis I afterward discovered, by order of Maquina,
who, on seeing the savage strike at me with the ax, told him not to hurt
me, for I was the armorer, and would be useful to them in repairing

392 NARRATIVE OP A SAILOR AMONG SAVAGES.

their arms : while, at the same time, to prevent any of his men from injuring
ineirarins, Willi , „i__„j Rut to me th 8 c rcumstance wore a very

TfiVrrnXpearatt fo^^^^^^^ »'"''-^"^ '^f T'^ '""

foS U ife n 0^^^^^^ to deprive me of it by the most cruel tortures

^y'f'ce, ihich having done, I was able to see d-t.;cay wU^^^^^^
Bv«« hut the other was so swollen from my wound that it was ciosea.
Zt£i^ie^^o^7eci^clemet my eyes: six naked savages, standing
fn 1 Circe around me, covered with the blood of my 7;de;«d -"'J'^J^^^
with their daggers uplifted in their hands, prepared to strike. 1 now
Uiouaht my last moment had come, and recommended my soul to my
Maker The king, who, as I have already observed, knew enough of
Ssh to makrhimself understood, entered the circle and plac.ng
2 elf before me, addressed me nearly in the Allowing words-' Joln-

aiTwer yes. He then told me that he would spare my life, and orde ed
mcTo kiss his hands and feet to show my submission to h.m, which I d d.
Tthl meantime his people were very clamorous to have me put todeath,
^ttThTeThLli^'e nLe of us lefl to tell our s^^^^^^^^^^
and prevent them from coming to trade wuh them; but the k.ng, in the
most determined manner opposed their wishes, and to his favor am I
wholly indebted for my being yet among the living.

As I was busy at work at the time of the attack I was without ray coat,
and whaTwith the coldness of the weather, my feebleness from loss of
bfood the pain of my wound, and the extreme agitation and terror that I
still f^lt I sCk like a leaf, which the king observing, went into the cabm,
and tUing up a greatH^^at that belonged to the captain threw it over
mv shoulders, tellinl me to drink some rumfrorn a bottle which he handed
"at the 'same tim'e, giving me to understand thatjt would be good for
fi^r me and keep me from trembling as I did. I took a draagut oi ii,
Sle™which,takbg me by the hand, he led me to the quarter-deck, where
tl^e most horrtd sight presented itself that ever my eyes w.tnessed-the
heaSof our unfortunate captain and his crew, to the number of twenty-
Sve wereTl ""ranged in a line, and Maquina ordering one of his people
fo brTnTa head, «sked me whose it was: I answered, the captain s; m
like manner the others were showed me,and Itold him the names, excepl-
in. a few that were so horribly mangled that I was not able to recognize
Ser^ Tnow discovered that all our unfortunate crew had been massa^
cred^andkLed that, after getting possession of the ship, the savages
Sad bJoke open the arm ches? and magazine, and supplying themselves
t ?h ammunLn and arms, sent a party o\«hore to attack our men w^

had gone thither to fish, and being joined by "»™^^"/™"^,.*';Vff tlS;
without difficulty overpowered and murdered them, and cutting oH their
Teads bought them on board, after throwing thei^r bodies into the sea^
Sooking upon the deck, I saw it entirely covered with the blood of my
pi comrK whose throats had been cut with their own jack-kn.ves,

i-7%TS,t7:

^i*»S*«t*fl,».«**i

VOES.

men from injuring
itance wore a very
lans had only pro-
it cruel tortures.
■y long time, when
ling me by name,
ell a? I was able,
my wound, and so
iving my situation,
h the blood from
,ly with one of my
:hat it was closed,
savages, standing
urdered comrades,
to strike. I now
led my soul to my
1, knew enough of
ircle, and placing
ig words — " John —
!^' He then asked
fight for him in his
gers and knives for
I was careful to
ny life, and ordered
to him, which I did.
ave me put to death,
y to our countrymen
but the king, in the
d to his favor am I

was without my coat,
ileness from loss of
lion and terror that I
, went into the cabin,
aptain, threw it over
ttle which he handed
it would be good for
took a draught of it,
quarter-deck, where
Byes witnessed — the
number of twenty-
ng one of his people
d, the captain's; in
n the names, cxcepl-
lot able to recognize
ew had been massa-
lie ship, the savages
upplying themsclvet*
attack our men who
irs from the village,
and cutting oft' their
bodies into the sea.
vith the blood of my
jir own jack-knives,

NARRATIVE OF A SAILOR AMONG SAVAGES.

393

the savages having seized the opportunity while they were busy hoisting
in the boat to grapple with them and overpower them by their nunibors ;
in the scullle the captain was thrown overboard, and disputclxHi by tJKvse
in the canoen, who immediately cut oft' his head. What I felt on litis
occasion, may bo more readily conceived than expressed.

Alter 1 had answered his questions, Maquina took my silk handker-
chief from my neck and bound it around my head, placing over the wound
a leaf of tobacco, of which we had a quantity on board. Tiiis was done
at my desire, as I had often found, from personal experience, the benefit
of this application to cuts.

Maquina then ordered me to get the ship under weigh for Triundly
Cove. Tills I did by cutting the cables and sending some of thr natives
alot\ to loose the sails, which they performed in a very bungling manner.
But they succeeded so far in loosing tiie jib and topsails, that, with the
advantage of a fair wind, I succeeded in getting the ship into the Cove,
where, by order of the king, I run her ashore, on a sandy beacli, at eight
o^clock at night. We were received by the inhabitants of the village,
men, women, and children, with loud shouts of joy, and a most horrible
drumming with sticks upon the roofs and sides of their houses, in which
they had also stuck a great number of lighted pine torches, to welcome
their king^s return and congratulate him on the success of his enterprizc.

Maquina then took me on shore to his house — which was very large
and tilled with people — where I was received with much kindness by the
women, particularly those belonging to the king, who had no less than
nine wives, all of whom came around me expressing much sympathy for
my misfortune, gently stroking and patting my head in an encouraging
and soothing manner, with words expressive of condolence.

In the meantime, all the warriors of the tribe, to the number of five
hundred, had assembled at the king^s house to rejoice for their success.
They exulted greatly in having taken our ship, and each one boasted of
his own particular exploits in killing our men, but they were in general
much dissatisfied with my having been sufi'ered to live, and were very
urgent with Maquina to deliver me to them to be put to death, which he
obstinately refused to do, telling them that he had promised me my life,
and would not break his word; and that beside, I knew how to repair and
to make arms, and would be of great use to them.

The king then seated me by him and ordered his women to bring him
something to eat, when they set before him some dried clams and train
oil, of which he ate very heartily, and encouraged me to follow his ex-
ample, telling me to eat much and take a great deal of oil which would
make me strong and fat; notwithstanding his praise of this new kind of
food, I felt no disposition to indulge in it, both the smell and taste being
loathsome to me; and had it been otherwise, such was the pain I endured,
the agitation of my mind, and the gloominess of my reflections, that I
should have felt very little inclination for eating. Not satisfied with his
first refusal to deliver me up to them, the people again became clamorous
that Maquina should consent to my being killed, saying that not one of
us ought to be left alive to give information to others of our countrymen
and prevent them from coming to trade, or induce them to revenge the
destruction of our ship, and they at length became so boisterous that he
caught up a large club in a passion and drove them all out of the house.
During this scene a son of the king, about eleven years old, attracted
no doubt by the singularity of my appearance came up to me : 1 caressed
him; he returned my attentions with much apparent pleasure, and

394 NARRATIVE OF A SAILOR AMONG SAVAGES.

con^idcrinff thi. as a fortunate opportunity to gain the good will o/t^e father
1 took the child on my knee, and cutting the metal bu tons from oft h«
roa I had on, I tied them around his neck. At th.s he was highly
,!;.l,;,.htc-d, and became so much attached to me that he would not quit

'" 'i'ho kin.' appeared much pleased with my attention to hi:, son, and
„.lli„„ mo That it was time to goto sleep, directed me to he with h.s son
ncx U. hi.n, us he was afraid lest some of his people would come wh.le
ZL asleep and kill me with their daggers. I ay down as he ordered
u. ut neither the stateof n.y mind nor the pain I felt would allow me to
si,, .p. About midnight I was greatly alarmed by the approach of one
of h ■ n tives, who ctme to give information to the kmg that there was
one of the while men alive, who had knocked h.m down as he went on
board the ship at night. This Maquina ^o'""^""'';??^,;" ""^ ' ^."'"ITv.
to understand that as soon as the sun rose he should kill him. I endeav-
or d to ^luade him to spare his life, but he bade »"« .»>« -•-"/^"f. gj
Ui sleep I said nothing more, but lay revolving in my mind what method
could devise to save the life 'of this man. What a consolation, thought
, what a happiness would it prove to me in my forlorn state among these
heathen, to have a Christian and one of my own countrymen for a com-
paJ on 'and how greatly would it alleviate and hghten the burden of my
slavery. As I was thinking of some plan for his preservation it all at
once came into my mind that this man was probably the sail-makcr of the
S named Thompson, as I had not seen his head among those on
deS, an" knew tha't he'was below, at work upon ^he -its not long^^
the a tack. The more I thought of it the more probable it appeared to
me and as Thompson was a r^an nearly forty years of age and had an
o"d loo!!, I conceited it would be easy to make hm V<^^^^^orjuyJ^^^,
and by this means prevail on Maquina to spare his life. '"T^"^ ">«;";«
I fell into a doze, but was awakened with the first beams of the sun by the
king who told me that he was goingto kil the man who was on board he
ship, and ordered me to accompany him. I rose and followed him, leading

^trm^;^to"L'trch'i^^ndall the menof thetrlbe assemb...
The khig addressed them, saying that one of the whi e men had been
found alfve on board the ship, and requested their opinion as o sav ng
his life or putting him to death. They were unanimously f Jhe _first
this determination he made known to me. Having arranged my p an, I
asked him™ pointing to the boy whom I still held by the hand if he loved
Sson he answered that he did; I then asked the child if he loved hs
father and on his replying in the affirmative, I said " And I also love mine."
I then threw myself on my knees at Maquina's feet, and implored h.rn,
w th ^ears In my eyes, to spare my father's life, if the man on board should
prove to be hS, telling him that if he killed my father it was my ^v.sh
fhat he should kill me'too, and that if he did -^ J --»;^,,k'» ^^J;;;
and that he would thus lose my services ; whereas, by sparing my f ather s
Hfe he would preserve mine, which would be of great advantage to him
bv mv rTairin'L and making arms for him. Maquina appeared moved
by Ty en^reatifs and promised not to put the man to death if he should
be my father. He then explained to his people what I had s aid and
ordered mo to go on board and tell the man to come on shore, lo my
unspeakable yy on going into the hold, I found that my conjecture
was true, Tlifpson was there, he had escaped wuhout any injury, ex-
cepting a slight wound in the nose, given him by one of the savages with

VAGES.

ood will of the father,

buttons from oft" th«

this ho was highly

it he would not quit

ntion to hit. son, and
ne to lie with his son
le would come while
f down as he ordered
bit would allow me to
the approach of one
! king that there wns

down as he went on
ited to me. giving me
1 kill him. I endeav-
3 me be silent and go
my mind what method
a consolation^ thought
orn state among these
ountrymen for a com-
ten the burden of my

preservation, it all at
|r the sail-maker of the
lead among those on
le sails, not long before
robable it appeared to
rs of age, and had an
m pass for my father,
ife. Toward morning
earns of the sun by the

I who was on board the
d followed him, leading

if the tribe assembled.
3 white men had been
ir opinion as to saving
inimously for the first:
ig arranged my plan, I
ly the hand, if he loved
de child if he loved his
' And I also love mine."
eet, and implored him,
he man on board should
f father it was my wish

I I would kill myself—
, by sparing my father's

great advantage to him
quina appeared moved
in to death if he should
le what I had said, and
;ome on shore. To my
nd that my conjecture

without any injury, ox-
' one of the savages with

NARRATIVE OF A SAILOR AMONG SAVAGES.

395

a knife, as ho attempted to come on deck, during the scufHe. Finding
the savages in possession of the ship, as he afterward informed me, he
secreted himself in the hold, hoping for some chance to make his escape —
but that the Indian who came on board in the night approaching the place
where he was, he supposed himself discovered, and being determined to
sell his life as dearly as possible, as soon as he came within his reach,
he kn'>cked him down, but the Indian immediately springing up, ran off
at full speed. — I informed him in a few words that all our men had been
killed; that the king had preserved my life, and had consented to spare
his on the supposition that he was my father, an opinion which he must
be careful not to undeceive them in, as it was his only safety. After
giving l»im his cue, I went on shore with him and presented him to
Maquina, who immediately knew him to be the sail-maker and was much
pleased, observing that he could make sails for his canoe. — He then took
us to his house and ordered something for us to eat.

On the twenty-fourth and twenty-fifth, the natives were busily employed
in taking the cargo out of the ship, stripping her of her sails and rigging,
cutting away the spars and masts, and, in short, rendering her as complete
a wreck as possible; the muskets, ammunition, cloth, and all the principal
articles taken from her, being deposited in the king's house.

While they were thus occupied, each one taking what he liked, my
companion and myself being obliged to aid them, I thought it best to
sectire tiie accounts and papers of the ship, in hopes that on sonic future
day I might have it in my power to restore them to tlie owners. With this
view I took possession of the captain's writing-desk which contained the
most of them, together with some paper and implements for writing. I
had also the good fortune to find a blank account book, in whicli I resolved,
should it be permitted me, to write an account of our capture and the
most remarkable occurrences that I should meet with during my stay
among these people, fondly indulging the hope that it would not be long
before some vessel would arrive to release us. I likewise found in the
cabin, a small volume of sermons, a Bible, and a common prayer-book of
the Cliurch of England, which furnished me and my comrade great con-
solation in the midst of our mournful servitude, and enabled me, under
the favor of Divine Providence, to support, with firmness, the miseries
of a life which I might otherwise have found beyond my strength to
endure. As these people set no value upon things of this kind, I found
no difficulty in appropriating them to myself, by putting them in my chest,
which, though it had been broken open and rifled by the savages, as I still
had the key, I without much difficulty secured. In this I also put some
small tools belonging to the ship, with several other articles, particularly
a journal kept by the second mate, Mr. Ingraham, and a collection of
drawings and views of places taken by him, which I had the good fortune
to preserve, and on my arrival at Boston, I gave them to a connection of
his, the honorable Judge Dawes, who sent them to his family in New
York.

On the twenty-sixth, two ships were seen standing in for Friendly Cove.
At their first appearance the inhabitants were thrown into great confusion,
but soon collecting a number of muskets and blunderbusses, ran to the
shore, from whence they kept up so brisk a fire at them, that they were
evidently afraid to approach nearer, and after firing a few rounds of grape-
shot which did no harm to any one, they woro ship and stood out to sea.
These ships, as I afterward learned, were the Mary and Juno of Boston.
They were scarcely out of sight when Maquina expressed much regret

... _^ _./

396 NARBITIVE OF A SAILOR AMOBO SAVA0K8.

„., he h=.l pcr,n„.od hi, people .o f.^'^^trmant^rerS'S'teV';"

:iir:htrrLi»:'r,h°L';';eXr;: ^"SL .»».., ..a. ,„

Ihc north and south. acouisitiou, was desirous of

Maquina, who was very P'^""^;^"^ "^^^''^^^^e^ ' He accordingly

welcon.ins these v.s.tors in the European rnan^- j^ ^^j^^^

ordered his men, as the canoes approached, o a«f ««;>'« «^' '^ ,^^ ,^„„„„

o„ .he ,ho,e,d,e»ed .. '!'«? ""^r^ sS. C f™™ "» cargo,
,„osl fanMtic maimer, "■"« ■" »7™ » J^*" ' ' E broadeloth, «ilh
„,h«,. in Ko(.oci.,(o, cloak.,) ol ""«' f^"' ^ huls Found «ilh
.locking, drawn o,,,, tkcr 1"=»J ; '-l J'^J ij°Xe™*o.™ of ihen.

EirLirsr^sjfgi-tfrtr^eei^

bill p,e,...d upoB the .M.d .n.load °f g"™' 'h«'' »'^°"||^,, ^ ,,,„„ „i,h

trophies what they had taken from us f hen ^ j^"^ fJJ^e, c^^^
eluded, Maquina invited the strangers to a feast ^^^'^ \^^^^ /^^j^ „„, ^f
of whale blubber, «'"oked herrmg ^P^Jj^^fteing over, the trays oul of

Uiey received in return, presents of cloth, etc., alter wnicn y

■•i-.«-r"-a«rr'-

r.'^:r~-'-'.''il^'-

■.^■.i„«*.^-^ -'*t«f>6r^

ti.as^tsjsa*?*^*:

AVAGKS.

}ing apprehensive that
ner they had been re-
ilh him. A few days
ived at Nootka a great
1 than twenty tribes to

sition, was dcsirons of
ner. He accordingly
mble on the beach with
impson at the cannon
ng slides of timber in
mpet in his hand he
n drumming or beating
[othing could be more
ip of savages collected
ill-gotten finery, in the
, taken from our cargo,
yellow broadcloth, with
lecks hung round with
re-boxes; some of theiri
r shoulders, and five or

was it to see them all
perpendicularly, with the
ir shoulders, and in this
last, called to them with
[ward and timid manner,
ind as above mentioned,
lompson, immediately on
roll and tumble over the
springing up they began
forward upon the shore,
exploits and exhibited as

the ceremony was con-
t at his house, consisting
ried fish and train oil, of
ing over, the trays out of
liately removed to make
trtainment.

lan one hundred muskets,
idred yards of cloth, and
. After receiving these
canoes, for so numerous
y but the chiefs to sleep
perty from being pillaged
1 keep guard, during the
s manner tribes of savages
g for several days, bringing
fish and clams, for which
etc., after which they in

ship was discovered to be
res having gone on board
Ilundor, some sparks from
ith some combustibles soon

NARRATIVE OP A SAILOR AMONG SAVAGES-

SOT

.j^^/-sr?-if#K=5'^5^^*^'

enveloped the whole in flames. The natives regretted the loss of the ship
the more as a great part of her cargo still remained on board. To my
companion and myself it was a most melancholy sight, for with her dis-
appeared from our eyes every trace of a civilized country; but the dis-
appointment we experienced was still more severely felt, for wo had
calculated on having the provision to ourselves, which would have fur-
nished us with a stock for years, as whatever is cured with salt, together
with moat of our other articles of food, is never eaten by these people.
I had luckily saved all my tools, excepting the anvil, and the bellows
which were attached to the forge, and from their weight had not been
brought on shore. We had also the good fortune, in looking over what
had been taken from the ship, to discover a box of chocolate and a case
of Port wine, which, as the Indians were not fond of it, proved a great
comfort to us for some time, and from one of the natives I obtained a
nautical almanac, which had belonged to the captain, and which was of
great use to me in determining the time.

About two days after, on examining their booty, the savages found a
tierc'i of rum, with which they were highly delighted, as they have
beco.-ne very fond of spirituous liquors since their intercourse with the
whites. This was toward evening, and Maquina, having assembled all
the men at his house, gave a feast, at which they drank so freely of the
rum, that in a short time they became so extremely wild and frantic that
Thompson and myself, apprehensive for our safety, thought it prudent
to retire privately into the woods, where we continued till past midnight.
On our return, we found the women gone, who arc always very temperate,
drinking nothing but water, having quitted the house and gone to the other
huts to sleep, so terrified were they at the conduct of the men, who all
lay stretched out on the floor in a state of complete intoxication. How
easy, in this situation, would it have been for us to have dispatched or
made ourselves masters of our enemies, had there been any ship near
to which wo could have escaped, but as we were situated, the attempt
would have been madness.

The burning of our ship, which we had lamented so much, as depriving
us of so many comforts, now appeared to us in a very different light, for
had the savages got possession of the rum, of which there were nearly
twenty puncheons on board, we must inevitably have fallen a sacrifice
to their fury in some of their moments of intoxication. This cask,
fortunately, and a case of gin, was all the spirits they obtained from the
ship. To prevent the recurrence of similar danger, I examined the
cask, and finding still a considerable quantity remaining, 1 bored a small
hole in the bottom with a gimblet, which, before morning, to my great
joy, completely emptied it.

By this time the wound in my head began to be much better, so that
I could enjoy some sleep, which I had been almost deprived of by the
pain, and, though I was still feeble from the loss of blood and my
sufferings, I found myself sufficiently well to go to work at my trade, in
making for the king and his wives bracelets and other small ornaments
of copper or steel, and in repairing the arms, making use of a large
square stone for the anvil, and heating my metal in a common wood fire.
This was very gratifying to Maquina and his women particularly, and
secured me their good will.

In the meantime great numbers from the other tribes kept continually
flocking to Nootka, bringing with them, in exchange for the ship's plunder,
such quantities of provision, that, notwithstanding the little success that

898

NARRATIVE OF A SAILOR AMONG SAVAGES.

Maq.iina mot with in whaling this season, and thoir glu lonoua waste,
alwavs <' ling to .^xceas when thoy have it, regardless ot the morrow,
seldom did the natives experience any want of food durmg the summer.
As to myself and companion, wo fared as they d.d, never wantmg for
such provision as they had, though wo were obliged to eat it «^o.«kcd m
their manner and with train oil as a sauce, a circumstance not . little un-
pleasant, botl from thoir uncleanly mode of cooking, and many of the
Lrticics of their food which, to a European, are very d.s-usting, bu , as
the saying is, hunger will break through stone walls; and wc found, at
times, inihe blubber of sea animals and the flesh of the dog fish, loath-
some as it in general was, a very acceptable repast.

But much oftener would poor Thompson, who was no favorite with
them, have suffered from hunger had it not been for my '""-n'^hyig >™
with provision—This I was enabled to do from my work, Maquina
allowing me the privilege, when not employed for him, to wo^k for my-
self in making bracelets and other ornaments of copper, fish-hooks,
daggers, etc., either to sell to the tribes who visited us, or for our own
chiefs, who, on these occasions, beside supplying me with as much aa
I wished to eat, and a sutlicicncy for Thompson, almost always made me
a present of a European garment taken from the ship, «r ««^« f «""«
of cloth, which were made up by my comrade, and enabled us to go
comfortably clad for some time, or small bundles of penknives razors
scissors, etc., for one of which we could almost always Pr?««^« J°'" '^o
natives two or three fresh salmon, cod, or halibut, or dried Ash, clams
and herring spawn from the stranger tribes; and had we «n>yj|««" P®'-
mitted to cook them after our own way, as we had pots, and other uten-
sils belonging to the ship, we should not have had «>"«h cause of
complaint in this respect; but so tenacious are these peopje "f the.r
customs, particularly in the article of food and cooking, that the king
a wayrobliged me to give whatever provisions I bought to the women to
cook-and one day finding Thompson and myself on the shore employed
Tboil ng Sown Jea-wat?r into salt, on being told what it was he was
iery much displeased, and taking the little we had procured th ew it
into the sea. In one instance alone, as a particular fav-r, he allowed
Te to boil some salmon in my own way when invited h.m and h «
queen fo eat with me; they tasted it, but did not like it, and made thetr
meal of some of it that I had cooked in their country fashion.

My health being at length re-established, and my wound healed,
Thompson became very importunate for me to begin ">? JO»;°»>' ?"d a«
I had no ink, proposed to cut his finger to supply me with blood for the
purpose whenever I should want it. On the first of June 1 accordingly
Eom.nenced a regular diary, but had no occasion to make u«e of the
e-DPdient suggestod by my comrade, having found a much better sub-
Se "n theTxpressed'juice of a certain plant, which fu-f f ^^^ ^^J
a bright green color, and afler making a number of ^"f '« .^^' '^^J
succeeded in obtaining a very tolerable ink, by boiling the J«'ce "f he
blackberry with a mixture of finely powdered charcpd and filtering
it through a cloth. This I afterward preserved m bottles and found it
answer very well, so true is it that "necessity is the mother of

rnvrtlon."' As fo'r quills I found no difficulty. j" P^rh'Jhlbe'^Lhwrs
ever I warned, from the crows and ravens with which the beach was
afmost always covered, attracted by the offal of whales, seals, eto, and
wS w^eTo tie that I could easily kill them with stones, while a
large clam-shell furnished me with an inkstand.

IVACIES.

iir ^'luttonous waste,
less of the morrow,
during tho uuininer.
(1, never wanting for
to cat it cooked in
stance not > little un-
ng, nnd many of the
ry dis^uBting, but, as
; and we found, at
f the dog fish, loath-

was no favorito with

or my furnishing him

my work, Maquina

him, to work for my-

f copper, fish-hooks,

ed us, or for our own

me with as much as

most always made me

ship, or some fathoms

md enabled us to go

of penknives, razors,

vays procure from tho

or dried fish, clams

lad we only been per-

pots, and other uten-

had much cause of

these people of their

cooking, that the king

ought to the women to

an the shore employed

lid what it was, he was

lad procured, threw it

:ular fav ~>r, he allowed

I invited him and his

like it, and made their

try fashion.

id my wound healed,
gin my journal, and as
me with blood for the
. of June I accordingly
in to make use of the
nd a much Letter sub-
hich furnished me with
r of trials I at length
oiling the juice of the
charcpal and filtering
in bottles and found it
Lty is the mother of
procuring them, when-
which the beach was
whales, seals, etc., and
m with stones, while a

,!*!

KABRATIVE OF A SAILOR AMONG SAVAGES.

399

The extreme solicitude of Thompson, that I should begin my journal,
might be cunsidered as Hin<^ular in ii mun who neither knew luiw to write
or read — a circumstance, by the way, very uncommon in an American —
were we less acquainted with tho force of habit, ho having been for
many years at sea. and accustomed to consider the keeping of a journal
as a thing indispensable. This man was born in Philadelphia, and when
eight years old, ran away from his friends, and entered as a cabin boy on
board a ship bound to London; on his arrival there, finding himself in
distress, he engaged as an apprentice to the captain of a Collier, from
whence he was impressed on board an English man-of-war, and continued
in tho British naval service about twenty-seven years, during which he
was present at the engagement under Lord Howe with tho French fleet
in June. 1794; and when peace was made between England nnd France,
was diiichargod. He was a very strong nnd powerful man, an expert
boxer, and perfectly fearless; indeed so little was his dread of danger,
that, when irritated, he was wholly regardless of his life. Of this tho
following will furnish a sufficient proof:

One evening, about the middle of April, as I was at the house of one
of the chiefs, where I had been employed on some work for him, word
was brought me that Maquina was going to kill Thompson. I immedi-
ately hurried home, where I found the king in the act of presenting a
loaded musket at Thompson, who was standing before him with his
breast bared, and calling on him to fire. I instantly stepped up to
Maquina, who was foaming with rage, and addressing him in soothing
words, begged him, for my sake, not to kill my father, and at length suc-
ceeded in taking the musket from him and persuading him to sit down.
On inquiring into the cause of his anger, I learned that while Thompson
was lighting the lamps in the king's room, Maquina having substituted
our's for their pine torches, some of the boys began to teaze him, run-
ning around him and pulling him by the trowscrs; among the most
forward of whom was the young prince. This caused Thompson to
spill the oil, which threw him into such a passion, that, witiiout caring
what he did, he struck the prince so violent a blow in his face with his
fist as to knock him down. The sensation excited among the savages
by an act which was considered as the highest indignity, and a profan-
ation of the sacred person of majesty may be easily conceived. The
king was immediately acquainted with it, who, on coming in and seeing
his son's face covered with blood, seized a musket and began to load it,
determined to take instant revenge on the audacious oflfender; and had
I arrived a few minutes later than I did, my companion would certainly
have paid with his life for his rash and violent conduct. I found the
utmost difficulty in pacifying Maquina, who, for a long time aAer, could
not forgive Thompson, but would repeatedly say, "John, you die-
Thompson kill.'' But to appease the king was not all that was necessary.
In consequence of the insult offered to their prince, tho whole tribe held
a council, in which it was unanimously resolved that Thompson should
be put to death in the most cruel manner. I, however, interceded so
strenuously with Maquina for his life, telling him that if my father was
killed, I was determined not to survive him, that he refused to deliver
him up to the vengeance of his people, saying, that for John's sake they
must consent to let him live. The prince, who, at\er I had succeeded
in calming his father, gave me an account of what had happened, told
me that it was wholly out of regard to me, as Thompson was my father,
that his life had been spared; for that if any one of the tribe should

400 NARRATIVE OP A SAILOR AMONG SAVAGES.

aaro to lift a hand against him in anger, ho would most certainly be put

'° Stan this narrow escape produced "otynuch effect o^ Thompson

Son of a chiet, wno was uuouv i » j himself, in consequence of

custom, was considered as a Tyoo^ or ch^f h.mse^f, n^^^ ^^ .^ ^^^.^
his having provoked him by ca ing h.m » «. clamorous

caused great commotion m the village, and the tnoo was v y

among them; addmg, that "^ o"'y,'^ ""''" ^„ "J -ace- for to a brave

wiTh their sports and buffoon tricks, making little "'""'''"f "^^/^^^'^ ""'^^^l
S diildreE of the chiefs, by which -^^^^ ^l^^^T aI I ^rUier le
them, and fish-hooks, daggers, etc, for th^J'^^J;^^;,,^^' of the

commendation to their favor, ""^^ ^^^^^^^^^^ Jr W"'^g^^

utmost importance to us, I resolved t"*""" ,*7" 3d in acquiring,

the course of a few months residence, I so far succeeoea m u. M b^

when they themselves were short of provisions and suffering for the wan
"^BuTto return to our unhappy situation. Th°«f ^^ .^'xtcS
our fears lest no ship would come to our 'Please, ana xnai

SAVAGES,
d most certainly be put

ch effect on Thompson,
temper. For not many
on, in striking the eldest
1, and, acf^ording to their
iself, in consequence of
rhite slave. This affair
tribe was very clamorous
t. I used frequently to

conduct, and beg him to
ur duly, since our lives
liing to exasperate them;
for so bitter was the hate
d in manifesting, both by
irer would submit to theiT
3d than be obliged to live
id a good vessel and some
iirscd race; for to a brave
and Spaniards with glory,

a slave to such a poor,

had determined from the
onduct toward them, and
, their customs and mode
Iness that had rescued me
nguish in captivity among
^ gain their good will by
tenance, appearing pleased
tie ornaments for the wives
Bcame quite a favo i, . with
mselves. As a fariher re-
ht eventually prove of the

their language, which, in
ar succeeded in acquiring,
ill understood. I likewise
hat might prove necessary

both them and their cursed

did 1 gain the good will of
arcely ever failed expenen-
ved with a smile of welcome
having something giveu me
I meal have I had from them,
13 and suffering for the want

Though my comrade and
n we could have expected
jms and mode of living, yet
release, and that we should
re to us a source of constant
jmy state was to go on Sun-
t, to the borders of a fresh
B, where, after bathing, and

NARRATIVE OP A SAILOR AMONG SAVAGK8.

401

putting on clean clothes, wo would seat ourHelvcs under the shade of a
beautiful pine, while I read some chapters in the Bible, and the prayers
appoint'-d by our Church for the day, ending our devotions with a fervent
prayer to the Almighty that he would deign still to watch over and pre-
serve our lives, rescue us from the hands of the savages, and permit us
once more to behold a Christian land. In this manner were the greater
part of our Sundays passed at Nootka; and I felt grateful to heaven,
that amidst our other sufferings, we were at least allowed the pleasure
of offering up our devotions unmolested; for Maquina, on my explaining
to him, as well as was in my power, the reason of our thus retiring at
this time, far from objecting, readily consented to it.

In July, we at length thought that the hope of delivery we had so
long anxiously indulged, was on the point of being grntiliod. A ship
appeared in the ofling; but, alas! our fond hopes vanished almost as
soon as formed; for, instead of standing in for the shore, she passed to
the northward and soon disappeared.

On the third of September, the whole tribe quitted Nootka, according
tu their constant practice, in order to pass the autumn and winter at
Tasiiecs and Cooptee, the latter lying about thirty miles up the sound in
a deep bay, the navigation of which is very dangerous from the great
number of reefs and rocks with which it abounds. On these occasions,
^;verything is taken with them, even the planks of their houses, in order
to cover their new dwellings.

Tashees is pleasantly situated, and in a most secure position from the
winter storms, in a small vale or hollow, on the south shore, at the foot
of a mountain. The principal object in coming to this place, is the
facility it affords these people of providing their winter stock of provi-
sions, which consists principally of salmon, and the spawn of that fish ;
to which may be added herring and sprats, and herring spawn. The
salmon are taken at Tashees principally in pots or wears. This pot
or wear is placed at the foot of a fall or rapid, where the water is not
very deep, and the fish, driven from above with long poles, are inter-
cepted and caught in the wear, from whence they are taken into the
canoes. In this manner, I have seen more than seven hundred salmon
caught in the space of fifteen minutes. I have also sometimes known a
few of the striped bass taken in this manner, but rarely.

At such times, there is great feasting and merriment among them;
the women and female slaves being busily employed in cooking, or in
curing, the fish for their winter stock; which is done by cutting off the
heads and tails, splitting them, taking out the backbone, and hanging
them up in their houses to dry. They also dry the halibut and cod, but
these, instead of curing whole, they cut up into small pieces for that
purpose, and expose to the sun. Such is the immense quantity of these
fish, and they are taken with such facility, that I have known upward of
twenty-five hundred brought into Maquina's house at once, and, at one
of their great feasts, have seen one hundred or more cooked in one of
their largest tubs.

I was, however, very apprehensive, soon after our arrival at this place,
that I should be deprived of the satisfaction of keeping my journal, as
Maquina one day, observing me writing in it, inquired of me what I was
doing; and, when I endeavored to explain it, by telling him that I was
keeping an account of the weather, he said it was not so, and that I was
speaking bad about him, and telling how he had taken our ship and
killed the crew, so as to inform my countrymen, and that if he ever saw
26

BXt.

403

NARRATIVR OF A 8AIL0U AMOMO 8AVA(JKS,

mo writing; in it affain, ho would throw it into thn firo. I wiih inurh
rejoiced that he did no nioro than tliroaton, and bccanio very caiitiotiH
afterward not to let him ane mo write.

Not lonf^ after, I fmishcd some dapf^nrs for him, which I poliHhod
highly; these ploasod him much, and he f^avo mo directioiiK to niuke a
cheetoolth. in which I succeeded so ftir to his satisfaction, that ho f(ave
me a present of cloth sufficient to make mo a comphto Hiiit of raiment,
beside other thinjts. Thompson, also, wlio had bncomo ratlicr more of
a favorite than formerly, since ho had made a fine sail for his canor, and
somn ii^arrnents for him out of Kuropean cloth, alwut this time, com-
ploled another, which was thought by the savages a most superb dress.
This was a kootnik, or mantle, a fathom squaro, made entirely of Kiiro-
poan vPBt patterns of the gayest colors. These were sewed together,
in a manner to make the best show, and bound with a deep trimming of
the finest otter skin, with which the arm-holes were also l)ordured ;
while the bottom was further embellished with five or six rows of gilt
buttons, placed as near as possible to each other. Nothing could exceed
the pride of Maquina when he first put on this royal rol)c,deconitnd, like
the cont of Joseph, with all the colors of the rainbow, and glittering
with the buttons, which, as he strutted about, made a tinkling, while he
repeatedly exclaimed, in a transport of exultation, Klew ahish katsuk —
Kick kum atack Nootka. — A fine garment — Nootka can't make him.

The king, finding that I was desirous of learning their language, was
much deliglited, and took great pleasure in conversing with me. On
one of those occasions, he explained to me his reasons for cutting off
our ship, saying that he bore no ill will to my countrymen, but that he
had been several times treated very ill by them. The first injury of
which he had cause to complain, was done him by a Captain Tnwning-
ton, who commanded a schooner which passed a winter nt Friendly
Cove, whore he was well treated by the inhabitants. This man, taking
advantage of Maquina's absence, who had gone to the Wickiiininish to
procure a wife, armed himself and crew, and entered the house where
there were none but women, whom he throw into the greatest conster-
nation, and, searching the chests, took away all the skins, of which Ma-
quina had no less than forty of the best; and that, about the same time,
four of their chiefs were barbarously killed by a Captain Martinez, a
Spaniard. That, soon after, Captain Ilanna, of the Sea-Otter, in conse-
quence of one of the natives having stolen a chisel from the carpenter,
fired upon their canoes, which were along side, and killed upward of
twenty of the natives, of whom several were tyeea or chiefs; and that
he him-ielf, being on board the vessel, in order to escape, was ol)liged to
leap from the quarter-deck, and swim for a long way under water.

These injuries had excited in the breast of Maquina, an ardent desire
of revenge, the strongest passion of the savage heart, and though many
years had elapsed since their commission, still they were not forgotten;
and the want of a favorable opportunity alono prevented him from sooner
avenging them. Unfortunately for us, the long wished for opportunity
presented itself in our ship, which Maquina, finding not guarded with the
usual vigilance of the north-west traders, and feeling his desire of
revenge rekindled by the insult offered by Captain Salter, formed h plan
of attacking, and, on his return, called a counsel of his chiefs, and com-
municated it to them, acquainting them with the manner in which he
had been treated. No less desirous of avenging this affront ofl'ered
their king, than the former injuries, they readily agreed to his proposal,

AUKS.

firo. I wiiH much
eanio very caiilioiiH

, j»hich I poliHhod
ocliomt to mukfl a
ction, that lie Rave
"H) Huit of raiinont,
lino rullior moio of
jl for hifl caiioo, and
out this time, «'.om-

moflt HUi)crh dress.
Ic entirely of Kiiro-
jre sowed toRetiior,
a deep trimming of
ero also Iwrihjred ;

or six rows of gilt

lolliinR e.ould oxeeod

rohe, decoriiled, like

inbow, and glittering

a tinkling, while he
Klew thish haUuk—
can't make him.
I their language, was
ersing with mo. On
iasons for cutting off
intrymen, hut that he
The first injury of
y a Captain Tawning-
a winter nt Friendly
tg. This man, taking

the Wickwninish to
ered the house where

the greatest conster-
le skins, of which Ma-
L, about the same time,
a Captain Martinez, a
lie Sea-Otter, in conse-
lel from the carpenter,

and killed upward ot
!e» or chiefs; ond thai

1 escape, was obliged to
way under water,
inuina, an ardent desire
tieart, and though many
ley were not forgotten ;
ivented him from sooner
r wished for opportunity
ing not guarded with the
1 feeling his desire of
lin Salter, formed h plan
,1 of his chiefs, and com-
the manner in which he
ging this affront offered
ly agreed to his proposal,

NARRATIVK OF A SAfLOR i^ no>fO SAVAOKS.

40.3

which wan to go on iionrd without ariiiM, as UHunI, hut undiu (liir<<ri>nt
pretexts, in gniiter nuinhnrs, and wait iiis Hignal lor thu inomont of
attackin}r (heir unsuHpecting victims. The execution of this Mthemo, as
the reaiUtr knows, wos unhappily too sti< ssful.

On tlie Ihirty-lirst of Doccinbor, all •< tribe (piitted Tasheea for
CooptiM', whither Ihoy go to pass the xi-< iider of tli<> winter, and com-
plet( ilioir lisiiing, taking otfeverytiiing wiili them in the Haniu nianncr as
at .N'ootka. The natives now began to take the herring and sprat in im-
mnnx; (juantitios, with some salmon, uitd there was nothing but feasting
from tniirning until night.

( *ii tlid twcnty-titlh of February, wo quitted Cooptec, and n^tiirniid to
Noi)tlia. Witii much joy did Thompson and myself again Hnd ourselves
in a place where, notwithstanding the melancholy recollections which it
excitcMl, we hoped before long to see some vessel arrive to our relief.
Not long atler our return, a son of Maquina's sister, a boy about eleven
y* ars old, who had been for some time declining, died. TootooscI', bis
futlier, was esteemed the first warrior of the tribe, and was one who had
been peculiarly active in the destruction of our ship, having killed two
uf our poor comrades whoso names were Hall and Wood. About the
time of our removal to Tashucs, while in the enjoyment of the highest
health, lie was suddenly seized with i fit of dt-lirium, in which he fan-
cied that lie saw the ghosts of thor>e two men constantly standing by
him, and threatening him, so that he would take no food, except what
was forced into his mouth.

When Maquina was first informed by his sister of the strange conduct
of her husband, he immediately went to his house, taking us with him;
suspecting that his disease liad been caused by us, and that the ghosts
of our countrymen had been called thither by us, to torment him. We
found him raving about Hall and Wood, saying that they were pcuhak,
that is, bad. Maquina then placed some provision before him, to sec if
ho would eat. On perceiving it, ho put forth his hand to take some, but
instantly withdrew it, with signs of horror, saying that Hall and Wood
wore there, and would not let him eut. Maquina then, pointing to us,
asked if it was not John and Thompson who troubled him. Wik, he
replied, that is, no; John klushiah — Thompson kituhiah — John and
Tiiompson arc both good ; then, turning to me, and patting me on the
shoulder, he made signs to nic to eat. I tried to persuade him that
Hall and Wood were not there, and that none were near him but our-
selves: he said, I know very well you do not see them, but I do. At
first, Ma(|uina endeavored to convince him that he saw nothing, and to
laugh him out of his belief; but, finding that all was to no purpose, he
at length became serious, and askud me if I had ever seen any one
affected in this manner, and what was the matter with him. I gave him
to understand, pointing to his head, that his brain was injured, and that
he did not see things as formerly. Being convinced by Tootoosch^H
conduct, that we had no agency in his indisposition, on our return home,
Maquina asked me what was done in my country in similar cases. I
told him that such persons were closely confined, and sometimes tied
up and whipped, in order to make them better. After pondering for
some time, he said that he should be glad to do anything to relieve him,
and that he should be whipped; and immediately gave orders to sumo uf
bis men to go to Tootoosch's house, bind him, and bring him to his, in
order to undergo the operation. Thompson was the persoii selected to
administer this remedy, which he undertook very readily, and for that.

404

NARRATIVE OF A SAILOR AMONG SAVAGES.

purpose pjovided himself with a good number of spruce branches, with
which lie whipped him most severely, laying 't on with the best will im-
aginable, while Tooloosch displayed the greatest rage, kicking, spitting,
and attempting to bite all who came near him. This was too much for
Maquina, wiio, at length, imable to endure it longer, ordered Thompson
to desist, and Tootoosch to be carried back, saying that, if there was no
other way of curing him but by whipping, he must remain mad. The
application of the whip produced no beneficial effect on Tootoosch, for
be afterward became still more deranged; in his fits of fury sometimes
seizing a club, and beating his slaves in a most dreadful manner, and
striking and spitting at all who came near him, until, at length, his wifoi
no longer daring to remain in the house with him, came with her son
to Maquina's.

Early in June, Tootoosch, the crazy chief, died. As soon as he was
dead, the body, according to their custom, was laid out on a plank, hav*
ing the head bound round with a red bark fillet, which is, with them, an
emblem of mourning and sorrow. Afltr laying some time in this man-
ner, he was wrapped in an otter skin robe, and three fathoms of I-whaw
being put about his neck, he was placed in a large coffin, or box, about
three feet deep, which was ornamented on the outside with two rows of
the nmall white shells. In this, the most valuable articles of his pro-
perty were placed with him, among which were no less than twenty-four
prime sea-otter skins. The place of burial was a large cavern on the
side of a hill, at a little distance from the village, in which, afler depo-
siting the coflin carefully, all the attendants repaired to Maquina^s house,
where a number of articles belonging to the deceased, consisting of
blankets, pieces of cloth, etc., were burned by a person appointed by
Maquina for that purpose, dressed and painted in the highest style, with
his head covered witii white down, who, as he put in tlie several pieces,
one by one, poui^d upon them a quantity of oil to increase the flame,!
in the intervals between making a speech and playing off a variety off
buffoon tricks, and the whole closed with a feast and dance from Sat-|
sat-snk-sis, the king's son.

The man who performed the ceremony of burning, on this occasion,|
was a very singular character, named Kinneclimmeta. He was held ir
high estimation by the king, though only of the common class, probably
from his talent for mimicry and buffoonry, and might be considered as
kind of king's jester, or rather as combining in his person the characte^
of a buffoon with that of master of ceremonies and public orator to hiJ
majesty, as he was the one who, at feasts, always regulated the place of
the guests, dcliveied speeches on receiving or returning visits, besidj
amusing the company at all their entertainments, with a variety of mor
key pranks and antic gestures, which appeared to these savages thl
height of wit and humor, but would be considered as extremely low bl
ihe least polished people.

This man Kinneclimmets, was particularly odious to Thompson, wh
would never join in the laugh at his tricks, and when he began, wou]
almost always quit the house with a very surly look, and an exclamatic
'^of, cursed fool! which Mat]uina, who thought nothing could equal tn
■cleverness of his Climmer-habbee, used to remark with much dissat|
faction, asking me, why Thompson never laughed, observing that I mij
have had a very guod tempered woman irideed for my mother, as
■iather was so very ill-natured a man. Among those performances tij
gained him the greatest applause, was his talent of eating to excess, i

lONG SAVAGES.

ber of spruce branches, with
ig i on with the best will im-
catest rage, kicking, spitting,
lim This was too much for
it longer, ordered Thompson
t, saying that, if there was no
he must remain mad. Ihe
icial effect on Tootoosch, for
in his fits of fury sometimes
a most dreadful manner, and
him, until, at length, his wife,
with him, came with her son

ef,died. As soon as he was
was laid out on a plank, hav-
' fillet, which is, with them, an
laying some time in this nian-
,, and three fathoms of I-whaw
in a large coffin, or box, about
n the outside with two rows of
St valuable articles of his pro-
1 were no less than twenty-four
ial was a large cavern on the
e village, in which, after depo-
;s repaired to Maquina's house,
to the deceased, consisting ot
ned by a person appointed by
ainted in the highest style, with
as he put in the several pieces,
V of oil to increase the Uame,
ch and playing off a variety of

th a feast and dance from bat-

w of burning, on this occasion,
dnneclimmets. He was held in
i; of the common class, probably
ry, and might be considered as a
►iu^ng in his person the character
emonies and public orator to his
Its, always regulated the placc of
eiving or returning visits, beside
tainments, with a variety of mon-
appeared to these savages the
, considered as extremely low by

cularly odious to Thompson, who
ricks, and when he began, would
jry surly look, and an exclamation
thought nothing could equal the
ed to remark with much dissatis-
ver laughed, observing that I must
nan iiideed for my mother, as my
Among those performances that
8 his talent of eating to excess, for

NARRATIVE OF A SAILOR AMONG SAVAGES.

406

I have known him devour, at one meal, no less than seventy-five large
herring; and, at another time, when a great feast was given by Maquina,
•>c undertook, after drinking three pints of oil by way of a whet, to eat
four dried salmon, and five quarts of spawn, mixed up with a gallon of
train oil, and actually succeeded in swallowing the greater part of this
mess, until his stomach became so overloaded, as to discharge its
contents in the dish.

Our situation had now become unpleasant in the extreme. The sum-
mer was so far advanced, that we nearly despaired of a ship arriving to
our relief; and, with that expectation, almost relinquished the hope of
ever iiaving it in our power to quit this savage land. We were treated,
too, with less indulgence than before, both Thompson and myself being
obliged, in addition to our other employments, to perform the laborious
task of cutting and collecting fuel, whicli we had to bring on our shoul-
ders from nearly three miles distant, as it consisted wholly of dry trees,
all of whicii near the village had been consumed. Another thing which,
to me in particular, proved an almost constant source of vexation and
disgust, and which living among them had not in the least reconcilca me
to, was their extreme fiUhincss,,iiot only eating fish, especially the whale,
when in a state of offensive putridity, but, while at their meals, of mak-
ing a practice of taking the vermin from their heads or clothes, and
eating them, by turns thrusting their fingers into their hair, and into the
dishj^and spreading their garments over the tubs in which the provision
was cooking, in order to set in motion their inhabitants. Fortunately for
Thompson, he regarded this much less than myself; and, when 1 used
to point out to him any instances of their filthiness in this respect, he
would laugh and reply. Never mind, John; the more good things, the
better. 1 must, however, do Maquina the justice to state, that he was
much neater, both in his person and eating, than were the others, as was
likewise his queen, ->wing, no doubt, to his intercourse with foreigners,
which had given him ideas of cleanliness, for I never S£iw either of
them eat any of these animals; but, on the contrary, they appeared not
much to relish this taste in others. Their garments, also, were much
cleaner, Maquina having been accustomed to give his away when they
became soiled, until after he discovered that Thompson and myself kept
ours clean by washing them, when he used to make Thompson do the
same for him.

In the latter part of July, Maquina informed me that he was going to
war with the A-y-charts, a tribe living about fifty miles to the south, on
account of some controversy that had arisen the preceding summer, and
that I must make a number of daggers for his men, and cheetoolths for
his chiefs, which having completed, he wished me to make for his own
use a weapon of quite a dift'erent form, in order to dispatch his enemy
by one blow on the head — it being the calculation of these nations, on
going to war, to surprise their adversaries wliile asleep. This was a
steel dagger, or more properly a spike, of about six inches long, made
very sharp, set at right angles in an iron handle fifteen inches long,
terminating, at the lower end, in a crook or turn, so as to prevent its being
wrenched from the hand, and at the upper end, in a round knob or head,
from whence the spike protruded. This instrument I polished highly,
and, the more to please Maquina, formed on the back of the knob the
resemblance of a man's head, with the mouth open, substituting for eyes
black beads, which 1 fastened in with red sealing-wax. Tiiis pleased
liim much, and was greatly admired by his chiefs, who wanted me to

,„, NAEKATIVE OF A 3iIIX)B AMONG 8AVA0E9.

™W, Si™n., o„c. fo, .he- b„t Mglj. -;a t -fr ji'.=
for himself alono th.s weapon, ^j^f " ^" ,'^^^^^^^ three or four weeks
'^[nedonwar,theymakeU anmarmb^ ^ .^^^ ^,„,

prior to the expedition, to go '«»<> ;»*«' "J^ ^^ foot with bushes, niter-
They wash and scrub femsdv^s f^om head to^^ ^.^^ ^^^^ ^,enUre\y
mixed with briars, so that their bomes •« Thompson and myself

covered with blood. ^i-^SJ-J^,*^;';;?;" soUdtous tha? we should bathe
that he should take us with ^mi, was very ^^ ^^^^ ^^ ^^

and scrub ourselves in the f»™« 7/^^ ^f the 'enemy would not pierce
S^U^^e^'^rr gJeVlEtL to amuse ourselves m th.s

men each. Thompson ^^nf, "^y^j';. ^^d a plenty of European arms,

strings made of whale smew. jj^j^^ „iies, a river

To go to A-y-chart, ;«'« ;«^«"£ V^l anks ^of which are high and
about the size "^ j^at of Tashce s, the .^ ^^ ^'^^ .y,'"^.^^'

covered with wood. At m'^ln'g";' „„„ the shore, on a steep hill, d.ffi-
wliich was situated on the west bank-"earthe st, , ^^^^.^^^^ ^^ ^.^.^^^^

cult of access, and ««" ^^^^^.^^^^^^^^^^^ and built in the same

or sixteen houses, smaller than those at ^-l^^^- the attack was

ttr^d\SKlfarptral^ Wawn, as he said that was the time

silence, and. go ng """"J.f^fe ° Uves asl their custom, entered the
bered up the hiU; ''."^ "L*!'' al^fourtry co",rade and myself stationed
several huts, creeping on al-tours, iny ^^ ^^^,^^^^^ ^^

ourselves without, to intercept hose ^h" «^o« I ^^^ ^^ ^^^^

come to the aid of their friends. * 3«°;j' ?„ j, Thompson would
Ss in the blood of -y ^« «eVarages"; t^^^ ^e wa? too brave

gladly have put to death all th^/J^j; ^^^ H^nng entered the houses, on
I think of attacking a !l««P'"g «"2, fs he seized the head of the
the war-whoop b«.i"gg7",t-,„^Tll proceeded to the work of. death,
chief, and gave h.m the fafxl b ow, aH proc ^^ ^^^^ resistance,

The A-y-charts, being thus surprised, w ^^ ^^^^^^^^^^ „,,ke

and, with the «-<=«?;«";// ^^jj:;'' doners, on condition of becoming
theirescape, were all »^'»f '^' ^^^^^j^tJe good fortune to make four cap-
slaves to their captors. I, ^f "'/J^ 'Jf^^a me to consider as mine, and
lives, whom Maquina, as a favor, perm.uea ^^^ Thompson, who

occasionally employ ^h^"^ '" ^^^^^'J^h t^ "ke any prisoners, but with
thirsted for revenge, he *''^^^"°^'f^„p,oy against them, succeeded
his cutlass, the only ^^^ws who camr'o^attack him, an act w uch
in killing seven f «"* «"7uVanuhia and the chiefs, who, after this,
obtained him great credit ^'^h ^^^ ^ve him the appellation of

held him in much higher est'mation, ana g j^t,^„,^a ^..nor of

Chehicl-mma-har, it being the name of a very ^^^^^^^^ ^^^j.

their nation in ancient ^^!^''^'^XY/^'^^Z'o\A and infirm of either

AGES.

suffer it, reserving
have finally dcler-
three or four weeks
imes a day, where
with bushes, inter-
ll often be entirely
mpson and myself
hat we should bathe
ng me that it would
ly would not pierce
le ourselves in this

g from ten to twenty

I with cutlasses and
r of European arms,
with a few bows and
pointed with copper,
d a half long, with

thirty miles, a river
which are high and
sight of the village,
;, on a steep hill, diffi-
; consisted of fifteen
nd built in the same
tions, the attack was
said that was the tmio

ded with the greatest

foe in the rear, clam-

ir custom, entered the

and myself stationed

attempt to escape, or

ossible, not to stain my

ough Thompson would

imtry, he was too brave

entered the houses, on

eized the head of the

to the work of. death.

,le to make resistance,

so fortunate as to make

II condition of becommg
tune to make four cap-
[) consider as mine, and
as for Thompson, who
any prisoners, but with
igainst them, succeeded
tack him, an act which
3 chiefs, who, after this,

him the appellation of
rv celebrated warrior of
re the constant theme of
old and infirm of cither
ople, and destroyed the

NARRATIVE OP A SAILOR AMONG SAVAGES.

407

buildings, wo re-embarked, with our booty in our canoes, for Nootka,
whore we were received with great demonstrations of joy by the women
and children, accompanying our war-song with a most furious drumming
on the houses. Repeated applications had been made to Maquina, by
a number of kings or chiefs, to purchase me, espcciiiily after he had
shown ihem the hariK)on I had made for him, which he took much
pride in. but he constantly refused to part with me on any terms.

With hearts full of dejection, and almost lost to hope, no ship having
appeared off Nootka this season, did my companion and myself accom-
pany the tribe, on their removal in September, to Tashees; relinquishing,
in copsequcnce, for six months, even the remotest expectation of relief.
Soon after our establishment there, Maquina informed me that he and
his chiefs had held council, both before and after quitting Nootka, in
which they had determined that I must marry one of their women, urg-
ing a reason to induce me to consent, that, as there was now no proba-
bility of a ship coming to Nootka to release me, I must consider myself
as destined to pass the remainder of my life with them, that the sooner
I conformed to their customs the better, and that a wife and family would
render me more contented and satisfied with their mode of living. I
remonstrated against this decision, but to no purpose, for he told me that
should I refuse, both Thompson and myself would be put to death, tell-
ing me, however, that if there were none of the women of his tribe
that pleayed me, he would go with me to some of the other tribes, where
he would purchase for me such a one as I should select. Reduced to
this sad extremity, with death on the one side, and matrimony on the
other, I thought proper to choose what appeared to me the least of the
two evils, and consented to be married, on condition, that; as 1 did not
fancy any of the Nootka women, I should be permitted to make choice
of one from some other tribe.

This being settled, the next morning, by daylight. Maquina, with about
fifty men, in two canoes, set out with ine for A-i-tiz-zart, taking with
him a quantity of cloth, a number of muskets, sea-otter skins, etc., for
the purciiase of my bride. With the aid of our paddles and sails,
being favored with a fair breeze, we arrived some time before sunset at
\he village. Our arrival excited a general alarm, m. the men hastened
to the shore, armed with the weapons of their country, making many
warlike demonstrations, and displaying much zeal and activity. We, in
the meantime, remained quietly seated in our canoes, where we remained
for about half an hour, when the messenger of the chief, dressed in
their best manner, came to welcome us, and invite us on shore to cat.
We followed him, in procession, to the chief's house, Maquina at our
head, taking care to leave a sufficient number in the boats to protect the
property. When we came to the house, we were ushered in with much
ceremony, and our respective seats pointed out to us, mine being next
to Maquina. by his request.

After having been regaled with a feast of herring spawn and oil, Ma-
quina asked me if I saw any among the women who were present that
I liked. 1 immediately pointed out to him a young girl of about seven-
teen, the daughter of Upquesta, the chief, who was sitting near him by
her mother. On this, Maquina, making a sign to his men, arose, and,
taking me by the hand, walked into the middle of the room, and sent
off two of his men to bring the boxes containing the presents from the
canoes. In the meantime, Kinneclimmets, the master of ceremonies,
made himself ready for the part he was to act, by powdering his hair

408 NARRATIVE OF A SAILOR AMONG SAVAGES.

with the white down. When the chests were brought in, specimens of
The seve ifartSs were taken out, and showed by our men one of
whom 3 up a musket, another a skin, a third a p.ece of cloth, etc.
On this Kinneclimmcts stepped forward, and, addressing the ch.ef,
Sformea him that all these belonged to me, ment.omng the number of
e"ch kind, and that they were offered him for the purchase of his
daughter i:u-"<ocA-ce-c*/«a, as a wife for me. As he said this, he men
who leld up Se various\rticie8, walked up to the chief, ai^d with a very
Ttem and morose look, the complimentary one on these occasions, threw
S at hTfeet. Immediatel? on which, all the tribe, both men and
women who were assembled on this occasion, set up a cry of, Klack-
k^yee, rhat i^ Thank ye, chief. His men after th.sc-emony, having
returned to their places, Maquina, rose, and .n a ^P^^^^'.^J,™"/^^ jj^
half an hour, said much n my praise to the A-i-tiz-zart chiti, leiimg
h?m that I was a good a man as thems3lve8, differing from them only in
beTng wh t^that I was, beside, acquainted with many things of which
the? were ignorant; thai I knew how to make daggers, chee toolths, and
harpoons' ^nd was k very valuable persoii, whom he ^vasdetei mined to
keen always with him: praising me, at the same time, for the goodness
ormv tSer, and the manner in which I had conducted since I had
beenVrS^mtobserving that all the people of Nootka, and even the

''wten hetrc'eased, the A-i-tiz-zart chief arose amidst the ucclama^
tions of his people, and began with setting forth the rnauy good qualities
and accompUshLms of his daughter, that he loved her greatly, and
aa she was his only one, he could not think of parting with her. He
Jnoke in this manner for some time, but finally concluded by consenUng
to the Dropised union, requesting that she might be well used and kindly
reSedTvTer husband. VhenUpquesta had finished his speech, he
dTrected hirpeopTe to carry back the%resents, which Maquina had given
hi n to n?e Sher with two young male slaves to assist me in fishing.
tesHftWav ng7een placed before me, wer«, by Maqu.na's men.
Sr^n board the^anoes!^ After this, our company returned to lodge
at UpquestaC-xcept a few whc were left on board the canoes to w^atch
the property In the morning, I received from the chief his daughter,-
wYaTea^rnest request that I would use her well, which I promised
hil; when, taking%eave of her parents, she accompanied me with
aoDarent satisfaction on board of the canoe.

^At about five in the morning, we reached Tashees, where we found
all the inhabitants collected on the shore to receive «/• ^e were wel-
con dwilh loud shouts of joy, and exclamations o Wocash and ^,^
women, taking my bride under their charge, conducted her to Maquiids
hou e"to be kepi with them for ten days; it being a universal custom,
as iSi^uina informed me, that no intorcourse should take place between
the new married pair during that period.

The term of my restriction over, Maquina assigned me, as an apar -
ment the space iJ the upper part of his house, between h.m and h s
dder brother' whose room was opposite. Here I established mysef
wUh my family, consisting of myself and wife, Thompson, and the little
Sit.sa?sak-sis! who had always been strongly attached to nie and now
solicited his fither to let him live with me, to which he consented. Ih.s
bov was handsome, extremely well formed, amiable and of a pleasant,
snfirtlv d^HposUion. I used to take a pleasure in decorating h.m with
n^tbLtK ear-jewels, etc., which I made for h.m of copper, and

iTAOES.

it in, specimens of

our men, one of

piece of cloth, etc.

ressing tlio chief,

ug the number of

a purchase of his

said this, the men

ief, ai<d with a very

se occasions, threw

ibe, both men and

up a cry of, Klack-

s ceremony, having

eech of more than

iz-zart chief, telling

g from them only in

any things of which

srs, cheetoolths, and

I was determined to

le, for the goodness

iducted since I had

ootka, and even the

amidst the acclama-

mauy good qualities

red her greatly, and,

irting with her. He

eluded by consenting

well used aud kindly

ished his speech, he

:h Maquina had given

assist me in fishing.

', by Maquina's men.

ny returned to lodge

} the canoes to watch

I chief his daughter,*

bU, which I promised

ccompanied me with

ees, where we found
e us. Wo were wel-
of Wocash, and the
:ted her to Maquina's
[ a universal custom,
id take place between

ned me, as an apart-
between him and his
I established myself
ampson, and the little
:hed to me, and now
h he consented. This
le, and of » plcuaunt,
1 decorating him with
r him of copper, and

NARRATIVE OP A SAILOR AMONG SAVAGES.

409

ornamented and polislied them in my best manner. I wns aL-:o very
careful to keep iiiin free from vermin of every kind, washing him and
combing iiis hair every day. These marks of attention were not only
very plca.sing to the child, who delighted in being kept nept and clean,
as well ad in being dressed oflf in his finery, but were highly gratifying
both to Maciuina and his queen, who used to express much satisfaction
at my care of him.

In making my domestic establishment, I determined, as far as possible,
to live in a more comfortable and cleanly manner than the others. For
this purpose, 1 erected, with planks, a partition about throe feet
high, between mine and the adjoining rooms, and made tiiree bedsteads,
of the same, which I covered with boards, for my family to sleep on,
which I found much more comfortable than sleeping on the lloor amidEt
the dirt.

Fortunately, I found my Indian princess both amiable and intelligent,
for one whose limited spiiere of observation must necessarily give rise
to but a few ideas. She was extremely ready to agree to anything that
I proposed relative to our mode of living, was very attentive in keeping
her garments and person neat and clean, and appeared, in every respect,
solicitous to please me. She was, as I have said, about seventeen; her
person was small, but well formed, as were her features; her complexion
was, without exception, fairer than any of the women, with considerable
color in her cheeks; her hair long, black, and much softer than is usual
with them, and her teeth small, even, and of a dazzling whiteness, while
the expression of her countenance indicated sweetness of temper and
modesty. She would, indeed, have been considered as very pretty in
any country, and, excepting Maquina^s queen, was by far the handsomest
of any of their women.

With a partner possessing so many attractions, many may be apt to
conclude, that I must have found myself happy, at least comparatively
so; but far otherwise was it with me — a compulsory marriage with the
most beautiful and accomplished person in the world, can never prove a
source of real happiness, and, in my situation, I could not but view this
connection as a chain that was to bind me down to this savage land, and
prevent my ever again seeing a civilized country; especially, when, in
a few days afler, Maquina informed me that there had been a meeting
of his chiefs, in which it was determined that, as I had married one of
their women, I must be considered as one of them, and conform to their
customs; and that, in future, neither myself nor Thompson should wear
our European clothes, but dress in Kutsaks like themselves. This order
was to me most painful, but I persuaded Maquina, at length, so far to
relax in it as to permit me to wear those I had at present, which were
almost worn out, and not to compel Thompson to change his dress,
observing that, as he was an old man, such a change would cause his
death.

Though, in some respects, my situation was rendered more comfort-
able since my marriage, as I lived in a more cleanly manner, and had
my food better and more neatly cooked, of which, beside, I had always
a plenty, my slaves gcneially furnishing nic, and Upquesta never laiiiug
to send me an ample supply by the canoes that came from A-i-ti/-zart;
still, from my being obliged, at this season of the year, to ciiauge ray
accustomed clothing, and to dress like the natives, with only a piece of
cloth about two yards long, thrown loosely around me, my European
clothes having been for some time entirely worn out, I suffered more

410 NARRATIVE OF A SAILOR AMONG 8AVAOE9.

than I can express fro. f cold ^ecia^y as I w.

form the laborious task of cuttmg ai.d brmg g ^.^^ ^ ^^^^j^^.

rendered still more oppressive to me, from rny^ ^^ ^^.^ ^.^,^ j„

rablo part of the «i"t«^ "^^'i:'"?;Vm«tUm in Jne of his knees, with
consequence of an attack of ^^e/heumat'sm^ m ^^^^^^ ^^

which he suifered for more han four months^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^^.^^^ ^^

he was so ill as to be unable to Jf^^^ '^^ '^""ers at Nootka, but, on my
February, wo returned to our «",.\"S spring, being now almost
part, with far different f "^^^^""^/^'JLte us o^ »«

in despair of any vessel ""^'"g ^J/^'^'J'.etu^n, as preparatory to the
depart if there should. Soon aj^^ «"^ '^J^"; » ^ number of har-
whaling season, Maquina "''d^^'^^^^l^^ .""^hlch ih"d completed, with
poons for hin.self and hjs c^-eft, severaUf wh'jh i V j„ ^j^^

L.e lances, when, on the s.xteenthofMa^-^ IN ^^^^^ ^^ ,^^^j^

a violent cholic, caused, » F^^^^^l 'X»hTn„^ For a number of hours,
from the cold in gomg «['»ho"t proper dothmg J ^ ^^^ j ^^

I was in great pa.n, and '^''P';^ «d *o ^^ ^ I had nothing comfortmg

so weak as scarce y to be '^''l^, ° «3' ^J,, ^The feebleness in which

to take, nor anything to '^""'^ '" ^^'V^ft'^e, the de,ection I felt at the

the violent attack of my d'^^.'-f/.Jf ,^^J Je'Vant of warm clothing and
almost hopelessness of my situa on, and the w ^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^

proper nursing, though my 1"^ "''«' ^everything for me she could,
Lays ready, and -^- ffSn'oedwhch^ Maquina perceiving, he
still kept me very much "'^'^P"?^''',.;."' .^-.n. n^y wife, and that was
finally told me, that, if I did not >^ke '.vrng w th my ,^,^.^ ^ j

the cause of my bemg so sad I ""^^t part w.m n ^^ ^^^^

readily accepted, "-» ^^^^^^.tld 2 remoLn, begging n.o that I
On pavtmg with me, she d'scovereu i , ^^erc was no one

would suffer her to remam until I had recov^ea, ^^^^ ^ ^^^^ ^^^

who would take so good care of me as her e» ^^^^^^^^ ^^.^^^

t:;::^!^^^^^^^^ MrsoTn V better, and loff he,

two slaves to take care of ™*^- ^^ .„_ i ^^s greatly affected with the
Though I rejoiced at her departure, Ij-^ g « J^ ^^^ f,,, strongly

simple expressions of her regard ^J J^^^^^^J^J^J^ toward me, had dis-
interested for th.s poor g''-^' ;^^"' *"i to my wishes; and, ha.l it not
covered so much mildness ^fJ'^^^;^l^^J,Mo obstacle to my being
been that 1 considered her as an almost '"^^P f^j, j^e dcpriva-

permitted to leave the country I shou d, no dou ,^^ ^ ^^^^^^^^^, ^^^
tion of her society a real loss Auer ■ f ^^ ^^ ^^^^^^

quina, that, as I had parted with my J^'^^'^y^^^Jbeen accustomed to
ly European dress; for, otherwise from ^?}^^^X consented, and I

dress like them, I «l»«"Vnrtab v cfad Cha^pe of c»«'hing, but, more
once more became cornfortaWy clad ^.^^ ,„„„e of

than all, the hopes which I now began to inu j restored me to

the summer, I should be able to ^'^JP^^^^k'^if "^^ ,g harpoons for Ma-
healtli,sofar,that coidda^^^^^^^^^^ p^art with me,

E:m;S\oCvSe ll^-^f with a good -^^^^ ,,, ,„,„,,ed of our
It was now past "ji^-summer, and he hopes we ^^ ^^^^^ .^^ ^^^ ^^^^

ttTe;e^nrs:ltl^^:>S^^^^^^^^^^^ i-Unea toventure to

VTAOES.

compelled to per-
ro-wood, which was
radc, for a conside-
lend mo his aid, in
of his knees, with
ireo weeks of which
the twentieth of
Nootka, but, on my
, being now almost
being permitted to
preparatory to the
good number of har-
had completed, with
IS taken very ill with
g suffered so much
>r a number of hours,
its leaving me, I was
nothing comforting
feebleness in which
ejection I felt at the
of warm clothing and
she knew how, was
t for me siio could,
quina perceiving, he
Tiy wife, and that was
her. This proposal I
ler back to her father,
in, begging mo tliat I
, as there was no one
But when I told her
i ever recover, which,
• would take good care
he took an affectionate
jet better, and loft her

•eatly affected with the
Id not but feel strongly
ict toward me, had dis-
'ishes; and, had it not
lie obstacle to my being
;, have felt the depriva-
rture, I requested Ma-
d permit me to resume
ing been accustomed to
IS he consented, and I
of clothing, but, more
, that, in the course of
rt time restored me to
akiug harpoons for Ma-
tiave to part with me,

o had indulged of our
3 had heard of no less
5d inclined to venture to

NARRATIVE OF A SAILOR AMONG SAVAGES.

411

Nootka. The destruction of the Boston, the largest, strongest, and best
equipped ship, with much the most valuable cargo, of any tiiat had ever
been fitted out for the north-west trade, had inispircd the commanders of
others with a general dread of coming thither, lest they should siiare
the same fate; and, though in the letter I wrote (imploring those who
should receive them, to come to the relief of two unfortunate Ciiristians
who were suffering among heathen,) I stated the cause of the Boston's
capture, and that there was not the least danger in coming to Nootka,
provided they would follow the directions I laid down; still I felt very
little encouragement that any of these letters would come to hand, when,
on the morning of the nineteenth of July, a day that will be ever held
by me in grateful remembrance of the mercies of God, while I was em-
ployed with Thompson in forging daggers for the king, my ears were
saluted with the joyful sound of three cannon, and the cries of the
inhabitants, exclaiming, Weena, weena, Mamethlee — that is, strangers,
white men.

Soon after, several of our people came running into the house, to
inform mc that a vessel, under full sail, was coming into the harbor.
Though my heart bounded with joy, I repressed my feelings, and,
affecting to pay no attention to what was said, told Thompson to be on
his guard, and not betray any joy, as our release, and perhaps our lives,
depondod on our conducting ourselves so as to induce the natives to
suppose we were not very anxious to leave tiicm. We continued our
works as if nothing had happened, when, in a few minutes after, Ma-
quina came in, and, seeing us at work, appeared much surprised, and
asked mc if I did not know that a vessel had come. I answered, in a
careless manner, that it was nothing to mc. How, John, said he, you
no glad go board. I replied that I cared very little about it, as I had
become reconciled to their manner of living, and had no wish to go
away. lie then told me that he had called a council of his people
respecting us, and that we must leave off work and be present at it.

The men having assembled at Maquina's house, he asked them what
was their opinion should be done with Thompson and myself, now a
vessel had arrived, and whether he had not better go on board himself
to make a trade, and procure such articles as were wanted. Each one
of the tribe who wished, gave his opinion. Some were for putting us
to death, and pretending to the strangers that a different nation had cut
off the Boston; while others, less barbarous, were for sending us fifteen
or twenty miles back into tiie country until the departure of the vessel.
Those, however, were the sentiments of the common people, the chiefs
opposing our being put to death, or injured, and several of them were
for immediately releasing us; but this, if he could avoid it, by no means
appeared to accord with Maquina's wishes.

With regard, however, to Maquina's going on board the vessel, which
he discovered a strong inclination to do, there wap but one opinion, all
remonstrating against it, telling him that the captain would kill him, or
keep him a prisoner, in con.iequence of his having destroyed our ship.
When Maquina had heard their opinions, he told them that he was not
afraid of being hurt from going on hoard the vessel, but that he would,
however, in that respect, be guided by John, whom he had always found
true. He then turned to mc, and asked me if I thought there would be
any danger in his going on board. I answered, that I was not surprised
at the advice his people had given him, unacquainted as they were with
the manners of the white men, and judging them by their own; but, if

,,., NAKUATIVE OF A SMLOU AMONG 8AVAGE3.

,,; ... uoon wiu. t„en. . .- iLs^a;^;:;";:-^^^'':;^

,!,i,;kvcry.limrent; ihat ''« i"'\ "^f ,„! /caso./to fear tho contrary
,ivil treauneut from thorn, "« J »^^ ' '^h„?e who did not injure ihcm;
now, as they never attempted to harm |hosc! > „,y opinion, w.th

"mi if ho wished to j?o on board, he '"'g^^y^.J^'^-.th much apparent
c iri.y. Aftor reflecting a f-v momenU he s d w. h^,^^ ^^^^.PP , .__^

siilisfaction, that, if I would «"% ^ J^"^J *"„j myself kindly since we
aio.l of him, that he h"d treated rhompsoaanUm^^ ^^ ^^^^^

Ld been with I'im, and to tjse h "^ we U he wo^^,^t^.^^_ ^^^^ ^

bo supposed that I lelt .^.'^'^^ 3°^ "^^^J'Si „y hopes of escape, 1 was
thai tl o least incaution "?'ght ann'h '»'« ^" y » , ^^ ^ „,t er

terms:— Nootka, J«Ij/ 19» *806.

To Cajjfflm ' "/ "^"/'"^ . .. „ t' ^i-n kinc bv the name of Ma-

S,>i.The bearer of this letter .s the I»"l.an j^'^f by ^^^^^^^ ^f

JL. He was the '-t-gator o^ the c^P^^^ °»^, „f ,,», „«,der of
Boston, in North Amen.-a, J« " ™,,^^^^^^ being now on shore;

twenty-nve men of her crew, he tY^^^eonfine him according to h.s
^vho^eforo,I hope y«»,«''Vr .,« Ind keepina so good a watch over
merits, putting in your ^eacl \.g 'Js- Jind kee^''^"^ I shall be able to
l,i,n, that ho cannot escape from you. »y «
obtain our release in the course ^l^^^^J^^^

of the Boston, for himself and
John Thompson, Sail-maker of sa^d ship.

, have been asked V.W I dared to wrU. I;^^^;-^;^^ ^ES
that, from my long ••\«''!«»^*' ro""Carmg o^their king being confined
to apprehend from their ^"g^"^ ^"/^"'°^° elease, and that they would
while they knew his ^'f^^^f £,T"hTe men, than have had h.m
sooner have given up five hundred wn ^ ^ehension I felt a

injured. This w;ill serve » expla m he tue JV ^^ ^^ „,^ i

their menaces afterward; /°^;f ''^"^^'^'^^Jdous an experiment.

should hardly have ventured on so h'«'^'««" ^ ^/^ explain it to him.

'on my g-ing the loiter to Macjuna,he^skedm ^.^ 1^^^

This I did, line by line, as he P^'^^ed tnem j g^^^^d ^1,^1 1 hud

sense very diflorent from J^e real, g.v.ng him to ^^ ^^ ^.^^^ ^ ^^^^
written to the captain, that, as he had be^nK ^^^^^^ ^^^^^

takon by him, that it was "y^^^^^^f^ biscuit, and rum he wanted
accordingly, and give h.m ^^^^^^^^^1'; "^'^ ^ significant manner, on
When I had finished, placing »"« ^^^e ; ^"j,,, a look that seemed to
mv name at the bottom, and .^yj'"^ f u^Jn, you no lie?" Never
read my inmost tlioughts, he said toj"J;' ;'"';°;^ .^ter apprehensions
du I undergo such a scrutmy, or ever expo e^^^^^^ |4d on the

than I felt at that moment w^ien ^ j^J^'7J^,„t on mine, or sus-
sli^^litest thread, and the least mark of ernbarr ^^^^^^^^^ ^^ j^^

lAVAGES.

himself, llicy would
Lpericnced good and
111 to fear tlio contrary
[did not injure thorn;
t, iu my opinion, with
with much apparent
captr.in, telling iiim
[yself kindly since we
go. It may readily
lination; but, knowing
lopes of escape, I was
]or staying as a matter
10 wished mo to write
ith, otiierwiso I could
learly in the following

TKA, JwZy 19, 1806.

fig by the name of Mr-
of the ship Boston, of
and of the murder of
)rs being now on shore;
B him according to his
so good a watch over
ng, we shall bo able to

•morer

on, for himself and

il-maker of said ship.

1 manner: my answer is,
3, 1 knew that I had little
eir king being confined,
lase, and that they would
en, than have had him

apprehension I felt at

as liberty was to me, 1
1 experiment.
I mc to explain it to him.

with his linger, but in a
) understand that 1 had
I to me since 1 had been
captain should treat him
ait, and rum he wanted
I significant manner, on
I a look that seemed to
n, you no lie?" Never
ce greater apprehensions
' was suspended on the
jssment on mine, or sus-
ly have rendered my life
iorve my composure, and

Maquina had, since my
! in my countenance from

NARRATIVE OF A SAILOR AMONG S.WAOES.

413

being noticed, and I replied, with considerable promptitude, looking nt
him in my turn, with all the confidence I could muster, " Why do you
ask mo such a question, Tyce? Have you ever known me to lie?"
" No." " Then how can you suppose 1 should tell you a lie now, since
I have never done it?" As I was speaking, he still continued looking
at mc, with the same piercing eye. but, observing nothing to excite his
suspicion, ho told me that he believed what I said was true, and that
he would go on board, and gave orders to get ready his canoe. His
chiefs again attempted to dissuade him, using every argument for tlint
purpose, while his wives crowded around him, begging him on their
knees not to trust himself with the white men. Fortunately for my
companion and myself, so strong was his wish of going on board the
vessel, that he was deaf to their solicitations, and, making no other reply
to them, than " John no lie," leil the house, taking four prime skins witii
him as a present to the captain.

Scarcely had the canoe put otT, when he ordered his men to stop, and,
calling to me, asked me if I did not want to go on board with him.
Suspecting this as a question merely intended to ensnare mo, I replied,
that I had no wish to do it, not having any desire to leave thctn. On going
on board the brig, Maquina immediately gave his present of skins and
my letter to the captain, who, on reading it, asked him into the c-ihin,
where he gave him some biscuit and a glass of rum, at the same lime
privately directing his mate to go forward and return with five or six of
the men armed. When they appeared, the captain told Maquina that
be was his prisoner, and should continue so, until the two men, whom
he knew to be on shore, were released, at the same time ordering him
to be put in irons, and the windows secured, whicii was instantly done,
and a couple of men placed as a guard over him. Maquina was greatly
surprised and terrified at this reception; he, however, made no attempt
to resist, but requested the captain to permit one of his men to come
and see him. One of them was accordingly called, and Maquina said
something to him, which the captain did not understand, but supposed
to be an order to release us, when tiie man, returning to the canoe, it
was paddled off, with the utmost expedition, to the shore As the canoe
approached, the inhabitants, who had all collected upon the beach, mani-
fested some uneasiness at not seeing their king on board; but when, on
its arrival, they were told that the captain had made him a prisoner, and
that John had spoken bad about him in a letter, they all. both men and
women, set up a loud howl, and ran backward and forward upon the
shore, like so many lunatics, scratching their faces, and tearing the hair
in handfuls from their heads.

After they had beat about in this manner for some time, the men ran to
their huts for their weapons, as if preparing to attack an invading enemy;
while Maquina's wives and the rest of the women came around me,
and, throwing themselves on their knees, begged me with tears to spare
his life; and Sat-sat-sak-sis, who kept constantly with me. taking me by
the hand, wept bitterly, and joined his entreaties to theirs, that I would
not let the white men kill his father. I told them not to afflict them-
selves, that Maquina's life was in no danger, nor would the least harm
be done to him.

The men were, however, extremely exasperated with me, more j)ar-
ticularly the common people, who came running, in the most furious
manner, toward me, brandishing their weapons, and threatening to cut
me in pieces no bigger than their thumb nails, while others declarcil

NARRATIVK OK A SAILOR AMONfl SAVAGES.

4.14. PIAIllV/v. -

Juny, l.ow,-v.-r, caused >"« ' «^ .'2\,.„ ,,i„, wan on board the
^vouUl not davo to execute tl'^'il 2 violent conduct, but caun to me
bri.r Tbc chiofrf took no part in lt>i8 vio ^' treated, and if the

;',rin.,i.ircd tbo reanon wby ^^^'>"\"" J;\r„r i cy wuu'.d Bilenc. the
ca tain' inlendod to kill lu,... » »f if ^^^ \=i„ M I them. They i.n-
po'oplo, «o that I could *;« '-"-^^[/X" I inibrmod then, that the cap-
mediately put a stop to the "« «^' ^;" ' „f ,,i, „,v„ accord, and only tn
tain, in confining Ma.,u.na, '\?;« J^son and myself, aa he well knew wo
order to tnake t'>«^"'/'^ .«^J"/i3irat. tl.eir king would roce.vc no
were with them, and, it they y^» ''^ ^'^ } ^ ,j i,„ kept a prisoner. As
i„jnry,butl,ewel treiUed; otherwme,hewo" ^^.^^^ ^..^^ and began to

n/an/of them did not 'M'P«a\;_^^^„ t^ 1 to them, if it « your

repeat their murderous \'"^«f ^"f^^ ,"1, ' i ^oro; here is my breast, I
wilh, throwing open the >'«" «^" ^^Vnak,, „o esistancc, but, unless
an. only one among so maiiy, and ^'^''^''^^'J^ ^^ ^\,^^ p„io, pointing to
;'ou wish to see your " "« '^"tlie's o'tSg at him with bullets,
ihe yard-arm of the brig, itnd tie sa'« » , ^ ,n„gt never bo;

y'u lill not do it. Oh -\ „^;\t,n' h t tuei7best plan would be to
Lt what must we do? I "l^^^"^^"', J captain to use Ma.pima we 1,
send Thompson on Iward, to 'les''^ "'f ^ rj,j j they were perfectly
""i, 1 was'released,wliich would be s^^^ oltard/but he objected.

willing to do, and I directed * "«""?'"" '"^i, the savages. I told h.m
laying that he would not ««'^ve me alone w th th g^ .^^ ^^^ ^

him safe „ , . , ^i,c natives what they intended to

When I saw Thompson off, I f »^^*! ^"^ " ^. tain again, in another
do with me. They f ;\».X: oL on horo with Maquina. and that
letter, and tell him to let lV« J'^^^-J™;, l^^^,^ «ame time Maquina should
I should be veady tojtj^mp into the l^o^^^^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^ ,^^y , j

jump on shore. 1 told them, that J « ^apia ^ ^^^^ ^^^ ^^^^^^ ^^

killed my shipmates, would never trust h s me ^^^^^ numerous;

fiar the/ would kill them too a hey ^^^ .^^r number to go with me
but that, if they would «ol«^ f^JJ '^^\ °i„,a desire the captain to send
in a canoe, when we came within ha. 1, 1 ^° ^^ ,,!„,.

Z boat with Maquina, to receive rne .n exch^ng ,^^ ^^^^

Tills appeared to ploasr, l^^"'-"' J" J'J ^ concluded, that if the captam
chiefs, who, from -^at words I o erhca.d, c^ ^^^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^^^^^ j,,
should refuse to send h.s ^oat J'th Maqu . ^^ proposal,

no difficulty in b"«g'"g J"'?,^!^' t men « convey me. Fortunately,
and selected three "f^^eir stoutest men J^^^^^^i T^%T^.

^'tT..s ,oing into tl^^ano^UuleJat^a^sal^^
bear to part with me, asked me, v^«h »^ ^" i|„„t let his father come
going away to leave him, .f the w»"t« J^" ^^ ,,« concerned, for that no
II shore, and not kill h.m. I to^d h.m not ^^ «>« j^^^,, i^ave of me,
one sho„y injure hUfathe. when.^takmg ^n^ ,„ His father, he ra. to

and
com

,ho«ld injutc hi. father, »»'?». huf men hurt h» father, he lan to

;„^:i;>rs:r;««i''m^ s.Lce,.uh the ..«»«, .

AUES.

tl by my hcela. All
fult convinced thoy
\f> wat) on board the
:t, but cum-) to nic
treated, and if the
y would silence tiio
to tbein. Tliey iin-
tliein that the cap-
accord, and only in
luH ho well knew wo
nj» would rocoivo no
[kept a prisoner. As
this, and be){an to
) thuin, it' it ia your
here is tny breast, I
sistance; but, unless
hat polo, pointing to
at him with bullets,
that must never bo;
est plan would be to
to use Macpiina well,
they were perfectly
lard; but he objected,
savages. I told him
d get him off, I could
I him, immediately on
reciuesl him to keep
) danger while ho had

what they intended to
tain again, in another
vith Maquina, and that
le time Maquina should
lo knew that thoy had
so near the shore, for
nuch more numerous;
lumber to go with me
jiro the captain to send
) for him.

whispering among the
ded, that if the captain
three men would have
agreed to my proposal,
jvey mo. Fortunately,
armed, and suspecting
the pistols that I had

■sak-sis, who could not
r simplicity, since I was
not let his father come
concerned, for that no
fectionate leave of me,
urt his father, he ran to
, with the assurances I

NAKRATIVK OK A HAILOU AMONG SAVA0K8.

415

had given him. On entering the cnnot^, I seated myself in the prow,
facing the llireo men, iiaving determined, if it wus priicticable, from tiiu
moment 1 found Maipiinn wus secured, to get on Ituard the vesHol before
he was released, hoping, by that means, to be uniibled to obtain tiie resto-
ration of what property belonged to the Boston still remaining in the
possession of the savages, whicii, I thought, if it could be done, a duty lliut
i owed to the owners. As wo came within hail of the brig, they at once
ceased paddling, when, presenting my pistols ut them, 1 ordered tliem
instantly to go on, or 1 would shoot the whole of them. A proceeding
so wholly unexpected threw them into great consternation, and resum-
ing their paddles, in a few moments, to my inexpressible delight, 1 once
more found myself along side of a Christian ship, a happiness whicii 1
had almost despaired of ever again enjoying. All the crew crowded to
tho side to see me, as the canoe came up, and manifested much joy ut
my safety. I itnmediately leapiul on board, where I was welcomed by
the captain, Samuel Hill, of the brig Lydia of Boston, who congratulated
mo on my escape, informing me, that ho had received my letter oH' Kla-
iz-zart, from the chief Mackeo Ulatilla, who came otT himself in his
canoe to deliver it to him, on which he immediately proceeded hither to
aid me. 1 returned hitn my thanks, in the best manner I could, for his
humanity, though I hardly knew what I said, such was the agitated state
of my feelings at that moment, with joy for my escape, thankfulness to
the Supreme Being, who hud so mercifully preserved me, and gratitude
to those whom he had rendered instrumental in my delivery, that 1 have
no doubt, that what with my strange dress, being painted with red and
black from head to foot, having a bear skin wrapped around me, and my
long hair, which I was not allowed to cut, fastened on the top of my head
in a large bunch, with a sprig of green spruce, I must have appeared
more like one deranged, than a rational creature; as Captain Hill al\er-
ward told me, that he never saw anything in the form of man look so
wild as I did when I first came on board.

The captain then asked me into tho cabin, where I found Maquina in
irons, with a guard over him. Ho looked very melancholy, but, on see-
ing me, his counten^ince brightened up, and he expressed his pleasure
with the welcome of '* Wocash, John;" when, taking him by the hand,
I asked the captain's permission to take off his irons, assuring him, that
as I was with him, there was no danger of his being tho least trouble-
some. He accordingly consented, and I felt a sincere pleasure in free-
ing from fetters a man, who, though he had caused the death of my poor
comrades, had, nevertheless, always proved my friend and protector, and
whom I had requested to be thus treated only with a view of securing
my liberty. Maquina smiled, and appeared much pleased at this mark
of attention from mo. When I had freed the king from his irons. Cap-
tain Hill wished to learn the particulars of our capture, observing that an
account of the destruction of the ship and her crew had been received at
Boston before he sailed, but' that nothing more was known, except that
two of the men were living, for whose rescue the owners had otTered a
liberal reward; and that he had been able to get nothing out of the old
man, whom the sailors had supplied so plentifully with grog, as to bring
him too much by the head to give any information.

I gave him a correct statement of the whole proceeding, together with
the manner in which my life and that of my comrade had been pre-
served. 'On hearing my story, he was greatly irritated against Maquina,
and said he ought to be killed. I observed, that, however ill he might

416

NARUATIVK OF A 8A1L0U AMONO SAVAOES.

havo acted in taking; our Hhip, yot that it would, perlia|)ii, bo wrong to
jud^o an uninformed savngo with the fiBino nnverity oh a t-ivilizcd per-
son, who had the lij^ht of rnligion and the laws of Hocioty tu f^uicio him;
that Maquina^H conduct in taking our ship arose from an insult (hat he
thought ho had received from Captain Salter, and from tho unjustifiable
conduct of some masters of vessels who had robbed him, and, without
provocation, killed a number of his people; beside, that a regard for the
sat'tity of others ought to prevent his being put to death, as 1 had lived
long enough with these people to know that revenge of an injury is hold
siicred by them, and that they would not fail to retaliate, should he kill
thoir king, on tho first vessel or boat's crow that should give them an
opportunity; and that, though he might consider executing him as but
an act of justice, it would probably cost the lives of many Americans.

The captain appeared to be '.;onvinced from what I said of tiio impolicy
of taking Macpiina's life, and said that he would leave it wholly with me
whether to spare or kill him. as he was resolved to incur no censure in
cither case. I replied, that I most certainly should never take tho life
of a man who had preserved mine, had I no other reason; but, as there
was some of the Boston's property still remaining on shore, I considered
it a duty that I owed to those who were interested in tiiat ship, to try to
save it for them, and, with that view, I thought it would bo well to keep
him on board until it was given up. He concurred in this proposal, say-
ing, if there was any of the property lei\, it most certainly ought to
be got.

During this conversation, Maqnina was in great anxiety, as from what
English ho knew, he perfectly comprehended the subject of our delibe-
ration, constantly interrupting mo to inquire what we had determined to
do with him; what the captain said; if his life would be spared; and if 1
did not think that Thompson would kill him. I pacified him as well as
I was able, by telling him that he had nothing to fear from the captain,
that ho would not bo hurt, and that if Thompson wished to kill him,
which was very probable, he would not be allosvnd to do it. lie would
then remind me that I was indebted to him for my life, and that I ought to
do by him as he had done by me. I assured him that such was my in-
tention, and I requested him to remain quiet, and not to alarm himself,
as no harm was intended him. But I found it extremely difficult to con-
vince him of this, as it accorded so little with the ideas of revenge
entertained by them. I told him, however, that he must restore all the
property still in his possession, belonging to the ship. This he was per-
fectly ready to do, happy to escape on such terms; but, as it was now
past five, and too late for the articles to be collected and brought off, I
told him that he must content himself to remain on board with me that
night, and in the morning he should be set on shore as soon as the
things were delivered. To this he agreed, on condition that I would
remain with him in the cabin. I then went on deck, and the canoe that
brought me having been sent back, I hailed the inhabitants, and told
them that their king had agreed to stay on board until the next day, when
he would return; but that no canoes must attempt to come near the
vessel during the night, as they would be fired upon. They answered,
Woho, woho — very well, very well, I then returned to Maquina, but so
great were his terrors, that he would not allow me to sleep, constantly
disturbing me with his questions, and repeating, " John, you know when
you was alone, and more than five hundred men were your enemies, I
was your friend, and prevented them from putting you and Thompson Ui

.VA0E8.

criiapii, bo wrong to

f OH a civili7.cd per-

ocioty to guicio him;

III an in8u!t (hat he

oin the unjiiBtitiablc

I'd him, and, witliout

tliat a rcfi^ard for the

loath, as 1 had lived

of an injury is hold

liate, should hu kill

should give them an

xtscuting him as but

■ many Americons.

I said of tiio impolicy

savo it wholly with me

incur no censure in

d never take tlie life

rcaflon; but, as there

HI shore, I considered

in tliat sliip, to try to

ivould bo well to keep

d in this proposal, soy-

ost certainly ought to

anxiety, as from what

subject of our delibe-

we had determined to
uld bo spared; and if 1
lacified him as well as
fear from the captain,
on wished to kill him,
id to do it. lie would

life, and that I ought to
1 that such was my in-
i not to alarm himself,
tremely diflficult to con-
1 the ideas of revenge
he must restore oil the
ship. This he was per-
ms; but, as it was now
cted and brought off, I

on board with me that
in shore as soon as the

condition that I would
leek, and the canoe that
[he inhabitants, and told

until the next day, when
tempt to come near the

upon. They answered,
irned to Maquina, but so

me to sleep, constantly
, " John, you know when
on were your enemies, 1
ng you and Thompson to

NARRATIVE OF A 8AIIX)R AMOVO HAVAOKS.

417

d<>iitli, mid n(i'% I nm in the power of your friondH, you oii){ht In do tlir
saiMo by till." I iiHHiirrd him tlint ho would l><« dt^tnini'd on buiird n<i
lon){i>r llinn tli<! property was released, and that, ns soon as it was done,
hf would 1)1' Hi't at [iln'rly,

At day-iiretik, I hnilcd the nativos, and told thom that it wsh Muqiiina^H
orilt'r tli.'it they nhouid bring oD' the cannon and nnrhorH, and wlmtevcr
rt'inaiiird wtih them of the cargo of tho ship. This they set about doing
Willi the iitinoHt expedition, transporting the cannon and anrhurH by Insb-
iiig K^ifcdicr two of their largest canoes, and covering them with planks;
ntid, II the courso of two hours, they delivered everything on board that
1 Coiild riTollecl, with Thompson's and my chest, containing tiie papers
of tliii ship, I'tc.

Wiicii I'vorything belonging to tho ship had been restored, Mn<|uina
wuH periiiittcd to return in his canoe, which had been sent for him, with
n prcHcnt of what skins he had collected, which were about sixty, for
tlte cuptiiin, in acknowledgment of his having spared his life and allowed
him to depart unhurt; such was also the transport he felt, when Captain
Hill came into tho cabin and told him that he was at liberty to go, that
he threw otf his mantle, which consisted of four of tho very best skins,
nnd giivi! it to him, as a mark of his gratitude; in return for which, the
rnptuin presented him with a new great-coat and hat, with which he
appi.'ared much delighted. The captain then desired me to inroriii him
that ho should return to that part of the coast in November, and that he
wished him <> keep what skins he should get, which he would buy of
him. ThiH Maijuina promised, saying to me at the same time, " John, you
know I shall bo tiion ntTasheos; but, when you come, make };om, (which
means, tire a gun,) to let me know, and I will come down." When he
came to tho side of the brig, he shook me cordially by the hand, and
told me that he hoped I would come to see him again in a big ship, and
bring much plenty of blankets, biscuit, mol.isses, and rum, for him and
his son, who loved me a great deal, and that he would keep all the furs
he got for me, observing, at the same time, that he should never more
take n letter of recommendation from any one, or ever trust himself on
board a vessel unless I was there; then, grasping both my hands, with
much emotion, while the tears trickled down his cheeks, he bade me
furr well, and stepped into the canoe, which immediately paddled hirn
on shore.

The brig being under weigh, immediately on Maquina's quitting us,
we proceeded to tho northward, constantly keeping the shore in sight,
and touching at various places for the purpose of trading. AAer a
period of nearly four months from our leaving Nootka, we returned from
the northward to Columbia river, for the purpose of procuring masts,
etc., for our brig, which had suffered considerably in her spars during a
gale of wind. Here, after providing ourselves with spars, we sailed for
iVootka, where we arrived in the latter part of November. Tho tribe
being absent, the agreed signal waii given, by firing a cannon, and in a
few hours after, a canoe appeared, which landed at the village, and,
putting the king on shore, came off to the brig. Inquiry was imme-
diately made by Kinneclimmets, who was one of the three men in the
canoe, if John was there, as the king had some skins to sell them if he
was. I then went forward and invited them on board, with which they
readily complied, telling me that Maquina had a number of skins with
him, but that he would not come on board unless I would go on shore
for him. This I agreed to, provided they would remain in the brig in^
27

418

NARRATIVE OF A SAILOR AMONG SAVAGES.

the meantime. To this they couscnted, and the captain taking them int
the cabin, treated them with bread and molasses. I tlien went on shore i
the canoe, notwithstanding the remonstrances of Tiiompson and the ca(
tain, wiio, though he wanted the skins, advised me by no means to pi
myself in Maquina\s power; but I assured him that I had no fear a
long as those men were on board. As I landed, Maquina came up an
welcomed me with much joy: on inquiring for the m»!n, I told him the
they were to remain until my return. "Ah, John,'* said he, '• I see you ar
af(aid to trust me; but, if they had come with you, I should not hav
hurt you, though I should have taken good care not to let you go o
board of another vessel.'' He then took his chest of skins, and ste^:
ping into the canoe, I paddled him along side of the brig, where he wu
received and treated by Captain Hill with the greatest cordiality, wh
bought of him his skins. He left us much pleased with his receptior
inquiring of me how many moons it would be before I should come bac
again to see him and his son; saying that he would keep all his fui
for me.

As soon as Maquina had quitted us, we got under weigh and stoo
again to the nortliward. We had a prosperous passage to China, arri\
ing at Macao in Dccombor, from whence the brig proceeded to Cantor
There I had tlic good fortune to meet a townsman and an old acquaini
ance, in the mate of an EInglish East-Indiaman, named John Hil
whose fallicr, a wealthy mcrciiant in Hull, in the Baltic trade, was
next door neighbor to mine. Shortly after our arrival, the captain boin
on board the English ship, and mentioning his having had the good foi
tune to liberate two men of tlie Boston's crew from the savages, an
that one of them was named Jewett, my former acquaintance immod
ateiy camn on board the brig to see me. I

Words can ill express my feelings on seeing him. Circumstanced as
was, among persons who were entire strangers to me, to meet thus,
a foreign land, with one between whom and myself a considerable ini
macy had subsisted, was a pleasure that those alone who bave been in
similar situation can properly estimate. He appeared, on his part, i
less happy to see me, whom he supposed to be dead, as the account
our capture hud been received in England some time before his sailiii
and all my friends supposed me to have been murdered.

He supplied me with a new suit of clothes and a hat, a smuU sum
money for my necessary expenses, and a number of little articles i
sea-stores on my voyage to America. I also gave him a letter for i
father, in which I mentionetl my wonderful preservation and esca|
through the humanity of Captain Hill, with whom I should returnl
Boston. This lettr^r he inclosed to his father, by a ship that was jl
sailing, in consequence of which it was received much earlier thaif
otherwise would have been.

We left China, in February, 1807, and after a pleasant voyage of
'hundred and fourteen days, arrived at Boston. My feelings on o|
more finding myself in a Christian country, among a people spealj
the same language with myself, may be more readily conceived
expressed. In the post-office in that place, I found a letter for me
my mother, acknowledging the receipt of mine from China, expresl
the great joy of my family on hearing of my being alive and well, wf
vthey had for a long time giveo np for dead.

■-■* ■* - ■■ -■, , f1 i rMf|H *» .4 ^ ■ -- ■ ! > ' ^

^MONG SAVAGES.

nd the captain taking them into
.lasses. I then went on shore in
iices of Thompson and the cap-
Ivised me by no means to put
red him that I had no fear as
landed, Maquina came up and
nc for the mon, I told him that
, John,'' said he, '-I Bee you are

,e with you, I should not have
good care not to let you go on
k his chest of skins, and step-
r side of the brig, where he was
ith the greatest cordiality, who
ich pleased with his reception,
Id be before I should come back
that he would keep all his furs

we got under weigh and stood
spcroiis passage to China, arr.v-

the brifT proceeded to Canton,
t'townsm^ and an old acquaint-
ist-Indiuman, named John llill,
Hull, in the Baltic trade, was a
fter our arrival, tlie captain being
linfi his having had the good for-
iton's crew from the savages, and
my former acquaintance immcdi-

i'seeing him. Circumstanced as 1
strangers to me, to meet thus, m
m and myself a considerable inti-
,at those alone who have been m a
e He appeared, on his part, no
,8ed to be dead, as the account ot
rlaud some time before his sailing,
ive been murdered.

clothes and a hat, a small sum oi

,nd a number of little articles for

I also gave him a letter for iny

ronderful preservation and escape,

[ill, with whom I should return to

his father, by a ship that was jus
was received much earlier than it

and after a pleasant voyage of one

1 at Boston. My feelings on once
country, among a people .^P^akmg

ay be more readily conceived than
/place, I found a letter for me from
•ipt of mine from China, expressing
ng of my being alive and well, whom
or dead. ;

ADVENTURES

PHILIP A SHI ON,

or IIAaRA0BU8BTTa, WHO WAS TAKBf BT PIKATU, nOAPlO FBOM TBKM, AMD DWBC

rOR BIZTUN MONIBS

IN SOLITUDE ON A DESOLATE ISLAND.

On Friday, the fifteenth of June, 1 723, after being out some time in
a schooner with four men and a boy, off Cape Sable, I stood in for Fort
Rossaway, designing to lie there all Sunday. Having arrived about four
in the afternoon, we saw, among other vessels which had reached the port
before us, a brigantine supposed to be inward bound from the West
Indies. After remaining three or four hours at anchor, a boat from the
brigantine came along side, with four hands, who leaped on deck, and
suddenly drawing out pistols, and brandishing cutlasses, demanded the
surrender both of ourselves and our vessel. All remonstrance was vain;
nor, indeed, had we known who they were before boarding us, could we
have made any effectual resistance, being only five men and a boy, and
were thus under the necessity of submitting at discretion. We were not
single in misfortune, as thirteen or fourteen fishing-vessels, were, in like
manner, surprised the same evening.

When carried on board the brigantine, I found myself in the hands
of Ned Low, an infamous pirate, whose vessel had two great guns, four
swivels, and about forty-two men. I was strongly urged to sign the
articles of agreement among the pirates, and to join their number, which
I steadily refused, and suffered much bad usage in consequence. At
length being conducted, along with five of the prisoners, to the quarter-
deck. Low came up to us with pistols in his hand, and loudly demanded,
" Are any of you married men?" This unexpected question, added to
the sight of the pistols, struck us all speechless; we were alarmed lest
there was some secret meaning in his words, and that he would proceed
to extremities, therefore none could reply. In a violent passion he
cocked a pistol, and clapping it to my head, cried out, " You dog, why
don't you answer ?" swearing vehemently at the same time that he would
shoot me through the head. I was sufficiently terrified by his threats and
fierceness, but rather than lose my life in so trifling a matter, I ventured
to pronounce, as loud as I durst speak, that I was not married. Here-
upon he seemed to be somewhat pacified, and turned away.

It appeared that Low was resolved to take no married men whatever,
which often seemed surprising to me until I had been a considerable
time with him. But his own wife had died lately before he became a
pirate, and he had a young child at Boston, for whom he entertained such
tenderness, on every lucid bterval from drinking and reveling, that, on
mentioning it, 1 have seen him sit down and weep plentifully. Thus I

(419)

..■■•^ii*iK* <>.y*-'H*r * -

iS'"'

ADVENTURES OF PHILIP ASHTON.

l,.,ea, that ^reZn^^f^Z::^^^

finding force of ""f ^""i, " ^«S tX cr mi into compliance by «ottmg
suasion instead of it. J'^J"*^;^;"" their spoils, and the nches which 1
before me the share I should have 'n m f importuned me to

should become m«ter of ; and a the Ume ^g j^^^ ^^^^.^

drink along with them. But I »*'"J°°/' threatened to shoot me through
whereupon Low, with equal f^J^^^^^^^^^^J^ed mTrelease, he and liis people
the head ; and though I ^'^^^^'^ ^^.^ ons?in their books,
wrote my name, and ^h"i\°f '";. niP^.t^changed the privateer, as they
On the nineteenth of June he P'ratcs c g ^^ .^^ ^^ ^^ j,,^.

called their vcsse , and ^n^/^ "^ Ven put all the prisoners, whom
head, which they had captured, i of 'he brigantine, and sent her to
they designed sending ^om^, on board ottj 8^^^^^^^^^, ,„empt for
Boston, which induced me '""^^f^XT he refused to let me go ; thus

liberty but though I ff^^^^yJ^J^^heS captives, excepting myself
I saw the b"«antme depart, with thej^io I ^ „^,d, I had nearly

and seven more. Very short t^fj^^"*^ ^^ l^w being accidentally left
effected my escape ; for a dog bebngmg^lo Lo^^. g^^ 7^^'^ P"!!
on shore, he ordered some ban^in ^^„'« ^„^to ^lehead, rapidly leaped
two young men, captives, both belonging ^^ ^^^^^^ „g

into the boat, and I, considering tbat 'f 1 «o"'« « « ^^Mig with them.
Sght be found of effecting ^/^-X^fi^ttS hold of my shoulder,
But the quarter-master, <^''"«;*f"5?d„'otretura, he thought I was privy
drew me back. As the young " f" "'"^^f J^^hs, snapped his pistol, on my
to their plot, and, with the most ""^^^f "f^j'^.^m J^'fire, however, only
denying all knowledge of it. Jje pis ^.^^^ ^^a as

"ervldlo enrage him the "?«[« •^'^J^^SToverboard, and then it went off.
Often it missed fire; on wh.d> he held^ over ^^^^^^ ^^ .^ ^^^^ „,„„,,
Russel on this drew his '•■"^ja^^, and waa an

fury, when I leaped down mto »^^ .^f J"« p^^^^ pink, laden with

Off St. Michael's, the pirates to«k a la geror^ p ^^^ ^^^^y,^^

wheat, coming out of the road; and being a gooa ^ became

7ourttn guns', transferred J';,- -^SV^ee islands, called Triangles
necessary tocareen her, whence tW n»ade ^^^^ ^^ ^

lying about forty leagues to ^« J';';'"""^ ^^ the shrouds and yards, that
U^^e pink, Low had ordered so ^any men to ^^^ ^^^ ^^^^^^.^^^ ,„^ ^,

the ports, by her heeling, got "n^f^^r^".'. * ^^bin, and as soon as he
o;:r'sef. he'and the <»«tJ Tn' he Sed^ut of t^^^
observed the water gufbing «, h« »«»P«%i^i,„^e of the sea repulsed the
doctor attempted to follow him. ""j/f Jbi^. Low, however, contrived
latter, and he was forced back into the caDm ' .^d his life.

to thrust his arm into the P«rt,«>d dragging ^^^^ ,„,„ed out of the
Meanwhile, the vessel «>«)?'? ^ -Tn he depth of about six fathoms.

fiMing, rising a little out of the sea , j ^ „eat extremity; for,

w^,i iiji i i i i ,iu.';^**!' ^ '' ""■ "" "' ' ''''''' '""

s, probably, that
livcrt them from
D. Tho pirates
egan to use pcr-
iance, by sotting
e riches which 1
iportuned ine to
tlieir proposals,
shoot me through
10 and liis people
[>k8.

privateer, as they
»nging to Marble-
prisoners, whom
e, and sent her to
ssful attempt for
to let me go ; thus
excepting myself
ted, I had nearly
a accidentally left
t off. Thereupon
ad, rapidly leaped
Bt on shore, means
[o along with them.
Id of my shoulder,
ihought I was privy
,ed his pistol, on my
fire, however, only
limes again, and as
id then it went off.
:k me in tho utmost
yself. .

jse pink, laden with
lailer, and carrying
It afterward became
ds, called Triangles,
,. In heaving down
uds and yards, that
sea rushing in, she
, and as soon as he
atern-port, wliilc the
the sea repulsed the
r, hov^ever, contrived
out, saved his life-
•el turned out of the
of about six fathoms,
ists somewhat above
tie shrouds and yards,
igain resorted to the

great extremity ; for,
to the maintop-gallant
;cupied in preserving
» attempt reaching the

ADVENTURES OF PHILIP ASHTON.

131

buov This I luckily accomplished, and, as it was large, secured myself
there until the boat approached. I once more requested the people to
ake mo in, but they still refused, as the boat was full. I was uncertain
whether th. v designed leaving me to perish in this situation; however,
the boat being deeply laden, made way very slowly, and one of my com-
rades, captured at the same time with myself, calling to "e to forsake
the buoy and swim toward her, I assented, and reaching the boat, he
drew me on board. Two men, John Bell, and Zana Guordon, were
lost in tho pink. Though the schooner in company was very near at
hand her people were employed mending their sails under an awning,
ind knew nothing of the accident until the boat full of men, got along

^' The pirates having thus lost their principal vessel, and the greatest
part of their provisions and water, were reduced to great extremities for
want of the latter. They were unable to get a supply at the Tranglet,
nor. on account of calms and currenU, could they make the island of
Tobaeo Thus they were forced to stand for Grenada, which they
reached, after being on short allowance for sixteen days together
Grenada was a French settlement, and Low, on arriving, after having
sent all his men, except a sufficient number to maneuver the vessel
below, said he was from Barbadoes; that he had lost the ^jer on board
and was obliged to put in here for a supply. The people entertained
no suspicion of his being a pirate, but afterward, supposing h.m a smug-
oler, thoujrht it a good opportunity to make a prize of his vessel. Next
day/ therefore, they equi Jfed a large sloop of seventy tons, and four guns,
with about thirty hands, as sufficient for the capture, and caine along side,
^hile Low was quite unsuspicious of their design. But th.« being evi-
dently betrayed by their number and actions, he quickly called ninety
men on deck, and, having eight guns mounted, the French sloop became

*°Pr"oWded with these two vessels, the pirates cruised about in the West
Indies, taking seven or eight prizes, and at length arrived at the island
of Santa Cruz, where they captured two more. While lying there, Low
thought he stood in need of a medicine chest, and, in order to procure
one, sent four Frenchmen, in a vessel he had taken, to St. Thomw s,
about twelve leagues distant, with money to purchase it; prom^ing them
liberty, and the%eturn of all their vessels for the service But he de-
clared, at the same time, if it proved otherwise, he would kill the rest of
the men, and burn the vessels. In little more than twenty-four hours,
the Frenchmen returned with the object of their mission, and Low
punctually performed his promise by restoring the vessel. . ,^

Having sailed for the Spanish American settlements, the pirates de-
scried two large ships, about half way between Carthagena and Portobello,
which proved to be the Mermaid, an English man-of-war, and a Guineaman
They approached in chase until discovering the man-of-war's great range
of teeth; when they immediately put about, and made the best of their
way otr. The man-of-war then commenced the pursuit, and gained upon
them apace, and I confess that my terrors were now equal to any that I
had previously suffered; for I concluded that we should ceramly be taken,
and I should no less certainly be hanged for company's sake : so true are
the words of Solomon, "A companion of fools shall be destroyed. But
the two pirate vessels finding themselves outsailed, separated, and I'ar-
rineton Spriggs, who commanded the schooner in which I was, stood in
for the shore The Mermaid observing the sloop with Low himself to

ADVENTURES OF PHILIP ASHTON.

*^^ A^A M Rail and continued gaining still

be the larger of the »7' "^"^tr buroie o^^

more, indeed unt.l her shot flew over bu, ^^^^.^ ^^^ man-of-war

Low a shoal, which he .'^°"'° P!;';^ hanaing on this occasion. Spnggs
grounded. Thus the P'"^«\37,eS the consequences of being
Ld one of his chosen «o™P»"'°"'i'fl*Jhe?r pistols beside them in the
captured and brought to J"«^'*=«Jj7„Xmper of liquor, swore,
interval, and pledging a ^^"^ "^^^^ ^^ and bbw out each other's
Sr ^SSdCSf thrshre, they Inade PiCeroon Bay, and

-ffi^^rfpXdtoasrn^^^^^^^^^^^^

leagues to leeward of the '^I'^^'i «* f «;*^;' ' Vhere iere now twenty-two
the^ottom of the schooner waj ^ «»°«^^- ^Jf , p,ot to overpower our
persons on board, and eight of us engage p,„posed sailing for New

masters, and make our f«."^''P«; ^^Kere^Le his company; and we
Lgland,in q^^^* of provisions, and to m^^^^^^^^ ^^^ .^^^^, f,,,i

d-qS an-dSSd tleeTto ^e - them under the hatches, and

%S;rs^ rSSs SSiJ^^Sn»h

had, somehow or other, got '"Jf "'f «"^«^° _ '^ „,ake a furious declaration
Lo^ on the voyage, went on ^"/accounf o? his information, otherwise
against us. But Low made litUeaccoun o ^^^^ ^

it might have been fatal ^° "l^^^^'^Li^iming, that four of us shou d go
returned raging to ^h« «ch«>ner excla uning, ^^^^^ ^^^^

forward to be shot, and to ™« '" P"3." „, for designing to cut us off.'
you deserve to be hanged up at he ya-^" "™' „\n on board; but I

i replied, " that I had no '"^f b* «° "^T go\^^^ quietly." At length
should be glad if they would allow me ^^ ^^^^^ , ^^^ j

this flame was q^^n^h^d, and, through meg ^^ Honduras, is full

destruction. Roatan harbor, as all a^utjy and having

of small islands, which pass under the pene^ai^^^^^^^ J^^^^^^ ^^^^

got in here. Low, with some f ^^f/^^'^^heTe they erected huts, and con-
^hich they called Port Royal Key. ^h^^^^" different vessels, of which
tined carousing, drinking and hring, wnue i.ic

they now had V°^l^^^'°\^TJS''m2, the cooper, with six hands,

• On Saturday, the ninth «f f ";^';'/;^^^^ and coming along side of

in the long-boat, was going a«*^«J« J^.'J „/,„ Seeing him hesitate, I

Se schooner, 1 ^«q'^^''t?"*.^^^\irashore! and thought it hard to be
urged that I had n-jver h>therto been ashore, a ^ ^^ ^^^^.^^ ^^

L closely confined, when every on2es.d«h^^^ requesV.ng to be sent
there was occasbn. Low had before to^d^ , ^.^^.^^^^^ ^^at I should
awav in some of the captured ^esse^is wnicn jously set my

go home when he did, ^"^^^^Sl^^,*;^ /ituW p"^ getonterra-

b^tShin^rrTuraS^^^^^^^^

SrS and -solved never to embark a^^^^^^^^^ ^^.^^ ^^^^^ ^^ ,,,

The cooper at l^nK^'^^^'^.^'id from Roatan, where the watering-
chief people, were on a different island irom , ^^^ trowser8,u

place lay; my only clothing was ^""^^S^"^^, ^^yti^iug else. When

led gaining still
j)'s crew showed
[the man-of-war
tasion. Spriggu
luences of ueing
|ide them in the
jr, swore, if they
I out each other's
(eroon Bay, and

it seven or eight
[Honduras, where
now twenty-two
:o overpower our

sailing for New
;ompany; and we
d indulged freely
r the hatches, and

privacy, Spriggs
ring fallen in with
urious declaration
mation, otherwise
iSpriggs, however,
ir of us should go
You dog, Ashton,
[ning to cut us off."
an on board; but I
lietly." At length
of God, I escaped
f Honduras, is full
f Keys; and having
1 on a small island,
cted huts, and cou-
nt vessels, of which

er, with six hands,
ming along side of
ing him hesitate. I
lought it hard to bo
iberty of landing as
;questing to be sent
lissed, that I should
r previously set my
)ly once get on terra-
i account it a happy

while Low, and his
where the watering-
)ck and trowsers, u
ything else. When
:he casks out of the
hen taking a hearty
ip stones and shells :

f- M tim i fmr —

ADVENTURES OF PHILIP ASHTON.

423

but on reaching the distance of a musket-shot from the party, I began to
withdraw toward the skirts of the woods. In answer to a question by the
cooper of wiiither I was going? I replied, '^ for cocoanuts, as some cocoa-
trees were just before me;" and as soon as I was out of sight of my
companions, I took to my heels, running as fast as the thickness of
the bushes and my naked feet would admit. Notwithstanding I had got
a considerable way into the woods, I was still so near as to hear the voices
of tiie party if they spoke loud, and I lay close in a thicket where I knew
they could not find me.

At\cr my comrades had filled their ca.sks, and were about to depart,
the cooper called on me to accompany them; however, I lay snug in the
thicket, and gave him no answer, though his words were plain enough
At length, after hallooing loudly, I could hear them say to one another,
"The dog is lost in the woods, and cannot find the way out again;" then
they hallooed once more, and cried " he lias run away and wont come to
us;" and the cooper observed, that, had ho known my intention, he would
not have brought me asliorc. Satisfied of tlieir inability to find me among
the trees and bushes, the cooper at last, to show his kindness, exclaimed,
" If you do not come away presently, I shall go off and leave you alone."
Nothing, however, could induce me to discover myself; and my comrades
seeing it vain to wait any longer, put off without me.

Tiius I was left on a desolate island, destitute of all help, and remote
from tlie track of navigators ; but, compared with the state and society I
had quitted, I considered tlie wilderness hospitable, and the solitude
interesting. When I thought the whole were gone, I emerged from my
thicket, and came down to a small run of water, about a mile from the
place where our casks were filled, and there sat down to observe the
proceedings of the pirates. To my great joy, in five days their vessels
sailed, and I saw the schooner part from them to shape a different
course.

I then began to reflect on myself and my present condition: I was on
an island which I had no means of leaving; I knew of no human being
within many miles ; my clothing was scanty, and it was impossible to
procure a supply. I was altogether destitute of provision, nor could tell
how my life was to be supported. This melancholy prospect drew a
copious flood of tears from my eyes ; but as it had pleased God to grant
my wishes in being liberated from those whose occupation was devising
misciiief agauist their neighbors, I resolved to account every hardship
light. Yet Low would never suffer his men to work on the Sabbath,
which was more devoted to play; and I have even seen some of them sit
down to read in a good book.

In order to ascertain how I was to live in time to come, I began to
range over the island, which proved ten or eleven leagues long, and lay
in about sixteen degrees north latitude. But I soon found that my only
companions would be the beasts of the earth, and fowls of the air; for
thoro were no indications of any habitations on the island, though every
now and then I found some shreds of earthenware scattered in a lime
walk, said by some to be remains of Indians formerly dwelling here.
The island was well watered, full of high hills and deep vallies.
Numerous fruit trees, such as figs, vines, and cocoanuts are found in the
latter; and I found a kind larger than an orange, oval-shaped, of a
brownish color without, and red within. Though many of these had
fallen under the trees, I could not venture to take them, until I saw the
wild hoga feeding with safety, and then I found them very delicious fruit.

ADVENTURES OF PHIUP ASHTON.

424 ***"

Stores of provisionsabounded here though I^^^^^^

but the fruit; for I had no »'«'f«/;'™,ViSorn animals ; nor had I

tortoise on turning it, or weapons w»«:««'7^^^^ jf i ^ore successful,
any means of making a fire to cook nnycaptu^reev^^^^^ . ^^^^

Someiimes 1 entertained thought* °;J'8f;"8P';'f\„king hogs or deer ;
over with small branches «/ ^"^J' f«; J,^« P^/'Sr the ^J^^^^^^ » ^»»

any one in my conditioii. .„„„„ thn aand with a stick, in quest

In process of ti-«.;hile poking among th -nd wit ^^^ ^^

of tortoise eggs, which I had *>«"'' ^^•,?„ .._ .-nd, I found nearly a
came up adhering to it; and, °Vr„To„renoLh to spoU. Therefore,
Lundrod and fifty, which had "»* i^'"^ J^X.P of palmetto, which,
taking some, I ate them, ""^ strung others on a smp oi P , ^^ ^^^^

being hung up in the sun, b^^''™^^'"^^^;"^^^ o not very savo.y food,
they were more palatable. After all, }n«y J^ ^ trees, behoved to be
.hough one, who had nothing but v'h'it fell from Je trees, ^ ^^^^ ^^

take to tlie water, .ju,.pnt islands • one, about twelve

Many serpents are on this and the ^•^J*'^^^"' '^^^''t ^'ot poisonous,
or fourteen feet long is as "^^f .."If/ .^f^^Xof trees covered with
When lying at length, they look »'k« «lf J;"f^^^^^^^^^^^ The first time I
.hon moss, though they "^ru"^'''T„LVerverv i^a before discovering it
saw one of these serpents, I had ^PP^^^^'^'^fja "enough to have received
10 bo a living creature ; it "P^^^^ ' ^J^Skll e,ea"^Tsuch annoyance,
a iiat, and breathed on me. A «™^" ^'^^^ "^^^^forts, his life would be
tUat even if a person possessed ^v^^^.Jj^^^^S^^^^^^^^^ small quay,

oppressive to him, unless for the possbimyoir^^^^^ g dispersed by the
destitute of wood '^"d Pushes where muHitude^ „Uhs, without

wind. To this place, then, was I ««f »«^^.^^^^^^^ ,-,„ ered out, I know
seeing a human being. One ^ay after jnx»^herwa8^
„othow,voidof occupationor amusernem,exceptco^^^^^ g ,^^ ^^^^^^

from hill to hill, and from '^^^^.^X^,^' ^Jegr^ets, 1 had the reflection
Although my mind was o*^f P'«J .^^ ™'°„^hTlhad no hand in bringing

tbat 1 was lawfu ly ^^^^yf^^J^^^t^^^^^^^^^^ that I had the approbation
misery on myself: 1 was also comioric trusted that it would

and consent of my parents m f '"§ J^/Jo' mvlde for my return to my
please God, in his own time ''"'^.^J^^YjbXS
father's house. Therefore, I "•««°'rf ^^^ ^"^^ p Pfof °he island to another.
It was my daily practice to ramble f^°™ °°7;; "^^^^^^ Here I built a
,h„„gl, I had a more special hom« Jie^^ J« by'd y and the heavy de vs
hut to defend me against the heat of «>« «"J ^ i^j^'^ I could find fallen

by night. Taking some ^//''^'^.^^rahistriow hanging bough, by
f/omlhc trees,lcontr.vedtofix hem against a low SB ^^^^ ^^^^

fastening them together with split P^^"^*;^^, '^fJ^J •,^, that I could get.
, whole with some of the largest and most smtaDie^ ^^^^ ^^^^^^^

Many of these huts -^ J^ ^^^ll.'h'avT^^^^^^^^^ -d the

lX"'o? K^'Xlze, Sh both the heat and the veim.n

ADVENTURES OF PHILIP ASHTON.

425

myself of nothing
either to cut up a
limaU; nor had I
were successful,
id covering them
king hogs or deer;
urpose, and I was
ake a cavity deep
as forced to rest
^oad provision for

th a stick, in quest
sand, part of one

, I found nearly a

spoil. Therefore,
jf palmetto, which,
vhat hard ; so that
t very savopy food,
rees, behoved to be
)les about a foot or

them, so that tliere
itof my observation,
id then immediately

; one, about twelve

but not poisonous.

trees, covered with
ion. The first time I
before discovering it
ugh to have received
,tes such annoyance,
rts, his life would be
r to some small quay,
re dispersed by the
nine months, without
lingered out, I know
ecting food, rambling
ng on sky and water.

1 had the reflection
a no hand in bringing
I had the approbation
rusted that it would
e for my return to my
ntly to my misfortune,
the island to another,
side. Here I built a
r, and the heavy devs
:h I could find fallen
w banging bough, by

; next I covered the
aves that I could got.
srally near the beach,
tter look-out, and the
leat and the vermin

required. But the insects were so troublesome, that I thought of en
deavoring to get over to some of the adjacent keys, in hopes of enjoyiu
rest. However, I was, as already said, a very indifierent swimmer; I iiu<
no canon, nor any means of making one. At length, having got a piece
of bamboo, which is hollow like a reed, and light as cork, I ventured,
after frequent trials with it under my breast and arms, to put ofl* for a
small key about a gun-shot distant, which I reached in safety. My now
place of refuge was only about three or four hundred feet in circuit, lying
very low, and clear of woods and brush; from exposure to the wind, it
was quite free of vermin, and I seemed to have got into a new world,
where I lived infinitely more at ease. Hither I retired, therefore, when
the heat of the day rendered the insect tribe most obnoxious; yet I was
obliged to be much on Roatan, to procure food and water, and at night
on account of ray hut.

When swimming back and forward between the two islands, I used to
bind my frock and trowscrs about my head, and if I could have carried
over wood and leaves, whereof to make a hut, with equal facility, I should
have passed more of my time on the smaller one. Yet these excursions
were not unattended with danger. Once, I remember, when passing
from th" larger island, the bamboo, before I was aware, slipped from
under me; and the tide, or current, set down so strong, that it was with
great difficulty I could reach the shore. At another time, when swimming
over to the small island, a shovel-nosed shark, which, as well as alligators,
abound in those scasj struck me in the thigh, just as my foot could reach
the bottom, and grounded itself, from the shallowness of the water, as I
suppose, so that its mouth could not get round toward me. The blow I
felt some hours after making the shore. By repeated practice, I at length
became a pretty dextrous swimmer, and amused myself by passing from
one island to another, among the keys.

I sufiered very much from being barefoot; so many deep wounds were
made in my feet frcm traversing the woods, where the ground was
covered with sticks and stones, and on the hot beach, over sharp broken
shells, that I was scarce able to walk at all. Often, when treading with
all possible caution, a stone or shell on the beach, or a pointed stick in the
woods, would penetrate the old wound, and the extreme anguish would
strike me down as suddenly as if I had been shot. Then I would remain,
for hours together, with tears gushing from my eyes, from the acuteness
of the pain. I could travel no more than absolute necessity compelled me,
in quest of subsistence; and I have sat, my back leaning against a tree,
looking out for a vessel during a complete day. Once, while faint from
silch injuries, as well as smarting under the pain of them, a wild boar
rushed toward me. I knew not what to do, for I had not strength to resist
his attack; therefore, as he drew nearer, I caught the bough of a tree,
and suspended myself by means of it. The boar tore away part of my
ragged trowsers with his tusks, and then left me. This, I think, was the
only time that I was attacked by any wild beast, and I considered myself
to have had a very great deliverance.

As my weakness continued to increase, I often fell to the ground in-
sensible, and then, as also when I laid myself to sleep, I thought I should
never awake a^^ain, or rise in life. Under this affliction I first lost count
of the days of the week; I could not distinguish Sunday, and, as my
illness became more aggravated, I became ignorant of the month also.
All this time I had no healing balsam for my feet, nor any cordial to re-
vive my drooping spirits. My utmost efTorts could only now and then

«^ «ta»« »*«•••--

ADVENTURKS OF PHILIP ASHTON.

ADVENTUK'"''' "*^ — I u J

mmMmmm

of wind and ram arose, m wlucu ^ ^

through the bleasing of UoO, " K

Wj j |j i j i , i j i «« M !^''

5,j-g5««geM«»^!»Li.'rft«*f«-*' ,«*i?s»e*t

gg*8W«S' ^'»» 8'-Vl' " ''' ^^ *

ADVENTURES OF PHIUP A8HT0N.

427

or, though 1 had

ler, my altemptB

rtivc. The raiua

red exceedingly.

and iiksomo con-

. ; and I reflected,

they know where

jrospcct of death,

ime.

anoc approaching,

a. I kept my seat

nd knowing that I

one. Aa tl»e inan

called me to him,

13 alone, and almost

kc of mo ; my garb

wild with astonish-

10 thoroughly; but,

J mo by the hand,

nger proved to be a

ears, of a grave and

lame I never knew,

g the period of our

•cnty-two years with

lOugh I know not for

ary, bringing his dog,

)ork, along with him.

, the island, where he

he was always ready
!r h<^ could, though he
On the third day after
I his canoe among the
Id hogs and deer, and
ts were somewhat re-
ch I now enjoyed, and

of my feet, precluded
return in a few hours,
f any danger during a
ve leagues in safety in
an hour, a violent gust
ished, as I never heard

n almost three days, 1
state, as I had been re-
I was myself preserved
id I was left in better
me, for now I had about
der, tobacco, tongs and
i more comfortable. 1
at this time, being the
ise, and have a delicate
md dressed provisions,
er strength, though the

doreness of my foct remained. But I had, beside, the advantage of being
al)lo now and tiien to catch a dish of crayfish, which, when roasted,
proved ^o()(l eating. To accomplish this I made up a small bundle of
old broken slicks, nearly resembling pitch-pine, or candle-wood, and
having lis;hted one end, waded with it in my hand, up to the waist in
water, 'i'iie cray-fish, attracted by the ligiit, would crawl to my feet,
and lie directly under it, when, by means of a forked stick, 1 could toss
them usiiore.

Between two and throe months after the time of losing my companion,
I found a small canoe, while ranging along the shore. The sight of it
revived my regret for his loss, for 1 Judged that it had been his canoe ;
and, from being washed up here, a certain proof of his having been lost
in the tempest. But, on examining it more closely, 1 satisfied myself that
it was one which i had never seen before. Master of this little vessel,
I begun to tiiink myself admiral of the neighl>oring seas, as well as sole
possessor and chief commander of the islands. Profiting by its use, I
could transport myself to the places of retreat more conveniently tiian by
my former expedient of swimming.

In process of time, I projected an excursion to some of the larger and
more distant islands, partly to learn how they were stored or inhabited,
and partly for the sake of amusement. — Laying in a small stock of figs
and grapes, therefore, as also some tortoise to eat, and carrying my im-
plements for tire, I put off to steer for the island of Bornacco, which is
about four or five leagues long, and situated five or six from Roatan. In
the course of tlie voyage, observing a sloop at the cast end of the island,
1 made the best of my way to tlie west, designing to travel down by land,
both because a point of rocks ran far into the sea, beyond which I did
not care to venture in the canoe, as was necessary to come ahead of the
sloop, and because I wished to ascertain something concerning her people
before I was discovered. Even in my worst circumstances, I never could
brook the thoughts of returningon board of any piratical vessel, and resolved
rather to live and die in my present situation. Hauling up the canoe, and
making it fust as well as I was able, I set out on the journey. My feet
were yet in such a state, that two days, and the best part of two nights
were occupied in it. Sometimes the woods and bushes were so thick
that it was necessary to crawl half a mile together on my hands and
knees, which rendered my progress very slow. When within a mile or
two of the place where I supposed the sloop might be, I made for the
water side, and approached the sea gradually, that I might not too soon
disclose myself to view; however, on reaching the beach, there was no
appearance of the sloop, whence I judged that she had sailed during the
time spent by me in traveling. Being much fatigued with the journey,
I rested myself against the stump of a tree, with my face toward the sea,
where sleep overpowered me. But I had not slumbered long before I
was suddenly awakened by the noise of firing. — Starting up in affright, I
saw nine pirogues, or largo canoes, full of men, firing upon me from the
sea; whence I soon turned about and ran among the bushes as fast as
my sore feet would allow, while the men, who were Spaniards, cried after
me, "O Englishman! we will give you good quarter." However, my
astonishment was so great, and I was so suddenly roused from my sleep,
that I had no self-command to listen to their offers of quarter, which, it
may be, at another time, in my cooler moments, I might have done.
Thus I made into the woods, and the strangers continued firing after mo,
to the number of one hundred and fifty bullets at least, many of which

ADVENTURES OF PHILIP A8HT0N.

^w* t .. .wio Hnvinff caincd an ex-

cut .man twlR- off the buBhes clojo by n, ^e^ Ja ^^ g g
tensive thicket beyond reach of the shot, J .^^^^ ^.,,e departing,
obBorviug, by the sound of ^^eir oars, tna i ^^,^,, j,,

I crept out. 1 saw the «lo»P ""^'^ „^"f„' „U she was an English vessel
\Sl in tow, whid. iS'^"",tCdiras and aken there by the Spaniards,
which had been at the Bay of Honduras Y;^ ^^^^ ^^ nearly surprised,
Noxt dav 1 returned to the tree, wnere i ^^^^^^^ ^ f„ot

Afler this I traveled to '<=,^°'«'\ "^ ^J^" suffering severely from the
Island! Vhich I reached in three days, but suffenng .J^^^^ ^^^

orenesrof my feet and the scant.nes of ^rov s.on^^^ ^^ ^.^ ^^

■o nlentifully stored as Roatan, so th« o"" 8 ^ j^^ j^gccts were,

esidence,! had difficulty in P'-"^'^^ TrSgthan at my old habitation,
beside, infinitely more numerous ^"/^^""Xrexploring the island; and
K'circumstLces deterred -e^- ,f«J^^^^^ j p^t off for Roaum,

having reached the canoe J^^y^''^'^,''",^ ^ith Bonacco, and arrived at
which was a royal palace to me compared w ^^^ ^^ou

night in safety. Hero I lived, '^'^'^^2^1181, companion.-My time was
:;^ven month/, after losmg mv No th Bnti hj J^ ^^^^.^,, ^„,„„g .^c
spent in the usual manner, hunting .,,«,„

islands. . ^hile on the small quay, whither I o ten

Some time in June, 1724, ^^iie o , ^^^ ^^^ canoes

retreated to be free from the a^^jy'^raTer, they observed the smoke of
making for the harbor. Appoachmg nearer tny .^ ^^^^^^ ^^

TarL which I had kindled and ft a loss ^okn^ Bonacco, was still
les tated on advancing.-Wha had exper.enc ^^ ^^^^ ^

fresh in mv own memory, arid '« *1 *? J^h^ quay, not above a hundred
I withdrew to rny/a"°«'iy'"f,,^j;wedover^to^ Roatan. There I had
yards distant, and .''"'"^^'"^^jy^^nd sufficient accom.nodat.on for any
places of safety against an enemy, anas

-ordinary number ot friends. ^j^ g^a to Roatan, the

The 'people in the «*"««« l^^'^^tra^d being as much afraid of

passage not exceeding a gun-shot over ,«« ^tutiously toward the

Kates as I was of Spaniards approached vy , ^^^^eir

Jhore I then came down to the beach, show ng y ^^^^ j resolved

'conduct led me to think that th^'y ^^'^^ei shot to inquire who they
Sre being exposed to the danger of ^he.rs ^^^^^ ^^^.j^

wire. If they proved such a I J'd n^J^J ^^^ ,g j eould be lay on
But before I spoke, they, a« f"» ^^ "^PPJ^^^m whence I came? to which
their oars, and demanded who I was, ana iro. ^^^^ p.rates.'

I repUed, that « I was an ^^ngl^hmaU' ^jf^jjf X ^^^ ^^^^ beside my-
On this they drew somewhat nearer, mqu ring according

TeV? when^I assured tben>,.n retu^^^^j^^^^^^.^^ns to them, they said
to my original purpose, bavmg put simuar 4 ^^^^ encouraged me

IheThad come from the Bay of Hondujas^ J^ , ^ij ^^^^.,^ ^ome
o bid them row asho^^'^J'^lll advancedno meet. But he started
d^^stance, and one man landed, ^h^m I advanc ^^^^^^^ object so near

back at Ihe sight of a poor ^Jgyd, w'W Jo^lo^ ^^^ ,y ,^ ^^"^.'itor^'t

d°K^w1 Khe:res%r :« hi; comrades were struck with

"- ■ fcjaiiiM ii i ij 'j i'i J l i l J^ j 'lJIJ'. 'J

ving gained an cx-
L'vcral hours, until
da were departing,
ing away with the
an English vessel
by the Spaniards.

nearly surprised,
trunk, within a foot
ness of God, though

western end of the
severely from the
. This island is not
ire or six days of my
and the insects were,

at my old habitation,
oring the island; and

1 put off for Roatan,
nacco, and arrived at
ving, alone, for about
anion.— My time was
d ranging among the

quay, whither I often

cts. I saw two canoes

)bserved the smoke of

what it meant, they

at Bonacco, was still
of such another firing,
, not above a hundred
Roatan. There I had
accommodation for any

the sea to Roatan, the
ing as much afraid of

cautiously toward the
nyself openly; for their

pirates, and I resolved
ot, to inquire who they
, I could easily retire.
I as I could be, lay on
uence I came? to which
un away from pirates.''
lo was there beside iny-
alone. Next, according
ions to them, they said
r words encouraged me
rly did, though at some
to meet. But he started
miserable object so near
le by the hand, and we
nd woAder, and I from a
took me in his arms, and
mrades were struck with

ADVENTURES OF PHILIP A8HT0N.

429

astonishment at my appearance; but they gladly roceivod mo, and I
experienced great tenderness from tiiem.

1 gave the strangers a brief account of my escape from Low, and my
lonely residence for sixteen months, all excepting three days, tlie hard'-
ships I hud suffered, and the dangers to whicli I had been exposed.
They stood amazed at the recital; they wondered I was alive, and ex-
pressed much satisfaction at being able to relieve mo. Observing me very
weak and depressed, they gave me about a spoonful of rum to recruit
my fainting spirits; but even this small ({uantity, from my long disusn of
strong liquors, threw me into violent agitation, and produced a kind of
stupor, which at last ended in privation of sense. Some of tlio party
perceiving a state of insensibility come on, would have administered more
rum, which those better skilled among them prevented; and after lying a
short tin:c in a fit, I revived. Then I ascertained, that the strangers were
eighteen .'n number, the chief of them named John Hope, an old man,
called Father Hope, by his companions, and John Ford, and all belonging
to the Bay of Honduras. The cause of their coming hither, was an alarm
fur an attack from the sea, by the Spaniards, while the Indians should
make a descent by land, and cut off the Bay; thus they had fled for safety.
On a former occasion, the two persons above named, had for the like
reason, taken shelter among these islands, and lived four years at a time on
a small one, named Barbarat, about two leagues from Roatan. There
they had two plantations, as they called them; and now they brought
two barrels of flour, with other provisions, fire-arms, dogs for hunting,
and nets for tortoise; and also an Indian woman to dress their provisions.
Their principal residence was a small key, about a quarter of a mile round,
lying near to Barbarat, and named by them the Castle of Comfort, chiefly
because it was low and clear of woods and bushes, so that the free cir-
culation of wind could drive away the pestiferous musquitoes and other
insects. From hence they sent to the surrounding islands for wood,
water and materials to build two houses, such as they were, for shelter.

I now had the prospect of a much more agreeable life than what I had
spent during the sixteen months past; for, beside having company, the
strangers treated me with a great deal of civility in their way; they
clothed me, and gave me a large wrapping gown as a defense against
the nightly dews, until their houses were erected; and there was plenty
of provisions. Yet after all, they were bad society; and as to their com-
mon conversation, ther<; was but little difference between them and
pirates. However, it did not appear that they were now engaged in any
such evil design as rendered it unlawful to join them, or be found in their
company. In process of time, and with the assi-stance afforded by my
companions, I gathered so much strength as sometimes to be able to hunt
along with them. The islands abounded with wild hogs, deer and tortoise ;
and different ones were visited in quest of game. This was brought
home, where, instead of being immediately consumed, it was hung up to
dry, in smoke, so as to be a ready supply at all times. I now considered
myself beyond the reach of danger from an enemy, for, independent of
supposing that nothing could bring any one here, I was surrounded by a
number of men with arms constantly in their hands. Yet, at the very
time that I thought myself most secure, I was very near again falling
into the hands of pirates.

Six or seven months after the strangers joined me, three of them, along
with myself, took a four-oared canoe, for the purpose of hunting and killing
tortoise on Bonacco. During our absence the rest repaired their canoes,

480

ADVENTURES OF PniLlP A8HT0K.

and prepared to go over to tlie Bay or llondiirnn, to examine how matters
stood tlicro, ami bring oil'thnir remaining etVectn, incase it wcredanDcrous
to icKirii. Uiit before thoy had departed, wo were on our voyage home-
ward, having a full load of |>ork and tortoise, as our object was succeHsfuily
accompliHht'd. While entering tho mouth of the harbor, in a moonlight
evening, wo saw a great flash, and heard a report much louder than that
of a musket, proceeding from a largo pirogue, which we observed near
the Castle of (/omfurt. This put us in extreme consternation, and we
knew not what to consider; but in a minute wn heard a volley of eighteen
or twenty small arms, discharged toward the shore, and also some re-
turned from it. Satiiified that the enemy, either Spaniards or pirates,
waH attacking our people, and being intercepted from them by pirogues
lying between uh and the shore, we thought the safest plan was trying to
escape. Therefore, taking down our little mast and nail, that they might
not betray us, we rowed out of the harbor as fast as possible, toward an
island about a mile and a half distant, to retreat undiscovered. But the
enemy cither having seen us befoi'e lowering our sail, or heard tho noise
of the oars, followed with all speed, in an eight or ten oared pirogue.
Observing her approach, and fast gaining on us, we rowed with all our
miglit to make the nearest shore. However, she was at length enabled
to discharge a swivel, the shot from which passed over our canoe.
Nevertheless, wc contrived to reach the shore before being completely
within the range of small arms, which our pursuers discharged on us
while landing.

They were now near enough to cry aloud that they were pirates, and
not Spaniards, and that wo need not dread them, as wc should get good
quarter; thence supposing that we should be the easier induced to sur-
render. Yet nothing could have been said to discourage me more from
putting myself in their power; I had the utmost dread of a pirate, and
my original aversion was now enhanced, by the apprehension of being
sacrificed for my former desertion. Thus, concluding to keep as clear of
them as I could, and the Honduras Bay men liaving no great inclination to
do otherwise, wo made the best of our way to tho woods. Our pursuers
carried off the canoe, with all its contents, resolving, if wo would not go
to them, to deprive us, as far as possible, of all means of subsistence
where we were. But it gave me, who had known both want ond solitude,
little concern, now that I had company, and there were arms among us to
procure provision, and also fire wherewith to dress it. Our assailants
were some men belonging to Spriggs, my former commander, who had
thrown off his allegiance to Low, and set up for himself at the head of a
gang of pirates, with a good ship of twenty-four guns, and a sloop of
twelve, both presently lying in Roatan harbor. He had put in for fresh
water, and to refit, at the place where I first escaped; and, having dis-
covered my companions at the small island of their retreat, sent a pirogue
full of men to take them. Accordingly they carried all ashore, as also
a child and an Indian woman; the last of whom they shamefully abused.
They killed a man afler landing, and throwing him into one of the canoes
containing tar, set it on fire, and burnt his body in it. Then they carried
the people on board of their vessels, where they were barbarously treated.
One of them turned pirate, however, and told the others that John Hope
had hid many things in the woods; therefore, they beat him unmercifully
to make him discloses {iis treasure, which they carried off with them.

After the pirates' had kept these people five days on board of their
veuelB, they gave them a flit of five or lix tons, to carry them to the Bay

|cx»mino how mattera

aao it wcrn daiiseroua

on our voyngo homc-

tjcct waa aucceHHfully

|iarbor, in a moonlight

uch loudor than that

Ich wo obaorvcd near

onatornntion, and wc

d a volley of eighteen

R, and also aomc re-

Spaniarda or pirates,

otn them by pirogues

est plan was trying to

d nail, that they might

aH possible, toward an

idiscovercd. But the

lail, or heard the noise

or ten oared pirogue.

ve rowed with all our

was at length enabled

ssed over our canoe,

foro being completely

lers discharged on us

they were pirates, and
as wo should get good
easier induced to sur-
couragc me more from
dread of a pirate, and
apprehension of being
ding to keep as clear of
g no great inclination to
woods. Our pursuers
ing, if wo would not go
1 means of subsistence
both want and solitude,
were arms among us to
ess it. Our assailants
r commander, who had
limself at the head of a
■ guns, and a sloop of
le had put in for fresh
aped; and, having dis-
r retreat, sent a pirogue
ried all ashore, as also
hey shamefully abused.
n into one of the canoes
it. Then they carried
ere barbarously treated,
others that John Hope
' beat him unmercifully
Eirried oiT with them,
days on board of their
) carry them to the Bay

ADVENTUUEa OP PHILIP A8HT0N.

431

of Honduras, but no kind of provision for thn voyage ; and further, boforn
diimissal, compelled them to swear that tiioy would not roinn near mo
and my party, who had escaped to another iMiand. While the vessels
rode in the hnrlK>r, we k(>pt a good look-out, but were «xpos('<l to soinn
diflicuities, from not daring (o kindlo a lire to dress our victuals, l<>st our
residence should bo betrayed. Tlius we lived for 6vo days, on raw
proviriioiis, — As soon as they sailed, however, Hope, little regnrding the
oath extorted from him, came and informed us of what had passed; and
1 could not, for my own part, be HulHcicntly grateful to Providence for
escaping the hands of the pirates, who would have put me to a cruel
death.

Hope and all his people, except John Symonds, now resolved to make
their way to the Bay. Hymonds, wiio had a negro, wislicd to ntnain
some time for the purpose of trading witii tiin J.imaica men on tin nmin.
But thinking my best chance of getting to New Kiiglund wns tVoiii the
Bay of Honduras, i rcMiuested Hope to take ine witli iiiiii. 'I'Ik! old man,
though he would gladly have done so, advanced many olijtutions, such
as thn insufliciency of the tlat to carry ho many men hcv( nty lengiies;
that tlioy had no provisions for thi; passage, which iiiiglit Ix^ tcilious; and
the tlat was, Ijcside, ill calculated to stand the sea; n.s also, tiiat it was
uncertain how matters miglit turn out at the Bay: thus he tlionglit it better
for me to remain; yet rather than I should ho in solitude, he would take me
in. Symonds, on the other hand, ur;.'c(l rno to r<tay and hear him company,
and gave several reasons why I should more likely obtain a passage from
the Jamaica men to New Kn^'land, than by the Bay of Honduras. As
this seemed a fairer prosp'.ct of reacliing my home, wliicli I was cx-
trotnely anxious to do, I assented; and, having thanked Ho[)e and his
companions for their civilities, I took leave of them, and they departed.
Symonds was provided with a canoe, fire-arms, and two dogs, in addition
to his negro, by which means he felt confident of being able to provide
all that was necessary for our subsistence. We spent two or three months
aflor the usual manner, ranging from island to island, but the prevalence
of the winter rains precluded us from obtaining more game than wo
required.

Wiien the season for the Jamaica traders approached, Symonds pro-
posed repairing to some other island to obtain a quantity of tortoise shell
which he could exchange for clothes and shoes; and, being successful
in this respect, we next proceeded to Bonacco, which lies near the main,
that we might thence take a favorable opportunity to run over. Having
been a short time at Bonacco, a furious tempest arose, and continued for
three days, when we saw several vessels standing in for the harbor.
The largest of them anchored at a great distance, but a brigantine came
ovor the shoals opposite to the watering-place, and sent her boat ashore
▼ith casks. Recognizing three people who wore in the boat, by their
dress and appearance, for Englishmen, I concluded they were friends,
and showed myself openly on the beach before them. They ceased
rowing immediately on observing me, and, after answering their inquiries
of who I was, I put the same questions, saying they might come ashore
with safety. They did so, and a happy meeting it was for me. I now
found that the vessels were a fleet, under convoy of the Diamond man-of-
war, bound for Jamaica; but many ships had parted company in the storm.
Tne Diamond had sent in the brigantine to get water here, as the sickneu
of her crew had occasioned a great consumption of that necessary
article.

. H I IMMt l l

48S

ADVENTURES OF PHILIP ASHTON.

Symonds, who had kept at a distance, lest the three men might hesitate
to come ashore, at length approached to participate in my joy, though, at
tlie same time, testifying considerable reluctance at the prospect of my
leaving him. The brigantine was commanded by Captain Dove, with
whom I was acquainted, and she belonged to Salem, within three miles
of my father's bouse. Captain Dove not only treated roe with great
civility, and engaged to give me a passage home, but took me into pay,
having lost a seaman, whose place he wanted me to supply. Next day,
the Diamond having sent her long-boat with casks for water, they were
filled ; and after taking leave of Symonds, who shod tears at parting, I was
carried on board of tlic brigantine.

Wc sailed along with the Diamond, which was bound for Jamaica, on
the latter end of March, 1726, and kept company until the first of April.
By the providence of Heaven wo passed safely through the Gulf of Florida,
and reached Salem Harbor on the first of May, two years, ten months and
fifteen days after I was first taken by pirates; and two years and two
months, after making my escape from them on Roatan Island.. Thai
same evening I went to my father's house, where I was received as one
risen from the dead.

iiy j ii)|j|i; u!. i . i . j l «« tg ^ 1 ' nm , ' >> ■ V ' i-f -l^ t' .J^V'i ' . ' , '' "a ^ s?yy ^^ -^. ' i4i ! ^>K? ' '' * --

IHTON.

three men might hesitate
pale in my joy, though, at
nee at the prospect of my
i by Captain Dove, with
3alem, within three miles
ly treated roe with great
ne, but took me into pay,
me to supply. Next day,
casks for water, they were
jhcd tears at parting, I was

1,09 bound for Jamaica, on
any until the first of April,
hrough the Gulf of Florida,

two vears, ten months and
s; and two years and two

I on Roatan Island.. IM*
here I was received as one

SHIFWBECK

OF THB

FRENCH FRIGATE MEDUSA:

THK 0FFICKE8. WHO 8BARED TH« UNSPRAKABL. MiatRlM 0» A EAFT FULL Or HU SAILOIS
AND PAaSKNOKES WHO WEEK WCBDOBB TO TH* NSOWBITT Of

FEEDING UPON THE CORPSES OF THEIR COMPANIONS.

Early on the morning of the 22d of June, 1816, we were on our way
to the boats th.t were to lonvey us on board the Medusa which was "dmg
at anchor off the island of Aix, on the western coast of France We soon
arrived at the place of embarkation, where we found seme of J>ur felk*
passengers, who, like myself, seemed casting a last look to heaven while
we wefe yet on the French soil. When we got on board we found our
berths not provided for us, consequently were obliged to ^«"»^"» i°°'«-
criminately together till next day. Our family, which consisted of nine
persons, was placed in a berth near the main-deck. As the wind was
still contrary, we lay at anchor for several days.

On the 17th of June, at four in the morning, we set sail, as did the
whole expedition, which consisted of the Medusa frigate, the Loire store-
ship, the Argus brig, and the Echo corvette. The wind being very
faio able, we%oon lost sight of the green fields of I'Aums. At six in
1 c morn ng, however, the island of Rhe still appeared above the horizon.
We^xed our eyes upon it with regret, to salute for the last time our
dear country. Now, imagine the ship borne aloft, ^"^ surrounded by
huge mountains of water, which at one moment tossed it in the air, Mid
at Lother plunged it into the profound abyss. The waves, "ised by a
stormy northwelt breeze, came dashing m a horrible manner against the
sides of our ship. I know not whether it was a presentiment of the
misfortune which menaced us that had made me pass the preceding night
in the most cruel inquietude. In my agitation I sprung upon deck and
contemplated with horror the frigate winging its vvay upon the waters.
The winds pressed against the sails with great violence, strained and
whistled among the cordage, and the great hulk of wood seemed to split
Tvery time the surge brokl upon its sides. . On looking a httle out to sea
I perceived, at no great distance on our right, all the other ships of he
expedition, which quieted me mn h. Toward ten in the "lonrning he
wind changed ; immediately an appa^iing cry was heard, concerning whu-b
the passengers, as well as myself, were equally ignorant. The who*^
crew were in motion. Some climbed the rope ladders, and seemed to
perch on the extremities of the yards; others mounted to the highest parts
of the masts; these bellowing and pulling certain cordages in cadence ;
those crying, swearing, whistling, and filling the air with barbarous and
unknown sounds. The officer on duty, in his turn, roared out these words,
starboard! larboard! hoist! luff! tack! which the helmsmaB repeated
28 ^^^^

484 SHIPWRECK OF THE FRENCH FRIGATE MEDUSA.

in the same tone. All this hubbub, however, produced its effect: the
yards were turned on their pivots, the sails set, the cordage t.gh ened
lad the unfortunate sea-boys having received their lesson descended to
the deck. Everything remained tranquil, except that the waves still
roared, and the masts continued their creaking However, the smIs were
swelled, the winds less violent, though favorable, and the manner, while
he carolled his song, aaid he had a noble voyage. . „ p , ^c

On the 28th of June, at six in the morning, we discovered the Peak of
Teneriffe toward the south, the summit of whose cone seemed lost among
the clouds. We were then distant about two leagues, which we made m
ess than a quarter of an hour. At ten o'clock we brought to before the
own of St. Croix. Several officers got leave to go on shore to procure
refreshments. While these gentlemen were away, a certain passenger,
mer^bel^^o? the self-instituted Philanthropic Society of Cape Verd sug-
gested that it was very dangerous to remain where «« were, adding that
he was well acquainted with the country, and had navigated in all these
latitudes. M. Le Roy Lachaumareys, captain of the Medusa, believing
the pretended knowledge of the intriguing Richefort, gave hiin the com-
mand of the frigate. Various officers of the navy represented to the
captain how shameful it was to put such confidence in a stranger, and
that they would never obey a man who had no character as a commander.
The captain despised these wise remonstrances ; and, using his authority,
commanded the pilots and the crew to obey Richefort ; saying he was king,
since the orders of the king were that they should obey him. Immedi-
ately the impostor, desirous of displaying his great skill '".navigation
made them change the route for no purpose but that of showing his skdl
in maneuvering a ship. Every instant he changed the tack, went, came
and returned, and approached the very reefs, as if to brave them. In
short, he beal about so much that the sailors at length refused to obey
him, saying boldly that he was a vile impostor. But it was done. The
man had gained the confidence of Captain Lachaumareys, who, ignorant
of navigation himself, was doubtless glad to get some one to undertake
his dut^ But it must be told, that this blind and inept confidence was
the sole cause of the loss of the Medusa frigate, as well as of all the
crimes consequent upon it. „ , . j u .„

Toward three in the afternoon, those officers who had gone on shore
in the morning, returned on board loaded with vegetables, fruits and
flowers They laughed heartily at the maneuvers that had been going
on during their absence, which doubtless did not please the captain, who
flattered himself he had already found in this pilot Richefort a good and
able seaman; such were his wor(js. At four m the afternoon he took a
southerly direction. M. Richefort Vhen beaming with exultation for having,
as he said, saved the Medusa from certain shipwreck, continued to
«ive his pernicious counsels to Captain Lachaumareys, persuaded him
he had been often employed to explore the.phores of Africa, and that he
was perfectly well acquainted with the Afguine Bank. On the 1st of
July we recognized Cape Bojador, and then saw the shores of Sahara.
Toward ten in the morning they set about the frivolous ceremony which
the sailors have invented for the purpose of exacting something from those
passengers who have never crossed the line. During the ceremony the
frigate doubled Cape Barbaif, hastening to ,ts ^ destruction. Captam
Lathaumareys very good humoredly presided at »»"« «P««'«7'^.'iKS;
while his dear Richefort promenaded the forecastle, and looked with
indifference upon a shore bristling with danger. However that may be.

53-S»#*fea*^*

r:£v:;sm^sem

[EDUSA.

ccd its cffoct: the
cordage tightenod,
3Son, descended to
lat the waves still
2ver, the s'.iis were
the mariner, while

overed the Peak of
seemed lost among
, which we made in
rought to before the
Dn shore to procure
, certain passenger,
of Cape Verd, sug-
e were, adding that
ivigated in all these
1 Medusa, believing
, gave him the corn-
represented to the
3 in a stranger, and
ter as a commander.
, using his authority,
; saying he was king,
obey him. Immedi-
skill in navigation,
of showing his skill
he tack, went, came,
to brave them. In
gth refused to obey
t it was done. The
areys, who, ignorant
le one to undertake
inept confidence was
.3 well as of all the

) had gone on shore
egetables, fruits and
that had been going
!ase the captain, who
lichefort a good and
! afternoon he took a
exultation for having,
wreck, continued to
ireys, persuaded him
)f Africa, and that he
Jank. On the 1st of
the shores of Sahara,
lous ceremony which
something from those
ing the ceremony the
destruction. Captain
is species of baptism,
itle, and looked with
lowever that may be.

8HIPWRECK OF THE FRENCH FRIGATE MEDUSA.

435

all passed on well ; nay, it may be even said that the farce was well played
otl". But the route whicii we pursued soon made us forget the sliort-
livcd happiness we had experienced. Every one began to observe the
sudden change which liad taken place in the color of the sea, as we ran
upon a bank in shallow water. A general murmur rose among tiie pas-
sengers and officers of the navy — they were far from partaking in the
blind confidence of the captain.

On the 2d of July, at five in the morning, the captain was persuaded
that a large cloud, which was discovered in the direction of Cape Bianco,
was that cape itself. After this pretended discovery, they ought to have
steered to the west, for about fifty leagues, to have gained sea-room to
double with certainty the Arguin bank ; moreover, they ought to have
conformed to the instructions which the Minister of Marine had given to
the ships which set out for Senegal. The other part of the expedition,
from having followed these instructions, arrived in safety at their desti-
nation. During the preceding night the Echo, which had hitherto accom-
panied the Medusa, made several signals, but being replied to with con-
tempt abandoned us. Toward ten in the morning, the danger which
threatened us was again represented to the captain, and he was strongly
urged, if he wished to avoid the Arguin bank, to take a westerly course ;
but the advice was again neglected, and he despised the predictions.
One of the officers of the frigate, from having wished to expose the
intriguing Richefort, was put under arrest. My father, who had already
twice made the voyage to Senegal, and who, with various persons, was
persuaded they were going right upon the bank, also made his observa-
tions to the unfortunate pilot. His advice was no better received than
that of others. Richefort, in the sweetest tone, replied. "My dear, we
know our business ; attend to yours, and be quiet. I have already twice
passed the Arguin bank: I have sailed upon the Red Sea, and you see I
am not drowned." What reply could be made to such a preposterous
speech? My father, seeing it was impossible to get our route changed,
resolved to trust to providence to free us from our danger, and descended
to our cabin, where he sought to dissipate his fears in the oblivion of
sleep.

At noon, on the 2d of July, soundings were taken. M. Maudet, ensign
of the watch, was convinced we were upon the edge of the Arguin bank.
The captain said to him, as well as to every one, that there was no cause
of alarm. In the meanwhile, the wind blowing with great violence,
impelled us nearer and nearer to the danger which menaced us. A species
of stupor overpowered all our spirits, and every one preserved a mournful
silence, as if they were persuaded we would soon touch the bank. The
color of the water entirely changed, a circumstance even remarked by the
ladies. About three in the afternoon, a universal cry was heard upon deck.
All declared they saw sand rolling among the ripples of the sea. The
captain in an instant ordered to sound. The line gave eighteen fathoms ;
but on a second sounding it only gave six. He at last saw his error, and
hesitated no longer on changing his route, but it was too late. A strong
concussion told us the frigate had struck. Terror and consternation were
instantly depicted on every face. The crew stood motionless ; the pas-
sengers in utter despair. In the midst of this general panic, cries of ven-
geance were heard against the principal author of our misfortunes, wishing
to throw him overboard; but some generous persons interposed, and
endeavored to calm their spirits by diverting their attention to the means
;>f our safety. The confusion was already so great, that M. Poinsignon,

436

SHIPWRECK OP THE FRENCH FRIGATE MEDUSA.

commandant of a troop, struck my sister Caroline a severe blow, doubt-
less thinking it was one of his soldiers. At this crisis my father was
buried in profound sleep, but he quickly awoke, the cries and the tumult
upon deck having informed him of our misfortunes. He poured out a
thousand reproaches on those whose ignorance and boasting had oeen so
disastrous to us. However, they set about the means of averting our
danger. The officers, with an altered voice, issued their orders, expecting
every moment to see the ship go in pieces. They strove to lighten her,
but the sea was very rough and the current strong. Much time was lost
in doing nothing; they only pursued half measures, and all of them
unfortunately failed.

When it was discovered that the danger of the Medusa was not so
great as was at first supposed, various persons proposed to transport the
troops to the island of Arguin, which was conjectured to be not far from
the place where we lay aground. Others advised to take us all succes-
sively to the coast of the Desert of Sahara by the means of our boats, and
with provisions sufficient to form a caravan, to reach the island, of St.
Louis, at Senegal. M. Schmaltz, the governor, suggested the making
of a raft of sufficient size to carry two hundred men, with provisions:
which latter plan was seconded by the two officers of the frigate, and put
in execution. The fatal raft was then begun to be constructed, which
would, they said, carry provisions for every one. Masts, planks, boards,
and cordage, were thrown overboard. Two officers were charged with
the framing of these together. Large barrels were emptied and placed
at the angles of the machine, and the workmen were taught to say that
the passengers would be in greater security there, and more at their ease,
than in the boats. However, as it was forgotten to erect rails, every one
supposed, and with reason, that those who had given the plan of the raft,
had no design of embarking upon it themselves. When it was completed,
tiic two chief officers of the frigate publicly promised, that all the boats
woulJ tow it to the shores of the Desert ; and, when there, stores of
provisions and firearms would be given us to form a caravan to take us
all to Senegal. If these promises had been fulfilled, every one would
have been saved, and humanity would not now have had to deplore the
scenes of horror consequent on the wreck of the Medusa! On the third
of July the eilbrts were renewed to disengage the frigate, but without
success. Wo then prepared to quit her. The sea became very rough,
and the wind blew with great violence. Nothing now was heard but the
plaintive and confused cries of a multitude, consisting of more than four
hundred persons, who, seeing death before their eyes, deplored their
hard fate in bitter lamentations. On the 4th there was a glimpse of hope.
At the hour the tide flowed, the frigate, being considerably lightened by
all that had been thrown overboard, was found nearly afloat ; and it is
very certain, if on that day they had thrown the artillery into the water,
the Medusa would have been saved ; but M. Lachaumareys said he could
not thus sacrifice the king^s cannon, as if the frigate did not belong to
the king also. However, the sea ebbed, and the ship sinking into the
sand deeper than ever, made them relinquish that on which depended our
last ray of hope. On the approach of night the fury of the winds redoubled,
and the sea became very rough. The frigate then received some tremen-
dous concussions, and the water rushed into the hold in the most terrific
manner, but the pumps would not work. We had now no alternative
but to abandon her for the frail boats, which any single wave would
overwhelm. Frightful gulfs environed us ; mountains of water raised

£: a g Ml j M ». jifes-:SR.ty^ ^^featg7iy«8g*agg:^^

[EDU8A.

ere blow, doubt-
3 my father was
B3 and the tumult
tie poured out a
Bting had been so
i of averting our
orders, expecting
)ve to lighten her,
uch time was lost
, and all of them

edusa was not so
d to transport the
to be not far from
take us all succes-
is of our boats, and
I the island, of St.
Jested the making
n, with provisions:
the frigate, and put
constructed, which
ists, planks, boards,

were charged with
emptied and placed
e taught to say that
1 more at their ease,
rect rails, every one
the plan of the raft,
en it was completed,
)d, that all the boats
hen there, stores of
I caravan to take us
ed, every one would
te had to deplore the
Bdusa! On the third
I frigate, but without
I became very rough,
ow was heard but the
ing of more than four

eyes, deplored their
irasa glimpse of hope.
)iderably lightened by
early afloat ; and it is
rtillery into the water,
umareys said he could
5ate did not belong to

ship sinking into the
m which depended our
of the winds redoubled,
received some tremen-
lold in the most terrific
ad now no alternative
ny single wave would
.ntains of water raised

SHIPWRECK OF THE FRENCH FRIGATE MEDUSA. 437

their liquid summits in the distance. How were we to escape so many
dangers? Whither could we go? What hospitable land would receive

"Ylv 'fiuiier pe\ceived my distress, but how could he console me? What
words could calm my fears, and place mo above the apprehension of those
dangers to which we were exposed? How, m a word, could I assume a
serele appearance, when friends, parents and all that was mos dear to
me, werJ, in all human probability, on the very verge of deftru^t on?
Alas! my fears were but too well founded. For I soon perceived that,
altlioueh we were the only ladies, beside the Misses Schmaltz, who formed
a partTthe governor's suite, they had the barbarity of mtending our
family to embark upon the raft, where were only soldiers, sailors, planters
of Cape Verd, and some gene'rous officers, who had not the honor (if it
could be accounted one) of being considered among the jgnorant confi-
dants of MM. Schmaltz and Lachaumareys. My father, indignant at a
proceeding so indecorous, swore we would not embark upon the raft,
and that, if we were not judged worthy of a p ace in one of the six boats
he would himself, his wife and children, remain on board the wreck of the
frigate. The tone in which he spoke these words was that of a man
efolute to avenge any insult that might be offered to hira. The governor
of Senegal, doubtless fearing the world would one day reproach h.m for
his inhumanity, decided we should have a place in one of the boa^s^
This having in some measure quieted our fears concerning our unfortunate
situation, I was desirous of taking some repose, but the uproar among the
crew was so great I could not obtain it. ~ ~ , -c

Toward midnight a passenger came to inquire of my father if we were
disposed to depart; he replied, we had been forbidden to go yet. However
we were soon convinced that a great part of the crew and various pas-
sengers were secretly preparing to set off in the boats. A .conduct so
perfidious could not fail to alarm us, especially VlP^nrZied bul
those so eager to embark unknown to us, several who had promised, but
a little while before, nut to go without us. . i • . ♦!„

M Schmaltz, to prevent that which was going on upon deck, instantly
rose to endeavor to quiet their minds ; but the soldiers had already assumed
a threatening attitude, and holding cheap the words ot their commander,
swore they would fire upon whosoever attempted to depart in a clandes-
tine manner. The firmness of these brave men produced the desired
effect, and all was restored to order. The governor returned to his cabin,
and those who were desirous of departing furtively were confused and
covered with shame. The governor, however, was 'U at ease ; and as he
had heard very distinctly certain energetic words which had been addressed
to him, he judged it proper to assemble a council. All the officers and
pas engers\4g collected, M. Schmaltz there solemnly swore before
them not to abandon the raft, and a second time promised that al the
S would tow it to the shore of the desert, where they would all be
formed into a caravan. I confess this conduct of the governor greatly
satisfied every member of our family; for we never dreamed he would
deceive us, nor act in a manner contrary to what he had promised.

About three in the morning, some hours after the meeting of the
council, a terrible noise was heard in the powder-room; it wa^ the helm
which was broken. All who were sleeping were roused by it. On going
Tdeck every one was more and more convinced that the frigate was
lost beyond all recovery. Alas! the wreck was, for our tam.ly the com-
mencement of a horrible series of misfortunes ; the two chief officers then

j^sggsr^iSS^i^SS^C*

-pjHff*"*"***"

438 SHIPWRECK OF THE FRENCH FRIGATE MEDUSA.

.lecidpd with one accord, that all should embark at six in the inorning,

^ l;.J„n thfi Shinto the mercy of the waves. After this decision

i:ed"t°sc ne he'most wSmsiLl, and, at the same time, the rnost

eKcholy that can be well conceived. To have a more distmc u ea of

leTthe reader transport himself in imagination to the midst of he liquid

iains of tie ocean, then let him picture to himself a multitude of all classes

of every agertoss;d about at the mercy of the waves upon a dismasted

; sSr fou'ndered, and half submerged ; let ^.^ "ot W^^^^^^^^^

thinking beings, with the certain prospect before them of having reached

•'Srrted'tm'ihfresi of the world by a boundless sea and having
no Place of refuge but the wreck of a grounded vessel, the multitude
"d'ressed at fi«'t their vows to Heaven ""d forge, for a ™o-ent^ al
•■arthlv concerns. Then, suddenly starting Irom their lethargy, tney
hrKan to fook after their ;ealth, the merchandise they had .„ small ven-

rP8 utterly regardless of the elements that threatened them. 1 he
miser^S Sg of the gold contained in his coffers, hastened to pu it into
a Dlace of safety, either by sewing it into the lining of his clothes, or by
nittina out for it a place in the waistband of his trowsers. The smuggler

a t^Sg h s hai?at not being able to. save a diest of contraband ^vhch
,P had secretly got on board, and with which he had hoped to have
<^'ined tio or tifree hundred per cent. Another selfish to excess

Ta w'rvTiuTble Ship-boys were dLeovoring Ihe delicale wme, ««d
in<Tiilf lis At last the uproar was at its height, the soiaiers no |oiigci

T^S^^^?**

,... ..»,»■ , . . n i..Mi.j ii. . 5j i i;j^ i^.;',i, ; ;j ^ : g ; ^-r

DUSA.

in the morning,
ler this decision
time, the most
|e distinct idea of
lidst of the liquid
|udeof all classes,
ipon a dismasted
I forget these aro
n having reached

sea, and having

lel, the multitude

or a moment, all

ir lethargy, they

had in small ven-

ined them. The

;ned to put It into

his clothes, or by

3. The smuggler

contraband which

ad hoped to have

selfish to excess,

amusing himself

opening his port-

who would take

ir various effects,

with them; those

away every thing

lelicate wines and

reserve. Soldiers

:hing casks, staving

the tumult of the

hich threatened to

soldiers no longer

sir brows and mut-

e whom wine had

oleful groans, were

part of the military
vered with a large
d from taking their
ed to be powerfully
frigate, and then,
)ne who refused to
id when it sunk to
irking of a greater
irrels of provisions
his manner did this
1 upon that floating
the number by de-
nt peaceably away,
i should have been
it ten. A list had
place ; but this wise

?ss?

im^m^f^

SHIPWRECK OP THE FRENCH FRIGATE MEDUSA.

439

precaution being disregarded, every one pursued the plan ho deemed
best for his own preservation. The precipitation with which they forced
one hundred and fitly unfortunate beings upon the raft was such that
they forgot to give them one morsel of biscuit. However, they threw
toward them twenty-five pounds in a sack, while they were not far from
the frigate ; but it fell into the sea, and was with diflliculty recovered.

During this disaster, the governor of Senegal, who was busied in the
care of his own dear self, effeminately descended in an arm-chair into
the barge, where were already various large chests, all kinds of provis-
ions, his dearest friends, his daughter, and his wife. Afterward the
captain's boat received twenty-seven persons, among whom were twenty-
five sailors, good rowers. The shallop, commanded by M. Espiau, took
forty-five passengers and put off. The boat called the Senegal took
twenty-five, the pinnace thirty-three, and the yawl, the smallest of all the
boats, took only ten.

Almost all the officers, the passengers, the mariners, and supernume-
raries, were already embarked — all but our weeping family, who still
remained on the boards of the frigate till some charitable souls would
kindly receive us into a boat. Surprised at this abandonment, I instantly
felt myself roused, and calling with all my might to the officers of the
boat, besought them to take our unhappy family along with them. Soon
after, the barge, in which were the governor of Senegal and all his family,
approached tlie Medusa, as if still to take some passengers, for there
were but few in it. I made a motion to descend, hoping that the Misses
Schmaltz, wlio had, till that day, taken a great interest in our family,
would allow us a place in their boat; but I was mistaken: those ladies,
who had embarked in a mysterious incognito, had already forgotten us ;
and M. Lachaumareys, who was still on the frigate, positively told me
they would not embark along with us. Nevertheless I ought to tell, what
we learned afterward, that the officer who commanded the pinnace had
received orders to take us in, but, as he was already a great way from
the frigate, we were certain he had abandoned us. My father, however,
hailed him, but he persisted on his way to gain the open sea. A short
while «fterward we perceived a small boat upon the waves, which seemed
desirous to approach the Medusa ; it was the yawl. When it was suf-
ficiently near, my father implored the sailors who were in it to take us
on board, and carry us to the pinnace, where our family ought to be
placed. They refused. He then seized a firelock, which lay by chance
upon deck, and swore he would kill every one of them if they refused
to take us into the yawl, adding that it was the property of the king, and
that he would have advantage from it as well as another. The sailors
murmured, but durst not resist, and received all our family, which consisted
of nine persons, viz: four children, our stepmother, my cousin, my
sister Caroline, my father, and myself. A small box, filled with valuable
papers, which we wished to save, some clothes, two bottles of ratafia,
which we had endeavored to preserve amid our misfortunes, were seized
and thrown overboard by the sailors of the yawl, who told us we would
find in the pinnace everything which we could wish for our voyage.
We had then only the clothes which covered us, never thinking of dress-
ing ourselves in two suits ; but the loss which affected us most was that
of several manuscripts, at which my father had been laboring for a long
while. Our trunks, our linen, and various chests of merchandise of great
value ; in a word, everything we possessed was left in the Medusa.
When we boarded the pinnace the officer who commanded it began

440

SHIPWRECK OF THE FRENCH FRIGATE MEDUSA.

excusing himself for having set off without forewarning us, as he had been
ordered, and said a thousand things in his justification. But, without
believing half of his fine protestations, we felt very happy in having over-
taken him ; for it is most certain that they had no intention of encumber-
ing themsfilves with our unfortunate family. I say encumber, for it is
evident that four children, one of whom was yet at the breast, were very
indiflferent beings to people who were actuated by a selfishness beyond all
parallel. When we wore seated in the long-boat, my father dismissed the
sailors with the yawl, telling them he would ever gratefully remember
their services. They speedily departed, but little satisfied with the good
action they had done. My father hearing their murmurs and the abuse
they poured out against us, said, loud enough for all in the boat to hear,
" We are not surprised sailors are destitute of shame, when their officers
blush at being compelled to do a good action." The commandant of
the boat feigned not to understand the reproaches conveyed in these
words, and to divert our minds from brooding over our wrongs, endeavored
to counterfeit the man of gallantry.

All the boats were already far from the Medusa, when they were brought
to, to form a chain in order to tow the rail. The barge, in which was
the governor of Senegal, took the first tow, then all the other boats in
succession joined themselves to that. M. Lachaumareys embarked,
although there yet remained upon the Medusa more than sixty persons.
Then the brave and generous M. Espiau, commander of the shallop,
quitted the line of boats, and returned to the frigate, with the intention
of saving all the wretches who had been abandoned. They all sprung
into the shallop ; but as it was very much overloaded, seventeen unfortu-
nates preferred remaining on board rather than expose themselves as
well as their companions to certain death. But, alas! the greater part
afterward fell victims to their fears or their devotion. Fifly-two days after
they were abandoned, no more than three of them were alive, and these
looked more like skeletons than men. They told that their miserable
companions had gone afloat upon planks and hen-coops, after having
waited in vain forty-two days for the succor which had been promised
them, and that all had perished.

The shallop carrying with difficulty all those she had saved from the
Medusa, slowly rejoined the line of boats which towed the raft. M.
Espiau earnestly besought the officers of the other boats to take some of
ther ilong with them; but they refused, alleging to the generous officer
that he ought to keep them in his own boat, as he had gone for them him-
self. M. Espiau, finding it impossible to keep them all without exposing
them to the utmost peril, steered right for a boat which I will not name.
Immediately a sailor sprung from the shallop into the sea, and endeavored
to reach it by swimming ; and when he was about to enter it, an officer,
who possessed great influence, pushed him back, and drawing his sabre,
threatened to cut off his hands if he again made the attempt. The poor
wretch regained the shallop, which was very near the pinnace, where
we were. Various friends of my father supplicated M. Laperere, the
officer of our boat, to receive him on board. My father had his arms
already out to catch him, when M. Laperere instantly let go the rope
which attached us to the other boats, and tugged off with all his force.
At the same instant every boat imitated the execrable example; and
wishing to shun the approach of the shallop, which sought for assistance,
stood off from the raft, abandoning, in the midst of the ocean, and to the
fury of the waves, the miserable mortals whom they had sworn to land

II i -ftilJ-'p'-^ -'-' --"- •■ ■'—■-•■ »-i«"-..' »--. . . ....m-K.

lEDUSA.

us, as he had been
ion. But, without
)py in having ovor-
Qtion of encumber-
sncumber, for it is
e breast, were very
fishncBS beyond all
ather dismissed the
ratefuUy remember
jfied with the good
nurs and the abuse
in the boat to hear,
when their officers
he commandant of
conveyed in these
wrongs, endeavored

n they were brought
)arge, in which was
1 the other boats in
imareys embarked,

than sixty persons.
,der of the shallop,
B, with the intention
1. They all sprung
, seventeen unfortu-
cpose themselves aa
las! the greater part

Fifty-two days after
lere alive, and these
that their miserable
-coops, after having

had been promised

had saved from the
towed the raft. M.
}oats to take some of
> the generous officer
id gone for them him-
i all without exposing
hich I will not name.
B sea, and endeavored
to enter it, an officer,
nd drawing his sabre,
e attempt. The poor
r the pinnace, where
ted M. Laperere, the

father had his arms
;antly let go the rope
oflF with all his force,
icrable example; and

sought for assistance,
' the ocean, and to the
ley had sworn to land

t, *«.w tiSta«**a.«*i<«»*»»-

,-.ldte>^»«yX

. 4Ui-.'\l^,i~JiJv'V

^\vt gvvvuvvovi cu, vsii "^aU/ c^votAxavixuv a VJeVsev.

" Joy was piufiul upon his face j his hauds were stretched towards the sea : all he was able to say was — ' Saved !

see the'irig!'" — Page 4G7.

■-«.

.-^ -.

*•"

SHIPWRECK OF THE FRENCH FRIGATE MEDUSA.

441

^m'»i

Aii

I—' Saved !

on tlio sliurcs of the dcsort. Scarcely Irad thcao cowards l)rok('ii tlioir
oatli, wlidii wu saw the French flag flying upon tho raft. Tho conTidenco
of thiMo uiifortniiato persons was ao groat, that wlicn lliey saw the first
boat, whicli had tho tow, removing from thorn, they all cried out, Tlie
rope is broken! tho rope is broken! But when no attention was paid to
their observation, they instantly perceived tho treachery of tho wretches
wiio had iert tiiem so basely. Then cries of Vive If Hoi arose from tht;
rail, as if the poor fellows were calling to their father for assistance; or
as if they had been persuaded that, at tho rallying word, the otTicers of
tlie boats would return, and not abundtm their countrymen. The ofTicors
repeated the cry of Vice le Koi, without a doubt to insult them ; but
more particularly M. Lachaumarcys, who, assuming a martial attitude,
waved his hat in the air. Alas! what availed these false professions?
Frenchmen, menaced with the greatest peril, were demanding assistance
witii the cries of Vine Ic Roi ; yet none were found surticiently generous,
nor sulFicicntly B'rcnch, to go to aid them. After a silence of some
minutes, horrible cries were heard ; the air resounded with the groans,
the lamentations, the imprecations of these wretched beings. The raft
already appeared to be buried under tho waves, and its unfortunate pas-
sengers immersed. The fatal machine was drifted by currents far behind
the wreck of the frigate ; without cable, anchor, mast, sail, oars, in a
word, without the smallest means of enabling them to save themselves.
Each wave that struck it mado them stumble in heaps on ono another.
Their feet getting entangled among the cordage, and between the planks,
bereaved them of the faculty of moving. Maddened by these misfortunes,
suspended, adrift upon tho merciless ocean, they were soon tortured be-
tween the pieces of wood which formed tho scaflbld on which they floated
The bones of their feet and their legs were bruised and broken every
time the fury of the waves agitated the raft ; their flesh covered with
contusions and hideous wounds, dissolved, as it were, in the briny waves,
while the roaring flood around them was colored witli their blood.

As the raft, when it was abandoned, was nearly two leagues from the
frigate, it was impossible these unfortunate persons could reach it ; they
were soon after far out at sea. These victims still appeared above their
floating tomb ; and, stretching out their supplicating hands toward tho
boats which fled from them, seemed yet to invoke, for the last time, tho
names of the wretches who had deceived them. My father, exasperated
to excess, and burstiaj|[ with rage ut seeing so much cowardice and inhu-
manity among the oifrcers of the boats, began to regret that he had not
accepted the place which had been assigned for us upon the raft. "At
least," said he, " we would have died with the brave, or wo would have
returned to the wreck of the Medusa ; and not have had the disgrace
of saving ourselves with cowards." Although this produced no eflect
upon tho officers, it proved very fatal to us afterward; for, on our arrival
at Senegal, it was reported to the governor ; and, very probably, was the
principal cause of all those evils and vexations which we endured in
that colony.

Let us now turn our attention to the several situations of all those who
were endeavoring to save themselves in the different boats, as well as to
those left upon the wreck of the Medusa. We have already seen that
the frigate was half sunk when it was deserted, presenting nothing but a
hulk and a wreck. Nevertheless, seventeen still remained upon it, and had
food, which, although damaged, enabled them to support themselves for
a considerable time ; while the raft was abandoned to float at the mercy

p
#

,:-£t^B^

w.--(..*kiKi^.*

■s4n

s 1
^ ]

442 SIIIPWRROK OF TllK FUKNCn FRIOATK MEDUSA..

of the wavrs, upon tho v«.t «.irfaco of tho ocan. Ono Imn.lrnd and finy
tlicZ wo;.. nnUrked upon it, sunk to tho .lopth o at >-;-";;-
on iU foro-nart, and on its poop unmorBcd even to tho muldK . Wlial
^ktuais tho had wore soon ion.urnod, or «poilod by tho salt wa or ; and
Dor aos Bomc, as the wavos hurrird thorn aiony, hocamo ^Z^'J ,
Lnstcrs oTtho dcop. Two only of all tho boats which loft the Modusa,
Td those with very few people in them, were prov.s.onnd with ovojy
ZVX; loo struck off with security and dispatch But ho cond.-
Jon of those who were in the shallop was but little better than those
UDon the raft; their great distance from the shore gave them tho most
mdancholy anticipations of the future. Their worthy commander,
M K pi.u ! had no other hope but of reaching the shore as soon as pos-
Lo '^Tl other boats were less filled with people, but they wore
scar" oly bolter provisioned; and, as by a species of fatality, tho ,..nn>^e
in which wore our family, was destitute of everylhmg. Our provisions
oiThWu d f a ba"rol of biscuit and a tiorco of water ; and. to add to our
miXrtunoH tho biscuit being soaked in the sea, it was almost imposs b e
rswrilw one morsel of it.' Kach passenger in our boat was obliged to
I ,r,ain iFs wretched existence with a glass of water, which he culd got
o m ^a da To tell how this happened, how this boat was so poor V
^ ml el while there was abundance left upon tho Medusa, .s far beyond

ower But it is at least certain that tho greater part of the oft.cer
cmn nandin" the boats, tho shallop, the pinnace, the Senegal boat, and
tC aw were persuade<l, when they quitted the frigate that l.oy vvou d
not Tudon the' raft, but that all the expodit on wou d sa. o^othor o I e
coast of Sahara; that when there, the boats would ho again sent to the
Medusa, to take provisions, arms, and those who wore left there; but ..
annoars the chiefs had decided otherwise. , „ . , . r „ « ..

' After abandoning the raft, although scaUered, all the boats formed .
littblloet, and followed the same Toute. All who were sincere hoped
o a rive the same day at the coast of the desert, and that every one would
let on shore but MM. Schmaltz and Lachaumarcys gave or. evs U. take
fhe route fo; Senegal. This sudden change in the resolutions of the
chiefs was like a thunderbolt to the otHcers commanding the boats^
Havinc nothing on board but what was barely necessary to enable us o
allav the crav"Ls of hunger for one day, wo were all sensibly affected
S o her l^atf, which, lile ourselves, hoped to have goton slmre a he
nearest point, were a little better provisioned than Ave woro ; they had at
Cst a Utt wine, which supplied the place of othi^r necessaries. We
ren demanrdrome from tfm explaining --'i";;;'-;, ^ rSt^mis
assist us. not even Captain Lachaumareys, who, drinking to a kept tim
tre s "uppoled by twS sailors, swore he had not one drop on ''oard Wo

'"^Ve will now turn to the condition of those on the rnft when the boats
left them o themselves. If all the boats had continued dragging he raft
forwardT favored as we were by the breeze from the sea, we w.>uld have
been ableThavo conducted them to the shore ,n less than two days.
£ an inconceivable fatality caused the generous plan to be abandoned
When the raft had lost sight of the boats, a spirit oi sedition began to
man'etitsSf in furious cr^s. They then began to regard one another

4 -

MP:DnsA.

(no luindrpjl and fifty
of at least tliroi' fi'ct
tho middle. What
f tho nalt water ; nnd
bncamo food for the
hirh loft the Modtiaa,
•ovisionod with evory
iitch. But tlio condi-
tio bettor than those
gave them the !nost
worthy commnndor,
ihorc as soon as po?-
eoplo, bnt they were
f fatality, tho i)inniicc,
hing. Our provisions
[•r ; and. to add to our
was almost imposHihle
ur boat was obligrd to
>r, which ho cnuld ffct
this boat was so poorly
Medusa, is far bc-yond
or part of tlio oflicors,
llio Senegal boat, and
Vigate, that they would
uld sail togotlicr to the
Id bo again sent to the
ivoro loll thorc ; but it

all the boats formed u
ho were sincere hoped
id that every one would
eys gave orders to take
the resolutions of the
commanding the boats,
cessary to enable us to
c all sensibly affected,
lavo got on shore at the
y Ave wore ; they had at
)ther necessaries. We
tuation ; but none would
irinking to a kept mis-
one drop on board. We
e governor of Senegal,
ions of every kind, such
jven the finest liqueurs ;
ed we would not obtain

tho raft, when the boats
itinued dragging the raft

the sea, we would have
e in less than two days.
19 plan to be abandoned,
pirit of sedition began to
in to regard one another

SHIPWRECK OF THK FRHNCII F KJATK MF.DU3A.

lt.3

with fcroriouH looks, and to thirst for one another's flesh. Sotno one
had already whispered of having recourse to tliat nmn^lrous extremity,
and of ronimeneing with tho fattest and youngest. A proposition .-to
atrocious filled the brave ('aptain Dupont and his wortiiy lieutenant, M
I/IIeurcnx, with horrcir ; and that courage which had so often supported
them in the field of glory, now fornook th«!m. Among the first who fell
under tlio hatchets of the assassins was a young woman who had been
seen devouring the body of her husband. When her turn was come, she
sought a little wine, as a last favor, then rose, and without uttering one
word, threw herself into the sea. ('aptain Dupont being proscribed for
having refused to |)artake of the sacrilegious viands on whi(;h the monsters
wore feeding, was saved, as by a miracle, from tho hands of the butchers.
Scarcely had they seized him to lead him to the slaughter, when a large
pole, wiiich ser'(!d in i)lace of a mast, fell upon his body; and believing
that his legs were broken, tiioy contented themselves by throwing him into
the sc!a. The unfortunate captain plunged, disappeared, and they thought
him already in anothi!r world.

Provi(l(!nce, howc^ver, revived the strength of the unfortunate warrior.
Ho emergeil under tho beams of the raft, and clinging with all his might,
holding his head above water, ho rr:mained bcitween two enormous pieces
of W(»od, while tiie rest of his body was hid in tho sea. After more than
two hours of sulVering, Captain Dupont s|)i<ko in a lovy voice to his
lieutenant, who by chance was seated near tho place of concealment.
Dupont was instantly drawn frouj the water, and 1/IIeureux obtained
for iiis unfortunate comrade again a place upon tho raft. Those who
had been so inveterate against him, touchc<l at what Providence had
done for him in so miraculous a manner, decided, with one accord, to
allow him entire liberty upon the raft.

Tho sixty unfitrtunates who had escaped from the first massacre, were
soon reduced to fifty, then to forty, and at last to twenty-eight. The
least nmrmur, or tho smallest complaint, at tho moment of distributing
tho provisions, was a crime punished with immediate death. In conse-
quence of such a regulation, it may easily be presL.ned the raft was soon
lightened. In the meanwhile the wine diminished sensibly, and the
half rations very much displeased a certain chief of the conspiracy. On
purpose to avoid being reduced to that extremity, tho executive power
decided it was much wiser to drown thirteen people, artd to get full rations,
than that twenty-eight should have half rations. After the last catastrophe,
the chiefs of the conspiracy, fearful doubtless of being assassinated in
their turn, threw all the arms into the sea, and swore an inviolable
friendship with the heroes which the hatchet had spared. On the 17th
of July, in the morning, Captain Parnajon, commandant of the Argus
brig, still found fifteen men on the raft. They were immediately taken
on board, and conducted to Senegal.

On the 6th of July, at ten in the morning, one hour after abandoning
the raft, and three after quitting the Medusa, M. Laperere, the ofllicer of
our boat, made the first distribution of provisions. Each passenger had
a small glass of water and nearly the fourth of a biscuit. Each drank his
allowance of water at one draught, but it was found impossible to swallow
one morsel of our biscuit, it being so impregnated with sea-water. It
happened, however, that some was not quite so saturated. Of these we
ate .1 small portion, and put back the remainder for a future day. Our
voyage would have been sufficiently agreeable, if the beams of the sun
had not been so fierce. On the evening we perceived the shores of the

444

SHIPWRECK OF THE FRENCH FRIGATE MEDUSA.

deseit; but as the two chiefs (MM. Schmaltz and Lachaumarcys) wished
to go right to Senegal, notwithstanding we wore still ono hundred leagues
from it, we were not allowed to land. Several officers remonstrated,
both on account of our want of provisions and the crowded condition of
the boats for undertaking so dangerous a voyage. Others urged witii
equal force, that it would be dishonoring the French name if we were
to neglect the unfortunate people on the raf^, and insisted we should be
set on shore, and while wo waited there, three boats sliould return to
look after the raft, and three to the wreck of the frigate, to take up the
seventeen who were left there, as well as a sufficient quantity of provis-
ions to enable us to go to Senegal by the way of Barbary. But MM.
Schmaltz and Lachaumarcys, whose boats were sufficiently well provis-
ioned, scouted the advice of their subalterns, and ordered them to cast
anchor till the following morning. They were obliged to obey these
orders, and to relinquish their designs.

On the morning of the 6th of July, at five o'clock, all the boats were
under way on the route to Senegal. The boats of MM. Schmaltz and
Lachaumarcys took the lead along the coast, and all the expedition
followed. About eight, several sailors in our boat, with threats, demanded
to he sot on shore ; but M. Lapcrere, not acceding to their requests,
the whole were about to revolt and seize the command ; but the firmness
of this officer quelled the mutineers. In a spring which he made to
seize a firelock which a sailor persisted in keeping in his possession, he
almost tumbled in the sea. My fatlicr fortunately was near him, and held
him by his clothes, but he had instantly to quit him for fear of losing his hat,
which the waves were floating away. A short while after this slight
accident, the shallop, which we had lost sight of since the morning,
appeared desirous of rejoining us. We plied all hands to avoid her, for
we were afraid of one another, and Lhought that that boat, encumbered
with so many people, wished to board us, to oblige us to take some of
its passengers, as M. Espiau would not suffer them to be abandoned like
those upon the raft. That officer hailed us at a distance, offering to
take our family on board, adding, he was anxious to take about sixty peop
to the desert. The officer of our boat, thinking that this was a pretence,
replied, we preferred suffering where we were. It even appeared to us
that M. Espiau had hid some of his people under the benches of the
sliailop. But, alas ! in the end we deeply deplored being so suspicious,
and of having so outraged the devotion of the most generous officer of
the Medusa. A second distribution of provisions was now made ; eac
received a small glass of water and about the eighth part of a biscuit
Notwithstanding our meager fare, every one seemed content, in the per
suasion we would reach Senegal by the morrow. But how vain were a
our hopes, and what sufferings had we yet to endure!

At half past seven the sky was overcast with stormy clouds. Th
serenity we had admired a little while before entirely disappeared, an
gave place to the most gloomy obscurity. Suddenly a frightful nois
was heard from the west, and all the waves of the sea rushed to founde
our frail bark. A fearful silence succeeded to the general constcrnatio[
Every tongue was mute, and none durst communicate to his neighbor th
horror with which his mind was impressed. At intervals the cries of .
ciiildren rent our hearts. At that instant a weeping and agonized moth<
bared her breast to her dying child, but it yielded notiiing to appease tl
tiiirst of the little innocent who pressed it in vain. Having full before oi
eyes the prospect of inevitable death, we gave ourselves up to oi

.^^ ■i-',^it,X-«

FRIGATE MEDUSA.

Iz and Lachaumareys) wished
[ore still ono hundred leagues
[everal officers remonatrated,
lud the crowded condition of

voyage. Others urged with
the French name if we were
id, and insisted we should he
[three boats should return to

of the frigate, to take up the

sufficient quantity of provis-
way of Barbary. But MM.

were sufficiently well provis-
fns, and ordered them to cast

were obliged to obey these

ive o'clock, all the boats were
3 boats of MM. Schmaltz and
coast, and all the expedition
ur boat, with threats, demanded
ot acceding to their requests,
the command ; but the firmness
n a spring which he made to
1 keeping in his possession, he
tunately was near him, and held
|uit him for fear of losing his hat,
A short while after this slight
St sight of since the morning,
plied all hands to avoid her, for
ight that that boat, encumbered
us, to oblige us to take some of
uffer them to be abandoned like
id us at a distance, offering to
inxious to take about sixty people
linking that this was a pretence,
3 were. It even appeared to us
3ople under the benches of the
y deplored being so suspicious,
of the most generous officer of
provisions was now made ; each
)ut the eighth part of a biscuit,
one seemed content, in the per-
morrow. But how vain were all
et to endure !

rcast with stormy clouds. The
before entirely disappeared, and
ity. Suddenly a frightful noise
ves of the sea rushed to founder
ded to the general consternation,
communicate to his neighbor the
ed. At intervals the cries of ihe
t a weeping and agonized mother
it yielded nothing to appease the
; in vain. liavink' full before our
, we gave ourselves up to our

SHIPWRECK OF THE FRFyOH FRIGATE MEDUSA.

445

unfortunate condition, and addressed our prayers to Heaven. The winds
growled with the utmost fury; the tempestuous waves arose exasperated.
In their terrific encounter a mountain of water was precipitated into our
boat, carrying away one of the sails and the greater part of the effects
which the sailors had saved from the Medusa. Our bark was nearly
sunk; the females and the children lay rolling in its bottom, drinking the
waters of bitterness ; and their cries, mixed with the roaring of the waves
and the furious north wind, increased the horrors of the scene.

Every soul in the boat was seized with the same perturbation, but it
manifested itself in different ways. One part of the sailors remained
motionless, in a bewildered state ; the other cheered and encouraged one
another ; the children, locked in the arms of their parents, wept inces-
santly. Some demanded drink, vomiting the salt water which choked
them; others, in short, embraced as for the last time, entwining their arms find
vowing to die together. In the meanwhile the sea became rougher and
rougher. Our boat, beset on all sides by the winds, and at every instant
tossed on the summit of mountains of water, was very nearly sunk, in
spite of our every effort in bailing it when we discovered a large hole in
its poop. It was instantly stuffed with everything we could find: old
clothes, sleeves of shirts, shreds of coats, shawls, useless bonnets, every-
thing was employed, and secured us as far as it was possible. During
the space of six hours we rowed, suspended alternately between hope
and fear, between life and death. At last, toward the middle of the night.
Heaven, which had seen our resignation, commanded the floods to be
still. Instantly the sea became less rough, the vail which covered the
sky became less obscure, the stars again shone out, and the tempest
seemed to withdraw. A general exclamation of joy and thankfulness
issued at one instant from every mouth.

The day at last, the day so much desired, entirely restored the culiii ;
but it brought no other consolation. During the night the currents, the
waves, and the winds had taken us so far out to sea, that on the dawning
of the 7th of July we saw nothing but sky and water, without knowing
whither to direct our course ; for our compass had been broken during
the tempest. In this hopebss condition we continued to steer sometimes
to the right and sometimes to the left, until the sun arose, and at last
showed us the east. On the morning of the 7th of July we again saw
the shores of the desert, notwithstanding we were yet a great distance
from it. The sailors renewed their murmurings, wishing to get on shore,
with the hope cf being able to get some wholesome plants and some more
palatable water than that of the sea; but as we were afraid of the Moors,
their request was opposed. However, M. Laperere proposed to take
them as near as he could to the first breakers on the coast, and when
there, those who wished to go on shore should throw themselves into the
sea and swim to land. Eleven accepted the proposal ; but when we had
reached the first waves, none had the courage to brave the mountains of water
which rolled between them and the beach. Our sailors then betook them-
selves to their benches and oars, and promised to be more quiet for the
future. A short while after, a third distribution was made since our
departure from the Medusa; and nothing more remained than four pints
of water and one half dozen biscuits. What steps were we to take in
this cruel situation? Aci ording to the calculation of our commanding
officer, we could arrive at Senegal on the morrow. Deceived by the
false account, we preferred suffering one day more, rather than to be
taken by the Moors of the desert, or perish among the breakers. Wi'

4'VJ

SHIPWRECK OF THE FRENCH FRIGATE MEDUSA.

had now no more than a small hnlf glass of water and the seventh of a
biscuit. I'iXposed as we were to the heat of the sun, which darted its rays
perpendicularly '^.n our heads, that ration, though small, would have been
a great relief to us ; but the distribution was delayed to the morrow. We
were tlien obliged to drink the bitter sea-water, ill as it was calculated to
quench our thirst. Must I tell it? thirst had so withered the lungs of our
sailors that they drank Salter water tiian that of the sea! Our numbers
diminished daily^ and nothing but the hope of arriving at the colony on
tiie following day sustained our frail existence. My young brothers and
sisters wept incessantly for water. The little Laura, aged six years, lay
dying at the feet of her mother. Her mournful cries so moved the soul
of my unfortunate father, that he was on the eve of opening a vein to
quench the thirst which consumed his child; but a wise person opposed
his design, observing that all the blood in his body would not prolong the
life of his infant child one moment.

The freshgnesa of the night-wind procured us some respite. We anchored
pretty near to the shore, and, thougli dying of famine, each got a tranquil
sleep. On the morning of the 8th of July, at break of day, we took the
route of Senegal. A short while after, the wind fell, and we Had a dead
calm. We endeavored to row, but our strength was exhausted. A fourth
and last distribution was made, and in the twinkling of an eye, our last
resources were consumed. We were forty-two people who had to feed
upon six biscuits and ahont four pints of water, with no hope of a farther
supply. Then came the moment for deciding whether we were to perish
among the breakers which defended the approach to the shores of the
desert, or to die of famine in continuing our route. The majority pre-
ferred the last species of misery. We continued our progress along the
shore, painfully pulling our oars. Upon the beach were distinguished
several downs of white sand, and some small trees. We were thus creeping
along the coast, observing a mournful silence, when a sailor suddenly
exclaimed, "Behold the Moors!" We did, in fact, see various indi-
viduals upon the rising ground, walking at a quick pace, and whom we
took to be the Arabs of the Desert. As we were very near the shore,
we stood farther out to sea, fearing that these pretended Moors, or Arabs,
would throw themselves into the f'" swim out, and take us. Some hours
afler, we observed several peop. pon the eminence, who seemed to
make signals to us. We examined them attenti- ely, and soon recognized
them to be our companions in misfortune. We replied to them by attaching
a white handkerchief to the top of our mast. Then we resolved to land,
at the risk of poiishing among the breakers, which were very strong toward
the shore, although the sea was calm. On approaching the beach we
went toward the right, where the waves seemed less agitated, and endea-
vored to reach it, with the hope of being able more easily to land. Scarcely
had we directed our course to that point, when we perceived a great
number of people standing near to a little wood surrounding the sand-
hills. We recognized them to be the passengers of that boat, who, like
ourselves, were deprived of provisions.

The helm of the boat was again given to the old pilot, who had already
so happily steered us through the dangers of the storm. He instantly
threw into the sea the mast, the sails, and everything that could impede
our proceedings. When we came to the first landing point, several of
our shipwrecked companions, who had reached the shore, ran and hid
themselves behind the hills, not to see us perish ; others made signs not
to approach at that place ; some covered their eyes with theit hands :

: MEDUSA.

and the seventh of a
which darted its rays
nail, wonld have been
1 to the morrow. We
18 it was calculated to
lered the lungs of our
le sea! Our numbers
iving at the colony on
ly young brothers and
ra, aged six years, lay
ies so moved the soul
I of opening a vein to
a wise person opposed
would not prolong the

« respite. We anchored
ne, each got a tranquil
ak of day, we took the
ell, and we had a dead
s exhausted. A fourth
ling of an eye, our last
eople who had to feed
ith no hope of a farther
ether we were to perish
:h to the shores of the
te. The majority pre-

our progress along the
ach were distinguished

We were thus creeping
when a sailor suddenly

fact, see various indi-
ick pace, and whom we
ire very near the shore,
tended Moors, or Arabs,
id take us. Some hours
linence, who seemed to
tjiy, and soon recognized
)lied to them by attaching
hen we resolved to land,
1 were very strong toward
preaching the beach we
less agitated, and endea-

easily to land. Scarcely
sn we perceived a great
id surrounding the sand-
rs of that boat, who, like

old pilot; who had already
the storm. He instantly
ything that could impede
landing point, several of
i the shore, ran and hid
ih ; others made signs not
ir eyes with their hands:

. 1- JH.U.J..I

SHIPWRECK OF THE FRENCH FRIGATE MEDUS.\.

447

others, at last despising the danger, precipitated thoinsclvos into the
waves to receive us into their arms. We then saw a spectacle that made
us shudder. We had already doubled two ranges of breakers ; but tliose
which wc had still to cross raised their foaming waves to a prodigious
height, tiien sunk with a hollow and monstrous sound, sweeping along
a long line of the coast. Our boat, sometimes greatly elevated, and
sometimes ingulfed between the waves, seemed now given up to utter
ruin. Bruised, battered, tossed about on all hands, it turned of itself,
and refused to obey the kind hand which directed it. At that instant
a huge wave rusiied from the open sea and dashed against the poop ; the
boat plunged, disappeared, and we wore all among the waves. Our
sailors, wiiose strength had returned at the presence of danger, redoubled
their elForts, uttering mournful sounds. Our bark groaned, the oars
were broken ; it was thought aground, but it was stranded ; it was upon
its side. The last sea rushed upon us with the impetuosity of a torrent.
We were up to tiie neck in water ; the bitter sea-froth choked us. The
grapnel was tlirovvn out. The sailors threw tliemsolves into the sea ;
they took the children in their arms ; returned, and took us upon their
shoulders ; and I found myself seated upon the sand on tlio shore, by tlie
side of my step-motiier, my brothers and sisters, almost dead. Every
one was upon the beach except my father and some sailors; bu* that good
man arrived at last, to mingle his tears with those of his family and friends.

After wo had a little recovered from the fainting and fatigue of our
getting on shore, our fellow-sufferers told us they had landed in the
forenoon, and had cleared the breakers by the strength of their oars and
sails ; but they had not all been so lucky as we were. One unfortunate
person, too desirous of getting quickly on shore, had his legs broken under
the shallop, and was taken and laid on the beach, and left to the care of
Providence. M. Espiau, commander of the shallop, reproached us foi
having doubted him when he wished to board us to take our family along
with him. It was most true he had landed sixty-three people that day.
A short while after our refusal, he took the passengers of the yawl, who
would infallibly have perished in the stormy night of the 6th and 7th.
The boat named the Senegal, commanded by M. Maudet, had made the
sliore at the same time with M. Espiau. The boats of MM. Schmaltz
and Lachaumareys were the only ones which continued the route for
Senegal, while nine-tenths of the Frenchmen intrusted to these gentlemen
were butchering each other on the raft, or dying of hunger on the burning
sands of Sahara.

About seven in the morning a caravan was formed to penetrate into
the interior, for the purpose of finding some fresh water. We did accor-
dingly find some at a little distance 'rom the sea, by digging among the
sand. Every one instantly flocked round the little wells, which furnished
enough to quench our thirst. This brackish water was found to be
delicious, although it had a sulphurouu taste : its color was that of whey.
As all our clothes were wet and in tatters, and as we had nothing to
change them, some generous officers offered theirs. My step-mother,
my cousin, and my sister were dressed in them ; for myself, I preferred
keeping my own. We remained nearly an hour beside our beneficient
fountain, then took the route for Senegal; that is, a southerly direction,
for we did not know exactly where that country lay. It was agreed thai
the females and children should walk before the caravan, that they miglil
not bo left behind. The sailors voluntarily carried the youngest on tlieir
shoulders, and every one took the route along the coast. Notwithstanding

.itmrnt^mm*'

448

SHIPWRECK OF THE FRENCH FRIGATE MEDUSA.

it was nearly seven o'clock, the sand was quite burning, and we suffered
severely, walking without shoes, having lost them while landing. As
soon as we arrived on the shore, we went to walk on the wet sand, to
cool us a little. Thus we traveled during all the night, without encoun-
tering anything but shells, which wounded our feet.

In the forenoon of the next day, two officers of marine complained
that our family incommoded the progress of the caravan. It is true, the
females and the children could not walk so quickly as the men. We
walked as fast as it was possible for us, nevertheless we often fell behind,
which obliged them to halt till we came up. These officers, joined with
other individuals, considered among themselves whether they would wait
for us, or abandon us in the desert. I will be bold to say, however, that
but few were of the latter opinion. My father being informed of what
was plotting against us, stepped up to the chiefs of the conspiracy and
reproached them in the bitterest terms for their selfishness and brutality.
The dispute waxed hot. Those who were desirous of leaving us drew
their swords, and my father put his hand upon a poniard, with which he
had provided himself on quitting the frigate. At this scene, we threw
ourselves in between them, conjuring him rather to remain in the desert
with his family, than seek the assistance of those who were, perhaps, less
humane than the Moors themselves. Several people took our part, par-
ticularly M. Bregnere, captain of infantry, who quieted the dispute by
saying to his soldiers, " My friends, you are Frenchnrfen, and I have the
honor of being your commander ; let us never abandon an unfortunate
family in the desert, so long as we are able to be j)f use to them." This
brief, but energetic speech, caused those to blush who wished to leave
us. All then joined with the old captain, saying they would not leave
us, on condition we would walk quicker. M. Bregnere and his soldiers
replied, they did not wish to impose conditions on those to whom they
were desirous of doing a favor; and the unfortunate family of Picard
were again on the road with the whole caravan. Some time after this
dispute M. Rogery, member of the Philanthropic Society of Cape Verd,
secretly left the caravan, striking into the middle of the desert, without
knowing very well what he sought. That intrepid traveler had not time
to find that after which he searched ; for, a few days after, he was captured
by the Moors, and taken to Senegal, where the governor paid his ransom.

About noon hunger was felt so powerfully among us that it was agreed
upon to go to the small hills of sand, which were near the coast, to see
if any herbs could be found fit for eating ; but we only got poisonous
plants, among which were various kinds of euphorbium. Convolvuluses
of a bright green carpeted the downs ; but on tasting their leaves we
found them as bitter as gall. The caravan rested in this place, while
several officers went farther into the interior. They came back in about
an hour, loaded with wild purslain, which they distributed to each of us.
Every one instantly devoured his bunch of herbage without leaving the
sriiallesl branch ; but as our hunger was far from being satisfied with this
small allowance, the soldiers and sailors betook themselves to look for
more. They soon brought back a sufficient quantity, which was equally
distributed, and devoured upon the spot, so delicious had hunger made
that food to us. For myself, I declared I never ate anything with so
much appetite in all rny life. Water was also found in this place, but it
was of an abominable taste. After this truly frugal repast we continued
our route. The heat was insupportable in the last degree. The sands
on which we trod were burning ; nevertheless, several of us walked on

MEDUSA.

ling, and we suffered
while landing. As
on the wet sand, to

ight, without encoun-

f marine complained
avan. It is true, the
dy as the men. We
3 we often fell behind,
le officers, joined with
lether they would wait
1 to say, however, that
ing informed of what
of the conspiracy and
Ifishness and brutality.
JUS of leaving us drew
poniard, with which he
U this scene, we threw
to remain in the desert
who were, perhaps, less
ople took our part, par-
quieted the dispute by
ichnfen, and I have the
ibandon an unfortunate
j)f use to them." This
3h who wished to leave
g they would not leave
regnere and his soldiers
on those to whom they
rtunate family of Picard
1. Some time after this
c Society of Cape Verd,
le of the desert, without
)id traveler had not time
Lys after, he was captured
rovernor paid his ransom,
long us that it was agreed
•re near the coast, to see
it we only got poisonous
horbium. Convolvuluses
n tasting their leaves we
ested in this place, while
They came back in about
distributed to each of us.
rbage without leaving the
m being satisfied with this
ok themselves to look for
uantity, which was equally
elicious had hunger made
3ver ate anything with so
found in this place, but it
frugal repast we continued
le last degree. The sands
9, several of us walked on

SHIPWRECK OF THE FRENCH FRIGATE MEDUSA.

449

these scorching coals without shoes ; and the females had nothing but
their hair for a cap. When we reached the sea-shore we all ran and lay
down among the waves. After remaining there some time, we took our
route along the west beach. On our journey we met with several large
crabs, which were of considerable service to us. Every now and then
we endeavored to slake our thirst by sucking their crooked claws. About
nine at night we halted between two pretty high sand-hills. After a
short talk concerning our misfortunes, all seemed desirous of passing the
night in this place, notwithstanding we heard on every side the roaring
of leopards. We deliberated on the means of securing ourselves, but
sleep soon put an end to our fears. Scarcely had we slumbered a few
hours when a terrible roaring of wild beasts awoke us, and made us stand
on our defense. It was a beautiful moonlight night, and, in spite of my
fears and the horrible aspect of the place, native never appeared so
sublime to me before. Instantly something was announced that resembled
a lion. This information was listened to with the greatest emotion. Every
one being desirous of verifying the truth, fixed upon something he thought
to be the object; one believed he saw the long teeth of the king of the
forest ; another was convinced his mouth was already open to devour us ;
several, armed with muskets, aimed at the animal, and advancing a few
steps, discovered the pretended lion to be nothing more than a shrub
fluctuating in the breeze. However, the bowlings of ferocious beasts had
so frightened us, being yet heard at intervals, that we again sought the
sea-shore, on purpose to continue our route toward the south.

Our situation had been thus perilous during the night; nevertheless
at the break of day we had the satisfaction of finding none missing.
About sunrise we held a little to the east to get farther into the interior
to find fresh water, and lost much time in a vain search. The country
which we now traversed was a little less arid than that which we h&d
passed the preceding day. The hills, the valleys, and a vast plain of
sand were strewed with mimosa, or sensitive plants, presenting to our sight
a scene we had never before seen in the desert. The country is bounded
as it were by a chain of mountains, or high downs of sand, in the direction
of north and south, without the slightest trace of cultivation.

Toward ten in the morning some of our companions were desirous of
making observations in the interior, and they did not go in vain. They
instantly returned and told us they had seen two Arab tents upon a slight
rising ground. We instantly directed our steps thither. We had to pass
great downs of sand, very slippery, and arrived in a large plain, streaked
here and there with verdure ; but the turf was so hard and piercing we
could scarcely walk over it without wounding our feet- Our presence
in these frightful solitudes put to flight three or four Moorish shepherds, who
herded a small flock of sheep and goats in an oasis. At last we arrived
at the tents after which we were searching, and found in them three
Mooresses and two little children, who did not seem in the least frightened
by our visit. A negro servant, belonging to an officer of marine, inter-
preted between us and the good women, who, when th^y had heard of
our misfortunes, offered us millet and water for payment. We bought
a little of that grain at the rate of thirty pence a handful ; the water was
got for three francs a glass ; it was very good, and none grudged the
money it cost. As a glass of water, with a handful of millet, was but a
poor dinner for famished people, my father bought two kids, which they
would not give him under twenty piasters. We immediately killed them,
and our Mooressea boiled them in a large kettle. While our repast was
29

460

SHIPWRECK OP THE FRENCH FRIGATE MEDUSA.

preparing, my futhor, who could not afford the whole of the expense, got
others to contribute to it; but an old officer of marine, who was to hav<>
been captain of the port of Senegal, was the only person who refused,
notwithstanding he had about him nearly three thousand francs, which he
boasted of in tiio end. Several soldiers and sailors had seen liim count
it in round pieces of gold, on coming ashore on the desert, and reproaciied
him for his sordid avarice ; but he seemed insensible to their reproaches,
nor ate the less of his portion of kid with his companions in misfortune.

When about to resume our journey, we saw several Moors approaching
to us armed with lances. Our people instantly seized their armn, and
put themselves in readiness to defend us, in case of an attack. Two
officers, followed by several soldiers and sailors, with our interpreter,
advanced to discover their intentions. They instantly returned with the
Moors, who said, that, far from wishing to do us harm, they had come to
offer us their assistance, and to conduct us to Senegal. This offer being
accepted of with gratitude by all of us, the Moors, of wliom we had
been so afraid, became our protectors and friends, verifying the old proverb,
there are good people everywhere! As the camp of the Motors was at
some considerable distance from where we were, we set off all together to
reach it before night. After having walked about two leagues through
the burning sands, we found ourselves again upon the shore. Toward
night our conductors made us strike again into the interior, saying we.
were very near their camp, which is called, in their language, Berkelet.
But the .short distance of the Moors was found very long by the females
and the children, on account of the hills of sand which we had to ascend and
descend every instant, also of prickly shrubs over which we were frequently
obliged to walk. Those who were barefooted felt most severely, at this
time, the want oftheir shoes. I myself lost among the bushes various
shreds of my dress, and my feet and legs were all streaming with blood.
At length, after two long hours of walking and suffering, we arrived at
the camp of that tribe to which belonged our Arab conductors. We had
scarcely got into the camp, when the dogs, the children, and the Moorish
women began to annoy us. Some of them threw sand in our eyes, others
amused themselves by snatching at our hair, on pretence of wishing to
examine it. This pinched us, that spit upon us; the dogs bit our legs,
while the old harpies cut the buttons from the officers' coats, or endeavored
to take away the lace. Our conductors, however, had pity on us, and
chased away the dogs and the curious crowd, who had already made us
suffer as much as the thorns which had torn our feet. The chiefs of the
camp, our guides, and some good women, at last set about getting ua
some supper. Water in abundance was given us without payment, and
they sold us fish dried in the sun, and some bowlfuls of sour milk, all al
a reasonable price. \

We found a Moor in the camp who had previously known my fathei
in Senegal, and who spoke a little French. As soon as he recognized
him, he cried, "Tiens toi, Picard! ni a pas connaitre moi Amet? (Hark
ye, Picard, know you not Amet?) Wo were all struck with astonishment
at these French words coming from the mouth of a Moor. My father
recollected having employed, long ago, a young goldsmith at Senegal,
and discovering the Moor Amet to bo the same person, shook him by the
hand. After that good fellow had been made acquainted with our ship-
wreck, and to what extremities our unfortunate family had been reduced,
he could not refrain from tears. Amet was not satisfied witli deploring
our hard fate ; he was desirous of proving that he was generous and

E MEDUSA-

of the expense, got
,e, who was to have
erson who rcluaoil,
and francs, which he

had seen hhn count
isert, and reproached
. to their reproaches,
inions in misfortune,
al Moors approaching
sized their arms, and
5 of an attack. 1 wo
with our interpreter,
ntJy returned with the
Lrm, they had come to

„al This offer bemg
irs, of whom wc had
rifyingthe old proverb,

, of the Moors was at
e set off all together to
It two leagues through
n the shore. Toward
the interior, saymg we.
eir language, Bcrkekt.
3ry long by the females
ch we had to ascend and
-hich we were frequently
[t most severely, at this
^ong the bushes various
lU streaming with blood,
suffering, we arrived at
lb conductors. We had
hildren, and the Moorish
r sand in our eyes, others
, pretence of wishmg to
,; the dogs bit our legs,
c;rs' coats, or endeavored
ver, had pity on us, and
vho had already made U9
rfeet The chiefs of the
last set about getting us
us without payment, and
wlfuls of sour milk, all at

eviously known my fathei
As soJn as he recogn^- J
.naitre moi Amct? ^HarK
11 struck with aston.shmen

th of a Moor. My father
t goldsmith at Senegal,
e^efson, shook him by the

, acquaint«^ ^■'**^ °"?^'ifr
. family had been reduced,
;ot Tatistied with deploring
that he was generous and

SHIPWRECK OF THE FRENCH FRIGATE MEDUSA.

451

tiuinane, and instantly distributed among us a largo quantity of milk and
water, free of any charge. Ho also raised for our family a large tent of
the skins of camels, cattle and sheep, because his religion would not
allow liim to lodge with Christians under the same roof. The place
appeared very dark, and the obscurity made us uneasy. Amct and our
conductors lighted a large fire to quiet us ; and at last bidding us good
nigiit, and retiring to his tent, said : " Sleep in peace ; the God of the
Christians is also the God of the Mussulmans.^'

VVc had resolved to quit this truly hospitable place early in the morning,
but, during the night, some people, who had probably too much money,
imagined the Moors had taken us to their camp to plunder us. They
communicated their fears to others, pretending that the Moors, who
walked up and down among their flocks, and cried, from time to time, to
keep away the ferocious beasts, had already given the signal for pursuing
and murdering us. Instantly a general panic seized all our people, and
t"i^y wished to set off forthwith. My father, although he knew well the
poitidy of the inhabitants of the desert, endeavored to assure them we
had nothing to fear, because the Arabs were too much frightened by the
people of Senegal, who would not fail to avenge us if we were insulted ;
but nothing could quiet their apprehensions, and we had to take the route
during the middle of the night. The Moors being soon acquainted with
our fears, made us all kinds of protestations ; and seeing wo persisted in
quitting the camp, offered us asses to carry us as far as the Senegal. My
father was able to hire only two asses for the whole of our family ; and as
it was numerous, my sister Caroline, my cousin and myself, were obliged
to crawl along, while my unfortunate father followed in the suit of the
caravan, which, in truth, went much quicker than we did.

A short distance from the camp, the brave and compassiondte Captain
Begncre. seeing we still walked, obliged us to accept of the ass he had
hired for himself, saying he would not ride when young ladies, exhausted
with fatigue, followed on foot. During the remainder of the night we
traveled in a manner sufficiently agreeable, mounting alternately the ass
of Captain Begnere. At five in the morning of the 11th of July we
regained the sea-shore. Our asses, fatigued with the long journey among
the sands, ran instantly and lay down among the breakers, in spite of our
utmost e.vertions to prevent them. This caused several of us to take a
bath we wished not : I was myself held under one of the asses in the
water, and had groat difficulty in saving one of my young brothers who
was floating away. But, in the end, as this incident had no unfortunate
issue, we laughed, and continued our route, some on foot, and some on
the capricious asses. Toward ten o'clock, perceiving a ship out at sea,
we attached a white handkerchief to the muzzle of a gun, waving it in
the air, and soon had the satisfaction of seeing it was noticed. Th^ ship
having approached sufficiently near the coast, the Moors who vvf ro with
us threw themselves into the sea and swam to it. It must be said we had
wrongfully supposed that these people had a design against us, for their
di'votion could not appear greater than when five of tliom darted through
the wfivps to endeavor to communicate between us and tlie ship ; notwith-
standing, it was still a good quarter of a league distant from where we
stood on the beach. In about half an hour we saw these good Moors
returning, making float before them three small barrels. Arrived on
shore, one of them gave a lette- to M. Bspiau from M. Parnajon. This
gentleman was the captain of tlie Argus brig, sent to seek after the raft,
and to give us provisions. This letter announced a small barrel of biscuit,.

452

SHIPWRECK OP THE FRENCH FRIGATE MEDUSA.

a tierce of wine, a half tierce of brandy, and a Dutch cheese. We were
very desirous of testifying our gratitude to the generous commander of
the brig, but he instantly set out and left us. We staved the barrels
which held our small stock of provisions, and made a distribution. Each
of ui had a biscuit, about a glass pf wine, a half glass of brar.dy, and a
small morsel of cheese. Each drank his allowance of wine at one gulp ;
the brandy was not even despised by the ladies. I however preferred
quantity to quality, and exchanged my ration of brandy for that of wine.
To describe our joy, while taking this repast, is impossible. Exposed to
the fierce rays of a vertical sun ; exhausted by a long train of suti'ering ;
deprived for a long while of the use of any kind of spiritous liquors ; when
our portions of water, wine and brandy, mingled in our stomachs, we
became like insane people. Life, which had lately been a great burden,
now became precious to us. Foreheads, lowering and sulky, began to
unwrinkle ; enemies became most brotherly ; the avaricious endeavored
to forget their selfishness and cupidity ; the children smiled for the first
time since our shipwreck ; in a word, every one seemed to be born again
from a condition melancholy and dejected.

About six in the evening, my father, finding himself extremely fatigued,
wished to rest himself. Wo allowed the caravan to move on, while my
step-mother and myself remained near him, and the rest of the family
followed with their asses. We all three fell asleep. When we awoke
we were astonished at net seeing our companions. The sun was sinking
in the west. We saw several Moors approaching us, mounted on camels ;
and my father reproached himself for having slept so long. Their ap-
pearance gave us great uneasiness, and we wished much to escape from
thorn, but my step-mother and myself felt quite exhausted. The Moors,
with long beards, having come quite close to us, one of them alighted
and addressed us in the following words: " Be comforted, ladies ; under
the costume of an Arab you see an Englishman, who is desirous of serving
you. Having heard at Senegal that Frenchmen were thrown ashore on
these deserts, I thought my presence might be of some service to them,
as I was acquainted with .i^everal of the princes of this arid country."
Recovering from oor fright, we rose and expressed to the philanthropic
Englishman the gratitude we felt. Mr. Carnet, the name of the gen-
erous Briton, told us that our caravan, which he had met, waited for us
at about the distance of two leagues. He then gave us some biscuit, which
we ate ; and we then set off together to join our companions. Mr.
Carnet wished us to mount his camels, but i.iy step-mother and myself,
being unable to persuade ourselves we could 3it securely on their hairy
haunches, continued to walk on the moist sand, while my father, Mr.
Carnet, and the Moors who accompanied him, proceeded on the camels.
At last, having walked about an hour, we rejoined our companions, who
had found several wells of fresh water. It was resolved to pass the night
in thiu place, which seemed less arid than any we saw near us.

We passed a very good night, and at four in the morning continued
our route along the shore. At noon, the heat became so violent that even'
the Moors themselves bore it with difficulty. We then determined on
finding some shade behind the high mounds of sand which appeared in
the interior ; but how were we to reach them? The sands could not be
hatter. We had been obliged to leave our asses on the shore, for they
would neither advance nor recede. The greater part of us had neither
shoes nor hats ; notwithstanding, we were obliged to go forward almost
a long league to find a little shade. The heat reflected by the sands of

.;(a« «•—.-»?-'. -V

IEDU8A.

cheese. We were

•0U8 commander of

staved the barrels

distribution. Each

ass of brar.dy, and a

of wine at one gulp ;

however preferred

idy for that of wine.

ossible. Exposed to

ig train of suftering ;

iritous liquors ; when

in our stomachs, we

been a great burden,

t and sulky, beg«"» to

ivaricious endeavored

en smiled for the first

amed to be born again

3lf extremely fatigued,
to move on, while my
the rest of the family
jep. When we awoke
The sun was sinking
19, mounted on camels ;
ipt so long. Their ap-
d much to escape from
xhausted. The Moors,
J, one of them alighted
;omforted, ladies ; under
ho is desirous of serving
were thrown ashore on
[)f some service to thein,
s of this arid country.
3Sod to the philanthropic
t, the name of the gen-
B had met, waited for us
ive ufl some biscuit, which
a our companions. Mr.
step-mother and myself,
it securely on their hairy
nd, while my father, Mr.
proceeded on the camels,
led our companions, who
resolved to pass the night
we saw near us.
in the morning continued
ecame so violent that even-
We then determined on
if sand which appeared in
The sands could not be
ises on the shore, for they
Iter part of us had neither
[iged to go forward almost
t reflected by the sands of

SHIPWRECK OF THE FREXOH PBIOATE MEDUSA.

453

tlie desert <;oiild be compared to nothing but the mouth of an oven at the
moment of drawing out the bread; nevertheless, we endured it, but not
without cursing those wfio had been the occasion of all our misfortunes.
Arrived behind the heights for which we searched, we stretched ourselves
under the mimosa gum'roe, (the acacia of the desert;) several broke bran-
cliuy from the asclcpius (swallow-wort) and made themselves a shade.
But, wlicther from wunt of air, or the heat of the ground on which wo
were seated, we vierf. nearly all suffocated. I thought my last hour was
come. Already my eyes saw nothing but o dark cloud, when a person
by tiio name of Borner, who was to have been a smith at Senegal, gave
me a Imot containir.g some muddy water, which ho had the precaution
to keep. I seized the elastic vase, and hastened to swallow the liquid in
large draughts. One of my companions equally tormented with thirst,
envious of the pleasure I seemed to feel, and which I felt eflcctually,
seized it in his tu< n, but it availed him nothing, the water which remained
was so disgusting, that ho could not drink it and spilled it on the ground.
Captain Begnere, who was present, judging by the water which fell, how
loathsome must that have been which I had drank, ofl'ered mo some
crumbs of biscuit which he had kept most carefully in his pocket. I
ciiewcd that mixture of bread, dust, and tobacco, but I could not swallow
it, and gave it, all masticated, to one of my younger brothers, who had
fallen from inanition.

We were r.bout to quit this furnace, when wo saw our generous
Englishman approaching, who brought us provisions. At this sight I felt my
strength rcviv'3, and ceased to desire death, which I had before called on,
to release me from my sufferings. Several Moors accompanied Mr. Garnet,
and every ona was loaded. On their arrival we had water, with rice and
dried fish in abundance. Every one drank his allowance of water, but
had not ability to eat, although the rice was excellent. We were all
anxious to return to the sea, that we might bathe ourselves, and the
caravan put itself on the road to the breakers of Sahara. Afler an hour's
march of gieat suffering, we regained the shore, as well as our asses,
which were lying in the water. We rushed among the waves, and after a
bath of half an hour, we reposed ourselves upon the beach. My cousin
and I went to stretch ourselves upon a small rising ground, where we
were shaded with some old clothes which we had with us. My cousin
was clad in an officer's uniform, the lace of which strongly attracted the
eyes of Mr. Garnet's Moors. Scarcely had we lain down, when one of
them, thinking we were asleep, came to endeavor to steal it ; but seeing
we were awake, contented himself by looking at us very steadfastly.

Such is the slight incident which it has pleased MM. Gorreard and
Savigny to relate, in their account of the shipwreck of the Medusa, in a
totally different manner. Believing, doubtless, to make it more interesting
or amusing, they say that one of the Moors who were our guides, either
through curiosity or a stronger sentiment, approached Miss Picard while
asleep, and, afler having examined her form, raised the covering which
concealed her bosom, gazing awhile like one astonished ; at length drew
near, but durst not touch her, then, afler having looked a long while, he
replaced the covering, and returning to his companions related in a
joyous manner what he had seen. Several Frenchmen having observed
the proceedings of the Moor, told M. Picard, who. after the obliging offers
of the officers, decided in clothing the rest of the ladies in the military
dress, on purpose to prevent their being annoyed by tiio attentions of the
inhabitants of the desert. Mighty well! I beg pardon of MM. Gorreard

8HIFWRE0K OF THE FKENCH FRIOATE MEDUSA,
^^* A «f iriith in all this. TIow could

l.ave been deceived. north-weBt wind having sprung up, and

About three in the morning, » n°f";, j^^ route, our generous Eng.sh-
, little refreshed ««' ""^^^^r^^euJiig u» V^onl\oJ At four o'clock
,nan again taking the ^f ^ «f PJo«=";j^^^^^ ;„ the distance. We all
,he sk? became overcast, and wo h«ard tn ^^^^ ^^

expected a great tempest, «h.^'> happ'^^ for Mr. Garnet, who came to
we reached the spot where we were to wa ^^^ ^j^^^^^ ^^ ^ent

us with a bullock ho had PV^^^^fl^w „ur suppcr We fixed our camp

Uo he interior to seek a place to cook ""^ ^'^ were several wells or

• oside a small wood of acacias near o wh.c^ ^.^^^^^ ^^.^„^^^ ^.^ ,o

cisterns of fresh water, .^"'f. J*' ^ kindled, and each was occupied
pieces, and distributed. ,^larg'^ fire wa«^J^^^^^^ notwUhstun-

n dressing his meal .^^^'^'Vrsee'ng every one seated round a larjro
ain.', I could not help laughing ^ « 2t of a bayonet, a saber, or some
fi e"i;olding his piece «« beef on he ^^^^'^^^J^^ ^he different faces

at once laughable and »nP««'"g- .^^ ^„o,g my mind, sleep overpowcvcd
While these thoughts were passing acr^^^^ ^y p^,,t.on

,„y senses. Being '^"''^j!';^ '" ^^^"Sr liad lent me for walking among
ot- beef in the shoes wh.ch an " " s^nor . ^^^ strongly of tl>e

he thorns. Although it was a 1 ttle burned, a ^^ ^^^
dish in which it was conUined, I ate a goo v .^^ ff^,^^ to exchange
to my friend the sailor. That seaman, seemg 1 was • . ^ ^^^^^ ^.^
?, Lat for some which he had i^^ff^^l '^^^ . ,„d he instantly
I grayed him to give "^-^^^^tr My thirst was so great that I drank
went and fetched some in his f ^^- /^j^J^^^ repugnance.
it out of this nasty cap without the ^"§"7 /„^aii, took the route for

A short while after, every one aw^ke and ag ^^^ ^^^^^

Senegal at an early hour ^t mne o dock w ,^^^ ^^ ^^^

nock herded by y-y»g ^7j?;hcr an ass for a knife which he had seen
of them offered to I'""! ™y ^7" h"r having accepted the proposal, the
him take from his pocket My father Ja g^ ^J^^ ^^^ ^.^^^ g^^.g,,,
Moor left his companions to accornpany

Ivom which we were y^^^-^^^^ X "orenoon which had like to have
There happened a circumstance in . ^he steersman of the

proved troublesome, but it ^»^f ^^ °J' £ a Moor found means to steal
Medusa was sleeping upon the ^'indovhen ^^^ ^^^ ^^^.^^ „g

his saber. The Frenchman awoke^^d^^^^^^ The Arab, seeing

with his booty, -^f « "^"^P"r'"rPuronean, returned, fell upon his knees,
himself followed by a furious European, re ^^^ stolen; who,

a "laid at tlie feet of ^he steersman the sabre wn voluntarily

";tis turn, touched with th-J"\j ^^^^^^^^^^^ f,equ'ently stopped to see

aizs^\:^^ --£;^S'5e ;;:Cted^ io^

-foftrtSiwXrhS"^^^^^^^^^^

r,>»-4..l'.ti;«>r-f^'^'*P*' ■

,^;±i=™,^<^i;fl=s^^*«^'^^-" =!?«i*SJ^^*^'^"

^it^,tf--?7C5v^rAv''-^'^"''"

MEDUSA.

this. How could
lurins the 12th of
ipposin^ that this
I inserted in their
inform thorn they

ng sprung up, and
• generous English-
s. At four o'clock
) diatanco. We all
^lace. Near seven
iarnet, who came to
the shore, we went
We fixed our camp
re several wells or
9d, skinned, cut to
I each was occupied

fever ; notwlthstan-
leated round a larpe
ict, a saber, or some
1 the different faces,

more visible by the
;s and the roaring of
iresented a spectacle

d, sleep overpowered
it, I found my portion
le for walking among
lelled strongly of tlio
' it, and gave ihe rest
11, olfered to exchange
il in a small tin box.
iny ; and he instantly
so great that I drank
ance.

ia took the route tor
upon the shore a large
sold us milk, and one
ife which he had seen
pted the proposal, the
as the river Senegal,

which had like to have
The steersman of the
ir found means to steal
B saw the thief escaping
iths. The Arab, seeing
d. fell upon his knees,
ich he had stolen ; who,
r repentance, voluntarily
enuently stopped to see
led its route. Suddenly
lite transported with joy,
rising ground, discovered

SHIP' !EOK OF THE FKENCH FUIOATE MKDUSA.

455

the Senegal at no great distance from them. Wo Iiastened our march,
and for the first timn since our shipwreck, a smiling picture presented
itself to our view. Wo could not atiato our eyes with gazing on the
beauties of this place, verdure being so enchanting to the sight, especially
atler having traveled through the desert. Before reaching tlie river, wu
had to descend a little hill covered with thorny bushes. My ass stumbling,
'threw mo into the midst of one, and I tore myself in several places; but
was easily consoled, when 1 at length found myself on the banks of a river
of fresh water. Everyone having quenched his thirst, we stretched
ourselves under the shade of a small grove, while the beneficent Mr.
Carnet and two of our officers set forward to Senegal, to announce our
arrival, and to get us boats.

At two in the afternoon we saw a small boat beating against the current
of the stream with oars. It soon reached tiic spot where we were. Two
Europeans landed, saluted our caravan, and imjuired for my father. Ono
of them said he came on the part of MM. Artigue and Laboure, inhabi-
tants of Senegal, to offer assistance to the boats which were getting ready
for our family ; the other added, that he had not waited for us at the
island of St. Louis, knowing too well what would be our noed. They
placed before us large baskets containing several loaves, cheese, a bottle
of Madeira, a bottle of filtered water, and dresses for my father. Every
one, who, during our journey, had taken any interest iu our unfortunate
family, and especially the brave Captain Begnere, had a share of our
provisions. We experienced a real satisfaction in partaking with them,
and giving them this small mark of our gratitude. A young aspirant of
marine, wiio had refused us a glass of water in the desert, i)rcsscd with
hunger, begged of us some bread ; he got it, also a small glass of Madeira.
It was four o'clock before tiie boats of the government arrived, and we
all embarked. Biscuit and wine were found in each of them, and all
were refreshed.

That in which our family were was commanded by M. Artigue, captain
of the port, and one of those who had sent us provisions. My father and
he embraced as two old friends who had not seen one another for eight
years, and congratulated themselves tiiat they had been permitted to meet
once more before they died.

Immediately the town of St. Louis presented itself to our view. At
the distance its appearance is fine ; but in proportion as it is approached
the illusion vanishes, and it looks as it really is — dirty, very ill built, poor,
and filled with straw huts black with smoke. At six in the evening we
arrived at the port of St. Louis. It would be in vain for me to paint the
various emotions of my mind at that delicious moment. I am bold to
say, all the colony, if we except MM. Schmaltz and Lachaumareys, were
at the port to receive us from our boats. M. Artigue going on shore
first to acquaint the English governor of our arrival, met him coming to
us on horseback, followed by our generous conductor, Mr. Carnet, and
several superior officers. We went on shore carrying our brothers and
sisters in our arms. My father presented us to the English governor,
who had alighted ; he appeared to be sensibly affected with our misfor-
tunes, the females and children chiefly exciting his commiseration. And
the native inhabitants and Europeans tenderly shook the hands of the
unfortunate people ; the negro slaves even seemed to deplore our disas-
trous fate.

.Mun,-

^*"

456

Bini'VRECK OF THK FRENCH FRIGATE MEDUSA.

Tho following is tho Bubatnnco, abridged frnni MM. CorriMrl and
Savigiiy, of what took place on the rail during thirtoua days before th*)
iiuflercrj vciu taken uj^ by tho Aruus brig.

Ailer the boats had diaappoarcu, the constornation became nxtronto.
All tiio horrors of thirst and famine passed before our imaginations ;
busidu, we had to contend with a treacherous «1emont, which already
covorcd the half of our bodies. The deep stupor of tho soldiers and
sailors instantly changed to despair. All saw their inevitable destination,
and expressed by their moans the dark tiioughts which brooded in th^ir
minds. Our words wore at first unavailing to quiet their fears, wtuch
we participjtl'';d with them, but which a greater strength of mind cnaMed
uA to tlissembl' . At last, an unmoved countenance and our protlercd
consolations quitted them by degrees, but could not cn'irely dissipate
the terror with wh! ti they were seized.

When tranquillity wtd a iittlo restored, wo began to search about the
rail for the charts, the compass, and tho anchor, wiii-h we presumed
had been placed upon it, alter what we had been told at tho time of
quitting the frigate. Those things, of thu first importance, had not been
placed upon our machine. Above all, the want of a compass tho inout
alarmed us, and we gave vent to our rage and vengeance. M. Coneard
then remembered he had seen one in the hands of one of tlie p.iicipal
workmen under his command; he spoke to tho man, who replied, '"Yes,
yes, I have it with mo.'^ This information transported us with Jo), and
we believed that our safety '>; ended upon this futile resource ; it was
about the size of a crown-p!i!<*.e, and very iu(;urrrct. The compass was
given to the commander of th- rofi, but an acciJent deprived us of it for-
ever: it fell, and disappeared between the pieces b!' wood which formed
our machine. We had kept it but a few hours, and, after its loss, had
nothing to guide us but the rising and .-<otting of the sun.

We had all gone afloat without taking any food. Hunger beginning
to be imperiously felt, we mixed our paste of sea-biscuit (which had fallen
into the sea, and was with difficulty recovered,) with a little wine, and
distributed it thus prepared. Such was our first meal, and tho best wo
had during our stay upon the rafl.

An order, according to our numbers, was established for the distribution
of our miserable provisions. The ration of wine was fixed at three quar-
ters a day. We will speak no more of the biscuit, it having been entirely
consumed at the first distribution. The day passed away sufficiently
tranquil. Wo talked of the means by which we would save ourselves ;
we spoke of it as a certain circumstance, which reanimated our courage ;
and wc sustained that of the soldiers, by cherishing in them the hope of
being able, in a short while, to revenge themselves on those who had so
basely abandoned us. This hope of vengeance, it must be avowed, equally
animated us all ; and we poured out a thousand imprecations against
those who had left us a prey to so much misery and danger.

The officer who commanded the raft being unable to move, M. Savigny
took upon himself the duty of erecting the mast. He caused thorn to
cut in two one of the poles of the frigate's masts, and fixed it with tho
rope which had served to tow us, and of which we made stays and shrouds.
It was placed on the anterior third of the raft. We put up for a sail tho
main-topgallant, which trimmed very well,but vas of very little use, except
when the wind served from behind; and to keep the raft in this course,
wc were obliged to trim the sail as if the breeze blew athwart us. In the
evening, our hearts and our prayers, by a feeling natural to the unfortunate,

'••SSt4iSi«#«»?»6-A«i9

|»*^ . '<!* ft B-i Bi^ fcitfi«s(giiiaitw8y'.a^ **- '' ■••'wr— — ".—

; MEDUSA.

MM. Corrcail and
rtouii (lays before thi)

ion bcc».nie oxtroma.
re our iina({ination8 ;
sraont, which already
r of the soldiers and
inevitable destinulion,
hich brooded in !h<ir
iel their foara, wiiirh
ingth of mind ena'iled
CO and our protlorod
not on' i rely disBipale

n to search about the
wn fh we presumed
[» told at the time of
lortance, had not boon
if a compass the moat
Eieanco. M. Con card
f one of the piicipal
n, who replied, *• Yes,
orted us with jo), and
utile resource ; it was
ct. The compass was
It deprived us of it for-
of wood which formed
and, after its loss, had
ie sun.

id. Hunger beginning
scuit (which had fallen
with a little wine, and
meal, and the best wo

shed for the distribution
was fixed at three quar-
, it having been entirely
assed away sufficiently
I would save ourselves ;
eanimated our courage ;
ng in them the hope of
es on those who had so
must be avowed, equally
ad imprecations against
and danger.

ble to move, M. Savigny
It. He caused them to
ts, and fixed it with the
made stays and shrouds.
We put up for a sail the
1 of very little use, except
J the raft in this course,
blew athwart us. In the
tatural to the unfortunate,

'' i- f-m j mM '- fvW ^'^' '^'•'9»isv:

..^...

^r^:K

IMAGE EVALUATION
TEST TARGET (MT-3)

1.0

I.!

lA^llB |2.5
i» 1^ 12.2

^ 1^ lllllio

1— 1 '-"^ III '-^

Photographic

Sciences

Corporation

23 WEST MAIN STMEET

WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580

(716) 872>4503

CIHM/ICMH

Microfiche

Series.

CIHIVI/ICIVIH
Collection de
microfiches.

Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions / Institut Canadian de microreproductions historiques

■mmsm^mmmsAm

SHIPWRECK OP THE FRENCH FRIGATE MEDUSA.

457

were turned toward Heaven. Surrounded by inevitable dangers, we
addressed that invisible Being who has established, and who maintains
the order of the universe. Our vows were fervent, and we experienced
from our prayers the cheering influence of hope.

One consoling thought still soothed our imagination. We persuaded
ourselves that the little division had gone to the isle of Arguin, and that,
after it had set a part of its people on shore, the rest would return to our
assistance ; we endeavored to impress this idea on our soldiers and sailors,
which quieted them. The night came without our hope being realized ;
the wind freshened, and the sea was considerably swelled. M. Savigny,
seconded by some people who still preserved their presence of mind
amid the disorder, stretched corda across the raft, by which the men
held, and were better able to resist the swell of the sea; some were even
obliged to fasten themselves. In the middle of the night the weather
was very rough ; huge waves burst upon us, sometimes overturning us
with great violence. The cries of the men mingled with the roaring of the
flood, while the terrible sea raised us at every instant from the raft, and
threatened to sweep us away. This scene was rendered still more terrible by
the horrors inspired by the darkness of the night. Suddenly we believed
we saw fires in the distance, at intervals. We had the precaution to hang
at the top of the mast, the gunpowder and pistols which we had brought
from the frigate. We made signals by burning a large quantity of car-
tridges ; we even fired some pistols ; but it seems the fire we saw was
nothing but an error of vision, or, perhaps, nothing more than the spark-
ling of the waves.

We struggled with death during the whole of the night, holding firmly
by the ropes, which were made very secure. Tossed by the waves from
the back to the front, and from the front to the back, and sonietimes
precipitated into the sea ; floating between life and death, mourning our
misfortunes, certain of perishing; we disputed, nevertheless, the remainder
of our existence with that cruel element which threatened to ingulf us.
Such was our condition till day-break. At every instant we heard the
lamentable cries of the soldiers and sailors ; they prepared for death,
bidding farewell to one another, imploring the protection of Heaven, and
addressing fervent prayers to God. Everyone made vows to him, in
spite of the certainty of never being able to accomplish them.

Toward seven in the morning the sea fell a little, the wind blew with
less fury ; but what a scene presented itself to our view! Ten or twelve
unfortunates, having their legs fixed in the openings between the pieces
of the raft, had perished by being unable to disengage themselves ; several
others were swept away by the violence of the sea. At the hour of
repast we took the numbers anew ; we had lost twenty men. We will
not aflirm that this was the exact number ; for we perceived some soldiers
who, to have more than their share, took rations for two, and even three ;
we were so huddled together that we found it absolutely impossible to
prevent this abuse.

In the midst of these horrors a touching scene of filial piety drew our
tears. Two young men raised and recognized their father, who had
fallen, and was lying, insensible, among the feet of the people. They
believed him, at first, dead, and their despair was expressed in the most
afllicting manner. It was perceivef^, however, that he still breathed, and
every assistance was rendered for his recovery in our power. He slowly
revived, and was restored to life, and to the prayers of his sons, who
supported him, closely folded in their arms. While our hearts were

l»

^^_ ..ilii''

459 SHIFWBEOK OF THE PRESCH FBIOATE MEDUSA.

visions. 1 he day was nn^ „„pnin<T came, and no boats appeared,
the while on our raft. The «^"''"8 „^ J"f ' „ " spirit of insubordina-
Despondency began to seize ""^ ™«°' ''"Vhe "oice of the officers was
tion' manifested itself in c^^ "^ ^^ in t£e skiwas obscured by dark
entirely disregarded Night f^" '^P'^ ^'^^^^ ^^7 day, had blown rather
cloud.; the wind, which, during the whole ot the aay

comrades, »ho fell upon them a. "«'?'?»'«»• J^Jto calf to .lose

';sur„;.rei.-;vsr,%srst

%te::S Kiirs, frigMened by .he presence oM^^^^^^

danger, doubted no. .!■« ^'y ^jf^.l^^'^^t^J'' L t^ .m»^^ bj

ss s i:; isii?^£w£n<, PC.™ ^^^^^^^^^^^^
f Sot .b^e^dTit^srturiHi'SF^^^^^^^^^^^^

their brains, already weakened ^'y t*^^ P^'S" the voice of reason,
food. Thus excited these men '^^^^'"^.f^ft^^ir companions in mis-
They wished to involve in one ^7™°" .^^"^.^li'J f ^^^^^ themselves

fortune. They avowedly expressed ^*^«'r mtent.on oi ir „ ^^^

^oin their officers wlu,, they sa^, -f ^^^ ^'« ^ u^^-ocl its diftirent
then to destroy the raft, by cutting ine rup execution,

p.rts. Immediately after they resolved J" P J ^^^ .^i^Xarding-ax, and

s:-i?-tM«££H -- - rst

Sef, ^itKhicL rertTreS^rlc^e;^^^^ the first victim: a

stroke of the saber terminated his «^j^f "««; ^„,„„i,i regiment. Of a

This man was an Asiatic, and a so d.er in ^^^^'^'^^^-^o^g „outh,

colossal stature, short hair, a "«f «^!'^™^„^^^^^^^^^ ^At first he placed

tZ: dSTp-:E li."i'.Here°=Vrs„^c,„ cor des.,uc,lo„
would have been ccrtam. ^^ristence armed and united

U.ore?.er;i.r.= r »atVere-.1,o raf.; among *.

MEDUSA.

Ivcnturcs, wc had
I baker feared not
sr having bid I'are-
inds of our people
id ; others ships,
»f their fallacious
juillity rei}»!ied all
) boats appeared,
rit of insubordina-
)f the officers was
3 obscured by dark
, had blown rather
ich, in an instant,
3 sea, were hurried
> to the center, the
lere almost all per-
uously, and swept
center the pressure
the weight of their
officers kept by the
nt to call to those
ivoid the wave ; for
rly a perpendicular
»w themselves upon

of almost inevitable
last hour. Firmly
lir last moments by
)wer to oppose this
er of the raft, made
: each a pretty large
;a-water rushed into
tiled not to disorder
danger and want of
he voice of reason.
■ companions in mis-
f freeing themselves
30 their design, and
1 united its different
r plans in execution,
h a boarding-ax, and
revolt. We stepped
ho was armed with a
ell the first victim : a

nial regiment. Of a
an enormous mouth,
:e. At first he placed
V of his fist, knocked
; greatest terror, and
such, our destruction

3, armed and united
he raft; among this

SHIPWRECK OF THE FRENCH FRIGATE MEDUSA.

4.59

number were some subaltern officers and many passengers. The rebels
drew their sabers, and those who had none armed themselves with knives.
They advanced in a determined manner upon us ; we stood on our defense ;
the attack commenced. Animated by despair, one of them aimed a stroke
at an officer ; the rebel instantly fell, pierced with wounds. This firmness
awed them for an instant, but diminished nothing of their rage. They
ceased to advance, and withdrew — presenting to us a front bristling with
sabers and bayonets — to the back part of tlic raft, to execute their plan.
Oue of them feigned to rest himself on the small railings on the sides of
the raft, and with a knife began cutting the cords. Being told by a servant,
one of us sprang upon him. A soldier, wishing to defend him, struck at
the officer with his knife, which only pierced his coat ; the officer wheeled
round, seized his adversary, and threw both him and his comrade into
the sea.

There had been as yet but partial affairs: the combat now became
general. Some one cried to lower the sail ; a crowd of infuriated mortals
threw themselves in an instant upon the halyards, and shrouds, and cut
them. The fall of the mast almost broke the thigh of a captain of infantry,
who fell insensible. He was seized by the soldiers, who threw him into
the sea. We saved him and placed him on a barrel, whence he was
taken by the rebels, who wished to put out his eyes with a penknife.
Exasjjerated by so much brutality, we no longer restrained ourselves, but
rushed in upon them, and charged them with fury. Sword in hand, wc
traversed the line which the soldiers formed, and many paid with their
lives the errors of their revolt. Various passengers, during these cruel
moments, evinced the greatest courage and coolness.

M. Correard fell into a sort of swoon ; but hearing at every instant the
cries. To arms! with us, comrades; toe are lost! joined with the groans
and imprecations of the wounded and dying, was soon roused from liis
lethargy. All this horrible tumult speedily made him comprehend how
necessary it was to bo upon his guard. Armed with his saber, he gathered
together some of his workmen on the front of the raft, and there charged
them to hurt no one, unless they were attacked. He almost always
remained with them ; and several times they had to defend themselves
against the rebels, who, swimming round to the point of the raft, placed
M. Correard and his little troop between two dangers, and made their
position very difficult to defend. At every instant he was opposed to men
armed with knives, sabers, and bayonets. Many had carabines, which
they wielded as clubs. Every effort was made to stop them, by holding
them off at the point of their swords ; which, in spite of the repugnance
they experienced in fighting with their wretched countrymen, they were
compelled to use without mercy. Many of the mutineers attacked with
fury, and they were obliged to repel them in the same manner. Some
of the laborers received severe wounds in this action. Their commander
could show a great number received in the different campaigns. At last
their united efforts prevailed in dispersing this mass who had attacked
them with such fury.

During this combat, M. Correard was told by one of his workmen who
remained faithful, that one of their comrades, named Dominique, had
gone over to the rebels, and that they had seized and thrown him into the
sea. Immediately forgetting the fault and treason of this man, he threw
himself in at the place whence the voice of the wretch was heard calling
for assistance, seized him by the hair, and had the good fortuue to restore
him on board. Dominique had got several saber wounds in a charge,

i^O SHIPWRECK OF THK FRENCH FRIGATE MEDUSA.

one of which had laid open his head In t^/JrrSre^ivrhfs
out the wound, wh.ch «7'7^^„J;jy/;jf " o,r earo recovered the wretch ;
handUerchief to bind and s op th" »> «od^ ungrateful Dominique, forgetting
but when he had collected ^^'^^^^''ji^^j.'^f^^^Thad rendered him, went
at once his duty and the «'«""» ^^'^^Jncss^^^^ Canity did no. go unre-
aud rejoined the rebels So •""^^^^''fj?"^ * ^^u, that death from which
venged ; and soon after he f^"^' '" ^/^^fe mgS i" ^U probability, have
he was not worthy to be «'';^^3' ^"^^fhe S remained^mong us.
avoided, if, true to honor '^"^ P;.^^''"^^^^'^;" ,he wounds of Dominique,
Just at the moment wc fi^'^^'^fj^^V^JTf Jjfortunate female who was
another voice was heard. It ^^^Jj'^.^l.^^^iJf^d be'^T^ thrown into the

with us on the raft, .^"^.^^"'".t^^VJd defended her with courage. M.
soa, as well as her husband, who "ad detenaeu ^.^^^ ^^.^^^

Correard, in despair at seemg ♦r^^^^^jJ^^fS ^d " la^ ropi, which he
especially the woman's, P'^^'^^.^'^^'^'f^J^^f Vastened rouJd hi's middle, and
found on the front of ^^Vf '«^nto the sea wag again so fortunate as to
throwing himself a second tune into the sea was g ^^_^^^^^^ ^^.
save the ^voman, who mvoked, w th ail her m g ,^^^ ^.^^ ^^^

Lady of Land. Her ^"^^''"f.'XJfStunates upon the dead bodies,
workman, Lavilette- We laid these ""'"'^^^^^^

supporting their bacCs with a barrel, la a short wm J ^.^,^ ^^^

seiises. The first tiling the woman ^'^^7; *° ;;j,r hi.^ her liveliest
name of the person who saved ^c^, 'n^'^^but ill expressed her feel-
gratitude. Finding, dof tless, that her wo a ^ d jnstantly offered
r„gs,sherecollectedshehad.nh rpoc^e^a^^^^^^^^^ ^,^ ^^

i;;:j;i^aa-^sr^rs..^

repose. The man and w'f^'/f^J;*^^ both together into a stormy sea,

with swords and bayonets, ''"^ JJ^Xn thev found themselves in one

could scarcely credit their ^'^'''^IJ'^Z&^eoiL Upper Alps, which

another's arms. The woman wa« \";)^;« and during which time she

place she had left twenly-^.^/J^JJ^^ ^,^^"^^J„^^^^^

Ld followed the French armies in the campaigns m y, (.^^^^„d,

as a sutler. " Therefore Fe^^'^e JY /'J^' ^^^^^ l^^ „ften I had ven-

.you see I am '^^f^'^' ~;°,„dtaved deSth to carry assistance to our
tured upon the field ot battle, ana or"^^^" , alwavs let them have

Sant men! Whether they had ™°"f J "'i^^''^.^ Ky poor debtors ;
r„y goods. Sometimes a ba«b would J^'P^'^^,^/^";, ™y I, ,hat they
but after the victory, others ^vould pay me dou y ^ ^^^^^ ^^

had consumed before the engagernent A^us 1 ca ^ ^^^^.^^^

their victories." Unfprtunate ^7;j;i;^,Sey expressed so vividly that
fate awaited her among "' J^lv enjoyed, that it would have drawn
happiness whx!.. they, alas! so shortly^npyea, ^^^^^^

conjugal affection. j^j^^^ ^^g suddenly appeased,

MEDUSA.

darkness, we found

ic workmen gave his

Bcovered the wretch ;

)oininique, forgetting

1 rendered him, went

anity did noi, go unre-

lat death from which

all probability, have

ined among us.

ounds of Dominique,

mate female who was

had thrown into the

• with courage. M.

1, whose pitiful cries,

large rope, which he

round liis middle, and

gain so fortunate as to

I the assistance of our

lame time by the head

upon the dead bodies,

ile they recovered their

{uaint herself with the

ss to him her liveliest

, ill expressed her feel-

uff,and instantly offered

1 the gift, but unable to

served him for three or

le a still more affecting

len they had sufficiently

saved.

id above, left us a little
t a little before stabbed
jther into a stormy sea,
und themselves in one
the Upper Alps, which
1 during which time she
in Italy, and other places,
lid she to M. Correard,
ew how often I had ven-

carry assistance to our

1 always let them have
me of my poor debtors ;
le or triple for what they
: came in for a share of
le knew what a horrible
xpresscd so vividly that
that it would have drawn
,t horrible moment when
I — when we were obliged

the violence of the men,
le to attend to scenes of

s was suddenly appeased,
Several threw themselves

SHIPWRECK OP THE FRENCH FRIGATE MEDUSA.

461

at our feet and implored our pardon, which wa.s instantly granted.
Thinking that order was rc-established, we returned to our station on the
center of the raft, only taking the precaution of keeping our arms. We,
however, had soon to prove the impossibility of counting on the perma-
nence of any iionest sentiment in the hearts of these beings. It was nearly
midnight ; and, after an hour of apparent tranquillity, the soldiers rose
afresh. Thnir mind was entirely gone: they ran upon us in despair, with
knives and sabers in their hands. As they yet had all their physical
strength, and beside wore armed, we were obliged again to stand on our
defense. Their revolt becartie still more dangerous, as, in their delirium,
they wore entirely deaf to the voice of reason. They attacked us, we
charged them in our turn, and immediately the raft was strewed with
their dead bodies. Those of our adversaries who had no weapons, endea-
vored to tear us with their sharp teeth. Many of us were cruelly bitten.
M. Savigny was torn on the legs and shoulder ; lie also received a wound
on the right arm, which deprived him of the use of his fourth and little
finger for a long while. Many others were wounded ; and many cuts
were found in our clothes, from knives and sabers. Some short while
after, in a fresh attack of the rebels. Sub-lieutenant Lozach fell into their
hands. In their delirium they had taken him for Lieutenant Danglas, of
whom we have formerly spoken, and who had abandoned the raft at the
moment when we were quitting the frigate. The troop, to a man, eagerly
sought this officer, who had seen little service, and whom they reproached
for having used them ill during the time they garrisoned the Isle of Rhe.
We believed this officer lost, but hearing his voice, we soon found it still
possible to save him. Immediately a number of our men, formed them-
selves into small platoons, and rushed upon the insurgents with great
impetuosity, overturning everyone in their way, and retook M. Lozach,
and placed him on the center of the raft. Every moment the soldiers
demanded he shdUd be delivered to them, designating him always by the
name of Danglas. We endeavored to make them comprehend their mis-
take, and told them that they themselves had seen the person for whom
they sought, retiirn on board the frigate. They were insensible to every-
thing we said ; everything before them was Danglas ; they saw him per-
petually, and furiously and unceasingly demanded his head. It was only
by force of arms we succeeded in repressing their rage and quieting their
cries of death.

We had also to tremble for the life of M. Coudin. Wounded and
fatigued by the attacks which he had sustained with us, and in which
he had shown a courage superior to everything, he was resting himself
on a barrel, holding in his arms a young sailor boy of twelve years of age,
to whom he had attached himself. The mutineers seized him, with his
barrel, and threw him into the sea with the boy, whom he still held fast.
In spite of his burden, he had the presence of mind to lay hold of the
raft, and to save himself from extreme peril. We cannot yet comprehend
how a handful of men should have been able to resist such a number so
monstrously insane. We are sure we were not more than twenty to
combat all these madmen. Let it not, however, be imagined that in the
midst of all these dangers we had preserved our reason entire. Fear,
anxiety, and the most cruel privt^^'ons, had greatly changed our intellectual
faculties. But being somewhat less insane than the unfortunate soldiers,
we energetically opposed their determination of cutting the cords of the
raft. Permit us now to make some observations concerning the different
sensations with which we were affected. During the first day, M. Griffin

f it;.

4(}) SHIPWRECK OF THE FRENCH FRIGATE MEDUSA.

euiircly lost his aonsea. Ho threw hi.nsolf into the soa, but M. SaviRny
h"v . I hi.n with his own hand.. His wor.ls worn vn^uo an. "nconncc ed.
A icond ti.nc he threw hinmclf in, but, by a sort ol inst.nct, kept hold of
the cross nieces of the raft, and was again saved. . , , . . .^.

mfol owing is what M. Savigny experienced .n the beginning of the
night soye^s closed in spite of hin.self, and he felt a general drow-

Sess In this condition the most delightful visions fl.tted across his
magination. He saw around him a country covered with |ho most beau-
S ilntations, and found himself in the midst of objects del.ghtfu to
s sonses. Nevertheless, he reasoned concerning his condition, and lelt
hat courage alone could withdraw him from this species of non-existence.
iS: deman'deS some wine from the master gunner, -J" f '»„ -„»>™;
and he recovered a little from this state of stupor. If the unfortunates
w"u> were assailed with these primary symptoms had not «trengUi to jvith-
Ttand them, their death was certain. Some became furious ; others threw
themselves into the sea, bidding farewell to their comrades with the
utZst coolness. Some said-''Fear nothing; I am going to get you
aStance and will return in a short while." In the midst of this general
STes some fetches were seen rushing upon their companions, sword
rS demanding a wing of a chicken and some bread, to appease the
hu S^whiXcon^^^^ thelJ.; others asked for the r hammocks, to go

?hc/slid, beU^een the decks of the frigate to take a httle rcpose^^y
beUeved they were still on the decks of the Medusa, surrounded by
The same objects they there saw daily. Some saw ships, and cal ed
to them for assistance, or a fine harbor, in the d.s anco of wh ch
was an elegant city. M. Correard thought he was traveling through the
LanSul fields of Italy. An officer said to him-" I recollect we have
E "n alSeVby tS boats ; but fear nothing I am going to write o
the covernor, and in a few hours we shall be saved.' M. Correard
eplifd in the' same tone, and as if he had been m h#rd.„a^ co^
_« Have you a pigeon to carry your orders with sucli celerity 7 1 he
cries and the coSfSsion soon aroused us from this languor; but when
franquUlity was s" mewhat restored, we again fell into the same drowsy
condUion On the morrow we felt as if we had awoke from a painfu
Sreamand asked our companions if, during their «?ep, they had not
seen combats and hear.l cries of despair. Some replied that the saine
Jisions had continually tormented them, and that they were exhausted
with fatigue EveryoL beleived he was deceived by the illusions of a

'^^S ttTdifferent combats, overcome with toil, with want of food
and sleep, we laid ourselves down and reposed tdl the morrow dawned

'and showed us the horror of the scene. A gJ-^^^^- -^'^^.f^/^S
had thrown themselves into the sea. We found that sixty or s'^ty-hve
had perished during the night. A fourth part at least, we supposed, had
downed themselves in despair. We only lost two of our number, neither
nf im were ofticers. The deepest dejection was painted on every face ;
eact hS ecoverek himself, cJuld now feel the horrors of hs situation ;
a^d some ofus, shedding tears of despair, bitterly deplored the r.gor of

""k^new misfortune was now revealed to us. During the tumult, the
rebels h-rdTrown into the sea two barrels of wine, and the only two casks
of water which we had upon the raft. The casks of wine had been
conlumed the day before, U only one was left. We '^ere more than
sScty^ number/and we were obliged to put ourselves on half-rations

'E MEDUSA.

sea, but M. Savipny
Jiic and iinconnni-tcd.
|in8tinut, kept liold of

tho beginning of the
felt a general drow-
ns flitted across his
with tho most boau-
objects delightful to
his condition, and felt
Icies of non-existence.
, who got it for hirn,
If the unfortunates
1 not strength to with-
furious ; others threw
ir comrades with the
am going to get you

midst of this general
eir companions, sword
bread, to appease the
heir hammocks, to go,
a little repose. Many
edusa, surrounded by
saw ships, and called
le distance of which
i traveling through the
-"I recollect we have

1 am going to write to
saved." M. Correard

hi^rdinary condition

such celerity?" The
lis languor ; but when
I into the same drowsy

awoke from a painful
ir sleep, they had not

replied that the same
; they were exhausted
d by the illusions of a

toil, with want of food
ill the morrow dawned
umber in their delirum

that sixty or sixty-five
east, we supposed, had
of our number, neither
I painted on every face ;
liorrorsof his situation ;

deplored the rigor of

)uring the tumult, the
and the only two casks
sks of wine had been
We were more than
rselres on half-rations

SHIPWRECK OP THE FRENCH FHIOATE MEDUS.\.

-l(J3

At break of day the sea calmod, wliich permitted us a^'ain t': nroct our
mast. When it was rctplaccd, we iniide a distribution of wine. Tliu
unhappy soldiers muriiuircd and biunit-d us fur privations whicii we
equally endured with them. Tlicy fell exhausted. We had taken notiiing
for forty-eiglit hours, and we had been obli;{ed to stru^'glo continually
against a strong sea. We could, like them, hardly suppovt ourselves;
courage alone made us still act. We resolved to employ every possible
means to catch fish, and collecting all the hooks and eyes from tho soldiers,
made fisli-iiook:< of them; but all was of no avail. Tiie currents carried
our lines under the rati, where they got entangled. Wo bent a bayonet
to catch sharks ; one bit at it, and strnightcned it, and wo abandoned our
project. Something was absolutely necessary to sustain our rniseral)le
existence, and we tremble with horror at being obliged to tell that of
which wo made use. We feel our pen fall from our hands; a mortal
cold congeals all our members, and our hair bristles erect on our foreheads.
Reader! we implore you, feel not indignant toward men already loaded
with misery. Pity their condition, and shed a tear of sorrow for their
deplorable fate.

The wretches whom death had spared during the disastrous night we
have described, seized upon the dead bodies with which the raft was
covered, cutting them up by slices, which some even instantly devoured.
Many nevertheless refrained. Almost all the officers were of this number.
Seeing that this monstrous food had revived the strength of those who
had used it, it was proposed to dry it to make it a little more palatable.
Those who had firmness to abstain from it, took an additional quantity of
wine. We endeavored to eat shoulder-belts and cartouch-boxes, and
contrived to swallow some small bits of them. Some ate linen ; others,
the leathers of the hats, on which was a little grease, or rather dirt. We
had recourse to many expedients to prolong our miserable oxistenco. to
recount which wtfWd only disgust tho heart of humanity.

The day was calm and beautiful. A ray of hope beamed for a moment
to quiet our agitation. We still expected to see the boats, or some ships,
and addressed our prayers to the Eternal, on whom we placed our trust.
The half of our men were extremely feeble, and bore upon their faces
the stamp of approaciiing dissolution. The evening arrived, and wo found
no help. The darkness of the third night augmented our fears, but the
wind was still, and the soa less agitated. The sun of the fourth morning
since our departure shone upon our disaster, and showed n" ten or twelve
of our companions stretched lifeless upon the raft. Th* i^ht struck us
most forcibly, as it told us we would be soon extended .. . same man-
ner in the same place. We gave their bodies to tho s-. • for a grave,
reserving only one to feed those who, but the day before, had held his
trembling hands, and sworn to him eternal friendship. This day was
beautiful. Our souls, anxious for more delightful sensations, were in
harmony with the aspect of the heavens, and got again a new ray of hope.
Toward four in the afternoon an unlooked for event happened, which
gave us some consolation. A shoal of flying-fish passed under our raft,
and as there was an infinite number of openings between the pieces that
composed it, the fish were entangled in great quantities. We threw our-
selves upon them, and captured a considerable number. We took about
two hundred and put them in an empty barrel ; we opened them as wu
caught them, and took out what is called their milt. This food seemed
delicious ; but one man would have required a thousand. Our first emo-
tion was to give God renewed thanks for this unhoped for favor. An

tegW Mn - ■ ^ .te.-na:

464 SHIPWRECK OF THE FRENCH FRIGATE MEDUSA.

ounce of gunpowder ^l^:Z^yZ^'JS^:i!^^
in the sun during the day, which was very ^^^^ of dilficulty

tinder made a»80 a part of the saj parco^^^ ^^^^ ^ .^^

wo set fire to some f'''8'"«°J\° Vlf ' ed"t the bottom of it several wet
in the side of an empty ^J^' ^" ^^7^ w o et our fire ; all of which we
things, and upon th.s k.nd of caffo^d.ng wo «^^^. .^ ^^

placed on a barrel, that the »«* ^"Vjj ^ut our hunger was such,
Some fish and ate them ^'\»> ^.''^^^^aded to t some of the sacrilegious
and our portion so small, ^^fj^^^jt^ revolting. This some of the
viands, which the <^'>°*''"« ;f"f '"lo^'^h rd-S we continued to eat it;
officers touched for the first »'«"«• ./r7,„7ofmLing a fire having been
but we could no longer dress it, ^'^^'PfT'^.e extinguished it, without
entirely lost; the barrel ^av.np caught fie we ext^ g ^^^^^^

being able to preserve *7»*^"8,*^/* This meal gave us all additional
powder and tinder were entirely done^ „ight w^« tol^'-^blc, and would

itrength to support o«r fatigues^ niiized by a new massacre.

have been happy, had i not Jee" «'g^^'^f J^^.^ed a plot to throw u»

Some Sp'^"'"«^«^;*;*'^,";^:fhad ^^^^^^^^^ that they were very near

all into the sea The negroes haa ^^^^ ^^ ^^^^^^^^ ^f

the shore, and ^hatO^hen there, ucy^wo ^^^ sailors, who had

without danger We had *" ^^^^ *^ ""' "^ ^^1 conspirators. The first
remained faithful to V«' P«'f "|J"i:l*',d U^^^^ himself behind

signal for battle was given ?^y «^„^f "'.".ten of the crols with one hand,
the mast, holding fiwt by it, 7>^«^f. ^Xr held a knife. The sailors
invoking the name of GoJ, and with the ot^«' J«^ ^^^^,„, ^o an officer

seized him and threw »?'™'"^«;'\;i^„tu was discovered, armed him-
of the troops, who was m the ploMceng^^^^^ ^^^^.^^^ ^^ ^j,,

self with the only board.ng-ax .^^^ ^" ^^ J^^^'^ore across his breast,
front, enveloped himself in a P'^^^^jf/JXtKea. The rebels rushed
and, of his own accord, ^hrew himself into the sea^ commenced ;

forward to avenge their ^^""'^^^''^'^i;^^^^^^ raft was strewed

both sides fought with desperate fury . i^"** "nTv-- shed by n«ber hands,
with dead bodfes and blood, which shouWh^^^^^^^ demanding,

and in another cnuse In t^'s tum«»^ we heard tn ^^g^^.^ ^^^^^^
with horrid rage, the head of LieiUenant mng ^^.^^^^

unfortunate sutler was again ^^r^wn mto the sea ^^^^^^^^ ^^^

by some workmen, saved her, to prolong lor awni
her existence. . ., , . ^ -jy^ proofs of the rarest

In this terrible night Lavillette f%'«^°^Vho have survived the sequel
intrepidity. Itwastohimandsomcoftho^e who^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^ J ^^

of our misfortunes, that we owed ««;«^;7^„d quiet restored. Having
efforts, the rebels were once ^o'e repulsed^and qu^ ^^^

escaped this new danger, ^^ ^^^f'^I^^^^f ' We wefe now no more
at length dawned upon ««/P' Xuour or kve of our faithful sailors,
than thirty in number. We had lost ^^'^t deplorable condition. The
and those who survived 7'\'Vjf "Pf^JK^
sea-water had almost entirely f *^f 'f ^^^XXch, irritated by the salt
we were covered with «>°t"«'"^"%'''^°"rn„ cries About twcity of us
water, extorted from us the ^^f* P'^'^^^JVa^'^^^^^^^^ \lmost all our fish
only ;ere capable "^ «7^^\"| Jj^^^yT^^^^ in four days, s^A
were exhausted; we had ^^^^l^ZrhemevitMe. Thus came the
we, nothing will be !««' ^""^"^''^Vlhe course of the day two soldiers
TargiaS ttnl^Tar^el Jf"l% that was left, piercing it, and

MEDUSA.

morning, was dried
Btocl, nun-flints, and
;ood deal of difficulty
ade a large opening
torn of it BOtfcrnl wet
firo ; all of which we
iiish it. Wo cooked
ur hunger was such,
e of the sacrilegious
r. This some of the
e continued to cat it ;
ng a firo having been
inguishcd it, without
n the morrow. The
gave us all additional
tolerable, and would
lew massacre,
led a plot to throw U8
t they were very near
hem to traverse Africa
a ; the sailors, who had
aspirators. The first
lacing himself behind
e cross with one hand,
I a knife. The sailors
, servant to an officer
p..»covered, armed him-
lade his retreat to the
wore across his breast,
la. The rebels rushed
lict again commenced ;
le fatal raft was strewed
CE shed by other hands,
[hem again demanding,
is! In this assault the
I. M. Coudin, assisted
irhile her torments and

jive proofs of the rarest
have survived the sequel
it last, after unheard of
quiet restored. Having
some repose. The day
We were now no more
re of our faithful sailors,
jlorable condition. The
of our lower extremities;
iiich, irritated by the salt
;s. About twenty of us
ing. Almost all our fish
Fwine: in four days, said
ivitable. Thus came the
e of the day two soldiers
was left, piercing it, and

BHIPWREOK OF THE FRENCH FRIGATE MEDUSA.

465

were drinking by means of a reed. W'j had sworn that those who used
■uch means should be punished with ueath ; which law was instantly put
in execution, and the two transgressors were thrown into the sea.

The same day saw the close of the life of a child named Leon, aged
twnlve years. He died like a lamp which ceases to burn for want of
alimnnt. All spoke in favor of this young and amiable creature, who
miritcd a better fate. His angelic form, his musical voice, the interest
of an age so tender, increased still more by the courage he had shown
and the services he had performed, for he had already made, in the pre-
ceding year, a campaign in the East Indies, inspired us all with the greatest
pity for this young victim, devoted to so horrible and premature a death.
Our old soldiers and all our people in general did everything they could
to prolong his existence, but all was in vain. Neither the wine which
they gave him without regret, nor all the means they employed, could
arrest his melancholy doom, and he expired in the arms of M. Coudin,
who had not ceased to give him the most unwearied attention. While
he had strength to move he ran incessantly from one side to the other,
loudly calling for his mother, for water and food. He trod indiscrimi-
nately on the feet and legs of his companions in misfortune, who, in their
turn, uttered sorrowful cries, but these were very rarely accompanied
with menaces ; they pardoned all which the poor boy had made them
suffer. He was not in his senses, consequently could not be expected
to behave as if he had the use of his reason.

There now remained but twenty-seven of us. Fifteen of that number
seemed able to live yet some days ; the rest, covered with large wounds,
had almost entirely lost the use of their reason. They still, however,
shared in the distributions, and would, before they died, consume thirty
or forty bottles of wine, which to us were inestimable. We deliberated,
that by putting the sick on half allowance was but putting them to death
by halves ; but after a council, at which presided the most dreadful despair,
it was decided they should be thrown into the sea. This means, however
repugnant; however horrible it appeared to us, procured the survivors
six days' wine. But after the decision was made, who durst execute it?
The habit of seeing death ready to devour us ; the certainty of our infal-
lible destruction without this monstrous expedient ; all, in short, had har-
dened our hearts to every feeling but that of self-preservation. Three
sailors and a soldier took charge of this cruel business. We looked aside
and shed tears of blood at the fate of these unfortunates. Among them
were the wretched sutler and her husband. Both had been grievously
wounded in the different combats. The woman had a thigh broken
between the beams of the raft, and a stroke of a saber bad made a deep
wound in the head of her husband. Everything announced their ap-
proaching end. We consoled ourselves with the belief that our cruel
resolution shortened but a brief space the term of their existence. Ye
who shudder at the cry of outraged humanity, recollect that it was other
men, fellow-countrymen, comrades, who had placed us in this awful
situation!

This horrible expedient saved the fifteen who remained : for when we
were found by the Argus brig, we had very little wine left, and it was
the ^ixth day after the cruel sacrifice we have described. The victims,
we repeat, had not more than forty-eight hours to live, and by keeping
them on the raft we would have been absolutely destitute of the means
of existence two days before we were found. Weak as we were, we
considered it as a certain thing, that it would have been impossible for
30

l«i

SHIPVTREOK OF THE FREKOH FRIGATE MEDUSA.

UB to have lived only twenty-four hours more, without taiting iomo food.
After this cataatropho wo threw our arms into the sea ; they inspirt.'d us
with a horror we could not overcome. We only kept one nabur, in case
we had to cut some cordafjn or some pieces of wood.

A new event, for everything wan an event to wretches to whom the
world was reduced to the narrow space of a few feet, and fur whom the
winds and waves contended in their fury as they floated above thu abyss ;
an event happened which diverted our minds from the horrors of our
situation. All on a sudden a white butterfly, of a species common in
France, came fluttering above our heads and settled on our sail. The
first thought this little creature suggested was that it was the harbinger
of approaching land, and we clung to the hope with a delirium of joy.
It was the ninth day we had been upon the raft ; the torments of hunger
consumed our entrails ; and the soldiers and sailors already devoured
with haggard eyes this wretched prey, and seemed to dispute about it.
Others looking upon it as a messenger from Heaven, declared that they
took it under their protection, and would suffer none to do it harm. It
was certain we could not be far from land, for the butterflies continued to
come on the following days and flutter about our sail. Wo had also, on
the same day. another indication, not less positive, by a Gocland which
flew around our raft. This second visitor left us not a doubt that we
were fast approaching the African soil, and we persuaded ourselves
we would be speedily thrown upon the coast by the force of the currents.

This same day a new care employed us. Seeing we were reduced to
so small a number, we collected all the little strength we had left, detached
some planks on the front of the raft, and, with some pretty long pieces
of wood, raised on the center a kind of platform, on which wc reposed.
All the effects we could collect were placed upon it, and rendered to
make it less hard ; which also prevented the sea from passing with !<uch
facility through the spaces between the different planks; but the waves
came across, and sometimes covered us completely.

On this new theater we resolved to meet death in a manner becoming
Frenchmen, and with perfect resignation. Our time was almost wholly
spent in speaking of our happy country. All our wishes, our last prayers,
were for the prosperity of France. Thus passed the last days of our
abode upon the raft. Soon after our abandonment, we bore with com-
parative ease the immersions during the nights, which are very cold in
these countries; but latterly, every time the waves washed over ua
we felt a most painful sensation, and we uttered plaintive cries. We
employed every means to avoid it. Some supported their heads on pieces
of wood, and made, with what they could find, a sort of little parapet to
screen them from the force of the waves ; others sheltered themselves
behind two empty casks. But these means were very insufficient ; it was
only when the sea was calm that it did not break over us.

An ardent thirst, redoubled in the day by the beams of a burning sun,
consumed us. An officer of tlie army found by chance a small lemon,
and it may be easily imagined how valuable such a fruit would be to
him. His comrades, in spite of the most urgent entreaties, could not get
a bit of it from him. Signs of rage were already manifested, and had he
not partly listened to the solicitations of those around him, they would
have taken it by force, and he would have perished the victim of his own
selfishness. We also disputed about thirty cloves of garlic which were
found in the bottom of a sack. These disputes were, for the most part,
accompanied with violent menaces, and if they had been prolonged, we

EDUSA.

taking Bome food.
; they inspiroJ us
one sabor, in case

tchcs to whom the
, and for whom the
id above the abyas ;
the horrors of our
jpocies common m
1 on our sail, i he
t was the harbinger
h a delirium of joy.

torments of hunger
■8 already devoured

to dispute about it.
,, declared that they
,e to do it harm. «
itterflies continued to

il We had also, on

by a Gooland which

not a doubt thut we

persuaded ourselves

force of the currents.

B we were reduced to

, we had left, detached

m pretty long pieces

on which we reposed.

,n it, and rendered to

•torn passing with such

planks; but the waves

ly.
in a manner becoming

lime was almost wholly
wishes, our last prayers,
Bd the last days of our
lent, we bore with com-
which are very cold in
waves washed over us
Bd plaintive cries, vve
ted their heads on pieces

a sort of little parapet to
5rs sheltered themselves
B very insufficient ; it was

ik over us.
beams of a burning Bun,

ay chance a small lemon,
such a fruit would be to
,t entreaties, could not get
dy manifested, and had he
sVound him, they would
ahed the victim of his own
loves of garlic which were
39 were, for the most part,
,y had been prolonged, we

SHIPWRECK OF THE FRENCH FRIGATE MEDUiiA.

407

might have come to the last oxtrnmities. Threo dayx paxfird in inex*
prcssihln anguish. Uo miu-h did wo drspiso lift;, tliat many of iih fttared
not to batli(< in sight of the sharks which surrounded our raft; others
placed thiMiiHolvns naked upon the iVont of our machine, which was
under water. Those o.xpediontii diminiflhod a little tiie ardor of our
tliirst. On the 16th, reckoning wo wore very near the land, eight of
the must determined among us resolved to endeavor to gain the coast.
Accordingly a second raft, of smaller dimensions, was formed for trans-
porting them thither; but it was found iusulficient, and they at length
determined to await death in their present situation. Meanwhile night
came on, and its somber vail revived in our minds the most afflicting
thought.**. We were certain there were not above a dozen or fifteen
bottli!H of wine in our barrel. Wo began to have an invincible disgust
at the flesh which had till then scarcely supported us; and we may say
that the sight of it inspired us with feelings of horror, doubtless pro-
duced by the idea of approaching destruction. On the morning of the
17th the sun appeared free from clouds. After having addressed our
prayers to the Eternal, we divided among us a part of our wine. Each
with delight was taking his small portion, when a captain of infantry,
casting his eyes on the horizon, perceived a ship, and announced it to
us by an exclamation of joy. We knew it to be a brig, but it was at a
great distance ; we could only distinguish the masts. The sight of this
vessel revived in us emotions difli<*ult to describe. Each believed his
deliverance sure, and we gave a thousand thanks to God. Fears, how-
ever, mingled with our hopes. We straightened some hoops of casks,
to the ends of which we fixed handkerchiefs of different colors. A
man, with our united assistance, mounted to the top of tiie mast, and
waved these little flags. For more than half an hour we were tossed
between hope and fear. Some thought the vessel grew larger, and
others wore convinced its course was from us. These last were the
only one^< whose eyes were not blinded by hope, for the ship disappeared.

From this delirium of joy we passed to that of despondency and
sorrow. We envied the fate of thosr whom we had seen perish at our
sides; and we said to ourselves, " Wiien we shall be in want of every-
thing, and when our strength begins to forsake us, we will wrap our-
selves up as well as we can, and will stretch ourselves on this platform,
the witness of the most cruel sufferings, and there await death with
resignation.^' At length, to calm our despair, we sought for consolation
in the arms of sleep. The day before we had been scorched by the
beams of a burning >tun; to-day^ to avoid the fierceness of his rays, we
made a tent with the mainsail of the frigate. As soon as it was finished,
we laid ourselves under it; thus all that was passing without was hid
from our eyes. We proposed then to write upon a plank an abridgment
of our adventures, and to add our names at the bottom of the recital,
and fix it to the upper part of our mast, in the hope that it would reach
the government and our families.

After having passed two hours, a prey to the most cruel reflections,
the iimster gunner of tlie frigate, wishing to go to the front of the raft,
went out from below the tent. Scarcely had he put out his head when
he turned to us, uttering a piercing cry. Joy was painted upon his
face; his hands were stretched toward the sea; he breathed witii diffi-
culty. All he was able to say was: Saved! see the brig upon ua! and
in fact it was not more than half a league distant, having every sail set,,
and steering right upon us. We rushed from our tent; even those whoni'

iii-

468 8HIPWRK0K OF THE FRENCH FRIGATE MEDUSA.

enormous wounds in their ij^XuTth^^^^^^^^^
days, dragged themselves to ^he l^ack « th«^^»'^^ J. Ve embraced
ship which had come to save u, f™m cem ^^ ^„d tears

one another with a transport which looked mucn pwvations.

of ioy trickled down our cheeks, '"'t^^^^^^'^y.^^^, to make signals to
Each^eized handkerchiefs, »' «°™XTu3 S^me fell oa tbsi" knees
the brig, which was "PlJ^y .\PP«»'';°^;^de„';e for this miracu ous pre-
and fervently returned thanks to ^J^J^J^^^^^^^^ \,^ ^^w at the top of

servation of their l''««:.,^"'/yji°e cried' "^^ >» ^^^'^ ^ Frenchmen
the foremast a large white flag, "^^ we c„ed ^ ^^^ ^rig to be

we will owe our deliverance J^« 2^°';^^ „* We were terribly
the Argus; it wM tl'*'^ »^»"» ^ S^t Cshe did, and fresh cries
impatient to see her '««^ ^f^rS came and lay to on our starboard,
of joy arose from our raft. The Argus came y ^^^ ^^^^ ^^^

abiut a half pistol shot from us ^he crew, r«ig P"^^^^^ ^^^ ^^^^
on the shrouds, announced to us, by the w*vmg oi unfortunate

the pleasure they felt at coming ^o /he a^^^^t«^ce^ot ^^ ^
countrymen. In a short time we "*"; *". • .5^ .nj some others who
where we ^und the lieutenant of the^^^ ^^ ^^^,y f,,,,

had been wrecked with us. ^o™P*^«'^J ^^ j^ ^g, We found some
and pity drew tears from every py^J^^'^'^.Cv had prepared, and when
excellent broth en board the b"g;/hi«h sJme wine^and this restored
they had perceived us they udded to lissome wme ^^^^ ^^^^

our neariy exhausted «»'«"«**»•«, J/iji^w's^'^" ^ *^'°* ''"'""^'^
became again delirious. An ^^f.' "['^VJid have done it had he
into the sea to look for his PO«^ket-book, and woum n f^^^^ied.

not been prevented; oJ^X^s'fTe Ir g wSeTovtr us, and kindly
The commander and officers o*/"^ ""f -, death by saving us from
anticipated our wants J^^^J ^^^^^P^^d^Jh^^^^^^^ The

the raft; their unremitted care '«^'^^«.? ^'jju" d hij„self for his indefati-
Burgeon of the ship, M- Renaud distinguish^^^ .^ ^^

gable zeal. He was obliged to «P«°'*f « ™^ „„ board the brig, he
lur wounds; and^ming the two days we were o^^^^^ ^^

bestowed on us all the aid of his '''\'^l^^^\ ^^g ti^e we should find
which merit our eternal gratitude , /" jJ^V'.';^^^^ i„ the most cruel

an end of our sufferings; they ^^i^'f^Vhare l?vKrty^^ hours or
manner. The strongest among J might^^^^^^ nved y^^^g^^ ^^^ ^^^^

so longer. M. ^orreard felt that he "^^^^^^ ^^^ „, ,,id that

he had, however, a P'«««°J'r;JtouW nTbe buried in oblivion; that

ryCXeTerp^rdth';:^ SJS shaken their constitutions.

nM>».»>-»— r*»r*

lEDUSA.

confined for many
njoy a sight of the
Lh. We embraced
madness, and tears
St cruel pwvations.
to make signals to
fell Oil thsiL knees
lis miracuous pre-
e saw at the top of
then to Frenchmen
lized the brig to be
We were terribly
did, and fresh cries
J to on our starboard,
[ upon the deck and
heir hands and hats,
of their unfortunate
)d on botrd the brig,
\d some others who
inted on every face,
us. We found some
prepared, and when
le, and thus restored
escaped, when some
ihed to throw himself
have done it had he
er not less frenzied,
d over us, and kindly
iath by saving us from
[le spark of life. The
mself for his indefati-
>f the day in dressing
an board the brig, he
ention and gentleness
IS time we should find
days in the most cruel
ed forty-eight hours or
the course of the day;
e saved. He said that
luried in oblivion ; that
I to tell the world the

eft upon the memorable
re saved. Five of that
;d at at. Louis. Those
ruel sufferings to which
their constitutions.

THE STOBT

ROBERT DRURY,

A aiium BOT, WHO WAS saiPWBsonD, oaftoud ard bud in mMan

riimaof txam, bt

THE SAVAGES OP MADAOASOAR.

I WAS born on the 24th of July, 1687, i)^ Crutched Friars, London,
where my father then lived ; but soon after he removed to the Old Jewry,
near Cheapside, where he kept, for several years afterward, that noted
house called the King's Head, a famous beefsteak house in its day, and
a great resort of merchants and othor gentlemen. Reared in London,
and often about the Thames, I acquired an unconquerable desire to go to
sea ; and though my parents did everything in their power to give me a
good education, and promised to push me on in the world, if I would
abandon this notion, I persevered in my obstinate resolution. Not all the
entreaties of my poor dear mother, though she once begged me on her
knees, nor the persuasions of my father, or any other friends, could make
the least impression on me.

When they found their endeavors were ineffectual, they formed a new
Kcheme to wean me from a sea-life. This was to procure me a short voy-
age, hoping that he :nany dangers and hardships to which I should be
exposed, and should see others undergo, would deter me from persever-
ing in that course of life.

As willful persons never want woe, such was my obstinacy, that nothing
would content mo but what contributed to my ruin; and Providence justly
frustrated all my hopes, by indulging me in the choice I had so foolishly
and ungratefully made, in direct opposition to my duty to my affectionate
parents. When it was proposed that I should take a short voyage, I in-
sisted that nothing but a voyage to the East Indies would please me ; for
no other reason that i can think of, than that I had a cousin in the East
India Company's service at Calcutta. It was accordingly resolved to
gratify this whim. My father, however, showed a due concern for my com-
fort and welfare, by the manner in which he fitted me out. He supplied
me plentifully with provisions, clothes, and other necessaries for the voy-
age ; beside which I had a cargo to trade on, to the value of a hundred
pounds, which was a large trust for a boy of not yet fourteen years of age.
I went as a passenger, well recommended to Captain William Younge,
with whom my passage, and the freight of my cargo, were agreed for, and
we soon after embarked.

The vessel Captain Younge commanded was thj Degrave, of 700 tons
burden, and carrying 62 guns. She was a regular India trader, and,
like all others of her class, required to be well armed for the sake of
defense. The parting with my mother was not without pain ; but I was

(469)

.ite-

THE STORT OF ROBERT DRURY.

Hd^vboy, and «oon rT^'SSdS::^^^-::::^^!!;
iown 'the Thames to the Nore, and passed tnr^ outward-bound

;uaryl9,1701. Nothing remark We occ^^^^^^ canaries, and arrived

'' O^raSing at Calcutta, ^^ ::^^S^lX:^^^
in disposiag of my go«d9 ; but the capum ^^^ ^^^^ ^^^ ^,^„, ,„

from bVmg trustworthy, took charge o^^^^^^ ^^ ,he country,

good advantage, taking in e^^f J"«y"f „„, crew by fever ; and, worst
Vhilc lying at this port, we lost many ot »";. .j.^'on^^howas^ccond
of all, atlength Captain Younge also c^.ed,U>av^g^^ disaster, for our new
mate, to take charge of the ship. 1 his w ^^^ g^ fo, ,^ important

comr^ander was an '««/]'«"«"'''' V°5°aused us to wait a considerable
at U8t. Thenumber of deaths on board^causedu ^^ .^ j

Ume to recruit the ship's company. ^"""8 ;^,f L swimming in the
rnfd to swim, and f-quentv amused myjelf ^by ^^^^ ^ ^^^^^ ^^.^
Hoogly I became so exceedingly expen

several miles up or d«w". ^J® 7'7o_„„, and our crew greatly renewed,
Our business being ^n'^^'^'^^Jtaritirg on board 120 hands, some
we sailed on our homeward ^"y'^g^' JV^fgelf, and a few other.passen-
:;them Lascars, ^-ide two wornen and myseU ^^^ ^ ,

oerB As wc were going down the "ver, r ^ ^^^ ^^^ g^t

C bu^ there being a very strong t|dertturn^^^^^ .^^^^.^^^^ ,^.^^

off ihe next high water -'f'-f^^jymlrtun'e which soon after over-
accident proved tlie cause ot the sad misio ' ^ ^^ j^^^^ sprung a
took us. On getting ^^^^^^J^^^^'UTan pumps continually at woj^^
l.ak, and we were f »!gf^.*;^ ,^JP«ring condition, every man taking h»s
Wo were two mouths in this distrbssing ^ j^^ ^^ ^^^ the

turn at tiie severe labor of P«";P'"S;^ ..^„''",U ie'^ were'all still more
Xnd of Mauritius rismg on the hX^^L about 600 miles to the east
delighted to arrive at the island >^»''J^J'^f, jr^he Dutch, who treated

ot- Madagascar. This «"« jt ^n^tVtS^g L ^''^ ^^"'"'" '''' '"
us with great kindness and 1^"'"'^'''^^' °f ' Hlich we stowed great part
:^r posvev. We made .^^^^ J^eshp; "nd discover the leak In this
of our cargo, in order tol'^Jl^" ^^ 'operly performed, the sailors were

Uie Cape of Good Hope. . j jg more than 1 can

The infatuation of going o «ea wrth a ^eaty , ^^ ^^ ^^^^^ ^„

possibly account for. ^^ftsTerTseverely punished for it When we
Z. of folly, he and all of »«J«^« Mauriti"«^the leak gained on us more
had been gone a few daysfrom he Mauri ^ ^^^^^ ^^ ^^^^ ^^

Snd more, and it was with f^f ^J^","'^^^^^^ on the verge of destruction
water. Young as I was, I saw ^h"^* J^®,,^; _,,tting myself in the way of
Tni now repented in tears, the -".^.^"^^^f/Zi^l^^^^^^^ which the men

C:-^^:^^^^ iu were spent with

jpped pleasantly
Downs on Fcb-
■e outward-bound
Iries, and arrived

twenty days from
led to Mastapatan,
Iplete our voyage

Id offered to assist

ig that he was far

sold the whole to

Is of the country.

fever ; and, worst

m, whowasfocond

saster, for our new

t for so important

wait a considerable

iriod of inaction, I

swimming in the

that I could swim

w greatly renewed,
d 120 hands, some
a few other, passen-
i aground, and stuck
r round, and we got
,0 imagined. This
lich soon after over-
nd to have sprung a
continually at work,
every man taking his
rful sight to see the
were all still more
100 miles to the east
e Dutch, who treated
ivith whatever was in
*e stowed great part
ler the leak. In this
ned, the sailors were
less. A month was
f of good fish, turtle,
ur course directly for

b1, is more than 1 can
captain to do such an
ed for it. When we
lak gained on us more
could be kept above
I verge of destruction,
myself in the way of
srtions which the men
Iced incessantly at the
I pumped and bailed
All were spent with

"iV'i'.

AMONG THE BREAKERS.

471

fatigue, and despair settled on every countenance. According tn our
reckoning, we were a hundred leagues soutiiward of Madagascar ; and to
lighten the ship, several guns, and much of the heavy goods, were iieuved
overboard. The captain was for continuing our course to tiie Cape, COO
leagues distant, but the ship's company in general opposed it, being of
opinion that they could not keep her above water long enough, and were
in favor of running to Madagascar, which was the nearest land.

The peril we were in did not admit of delay, and, by urgent persuasion,
the captain ordered 'bout ship, and put back for Madagascar. The wind
favoring us, the water-logged vessel got on somewhat better in its new
course, and on the third day, I was sent, along with the captain's boy, up
to the mast-head to look out for land, since nobody else could be so well
spared. In such apparent danger, my being a passenger was no excuse.
Accordingly I went up, and sat there two hours and a half, looking across
the broad ocean for the much desired land. At length a speck seemed
to rise on the horizon, and I asked my comrade if that were land ; for I
feared to call out, and inspire men in such desperate circumstances with
groundless hopes : they were not, I .knew, in a frame of mind to be trifled
with. I therefore did not call out till I could plainly discover a white
cliff, and a smoke at a distance from it, whereupon I boldly shouted,
Land! land!

At this joyful news several sailors immediately ran up the shrouds, and
even the captain himself, to make his observations. One among them
knew the land, and said it was Port Dauphine, and that the king of that
part of the island — all the people being negroes, in a savage state — was
an enemy to all white men, and treated all the Europeans who fell into
his hands in a barbarous manner. This king, he said, was called Samuel,
and he advised us by all means to avoid landing on his territories. This
information put us into the utmost confusion and despair, and proved
indeed our ruin. The man who made the discouraging report, spoke his
real sentiments ; but he labored under a mistake, as we afterward dis-
covered. King Samuel had, it appears^ received an atfront from the crew
of a French vessel, and he ever afterward attacked all French without
mercy, who put into his dominions ; he had, however, no animosity against
any other wliite nation, but the reverse ; so that, had We put in there, we
had at least saved our lives, and some of our cargo. Under the erroneous
impression made by the sailor, we unfortunately steered westward along
tlie coast, to see if a proper landing-place could be found.

Crawling onward in this wretched condition, we kept a look-out for
some safe spot to run the vessel aground. Nothing of the kind was to be
seen ; and the ship, staggering in the water, threatened every instant to
be swamped. The men now went to the captain and asked him what he
proposed to do, for the ship could swim no longer. He asked them if
they approved of his running the vessel on shore at all risks, to which
they ail agreed, crying out, "Anything to save our lives." It would
have been of great importance to get ashore in an orderly manner ; but
this could not be done, in consequence of another blunder of the captain.

We had lost our long-boat and pinnace at Bengal, and the captain not
taking the trouble to replace them, we had but one small boat left. In
this juncture, an attempt was made to ease the vessel by cutting away tlio
masts, and throwing everything overboard, hoping she would drive high
on the beach. This failed, and now our only chance of getting through
the breakers that dashed on the shore was by the small boat, and a raft
made with some planks and yards.

»>'

472

THE STORY OF ROBERT DRURY.

While engaged making the raft, some of the natives, who were fislung,
saw our distress, and made asmoke to guide us to the shore ; but although
this looked like kindness, we entertained a poor opinion of the intentions
of the savages. The raft was finished that night, and it was arranged thai
the attempt to land should be made in the morning. , „ ^

After a dismal night, day dawned, and all prepared to leave the ill-tated
vfsacl. The first thing done was to send Mr. Pratt, our chief mate, and
four men in the boat, with a long rope for a warp, to fasten on the land.
A great sea constantly runs here upon the rocks, and before they got to
land, their boat was staved in pieces; however, being pretty near it, by
the help of some of the natives, who were negroes, they saved that part
of the boat to which the rope was fastened. We had two English women
on board ; one of them would not venture on the raft, nor would the
captain ; but the other woman and about forty or fifty of us did: I stripped
off all my clothes, but took two purses of money, and a silver cup, and
tied them fast round my middle. We hauled by the rope toward the
shore, but were no sooner among the breakers, than the first sea upset the
raft, and washed us off: some swum to the raft again, but were soon
washed off; and though the woman was drowning just by me, yet I could
not save her. I sunk under every wave, and with great difficulty got on shore,
as did every one else on the raft, except the woman. There was such a
surf running, and the sea broke so high, that we durst not venture out
with the raft again, which the captain perceiving, ordered the cable to be
cut, and let the ship drive nearer the land, where she soon beat to pieces.
The captain got on shore with his father's heart in his hand, which ac-
cording to his request when dying, was put into a bottle, m order to be
brought to England and buried at Dover.

At length they all got on shore on pieces of the ship, planks, etc., two
men only excepted, who were drowned, and the woman before mentioned :
the other woman escaped, though she was so full of water, as well as
bome others, that we were obliged to roll and rub them well, to make
tliem disgorge the water: we laid them also before a great fire, made tor
that purpose, and in a little time they revived. We were in all above one
hundred and sixty, including the Lascars.

The country now began to be alarmed, and we had already two or three
hundred negroes flocking round us, picking up several pieces of silk and
fine calicoes: the muslin they had little or no regard for. Our goods
were driven ashore in whole bales ; for what with saltpetre and other
things, we reckoned there might be 300 tons left, after all that was thrown
overboard at sundry times before.

One of the negroes brought an ox to us, and intimated by signs that we
sliould kill him ; but we made signs to them again to shoot him for us, we
having no ammunition. When one of them perceived this, he lent us his
gun, ready charged, and with it one of our men shot the bullock dead on

the spot. . . » 1 • 1

It was extremely shocking to see the negroes cut the beast, skin ana
flesh together, then toss them into the fire, or ashes, as it happened, and
eat them half-roasted. I shuddered for fear they should devour us in
like manner ; for they seemed to me to be a kind of cannibals, of wliom
I had heard very dreadful stories: everything, in short, appeared horrible
to nature, and excited in us the most dismal apprehensions.

Being very much at the mercy of the barbarians, into whose hands we
had fallen, they used no ceremony in taking possession of every article
that had belonged to the ship. While some were busily engaged in openmg

BITTER REGRETS.

473

who were fishing,
lore ; but although
a of the intentions
was arranged that

leave the ill-fated
ir chief mate, and
asten on the land,
before they got to
; pretty near it, by
ley saved that part
vo English women
ift, nor would the
' us did : I stripped
I a silver cup, and
s rope toward the
3 first sea upset the
in, but were soon
by me, yet I could
Sculty got on shore,
There was such a
rst not venture out
red the cable to be
oon beat to pieces,
is hand, which ac-
ttle, in order to be

p, planks, etc., two
1 before mentioned:
[ water, as well as
hem well, to make
great fire, made for
ire in all above one

ilready two or three
1 pieces of silk and
rd for. Our goods
saltpetre and other
all that was thrown

ted by signs that we
shoot him for us, we
1 this, he lent us his
the bullock dead on

the beast, skin and
as it happened, and
ihould devour us in
cannibals, of whom
rt, appeared horrible
nsions.

nto whose hands we
sion of every article
^ engaged in opening

our bales, and taking what tlioy likod best, 1 observed that several of them
regarded tlie iron tlioy found much more than all those goods we usually
look on as valuable, and took great pains to break all sucli pieces of
timber as liad iron in them. I broke open my chest, and took out only
one suit of clothes, leaving the rest to those who had most mind for them.

Our shipwreck had been conducted with so little regard to future pro-
ceedings, or even the preservation of our Uvea against the attacks of the
natives, tliat the whole company were now exposed to any fresh misery
that might ensue. As I was a mere boy, and had no right to advise on*;
way or another, I necessarily submitted to the decision of others. Our
captain, whose rashness and folly had Caused all our disasters, proved
equally incompetent in this new posture of affairs. He could give no
directions ; and two days and nights were spent very miserably on the
shore, without coming to any resolution, or knowing what to do.

On the third evening, about nine o'clock, we heard a man call out
Hollo! at a great distance, like an Englishman, who, being immediately
answered, came nearer, and asked who we were. Having given him the
required information, ho sat down with us by our fire, and told us the
object of his visit. He was one of the crew of an English vessel, com-
manded by Captain Drummond, a Scotchman, which had been two months
before wrecked on the island, and the captain and crew, including a
Captain Steward, were now detained by the king of this part of the country,
and would gladly make their escape. He, our visitant, whose name was
Sam, had been deputed by the king to bring information as to who we
were, and what we wanted. Sam further gave us an idea of the condition
of things in Madagascar. The whole island, he said, which \yas as large
as Great Britain, was altogether inhabited by negroes, forming a great
many petty kingdoms, which were almost continually at war with each
other. All were much on a level as to barbarism, but they were generally
acquainted with the ose of firearms and gunpowder, which, with other
articles, they got from English, Dutch, and other traders, in exchange
principally for slaves. The capturing of slaves, in order to carry on this
trade, was a main cause of the numerous wars between the different kings
and chiefs. The only king who possessed the inclination to help dis-
tressed English sailors was king Samuel, a man who had once been in
Europe, and acquired some civilized habits ; and although he had a great
enmity to the French, he would have succored us had we put into Port
Dauphine. Sam having made an end of his story, to which everybody
listened with the utmost attention, we parted, and went with heavy hearts
to our respective quarters, which were under the bushes. It was very
late, and we endeavored to repose ourselves as well as we could. The
pieces of muslin served us to spread on the gvound for beds ; but as for
my own part, I could not close my eyes to rest. I now began to reflect
on my formei obstinacy and perverseness. The thought of my tender
mother's begging me on her knees not to go to sea, gave me the most
distracting torture. I could now see my error, and repent, but who could
I blame but myself? Here were many poor men, who had no other way
to live, but I was reduced to no such necessity: I ran headlong into
misery, and severely felt the effects of it. Tears I shed in plenty, but
could not with any justice complain of fate or Providence, for my punish-
ment was but the natural result of my own ill conduct. We were all ujt
by daylight, and most of my fellow-sufferers got as little rest as 1 ; for the
man's relation had made us give over all hopes of relief, and nothing but
sorrow, distress, and despair, appeared in all its dismal forms in each man's

y 4

1:^

'.!>'^S«=^'*^,A!,,«S~.^.r^

THE STORY OF ROBERT DRUHY

474

f„., according u.l» a,..™. »n..i.^^^^^^^^^^

nor ammunition, the want ol *'"'?""'"• throuKl. llml luutof

"Xr-o.. ccic^w i. *. .ft.™.™, .^e ar:ut"r::ir»i

two hundred negroes. * '^«y°;°3'" grmod with lances. As soon

should seize them by force, but ^J^«y .^JJ^^J^^^r in a body, with our
as we saw them approaching us, we all stood together m y, ^^^^^

captain at the head of us. ^h^n t^^^ j^J^ J^in^^^^^^^ came up to

him who was our captam. As soon js h« ^^ J^^^^^^,,, Salamougcr,

sentcd to our captain ; and gave "«; "^P^.^^ ^i^^j ^h" potatoes. The
to dress our victuals m. We 'T^^^'J^ y./J^JJ to the cottag where
king stayed two hours with us, before ^« -^^j «jj°^^^^^ Lut our

he proposed to lodge that mghtanJ „etoW the caplain he was heartily
ship, and the manner of her being lost. "«"»"' ^ thing but a com-
sJyforhismisfortune^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ J, dishonest

phment; for,a8 Ifound^a^^^^^^^ and his whole nation were

than most of the other Kings on "' ,u '„g„ved from our wreck,

clothed for many years out of the effect they «^v«d Irom ^ ^^

The next morning he paid us ano^h" 3^' J^° '^l{^ town, and there
expected we should prepare to go »J«"S7;?^^^^ '^i.e^ wc might

we^hould remain till some sbps «^»-';^/«- ^^^^^^^^^^^ be a mire

return to our own country. 1 he capiain s j « , Upon this

artifice, told San. to say that he -"J^^j^J "^"^^^^^^^^^^^ time. As soon

the king departed, and gave us no ["«»«' Jj^j^^ j ;„ ^ very pathetic
as he was gone, the captam called "« -^^^^f^^^^'^^;^ equality with the
speech, addressed us as f«>»»«^« -" ^^^f, ^^J^ and m\ life is as little
meanest man here present; ""yf^^V^^/J'!*/" command, but to consult

to be regarded ; I do not P;^«^«°^' *^f^i°;^?„'°thTr™^^ «•»"«'-

with you what s most exped enUo be don^ m the p . ^^^^ ^i ^^

tion of our affairs. However, said he, 1 am nappy ^jgfortune is not

own life and liberty are l°«». J^j^^^^f^S 'hlver^^^^ my course to
any ways chargeable on rne, for I would r Jther na F ^^^ J ^^^^^
the' Cape of Good Hope in a l^^^y «hi^^^^^^^^^ m . ^^ ^ j ^ ^^^^^^

uosly opposed it; for death '"jy y^°J*/,V«ows^w«"l^ have ended ; but
and prospective condition. In dej'^'"";"""^ gh^n yet undergo? (At
now, who can tell the troubles ^^ J^'^JJ 7e„tSn, said he,^e have
this the tears stood m his eyes.) Cor^sider,gent^em^^,^ ^^^ ^ ^^^^

neither arms nor ammunition wherew^h to detenao j^j^^^^^jry

endeavored to prevail on the king to give us^^ ^J^^^ y„„^

to a seaport, but in va^n. Think »» «' t"«: ' ^^ j ^,„ ^cady to comply
safety as well as you can: be but ^^ °°^ "'jf'^ ^'^^ ufe, I set no value
with 'anything you would hav« me do_As fo^^^^ ^^ > j j^^^^

upon it; it would not now be worth Pjesemjg ,„ ^^^^er

£SrrnfnUd™rSf:dvis?=^^^^ ao anything without
your concurrence.

j,i#f,.-iltV^-'^'^^'^^^vp^'^<^^

.^,~s^.«w™«-^««i-»--««*«'^*«^''=^"^^^^^

^-.,lia-.«<!-te*rn!r>r^»**^'***'*''*" ■'"

lived neither arms
i'or nearly one
tough thiit |)nrt of
Iwitlial to defend

down with about

th them, lest wc

lances. As soon

a body, with our

cd Sam and asked

Id, he came up to

Inner, Salanionger,

mg, Your servant,

ing informed him

ing. His majesty

)f toake,(a kind of

, all which he pre-

three earthen pots

le potatoes. The

the cottage where

luestions about our

tain he was heartily

nothing but a com-

itish and dishonest

whole nation were

om our wreck.

n he told us.that he

his town, and there

ide, when we might

y this to be a mere

roposal. Upon this

that time. As soon

id in a very pathetic

n equality with the

d my life is as little

nand, but to consult

jsent unhappy situa-

this, that though my

lis misfortune is not

ept on my course to

ere ; but you stren-

erred to our present

iild have ended ; but

yet undergo? (At

;n, said he, we have

urselves, and I have

through his country

d consult your own

am ready to comply

n life, I set no value

ibr the hoi)es I have

ist return an answer

do anything without

"1'

PLUNDERKD BY THE NATIVES.

475

Wo went together and consulted, as the captain advised, and came soon
to an agreement, for the matter in debate lay witiiin a small compass
The king had refused to give us leave to go to a seaport, and we had no
arms to tight and force our way, if we could have found it. We therefore
determined to go cpuetly up the country with the king, to his place of
residence, where wo were in hopes of seeing and conversing with Captain
Drummond, Captain Steward, and the other people, who, being gallant
and courageous men, and by this time somewiiat accpiaintcd with tlie
natives, might probably be capable of giving us some proper and season-
able advice.

Next morning the king paid the captain a visit ; they saluted each other
in the usual manner, and sat down together upon the sand, while we all
stood round them. Soon after, the king ordered Sam to ask the captain
if he was ready to go, for it would be best to walk in the cool of the morning,
and rest at noon. The captain observed that he did not ask whether he
was inclined to go or not, as might reasonably have been expected, since
he pretended to give him time to consider of it, but peremptorily asked
if he was ready to go. The captain answered that wc were. At this the
king seemed fully satisfied, and ordered Sam to tell us he would breakfast
first, and advised us to do so too, that we might bo the better enabled to
perform our journey. We had little satisfaction, however, in eating and
drinking, especially since the hour was come in which wc were obliged
to leave the seaside ; and it galled us severely to think how we were
forced up the country, like a flock of sheep, at the pleasure of a parcel of
barbarous negro(^s, without any power to make terms for ourselves like
men. The king having sent, the word was given to march. I was ready
in an instant, for I carried nothing with me but what I brought ashore ;
but many of our people took pieces of silk and fine calico. We assembled
together, and went to the place where the king's tent was pitched. We
were no sooner come than he was for marching. Wo left the sea wit!i
heavy hearts, looking very wishfully back as long as we could discern it ;
and as often as we did, we observed the negroes hard at work breaking
up our bales, and enriching themselves with the plunder of our goods.
In short, they were so busy, that but few went back with the king. Our
people were but ill disposed for traveling, since everybody was tired with
working and want of rest. Many were lamed with hurts received in
getting on shore ; some were also without shoes, and most of us had but
bad ones. Then, again, the country near the seaside, and some few
miles further, is full of short underwood and thorny shrubs, which tore
our clothes to rags; for the path was very narrow, and, before this accident,
but little frequented ; the ground also was sandy, so that when the sun
was advanced pretty high, it scorched our feet to that degree that we were
scarcely able to walk.

About noon we came to one of their small, mean villages, consisting of
about eight or ten houses, or rather huts ; for they were not above six or
seven feet high, and about eight or nine feet in length, and their doors
not above three or four feet high. Our people crept into these hovels to
rest, and to see what they could meet with to refresh themselves. Some
found honey, others milk, and others beef; for the king had given us free
permission to take what eatables soever came to hand. The inhabitants
were all absent, the men at the seaside taking advantage of the wreck,
and the women and children fled into the woods at our approach. We
passed several of these poor villages, but saw few of the people. Here
we reposed till the heat was abated, when we made ourselves but a poor

■■:rf':-'^r,v.tr^-!S,^

THE STORY OF ROBERT DRUUY.

476

<»mp,„».io„ b, robbing .bem of U,.i, .ri«e., while .be, .0.0 ."ichtog
themelvos with our ioo»> vduJile ""■""""'V^- ,„j ;„ „ „„,. ,i,„„ Mine
In ,h„ cool of .1,0 nr'roTd A. we »o "'now L» niilo, from .ho

tho country could afford. villaHes, where we killed a

At night we came to another of ^f se »im« Jiuag , ^^^

l.uUockfand got a feV'^f 'Tn'.ne bufwha Sey brought from a great
vory thick and °<"ty,they havmg none but what Uiey g ^^,^j,,,i,e8, or

distance, out of holes and pits m ^^^^^^f,'';"/;!. however, it served
U..g tubs, which hold about four^orh^g ^; ,

our purpose, for at that time ^o wcr j ^j^^ j^^^^^

ourselves on the «-""^-J^^,\t?froubTcaSt, without any bread,
niommg by daylight. ."^^^^J J^f "* 3' ° ^s full of sand: however, eatmg
or roots, in the place of it, and our meat was ^uu o ^^^.^

and drinking was the least ot our concern a^ tforr^ith this^difference
day much after the same mariner >^s the on« Ja Jssed intho woods,
only, that those who wanted shoes were sadly ""assea inui

"'S'n the third day of o-^-^^^^Ser^f hi tTforme^, having
were obliged to walk ™"«^»» t^; Um^to do t in for we were ordered
more ground to traverse, and less time to Jo ' "» ' ' ^ ^es in

to be at the king's town before sunset J "^^l^^^^^^^^^J^^^ at
this day's journey : the loss f '^-iSfe'L'trme had I kept it ; but
that time, for it would have been ot little s";";^!^^ j^ j^ad presented me

^Z at:trmlt of hrS:l^L^^a\7eftrre"mtber herfwas no small

^^s rS^^^^^^out m^^^^: n^i,t ;

reckon we might travel «'*»«« '^ ""^ ««^^J^ f^u" ™'e^ to hl;e been planted
wood, secured with trees all round, which seem to na v ^^^^^

there' when very young: they g/^^^J^JJ ^^^^^ JJem The outworks are
together, that a small dog cannot pass bttweentne^^^^ ^^^

likewise armed with l«ge, strong thornn so U^athere^^ ^^

through, or climbing o'"/'*^™; , TJ^^^ Xeast. Oneof these is to the
Sl:rJiTe"rrnrS«^«dtZ'„ho.e 1, .bou. . .lie in

"''Srerwe^n.ene„..rJo«™eyW^^^^^^^^^^
inform the king of our "rivid. We were oraer ^^ ^^^j^

for our reception: our «=^P»7' j^fj; PJ J/^ ou, people brought with
ordering all our baggage, "^^^^^eVtela^d three or^our Lascars to
them, to be lodged under a tamarind g««' "^"^^'^^ ^^^hed in order by
look after them. The king soon «ent for us , ana we ^^^^^^

fours. He was sitting °^\™^*' ^^f^'l^Jia on °h 8 shJulder, and a brace
the door of his paJace, with a 8"° ]3°t1nlen sat in the ^ame manner
of pistols lying by his side ; ^'b J'Jf^d k^ns^^^^^^^^ ,„d lances ; the

on\he ground, on each hand f ]"™' J'J^f J^^^^ a semicircle ;
natives joined them on both ^ fes, and J9™«" / ^^ ^^^^^,^ There
most of these were likewise furjhed with g ^^^ ^^ ^^ ^^

were mats spread from one end «f j^%Pf J^J^bly assumed a circular

^*«^^*^-,W^*?^^S'^r^S^-^^

v?i' -tf? ^y * ! ^- '*^'^''

ly were enriching

la little time came
lie miles from the
lud to marclt at our
^8ions, and Ictl his
wantud, and what

Iwhoro we killed n

The water was

lught from a great

It in calabashes, or

[however, it served

)U8. Wo reposed

and rose the noxi

without any bread,

d: however, eating

We passed this

irith this difference

in the woods.

urney's end. We

two former, having

r we were ordered

ne of my purses in

importance to mu at

e had I kept it ; but

• had presented me

er her, was no small

1 the seaside ; for I
iay. It stands in a
have been planted
d tall, and so close
The outworks aie
tere is no breaking
i passages, or gates,
)ne of these is to the
le is about a mile in

, while Sam went to
vait till he was ready
best form he could,
}eople brought with
3 or four Lascars to
marched in order by
open air, just before
houlder, and a brace
; in the same manner
uns and lances ; the
jether a semicircle ;
and lances. There
le other for us to sit
y assumed a circular
thus in arms, till Sam

BOLD ATTEMPT FOR LIBERTY.

477

informed us that they never go from one house to another without them. As
soon as we were seated, the king (by Sam) assured the captain he was
welcome, and sent for ten calabashes of toake; six ho gave to our

Eoople, throe to his own, and one ho reserved for our captain and hitiiHclf.
Ic also sent for Captain Drummond, Captain Steward, and the rest of
their company. Captain Younge arose to salute them ; and aAor the
usual compliments were passed, the captains sat down together. The
king or<lorud a servant to pour out some toake into a clean earthen cup,
which he kept for his own use, and drank it up without drinking to any-
body, but ordered some more to be poured out for our captain in another
cup; but as it was dirty, he refused it: the king asked Sam the reason
of it, who told him the truth, so ho sent a man immediately to wash it.
The captain, indeed, expected to be served out of the king^s cup, but
Sam informed him that neither black nor white nor even his wives or
children, over drank out of his cup ; and this is the general custom of
the country.

When I saw the servant returning with the rup our captain had refused,
I took out my silver one and presented it to him. After we had all drank
out of it, the king wished to see it, and was so wonderfully pleased with
it, that he desired to keep it; but the captain informed him that it was
none of his, but belonged to a lad who was behind him. I called to Sam,
and desired him to acquaint the king, that since so many people had drank
out of it, I humbly conceived it could not be fit for his use. At this he
and the people round him laughed heartily. He ordered me to stand up,
that he might see me; however, I saved my cup this time. Night drawing
on, he withdrew, ordering us a bullock for our supper. Notwithstanding
his courteous reception of us, he would not trust us all to lie within the
gates of the town. Our captain, Mr. Pratt, our chief mate, Mr. Berabo,
our second mate, and myself, were the only persons who were so far in-
dulged. We had a hutch ordered us next to that of Captain Drummond
and his companions ; but the rest of the people lay without the gates
under the trees. In this manner we lived for some few days.

Every morning we went, as was expected, in a body to visit the king ;
but one morning he ordered Sam to inform us that he had an inveterate
enemy to the westward, who had hitherto proved too powerful for him,
but since his gods had been so indulgent as to send some white men into
his dominions, he would embrace so favorable an opportunity once more
to try his strength with our assistance. But in the meantime he should
be obliged to distribute us among his sons, who lived at distant towns, ni>t
only for the convenience of providing for such a number of us, (there nut
being room enough in this town,) but tc ease himself of a charge which
was too great and burdensome for him to support alone. He also sent to
me this night to beg the silver cup before mentioned, with which request
(knowing it was in his power to take it by force, if he thought fit,) I readily
complied. This unexpected separation was a terrible blow to us, and we
returned to our cottages with heavy hearts, well knowing if we could not
find out some way to prevent it, there were no hopes of ever getting off
the island.

Hereupon the three captains, namely, Drummond, Steward, and
Younge, with some of the chief of our people, entered immediately into
a consultation about what was proper to be done in this emergency, and
to make some bold attempt for our lives and liberty. Captain Drummond,
as I heard afterward, was the person who proposed to take the king
prisoner, and by that means to make tlieir own terms with the natives.

:.**cfE?^-*^'i-i'fl»-*?,*L',.f .i,''^* •*'r**' " —-r*-^-

478

THE tiTORY OF ROnKIlT DUURY.

Now Captain Drnmmon.l and HOtn*- ollinrs wcro men of cxpcncnro and
umrnunL roHoh.tion: our captain, indocljia.! rouran^ .nouKh, bu ho
Tai to" yo, nJ,^ Howovcr, ti.o propoHition was universally a,,prov«.» of,
r, I time and manner of the execution wa. fixed. I was too voung
, . d . ed s one of the council, therefore I Hhall not pretend to relate
hat roaHouH were produced either for or aRamst the proposal I observed
i'an ain Younge and Mr. Bembo to talk with great earnestness, but n
wh "s, an 1 with the utmost precaution. As 1 was then a stranger to
tha e Sn I slept sound, till I was roused in the morn.ng by a great and
sudden noie in the town occasioned by the plot be.ng pu m cxecut on.
Our .eon"e wont as usual betimes in the morning to pay their compliments
2 ho king and while some of them were at the prince's house, the
4S wi^'givon b"y one of Captain Drummond's ,„en firing a pistol, at
which the king was seized, and his son at the same time.

This instantly alarmed the whole town: I started up without my shoea,
boinrf"gir..<d at the sudden outcry. Not knowing what was the
n3r, uEo ng the negroes flocking out of the to^' » ^"-l ^'^'T S
Si I was taken notice of by one of our men, who called mo back ; and I
wis\^ much amazed as thJ natives to see the king his consort, and one
of hiTsons, with their hands tied behind thein, under the guard of our
people They presently rifled the king's '"anson-house, and every o her
C where they could find any agreeable plunder We happened to
find about thirty small arms, a small quantity of powder and shot, and a
few lances The natives, as I observed before, ran out of the town, but
hlv did i? with no other view than to procure assistance ; for they soon
Irmed the country, and returned with great numbers from all the adjacent
mwnstand immedii'ely besieged us. They fired in upon us, and wounded
onTof our men in the groin, on which Captain Younge ordered Sam to
Jell the k"ng if "hey fired any more, they would kill him that very moment.
TLking"hiy their resolution, called to his men, and desired them
tn dpsist if thev had a mind to save his life.

Sat empt! indeed, was bold and hazardous, and sorne, perhaps, may
censure ta/i'Hminal.' I shall not say much in i^ df.f««««= '?"» «"f,'=«
J have come to years of maturity, I cannot forbear reflecting that if nature,
even in a Christian country, will rebel against principle, what w. 1 it not
So for life and liberty, under the tyranny and oppression of a barbarous
and savage nation? Be this as it may, we put ourselves in a posture of
defense and marched out of the town ; six men under arms marched m
fhe front an^n the body, where the king was, six went armed before
him li'^rbehind; thr'e'e before his Hon, and three behind ; and s.x
brought up the rear, in which were the Lascars. Captain Younge, out
of compas^sion! would have released the queen, and let her go wherever
she oleased, but she would not abandon her husband.

We had not gone above four miles on our march, before our wounded
companion fainted, and not being able to carry him off, we were forced to
lea"e S by the side of a pond of water, where, as I was afterward m-
fomed The/soon put him oStof pain, by striking their lances >nto severjd
parts of his body. Having marched about two or three miles farther, we
ffout of the wJods, and found ourselves in a spacious, open plain, where
SL c^ild see all around us, and soon found that our «»«»'«« 7J« J?^
onlv near, but numerous, and threatened immediately to attack us. We
?^L toward them, our amed men being in t^e front, «.t^. he king bound
before them. Sam was ordered at the same time to tf»hm» that our
design was not to hurt either him or his son, nor to carry them mto their

•TriseLt«»3«ser!*

nxporionco and

fiioti^li, hut he

Inlly approvod of,

1 1 wan too voung

J pretend to relate

■KKsal. I observed

Irnestiiesfl, but in

then a stronger to

Itig by a great and

^piit in execution.

their conipliincnts

[incogs house, the

firing a pistol, at

without my shoes,

ng what was the

, I ran witlvthem,

d mo back ; and I

i consort, and one

the guard of our

c, and every other

We happened to

)r and siiot, and a

it of the town, but

ce ; for they soon

om all the adjacent

>n us, and wounded

ge ordered Sam to

I that very moment.

and desired them

ome, perhaps, may
iefense: but since
;ting that if nature,
lie, what will it not
ion of a barbarous
ves in a posture of
r arms marched in
'ent armed before
3 behind ; and six
ptain Younge, out
t her go wherever

sfore our wounded
we were forced to
was afterward in-
lances into several
3 miles farther, we
, open plain, where
enemies were not
to attack us. We
nth the king bound
I tell him that our
rry them into their

CAPTURE OF THK KINO.

479

" T-i*5*T*!V'Ti .^r?.«r? •

enemies^ country, but only to d<!tuin thorn as hostages for our sutegiiaril
while wo passed throii^'h his (loininions; and that nn soon wo came to tlie
borders of Port Daiiphiin*, >vn would let tlicin ^o again, and give tliom
back the arms and aniniuiiition we iiad takt.-n front tiiuin; but if tiio least
violence was otfered to us, wo should sucritiuo them both ; and this wo
desired him to tell his people.

Hereupon he called one of his generals to him, assuring him that bo
should receive no harm. Accordingly he letl his gun and lunce behind
him, and came to us, where he was informed, hotli by us and the king,
uf our resolution ; upon which he told us there should not bo a gun tired
while we preserved the king alive, and gave him civil treatment.

This parley being over, wo continued our inarch through the plain till
near evening ; many of us without shoos, as well as myself, and somo
aick, which obliged us to take up our quarters sooner than wo would
otherwise have done; so that every one was almost faint, and glad of rest.
The king ordered Ham to tell us that an o\ should bo sent to us forthwith.
Wo mado a trench like a ring, in tho midst whereof wo planted the black
king and his son: our captain and some few others wore appointed as a
guard over thom : our armed men wore divided into four parties, in order
to secure us in the best manner they could. We had just finished our
camp, when the officer who had been with us before, and three other
men, brought us a bullock. Ho brought likewise somo roasted meat in
his hand, and a horn of water for the king; so wo loosed our royal prison-
ers' hands, that they might feed themselves. They ate some small matter,
and gave the remainder to Captain Younge.

While we were employed in killing the ox, we desired tho king to send
some of his people into the woods for somo fuel to dress it, which he
readily did ; and they soon brought us sufKcient for our purpose. But
all this time wo wanted water, and complained thereof to the king, who
assured us that there was none to be got near that place by several miles,
and that what small quantity was given him in the horn, was taken from
that very pond where wo left the wounded man, which could not be less
than ten miles distant. This very much disheartened us ; for we were
parched with thirst, which was the more increased by the fatigue of our
long march and the heat of the country. However, there was no help
for us, and patience was the only remedy. When the king and his son
had supped, we bound their hands before them, that they might sleep as
easy as they could ; so, after we had cut up our bullock, and divided it
amongst us, we broiled and ate it, though with but little satisfaction, for
want of water ; and when we had made as good a supper as our unhappy
circumstances would well admit of, we also used our best endeavors to
repose ourselves. The three captains, however, agreed to watch alter-
nately, and divided our people into three parties for that purpose. The
king entreated his wife to go home and comfort his children, but more
particularly recommended his beloved daughter to her caro. She went
at his request, but shed tears when departing, as did also the king and
his son. Such of us as were not on the watch lay down ; but we had a
wretched night; for the ground was stony, and there was but little grass;
and, what was still a greater affliction, we were excessively dry, and had
nothing to quench our thirst.

At dawn of day we arose, which was the second day of our travel, and
the better to support ourselves under the fatigue of it, we ate part of tlie
remains of our beef; but it was a miserable repast, as we had nothing to
drink. However, we put ourselves in the same order as we had done

480

THK STORY OF ROBERT DRURV.

the day before, and wnnt forward. The native* percoivinff us in motion,
moved too, hut kept at a greater diitance, and went into our conip a(\or
we had quitted it, to see what they could find ; and their labor wan not
altogether lout, for many of our people thought proper to leave half thone
India goodn they had brought out of the town behind them, that they
might travel with leas fatigue. We walked with more ease half thin day
than we did the day before, it proving cloudy weather, and cool. About
noon, the general who had been with us before came with aome roanted
moat and a horn of water for the king and his son : as we did not loosen
their hands, we were forced to feed them. The general ordered Ham to
UHk the captains if thoy would release the king for six guns. I perceived
there was a debate between them and Mr. Bembo; some thinking the
si.x guns would be of great service to us, especially as we should still have
the king^s son : others wore of opinion that it would bo more for our safety
to keep the king: however, it was agreed at last that he should be dis-
missed. Wo informed the general, that if thoy would give us six very
good guns, and promise on their honor not to follow us, but return with
their king, wo would let him go ; and that as soon as we came to the
rivor Manderra, which divided his dominions from those of Port Dauphine,
we would release the king's son, and leave all their arms behind us.

The general was startled at this unexpected condescension of our
people, and dispatched one of his attendants to the king's other sons, who
were not far oft' with their army, to acquaint them with our proposal; and
in half an hour's time, returned to us with six of the best guns. They
made the more haste, lost our minds should alter : we kop'. them no longer
in suspense than while we took tbn guns to pieces, to see whether they
were in good condition or not; and finding them better than we could
reasonably have expected in such a country, we released their king, and
sent him away with the general. He took his leave of the prince, and
wont directly to the army. Wo were so near as to see the ceremony of
liis meeting with his sons, who fell down and embraced his knees, and,
with all the earnestness 'maginable, shed tears for joy. After they had
kissed and licked his knees and legs for about five or six minutes, they
arose to give his head officers on opportunity of paying the like homage;
and after them, some others of an inferior station, who in general expressed
a most sincere and passionate affection to his person, and showed all the
demonstrations of joy imaginable on account of his return. This cere-
monial being over, they all hallooed and fired their guns, as a public
testimony of their joy and satisfaction.

We now walked away on our toilsome march, still retaining the prince
a prisoner as a hostage. In the course of the day we were disconcerted
to observe that a crowd still hung on our rear, and that this party came to
a pause when we encamped for the night. Our sufferings were at this
point considerably increased. We could find neither victuals nor water,
and were so parched with thirst, that we crawled on the ground to lick
the dew ; and this was all the refreshment we could then meet with.

On the third day of our march we rose early, and put forward as well
as we could. The negroes, who strictly observed our motions, were as
ready as we ; but we placed our armed men in the front, determined to
make a bold push for it if they attempted to obstruct our passage. They
divided, and let us proceed without molestation ; and though we traveled
all the morning, yet we met with nothing remarkable, till we arrived at a
little round hill, whereon there stood a prodigious large tub, about six feet
high, which held near a hundred gallons, and was full of toake. Our

. «-.»^,..*f-*...<,*,.«.5r-v.^:,6^,-s,(qjx,-r-weOT^ ■-.rin^^'^.-.-r-rtiK'-'J^

inff 118 ill motion.

o our caiiip aOor

eir labor wqh not

loavn liiilf thoHR

them, that they

ease half thin day

and cool. About

with Roino roBNtnd

ve did not loosen

ordered 8am to

una. I perceived

ome thinking the

should atil! have

nore for our safety

le should be dia-

givo us six very

H, hut return with

8 we came to the

of Port Dauphine,

ns behind us.

desccnsion of our

:*8 other sons, who

our proposal; and

best guns. They

op', them no longer

> see whether they

tter than we could

sed their king, and

of the prince, and

the ceremony of
;ed his knees, and,
y. After they had
r six minutes, they
ig the like homage;

1 general expressed
and showed all the
eturn. This cere-
guns, as a public

retaining the prince
I were disconcerted
It this party came to
ferings were at this
victuals nor water,
the ground to lick
hen meet with,
put forward as well
ur motions, were as
front, determined to
}ur passage. They
though we traveled
, till we arrived at a
;e tub, about six feet
full of toake. Our

ItFI'EASE OF THB KINO.

481

piioplo were going immodiateiy to drain it dry ; but Bam threw it down,
and spilt all the liquor, unking us, wi ti f <il> warmth, if wo were so blind
wi not to see the plot that wM laid tor uu. i^'structioii ; for it was planted
there to tempt ua w drink, with no wthcr intention than to poiaon ua all,
or, at leoat, to intoxicate ms to that dt^ffTtit' ihat thuy might raacuo their prince
without opiKMition, and oMurdor us at their f>knaure.

While we were reflecting on 'his extraoraiu«ry Ktion, the general and
two or three more came up to uu. and asked Sam whaf '^fsason he could
otter for spilling the toake; to which he made no regular reply, but bid
liim bo gone about his buaineu. The general desired to speak witli th**
young prince; and after a little discourse witli him> directed Ham to ac-
<|uuint Captain Youngo, that if he should think fit to release the prince,
they would give him uree of the head men of the country in exchanj^e.
Under the delusive idea that they followed us only on accouotof the priiui'.
ind that, if we should release him, they would all return back, our cajitain
complied with the goneraPs proposition, and, in a short time, three men
were delivered in exchange for the prince.

All arrangements for securing the three new hostages being inude, wo
proceeded pu our journey as well as men could without provisionH, and
were too soon convinod of Captain Younge's mistake ; for the negroid,
iuatead of retiring, approached nearer, and some inarched before um, no
thiit we expected every minute they would attof-k us. We had a youwfi
iiid in our company, who lost his leg in Bengal. Notwithstanding he wuk
well recovered, and supplied witli a wooden one well fitted, yet it cannot
bi! imagined that he should be able to keep up with us: for, being now
surprised by their surrounding us, we doubled our pace, and, iu short,
wore obliged to leave this poor lad behind us. We saw the barbarians
come up with him, take off his wooden leg, and first insult him; then they
thrust their lances into his body, and left hiiu wallowing in his blood.
Being eyewitnesses of this act.of inhumanity, and apprehensive of the like
treatment, we hurrie4 on a^ fast as our feeble lin^bs would carry us till sun-
set, when we came to a large tamarind tree, the leaves whereof, as they
were sour, wo chewed, to moisten our mouths. The fruit itself was not
then in season.

The three negroes whom we had taken as hostages, observing what had
passed, and thinking their lives in danger, called to Sam and the captains,
und told them they had fi scheme to propose, which would be for the safety
of us all ; which was tliis, that as soon as it was dark, we should keep
marching on, as silently as possible, all night. The captains approved of
this proposal, and ordered none of us to sleep, but to be ready as soon as
the watchword was given. This was very grievous, considering how tired
we were the day before ; but we submitted cheerfully to anything that
gave us hopes of escaping from the violent hands of those bloodthirsty
barbarians. As soon as it was dark enough to conceal our fliglit, we
assembled together, and took a considerable quantity of muslins and
calicoes and nung them upon the bushes, that the spies, who we knew
watched us, might not anywise mistrust our sudden removal.

We walked off accordingly undiscovered by them. Captain Druminond,
however, being taken so iU that he could not walk at all, none of us being
strong enough to carry him, we resolved to make the three negroes per-
form that office by turns. After we had thus traveled most part of the
night, we came to a thicket among some cotton trees, where the man who
had the charge of Captain Oruromond threw him upon the ground, ran
awHy into the wood, and we never ww him more. Upon this wo had a
81

482

THE 8T0RT OP ROBERT DRURY.

inoro watchful eye over the other two, and led him whoso turn it was to
cwry the captain with a rope about his neck.

Vfeak as wc were, wo traveled a great many miles that night, and were
glad when the day broke upon us ; for the negroes had told us before,
Uiat if we wa/lked hard all night, we should bo at Manderra river betimes
in the morning. And their information was correct ; for as soun as v/e
came to a little hill, the sun then just rising, we had a prospect of the
river, though at a considerrble distance ; however, the hopes we hud of
coming to it in a short time, and of getting water to quench our tliirst,
gave us no small pleasure, and our spirits began to revive at the very
sight of it. It was some comfort, likewise, to think that the king^s dominions
extended no farther, notwithstanding there were no inhabitants to protect
us within several miles on the other side. Some of our people who were
more tired than the rest, took liberty to sit down to refresh themselves, as
taking it for granted that the negro army would never come in sight of
us again.

But this vain notion of being safe and secure too quickly vanished ; for
as soon as they missed us in the morning, they pursued us like so many
beagles, and before we got within a mile of Manderra river, overtook us.
Thereupon they began to butcher our men then resting under the trees,
striking their lances into their sides and throats. Though I was one of
those wlio could not travel well, yet there were twenty behind me : the
woman whose life was preserved in our ship was next to me. I, seeing
them V'll cLr people in this barbarous manner, threw off my coat and
waistcoat, and trusted to my heels ; for the foremost of our people having
passed the river, and I not being far off, took courage ; but hearing the
report of a gun, I looked back, and saw the poor woman fall, and the
negroes sticking their lances in her sides. My turn was next, for the
same negroes pursued me, and before I reached the brink of the river,
they fired a gun at me, but I jumped in. Our men who had got safe over
made a stand, in order to defend those who were behind ; and notwith-
standing the negroes followed me so close, I could not refrain from
drinking two or three times.

Those who had got over now marched forward, and I kept up with
them as well as I could. We had a wood to pass through, and the negroes,
as soon as they saw us quit the ba.iks, immediately crossed and pursued
us. They got into the woods, and, firing behind the trees every now and
then, they killed three or four of our men. We had not traveled above
two miles in this wood, before we came to a large, sandy plain, to which
we could see no end ; and here they determined to stop our progress,
since, if we went much farther, we should be within hearing of king
SamuePs subjects, who were their mortal enemies, and would readily
assist us. They divided themselves, therefore, into several bodies, in
order to break in upon us on all sides ; and we, being apprised of their
designs, were resolved to sell our lives and liberties as dear as possible.
Hereupon our captains put us in as good a posture of defense as they
could, and divided the men who bore arms into four classes ; one under
the command of each of our three captains, and the other under Mr.
John Bembo: such as had no arms, or were disabled, were covered in a
little valley, and with them were the two negro hostages.

Wo had not above thirty-six firearms among us all, and not many more
persons fit to fight, so that wc were a poor handful to withstand an army
of two or three thousand. When they found we made a stand, they did
so too, and according to their wonted manner, where it could be done,

/hose turn it was to

hat night, and were
had told us before,
iderra river betimes
; for as soun &a vie
d a prospect of the
>e hopes we hud of
quench our tiiirst,
t revive at the very
Lhe king^s dominions
ihabitants to protect
ur people who were
fresh themselves, as
'er come in sight of

uickly vanished ; for
ued us like so many
•a river, overtook us.
ting under the trees,
rhough I was one of
enty behind me : the
xt to me. I, seeing
rew off my coat and
of our people having
ge ; but hearing the
woman fall, and the
rn was next, for the
le brink of the river,
who had got safe over
lehind; and notwith-
uld not refrain from

I, and I kept up with
)ugh, and the negroes,
crossed and pursued
trees every now and
ad not traveled above
sandy plain, to which
to stop our progress,
ithin hearing of king
es, and would readily
nto several bodies, in
eing apprised of their
3S as dear as possible,
re of defense as they
ur classes ; one under
. the other under Mr.
led, were covered in a
stages.

all, and not many more
i\ to withstand an army
made a stand, they did
lere it could be done,

BATTLE WITH THE NATIVES.

483

three or four of them in a place threw up the .sand before them, and being
also beneath us, we could see only their heads. 'J'luir sliot How very
fast over us, and we kept them in play from noon till six in the cveiunc,
by which time all our ammunition was spent. Those of us who had money
made slugs of it; our next shift was to take the middle screws out of oui
guns, and charge our pieces with them. When we liad used all these
means, we knew not what to do further: now we began to reflect on tliose
wiio advised us to deliver up first the king, and aflerward his son, since
the keeping of them would have been our principal safeguard. The two
negroes in our custody expected no doubt every minute to be killed, as
very justly they might; but as their death would be of no service to us
we did them no injury. *

At length it was unanimously agreed that Dudey and her husband should
be sent to the enemy with a flag of truce, not only to prolong the time,
but to know what they further wanted ; so we tied a piece of red silk to
a lance, and sent them away. They kept firing at us all this time, not
knowing wliat we meant by not returning it. They shot at tiiose who
earned the flag; but perceiving that they were not armed, the prince
ordered them to cease. Dudey was interpreter, and told them that our
captain was inclined to make peace with them, and to deliver up the two
hostages, with the guns and ammunition we took with us, as soon as we
were advanced a little further into the country. They said they would
suffer us to go in the morning, in case we would deliver up our arms and
ti\e men, but not that evening, because it was dark. Their true reason
was this: they knew, if we got away that night, we should send some of
King faamuel s people, who were their bitter enemies, to be revenged on
tljem lor the ill-treatment we had met with.

With the vain idea of appeasing them, it was resolved that ne.\t morning
we should give up our arms. Captain Drurainond and some of his friends,
however, protesting against the folly which the party were about to commit.
Morning dawned, after a dismal night, bringing with it a day of sorrow.
As soon as we could see, we missed Captain Drummond, Captain Steward,
Mr. Bembo, Dudey, and her husband, and four or five more, who deserted
in the night, without communicating tlieir intentions to us. Now we
plainly saw destruction before us, and the end of this miserable journey,
which, after so bold an attempt, we undertook for the preservation of our
lives and liberty: and a tragical one it was; for no sooner was it broad
daylight than the negroes came up to us, and the prince had a short con-
terence with Sam. Captain Younge asked him the purport of their
discourse ; he answered, they wanted to know what was become of
Captain Drummond and the rest. The words were no sooner out of his
mouth than one of the princes took hold of me, and delivered me to one
ot his attendants. There were three or four lads like myself, and much
about my age, who were seized at the same time, and delivered to their
people in the same manner, who bound our hands with cords.

There now ensued a scene of horrid butchery, every one of our unfor-
tnnate company, including Captain Younge, being killed on the spot,
lhe ^dies- ere next stripped of their clothing, and every article car-
ried ofl as spoil. Little time was consumed in this tragical affair; for
the savages expected that the subjecte of King Samuel, roused by Captain
Drummond, would soon be down upon them; and I afterward learned
tliat such a friendly force actually came soon after our departure. In the
attack which had been made on us, Sam contrived to escape, and returned
wiUi the negroes; whether he was ever sincere in his friendship for us, is

THE STORY OF RODERT DRURY.

worst enemies. . „.u„.l ««va2e, and was led away like a caii

I was now the captive of a naked "'''g*;^^^^; ^hat should be my
to th^ shambles, galled with cords, and mrt kn g^^^^^ ^^^

7li^:ZS^^^^^:^ -^en was now to return home with
^re way we went, I w. ^^ked t£'t^^^

of our men, which lay ex^sed «"f; *^«X S of ''"'"'*'' *"'''"^.^''*
Jhe river ^e had crossed, I «'«.«°/j'^^w sSrcely stand on my legs-
no sustenance for three days, ^h^^^j^ to^cern fir me, yet he would
Though my master expressed some little co ^.^ ^^p

lot bfit till he was past the "'«': »^2ke"'fire! and now 1 was in hopes
rrthe first commodious place and make ^"Z. ' ^^g had carried beef
of some Agreeable refreshment, for somo of J^s ««J .^ .^ ^^^ ^^^^
on their backs for that purpose though hey ^^^^^^.^^ ^^ ^^

°.i. thP hide, and dressed and ate it "*"/"';. .u'ght this contempt-
::lm and gave it to me in the -me mann- y 1 1 though^ ,^„,hed-the

•ble foid-and what ^ beggar m England wou ^^ ^^^^^^ here nbout an

the^ wf n"t with throe or fo«r men whom my mas -^^ ^^

Sec my master came to ™; a"f g-^ ">[ ,\Xut a pouni, without any
r«t out as much as 1 thought proper. J"^ , . ignorance, and so

;:tonhc hide, which he perce^vm^.^^^^^^^^^^ ,,,^^g

rut a slice with the hide, and dresseu u . » ^^^^ ^^g,^ each

thankfulness, not daring to refuse '»■ ^^"/„ffo, ,,i.nself to lie on: my
m^ pulled as much g^ass as was sufiici^nt to^ i then reposed

Sdian, however, provided enojih for hunscu a ^^.^ ^ ^

Sf accordingly, and he »'^y# ^^ ' ^'m aU nighl long. I had very
S hatIwasforccdtoturnm£backonh.maU g .^^^ ^^^ ^^^,

ittle'relfor the f-^^tm sfeera-oon- I closed m^^^
before me, and made me start trom »'« V ^ marched on till

*'" At break of day we ""^^'-^^^^'f^iaSy trees near a pond of water
- JTn when we baited among some snauy ^usy u\

X'etme employed tl-m«c've» 'U j.mdling a fi^e^ otli ^^ ^.^^^ ^

Sng "P -^"d "l"^" iT^SonobslrTed one of them pulling outot the
what they were doing, but I «??° "^'^^^ ^„ a yam, having seen many
pound a' long white ^^ ''^^J Sshed^hemselves with a suffic^n
S them at Bengal. Jh^J/^J" ^"^Jd, without any cultivation. Some
.quantity. I perceived they grew wiia^ ^.^ ^^ g^,^^,, .nehes

Sthem^ere -ghteen mche^long at ^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^ ^.j^, , 7°^ Cv

„._»j.:iu„,-S^g,jr<tS;!;S(t-.'i;'iS5i./iJ*'

'••vSr-^!

»«^1r«ls?rw5«.fc•i^saa,;

, ,-^ «>-,,;■■, ■, % :-' ii. j B f j y 'y ■

lad been our own

id away like a calf
vhat shouW be my
nner, and won we

or proprietor, as I
some conseiiuencc,

return home with

he mangled bodies
When we reached
ictuals, having had
stand on my legs.
at me, yet he would
!d his people to stop
now I was in hopes
nts had carried beef
t in two long pieces,
I, according to their
jought this contempt-
»t have touched — the
rested here about an
giis to know if I could
•avcled the remainder
ey walked but slowly,

d for our lodging, and
master had sent out a
(cks, one of which my
id his people, and the
sbanded, and all were
their own habitations,
intimating that 1 might
it a pound, without any

my ignorance, and so
lich 1 ate with seeming
supper was over, each
himself to lie on: my
ind me : I then reposed

black skin smelled so
night long. I had very
icrod friends was ever

1 as I closed my eyes,
repast, marched on till

near a pond of water,
re, others were busy In
lid not at first conceive
■ them pulling out of the
yam, having seen many
nselves with a sufficient

any cuhivation. Some
,bout six or seven inches
m, which I roasted, and
ad with my beef. They

REDUCED TO SLAVERY.

486

are very agreeable to the taste, as well as wholesome food. We arrived
that evening at a small town, which we no sooner entered, than the women
and children flocked round about me, pinched me, struck me on the back
with their fists, and showed several other tokens of their derision and
contempt, at which I could not forbear weeping, as it was not in my power
to express my feelings any other way ; but when my guardian observed
it, he came to my assistance, and freed me from my persecutors. All
the houses that were empty were taken up by my master, his brother,
and other head men, so that my guardian and I lay exposed to the open
air. 'The ill treatment I met witli from the women and children put a
thousand distracting thoughts into my head: sometimes I imagined
that I might bo preserved alive for no other purpose than to be carried
to the king and his son, who would, in all probability, be fired with
resentment at oui late seizing of them, and making them prisoners;
then again I tiiought, that, to gratify their pleasure and revenge, they
would order me to be put to death before their faces, by slow degrees,
and the most exquisite torments. Sucli melancholy reflections as these
so disordered me, that when once, through weariness, I fell into a slum-
ber, 1 had a dream which so terrified me, that 1 started upright, and
trembled in every joint ; in short, I could not get one wink of sleep all
the night long.

When it was broad daylight we marched homeward — for now I must
call it so — and in three or four hours' time we arrived at a considerable
town, with three or four tamarind trees before it. One of the negroes
carried a large shell, which, when he blew, sounded like a postboy's horn
This brought the women to a spacious house in the middle of the town,
about twelve feet high, which I soon perceived was my master's. No
sooner had ho seated himself at the door, than his wife came out, ciawling
on her hands and knees till she came to him, and then licked his feet ;
and when she had thus testified her duty and respects, his mother paid
iiiin the like compliment ; and all the women in the town saluted their
husbands in the same manner ; then each man went to his respective
habitation, my master's brother only excepted, who, though lie had a
house, had no wife to receive him, and so he stayed bcliind.

My mistress intimated by her motions that she would have me go in
and sit down. Much serious discourse passed between my master and her;
and though I knew nothing of what they said, yet, by her looking so
earnestly at me while he was talking, I conjectured he was relating to
her our tragical tale, and I perceived that the tears frequently stood in
her eyes. This conference over, she ordered some carravances to be
boiled for our dinner — a kind of pulse much like our gray peas : she gave
me some, but as they had been boiled in dirty water, I could not eat them.
She, perceiving 1 did not like them, strained them ofl' the water, and put
some milk to them, and afler that I made a tolerable meal of them. She
gave me not only a mat to lie down upon, but likewise a piece of calico,
about two yards in length, to cover me. She intimated that she wanted
to know my name, which I told her was Robin. Having received so much
civility from my mistress, I began to be much better satisfied than I was
at first, and then laid me down and slept, without any fear or concern,
about four hours, as near as I could guess by the sun. Wiicn I waked,
my mistress called me by my name, and gave me some milk to drink.
She talked for some considerable time to me, but I could not understand
one word she said. My master was all this time with his brother at the
door, regaling themselves with toake.

i
4

r^ 'no'^Ly^f*^'.* ^

486

THE STORY OF ROBERT DRURY.

Through the kindness of my mistress, who had herself been taken cap-
tive, and brought as a slave to my master's cainp, I was less harshly treated
than any of the other slaves in the establishment of whom there were
UDward of two hundred. Perhaps, also, I was mdebted to my want of
Kfy'trength for not being put to excessive labor Nevertheless my
fote was molt distressing anl hopeless. At night I slept m a hut w.thout
anv furniture, and my clothes being taken from me, the oii.y covering
wWch I wore was a piece of cloth round the middle, like that worn by ah
the people in the country. Thus stripped of my apparel, wid almort
entirely naked, I was a miserable looking object ; but i fluffered less frorn
Zcold than heat. The sun beat on my tody, bi.stermg the skm, a^d
covering it with freckles, while I was exposed at tne "ame tune to the bites
and stings of insects, of which there is a vast vauety m Madagascar.

I was first tried by my master as a laborer to hoe the weeds m the
fields of carravances ; but being awkward at that kmd of r:°'yj»f. J'l^
to attend on the cattle, drive them to water, and see that they did not
break in?o any of the pl^tations. Beside thi-, I was obliged to drag home
ere^y night aU of water for the use of the iumily, there being no water
near my master's house. In my employment as a neat-herd, I had the
society of other boys, also attendants on their master's cattle, and from
these companions, who were natives of the country, as well "J^n^^otb^r '
I picked up a knowledge of the language, and was soon able to speak it

so as to be understood. , , . »„. j„„„r«nri

Atter being some months in this kind of service, my master departnd,
with a numerous band of followers, on a warlike expedition. He was ab-
sent for more than a fortnight, and, at his return, made a triumphant entry
into the town, amidst the firing of guns and blowing of horns After
Mevarrow, came his brother Sambo and the attendants, followed by the
cattle which had been taken from the enemy ; the prisoners of war, now
become slaves, brought up the rear. The great man, my master, having
halted, and seated himself in front of his house, h^ consort, attended by
the women of the neighborhood, came as usual and licked his feet.

Durina this ceremonial my master, casting his eyes around, saw mo
at a dist^cc, and called me to him. I approached him in a manner con-
sidered respectful, with ray hands lifted up, as m a praying posture; but
did not kneel down, as all the others did, having a conscientious reluctance
to perform such an act. Whereupon my brutal owner flew into a rage,
and reproached me for not paying him the same respect as his wite,
mother, and others about him. However, I peremptorily refused, and told
him I would obey all his lawful commands, and do whatever work he
thought proper to employ me in, but this act of divine homage I could

°^On thiX^feTl into a violent passion, upbraided me with being ungrateful,
and insensible of his saving me from being killed among my countrymen,
and urged, moreover, that I was his slave, etc.; but notwithstanding alL
this, I ^iU continued resolute and firm to my purpose. Whereupon he
arose from his seat, and, with his lance, made a stroke at me with all his
might; but his brother, by a sudden push on one side, prevented the
mifchief he intended. He was going to repeat his blow, bu his brother
interposed, and entreated him to excuse me; but he abso utely, and in the
warmest terms, refused to forgive me unless 1 would lick his feet. His
brother begged he would give him a little time to talk with me in private,
which he did; and after he had told me the danger of not doing it, and
that, in submitting to it, I did no more than what many great princes were

v;!5?-Kr5'*^"'W*''*-K;?S?i'r':5

l^^^-^-i^^^^^T^'^-'X?-^^'

fr^^^'^ ^ ^ ^ - ^i^S ^^.

If been taken cap-
ess harshly treated
whom there were
d to my want of
Nevertheless, my
)t in a hut without
the oiiiy covering
le that worn by all
parel, and almost
suffered less from
ring the skin, and
16 time to the bites
Madagascar,
the weeds in the
if work, I was made
that they did not
)ligcd to drag home
ere being no water
eat-herd, I had the
•'a cattle, and from
well as from others,
>on able to speak it

jy master departed,
lition. He was ab-
a triumphant entry
ig of horns. After
nts, followed by the
isonera of war, now
, my master, having
;on8ort, attended by
eked his feet,
es around, saw mo
Im in a manner con-
raying posture ; but
cientious reluctance
ler flew into a rage,
respect as his wife,
ily refused, and told
I whatever work he
ine homage I could

ith being ungrateful,
jng my countrymen,

notwithstanding alL^
3e. Whereupon he
ce at me with all his
side, prevented the
low, but his brother
ibsolutely, and in the
1 lick his feet. His
It with me in private,

of not doing it, and
y great princes were

ESCAPE.

487

obliged to do when taken prisoners, I found at length it was prudence to
comply ; so I went in, askod pardon, nnd performed the ceremony as
others had done before mo. He told me he readily forgave me, but would
make me sensible I was a slave. I did not much regard his menaces; for,
as I had no prospect of ever returning to England, I set but little value
on my life. The next day I incurred his displeasure again, and never
expected to escape from feeling the weight of his resentment.

My master then performed the ceremony of thanksgiving to God for
his happy deliverance from all the hazards of war, and for the success
of his arms; which is done by some silly adoration before a kind of
household altar, accompanied with ridiculous ceremonies. Having per>
formed his devotions, my master would have me do the same ; but this
I also firmly refused, and he was now more savage than ever. Taking
hold of me by one hand, and with his lance in the other, he threatened
instantly to sacrifice me. I expected nothing but death, and waited every
moment in an agony for the mortal blow. Sambo, at this crisis, again
humanely interfered, along with many others, all using their utmost en-
deavors to persuade him against so rash an action; but to no purpose; till
his brother at last very warmly told him he would that minute depart, and
see his face no more, if he offered to be guilty of such an act of inhumanity;
and rose up to be gone accordingly. When my master saw his brother
waa going in good earnest, he called him back, and promised to spare my
life, but assured him he would punish me very severely for my contempt
of his orders. Sambo told him he should submit that to his own discretion;
all he begged of him was, not to kill me. Upon this, by a secret sign,
he advised me to kneel down and lick hia feet, which I readily complied
with, and asked his pardon. When I got up, I kneeled down to Dean Sambo
of my own accord, and licked his feet, as a testimony of my gratitude and
respect for thus saving my life a seco k! time.

As soon as this storm was blown over, I was remanded to my former
post of cow-kf cper. I had a great deal of trouble sometimes with these
cattle, for they are very unruly ; and notwithstanding they are larger
beasts than any I ever saw elsewhere of the kind, they are so nimble, that
they will leap over high fences like a greyhound. They have an excres-
cence between their shoulders, somewhat like that of camels, all fat and
flesh, some of which will weigh about three or fourscore pounds. They
are also beautifully colored : some are streaked like a tiger, others, like
a leopard, are marked with various spots. Here are, likewise, some sheep,
with large heavy tails, like Turkish sheep— not woolly as ours, but more
like a goat ; and also a small number of goats, resembling those of other
countries. There are, beside, plenty of hogs in the country, and immense
swarms of bees. These bees produce a vast abundance of honey, from
which the natives make their drink called toake.

[What with cow-herding, gathering honey, helping to build huts with
wood and clay, and going sometimes, greatly against his will, on warlike
or cattle-stealing expeditions, beside doing much thankless drudgery of a
miscellaneous kind, Drury informs us that twelve years were consumed^
Often in his hut, in the silence of night, he thought of his father, mother,
and friends in England, and wept when he reflected on the hopelessness
of his lot. He, however, felt more than he could well express, even by
tears. Twelve years of slavery had changed him in a remarkable manner.
He had forgotten his own language, and could no longer converse in
English. The words stuck half-expressed on his tongue. From being
a handsome English boy, he had grown to be a brown-akinned savage.

'^,

tr.

488

THE STORY OP ROBERT DRURY.

His feelings liad been changed as well as his person ; and in some o( his
habits he was little superior to the lower animals. Yet, as has been said,
he sometimes wept, and never forgot his home. The recollection of his
mother's tenderness could not be obliterated from his memory. It auv-
vived all llie horrors of his hapless condition, and stimulated him to attempt
his escape from an odious bondage.

He pondered long on tiie means of absconding ; and, at length, by the
friendly aid of a fellow-servant, he took to flight. His plan was in the
first place, to reach the territory of a chief, called AflTerrer, friendly to the
whites, before his absence <vas discovered ; and although this required
great dexterity and toil, he effected the journey. Still, he was scarcely
safe. His enraged master sent messengers to request that he should be
delivered up as a runaway slave, and poor Drury trembled for the result.
Afferrer appeared to be shocked at the proposal. He said that the idea
of making a white man a slave was ridiculous, and that the refugee should
remain with him as long as he pleased, or go wherever bethought proper.
The' men were therefore obliged to return disconcerted, and Drury was
in the meantime secure. In this new home he was certainly not compel-
led to work as a slave, but neither was he altogether a freeman. The
chief with whom he had ttiken refuge was pretty constantly at war, and
his object was to make use of him in his expeditions. Constrained to
appea. satisfied, Drury lived with Afferrer two months, going with him on
two excursions against his enemies. As this, however, was an employ-
ment not at all to the mind of the refugee, he took an opportunity of once
more escaping. We continue the narrative chiefly in his own language.]

With a bundle of dried meat, which I had contrived to conceal, I set
off on my journey, walking briskly all night, and keeping in a south-easterly
direction, with the hope of reaching Port Dauphinc. A great river, called
the Oneghaloyhe, issuing in St. Augustine'fr bay, I was told had to be
crossed on the journey. In the morning I saw certain mountains that
had been mentioned to me ; by this I perceived I had made considerable
progress, and therefore would not conceal myself, as at first I proposed,
but proceeded on my journey, looking sharply about me, in taae of any
lurking enemy. With little to fear, I went merrily on, singing Madagas-
car songs, for I had forgotten all my English ones. The bellowing of the
wild cattle would now and then make me start, imagining they were my

fursuers. When I come to a pleasant brook, I baited there, and at sunset
looked out for a covert in a thicket to lie in ; but I could not find one
near at hand, so I was contented to repose myself in the open plain,
pulling up a sufficient quantity of grass for a bed and a pillow, and making
a small fire to warm my beef. I did not think proper to make a great one,
lest it should be discerned at a distance, for in the aflernoon I observed
some fires to the eastward of the (nountain. I was disturbed in my sleep
by night-walkers, whom I imagined were my pursuers, and accordingly 1
took up my lances in order to defend myseli ; but when I was thoroughly
awake, I found they were only some cattle that snorted at the smell of my
fire, and ran away much more afraid of me than I was of them.

The second day, in the morning, I stayed till the sun appeared
before I moved forward, that I might not be deceived in my cours<i.
Nothing remarkable happened this day. I looked out early this evening
for a lodging, the clouds gathering very black and aoon found a large
thick tree, where I kindled a fire, warmed some meat, and hung u]) the
remainder, to keep it as dry as I could, for I hud nothing else that could
be injured by the rain. At length it poured down, as I expected, in a

V:!(if<s!^ii^)lis0Sgt!l!:^lgimi>Smsaflts7&'^sfm

;.aa>zSSi - r i-- 'j }fii: - y :.i T^

id in some o( his
18 lias been said,
(collection of hia
nemory. It bup-
ed him to attempt

at length, by the
plan was in the
er, friendly to the
jgh this required
, he was scarcely
that he should be
led for the result,
said that the idea
he refugee should
he thought proper,
id, and Drury was
tainly not compel-
a freeman. The
stantly at war, and
i. Constrained to
, going with him on
•r, was an employ-
apportunity of once
lis own language.]
sd to conceal, I set
g in a south-easterly
A. great river, called
was told had to be
ain mountains that
made considerable
i at first I proposed,
me, in fease of any
n, singing Madagas-
rhe bellowing of the
[ining they were my
there, and at sunset
[ could not find one
f in the open plain,
& pillow, and making
to make a great one,
afternoon I observed
listurbed in my sleep
irs, and accordingly 1
hen I was thoroughly
ted at the smell of my
ras of them.
1 the sun appeared
;eived in my cour86.
out early this evening
d doon found a large
leat, and hung up the
othing else that could
n, as I expected, in a

ADVENTURES BY THE WAY.

violent manner, attended with thunder and lightning. It soon pen;.ti iitcil
my roof; iiowovcr, I crowded myself up togetiier, with my lieud on my
knees, my iiaiids between my legs, and my little body-covering over my
ears. The rain ran down like a flood, but, as it was warm, 1 «liil nut -•*,.
much regard it. In three or four hours it was fair weather again, ami I
laid me down and took a comfortable nap.

Tiie next morning I dried my beef at a fire, which I made for that pur-
pose, for it was the third day after it was killed; but I was very careful
of it, not knowing how to kill more at that lime; so I put it up in clean
grass, and marched forward. The mountains over which I was to pass
seemed very high, craggy, and thick with wood, and no path nor opening
could I find. It looked dismal enough, but I was determined to run all
hazards. Tlioso mountains seemed to me to traverse the island, and
appeared, as we call it at sea, like double land— one hill beliind another.
I saw nothing ail this day but a few wild cattle, and now and then a wild
dog. The weather was fair, and I slept sound all this night.

The fourth day I walked till noon, at which time I baited; my beef was
now but very indiflerent. In the afternoon, as I was walking, I saw about
a dozen men before me; upon this I skulked in a bush, peeping to observe
whetlier they had discovered me ; but I was soon out of my pain, for they
were surrounding some cattle, a good way to the westward, on a hill. I
was likewise on another hill, so that I could see them throw their lances,
and kill three beeves, which I wfc well assured were more than they could
carry away with them at once. I stayed where I was, proposing, when they
were gone, to have some beef. To work they fell immediately, cutting
up the beasts, and each man made up his burden, hanging the remainder
up in a tree, that the wild dogs might not get it, and went home to the
eastward. As soon as they were gone, and I had looked well about me,
I threw away my bad meat, made up to, the tree, and took as much as I
could well carry. Away I marched with my booty toward the mountains,
not daring to rest, lest they should return and discover me. In less than
an hour I reached the foot of the hills in the thick woods, and finding no
path, nor track of men, nor any hopes of any, not knowing what to do, I
determined to go through all ; but as I happened on a run of water, I took
up my quarters near it, made a fire, cut some wooden spits, and roasted
my beef, t kept my fire burning all night, lest the foxe^ should come

and attack me. . ■ j- >» -iu

The next morning I made up my package with grass, binding it with
the bark of trees, and moved forward up the hill. My burden was now
much lighter. In an hour, though I could find no path but what some
swine had made, I got to the top of it. I climbed a high tree to take a
survey; but could discover no entrance, nothing but hills and vales, one
beyond another ; a cragged, dismal desert was all that presented itself to
my view. I would have descpn^dd, had I not been in danger of being
seen by the hunters; beside, I cbuld not tell which way to look, whether
east or west, for the proper pass ; so setting a lance up on end, I turned
the way it fell, though I imagined it was due north, or rather somewhat
to the eastward. However, superstition prevailed where reason was nowise
concerned, for I was as likely to be right one way as another ; and m case
I went to the northward, so long as I knew it, I must go as often as I could
to the westward, as sailors are forced to do, run their latitude first, and
their longitude afterward. I went down this hill, and up another, which
was about an hour's walk; but when I came to descend this, it was right
up and down. Without due thought, I threw down my lances, hatch, t,

■_'j. j^r^i-^ *isadl» cat-c'-s--_.V??it'ja-'

490

THE STORY OF ROBERT DRURY.

and burden, thinking to descend by a very tall tree, whose top branches
reached close to the brow; but I could not do it. However, I made ropes
of the bark of a tree, and fixing them to the strongest branches, I slid
down, I dare say, no less than thirty feet, rather tlian I would lose my
lances and other materials. I passed over a fine spring and run of water
in the vale. Though the hill on the other side was a craggy, stcop ruck,
I found a way to ascend it; and on the top, climbed another to take my
view ; but had the same dismal prospect. Here I dug faungidge, it being
sunset, and seeing a hole in a large rock, I had thoughts of taking up my
lodging there; but peeping in, on a sudden I heard such an outcry, which,
with the echo in the rock, made so confused a noise, that 1 knew not
what it could be. My fears prevailed, and I imagined it might be pursuers,
for it drew nearer and nearer ; so, setting my back to a tree, with a lance
in each hand, I waited for the murderers, when instantly came squeaking
toward me a herd of wild swine, which ran away more terrified than my-
self. Afler I was well recovered from my fright I made two fires, for
fear of the foxes, and then laid me down on my stony bed, for hero was
no grass.

The next morning, which was the sixth day, I made a hearty menl on
roots and beef, and, the hill extending north and south, I went straight
on till it declined gradually into a valley, in which was a small river that
ran westward. By the time I arrived at the top of the next hill it drew
toward evening, for I was not much lessihan two hours in ascending it;
and yet, considering my burden, though it was not very heavy now, I
went at a good pace. As I was looking out for a commodious lodging —
that is to say, a place with the fewest stones in it — I discovered a swarm
of bees ; this was a joyful sight, for it was food that would not spoil with
keeping. I soon cut down a tree, and smoked them out.

I made such a hearty meal this night of honey and beef, that I slept
too sound, insomuch that I was waked with a severe mortification fur my
thoughtless security. A fox caught hold of my heel, and would have
dragged me along ; whereupon I started, and catching up a firebrand,

Save him such a blow as staggered him ; but as soon as he recovered he
ew at my face. By this time I was upon my feet, and recovered one
of my lances, with which I prevented him from ever assaulting me more;
but his hideous howling brought more about him. I saw three, whose
eyes sparkled like diamonds: however, they kept at a distance; for, with
some light, dry wood, that lay near me, I made a blaze directly, in order
to keep a flame all night ; but did not wake to renew it, as I ought to
have done ; so that both my fires being almost reduced to ashes, one of
them boldly ventured between them ; and it was very happy for me that
he did not seize upon my throat, for when men have negligently slept
where they haunt, I have known them meet with sucl. a mischance.
Afler I had made up my fires, and put my enemies to flight, I examined
my heel, and found two large holes on each side where his teeth had
entered. I bound it up in tiie best manner I could, and making a great
fire, threw the fox upon it by way of resentment. I had not that pleasure
in eating my breakfast this morning I had in my last night's supper;
beside, my beef was now « little too tender ; however, as I had honey
enough for a week, and here were good roots in plenty, I did not concern
myself much about it.

I walked on the seventh day, and though I favored my lame foot ai
much as I could, yet I rested but once all day. This way happened to
be plain and easy. At evening I came to a place where ' y several bodiet

■^iSiV^VS^.'&Ssitm9.mm'^--fi i-'^'^ > t l^ : ':!Sfr

>80 top branches

irer, i made ropes
branches, I slid
1 1 would lose my

and run of water
[aggy, steep rock.

lother to take my

tungidge, it being
[s of taking up my

an outcry, which,
that 1 know not

light be pursucTB,

tree, with a lance
ly came squeaking

terrified than my-
ade two fires, for

bed, for bore was

e a hearty meal on
ith, I went straight
s a small river that
je next hill it drew
urs in ascending it ;
very heavy now, I
imodious lodging —
discovered a swarm
vould not spoil with

)Ut.

nd beef, that I slept
mortification for my
el, and would have
ling up a firebrand,
\ as he recovered he
, and recovered one
assaulting me more;

I saw three, whose
a distance ; for, with
aze directly, in order
mew it, as I ought to
iced to ashes, one of
ry happy for me that
ave negligently slept
I sue'., a mischance,
to flight, I examined
where his teeth had
, and making a great
had not that pleasure

last night's supper;
3ver, as I had honey
nty, I did not concern

red my lame foot ai
[lis way happened to
ere ' y several bodiei

END OF TROUBLES.

4{)1

of trees which wore dead and dry. Thinking this, therefore, a proper
lodging, I made four very large fires, sat mo down to supper, and aftrr-
ward vnnturc<i to go to sleep with all those fires round niu. But my heel
now became so painful, and was swelled to that degree, that I could nut
go forward the next day; but as there was faungidge enough within
twenty or thirty yards of me, I dug up several, and determined to continue
here till my foot grew better. My beef was soon gone, but faungidge
was both meat and drink to me. I saved part of my beef-fat to dress my
heel with, which, as I gave it six days' rest, took down all the swelling
During this time I made such large fires every night, that, could they
have been seen, were like those of an army. I had not far to go for wood,
or anything else that I wanted, or at least that I could anywise expect in
such a place.

Proceeding on my journey, and exposed, day after day, to accidents,
fatigue, and often hunger, I at length, on the morning of the twenty-third
day, had the joyful sight of the Oncghaloyhe, a river as broad as the
Thames at London. All day I spent in contriving how I should cross so
broad a stream without a canoe, and lay down at night still uncertain
what I should do. In the morning I thought of looking out for some old
trees, or branches that were fallen ; and in a short time I met with several
that were fit for my purpose — not only great arms, but trunks of trees
broken oflf by tempests: these I dragged to the river-side. In the next
place, I made it my business to find out a creeper, which is as large as a
withy, but, twining round trees, is very pliant. I lopped off the super-
fluous branches from six long and thick arms of trees, and placing three at
bottom and three at top, I bound them together, making what we call in
the East Indies a catamarran. I built it afloat in the water, for otherwise
I could not have launched it, and moored it to a lance, which I stuck in
the shore for that purpose. I then fixed my package, in order to preserve
it as dry as I possibly could, as also my hatchet and my other lance ; after
that I made a paddle to row with. Then I pulled up my lance, and ke]>t
it in my hand to defend myself against the alligators, in case any of them
should assault me; for I was informed they were very numerous and very
fierce here. It blew a fresh gale at west against the stream, which in
the middle made a sea, and gave me no small concern; for I was in great
danger of being overset, and becoming a prey to the alligators. It pleased
God, however, to protect me, and I landed safely on the other shore.
This being a pretty good day's work, I determined not to go much further
that evening before I took up my lodging.

[Traveling in the manner he describes, Drury had at length the good
fortune to fall in with different tribes friendly to the English, among whom
he lived for some time, but still watched by his jealous entertainers. The
great man with whom he latterly lived was named Rer Moume, and by
him ho was kept two years and a half, during which an incident occurred
that led to his removal from the island. The court of Rer Moume being
visited by a person named William Thornbury, connected with the trade
carried on upon the coast, Drury endeavored to interest him in his behalf;
nor was he unsuccessful. After a lapse of many months, two ships ar-
rived at a place called Yong-Owl to trade.] This (continues Drury) I
was overjoyed to hear, and flattered myself that William Thornbury had
not forgotten me. They stayed there for several days, and slaves were sent
to be sold, and guns and other goods were returned for them. I was
at a loss how to break my mind to Rer Moume, hoping he would say
something to me of his own accord ; but as I was sitting with him one

- — ^•il'V^lri

^^2 THE STORY OF ROBERT DRURY.

fvcninctwomen camo in with a baHkct of palmetto loaves sewed up, and

Icliverod it to the ,.ri..co, wl.o opened it, and, finding a letter, asked the

me .what tlH V meant l.y «ivinH ilim that. The captain, they aa.d. Rave it

UHfir u white ina' but"we thought proper to let you see it first.

Rer Moumo now handc.l me the packet, which, to my great surprise con-

ainod a letter tVo.n Captain William Macket, directed To Robert Drvry

on the island of Madagascar. I opened it, and the contents were to the

follosviuK effect -.-"That he had a letter on board from my lather with

full nst?uc ions, as well from him as his owners, to purchase my liberty,

le i tcosrwhat it would; and in case 1 could not possibly come down

myserf"to Tend hU word the reason of it, and what measures he should

'"^ReXmLTorceived thatmycountenance changed w^^^^^
the letter" and fsked me what was the matter. I told him that the captain
desirc^l to speak with me, and that my father had sent for mo home, an
hoped he would be pleased to give his consent. IIow do you know all
his tsaysThe princes can you conjure ? Then, turning to the messengers,
ilaveyo^u, pray, heard anything like this? Yes, said they, it .8 all Uie dis-
course at the seaside, that Robin's futlu r sent both these ships for him
Rtr Moumetook the letter, and turning it over and ..er said he had
heard oTs^ch methods of conveying intelligence to one ""other but never
actually saw it before, and could not conceive what way -i -ould be done
wTthouI conjuration. I endeavored to demonstrate to him, as well as
roudhowTe learnt in our infancy the characters first, and then we put
Trn tolXr But, says he, I presume you have ,io inclination to leave
u, now since you 1 ve here so much at your ease? You have several
catt"e alid a slave, and if you shall want more, you shall have them These
Xrs I of course put aside, and besought him to let me go. I said that
f ho thouXt prope to demand any consideration of the captain for njy

e dom Usho'uJbe paid. Rer Mo.mc ^^^^f [/'l^Vfrienr wouS
go, he should take nothing for my relt ..e; b"* that »f »/ J^^^^^^^
nmlce him a oresent of a good gun, ho should accept ot the tavor, and
c UNt ilfiu re.nembrance of me. This generous answer gave me
S h iov that I immediately kneeled down and hcked his feet with the

. nnP.r tv Tiustlv thinking I could never sufficiently express my
Sude H?wo^^^^^^^^^ instantly, but did in a day or two

gratituae. "« wo"'" messencers to be taken care of in the meantime.
''^'Srt; uf were my fSIs whl I at length departed, and came in

• 1 1 nf C seaTit with the huts which had been erected for trading
sight of the seacoast «"»"'«" ^ j^ ^^^ «, factory, as I may

::ii?irXmi,l':t:r^oftt Drake, ^^^^^^^^^

Snglishf an? for several days I was frequently puzzled for words to

"Fa IV :"da";s afteT'this, Drury was taken on board of their vessel, which
[A lew "fys a»^^ "' ' '. . > 1^^ been absent from his native

Sher and mler*! grief for his loss having for years preyed upon their
spirits.] [ ' ■ -*'••'!"'- ^'';'- '_/"■'' ' "■ /' '' ' ;

68 sowed up« and
Icttor, nskod the
, thoy Haid, gave it
:t yoii SCO it first,
■cat Hiirprise, con-
To Robert Orury,
ntcnts were to the
II my lather, with
rchaso my liberty,
Bsibly come down
oasurcs ho should

^hile I was reading
im that the captaiu
for mo home, and
^ do you know all
to the messengers,
ey, it is all tlie dis-
pose ships for him.
I -er, said ho had
: z'nother,but never
ay n ''•.ould bo done
} him, as well as 1
st, tnd then we put
inclination to leave
You have several
have them. These
me go. I said that
the captoin for my
that if I wished to
f my friends would
pt of the favor, and
us answer gave me
3d his feet with the
ficiently express my
did in a day or two
jf in the meantime,
iparted, and came in
erected for trading
or factory, as I may
ptain Macket's ship,
a wild man ; and in
lin, ho told him the
;ould speak but little
uzzlcd for words to

[)f their vessel, which
isent from his native
Ben spent in captivity,
e of the death of his
rs preyed upon their

INCIDENTS

n ma

LIFE OF A YANKEE SAILOR.

M DRAILID IT WILLIAM KITimi III Ul

FORTY YEARS AT SEA.

I WAS bom in Danville, Maine, A.D. 1781, and spent the time of my
youth to the age of seventeen, much in the manner of other children.
While young, the peculiar cast of my mind vra» displayed by the plea-
sure which I felt in listening to stories of the sea, in reading accounts
of distant countries, and probably the earnest desire which I had ot see-
ing and knowing all these things, influenced me in my course.

Being by trade a carpenter, I one day went to Bath to purchase some
tools. While rambling about the wharves to see the shipping, I was
accosted by a geptleman, who proved to be the captain of a new brig,
just from Liverpool. He inquired of me if I would like to take a trip to
sea Not feeling much inclined to drop my former occupation for ano-
ther upon so short notice, I answered in the negative. Not satisfied with
this answer, he continued his persuasions, peppering them occasionally
with fine stories of a seafaring life— many of which I found quite the
reverse in subsequent years— and in conclusion offered mc ten dollars
to go to Boston by the run. As money was then a cash article with mo,
this argument was not to be withstood; I therefore closed the bargain,
went on board, and, all things being ready, we set sail June 16th, 1799.
And the next day, at ten o'clock, a. m., we were in Boston harbor. 1 his
was my first trip, and little did I, a thoughtless boy, think that it would
lead to such a result. I was then paid off, and was immediately offered
one dollar per day, to stay and cook for the crew, while discharging the
cargo, which I accepted, and remained here eight days, at the end of
which I found myself the possessor of eighteen dollars, which 1 had
earned in less than ten days. The next morning, as I was proceeding
leisurely along, at the head of Long Wharf, fingering my change, and
thinking how I might expend it to the best advantage, I was aroused
from my reveries by a call from the opposite side of the street. Turning
my head, I beheld an old tar, leaning against a grog-shop for his main-
•tay, who, on looking up, roared out at the top of his voice, "Hello,
shipmate, heave to." Upon this, I crossed the street, and asked him
what he wanted. After some palaver, he asked me if I wanted to ship.
I answered that I had not thought of it. In return, he stated that wages
were good, and that I could not do better than to take a trip to the West
Indies, in the brig Daniel and Mary, of Newburyport. The desire of
seeing these picturesque islands, and of visiting that land which first
ffreeted the eyes of the immortal Columbus, atonce overpowered my doubts,
and I answered that I would go, provided I could get wages to suit me.

»^-*ifc-»i^.c^'»4if<«'>i m/m fifcn om^

404

ADVKNTURES OP A YANKJSK SAILOR.

Hu now took ino to tlio counting-houBO of the owners, and introduced
mu to tliH cnptniii in tlio following words: "Horo is a fine chubby fellow
for you, who thinks lio should like to tako a trip to the land of sharks,
uud ht) lookM liko a right chap.**

" What do you ask a month, my ladf " said the captain.

I told him I did not know how much I could oarn.

" Wtill,'* said ho, " Perkins,** (which was my conductor*s name,) " I
will leave it to you, if the young man is willing.** To which I readdy
assented. AAer eyeing me closely, fore and aft, ho said thnt I could
earn eighteen dollars.

'' Will you go for that?** the captain asked.

I replied in the affirmative, and having pocketed a month*s pay in
advance, signed the shipping papers of tho brig Daniel and Mary, New-
buryport, of tho firm of Sweet and Parley, and bound to the Wert
Indies.

You may be assured that I was well satisfied with this turn in my
affairs : eighteen dollars, and an opportunity to see tho world, being
much more satisfactory than nine dollars per month, which was all that
I could command as a carpenter. After having dispatched a letter lo
my parents, informing them where I was, and what were my intentions,
I proceeded to Uy in a stock of summer clothing, a trunk, bed, blankota,
and other necessary articles, and then went on board, iu company with
the captain, whose name was McFarly. The brig was then lying at an-
chor, well up the south side of Long Wharf, with no soul on board. The
captain having unlocked the cabin, told me to put my trunk in there, the
floor of which was completely covered with the 8hip*8 stores, such m
rum, molasses, tea, coffee, etc. He then directed me to make up my
berth in the steerage, and, having struck a light, went on shore, and left
me to^x things as T could. After I had made arrangements, as I thought,
satisfactory to the captain, I resolved to satisfy myself, and helped myself
to bread, cheese, and other eatables, not forgetting a glass of '«nap-eye,*
to wash it down with. My external and internal condition having been
thus duly considered, I hrd nothing to do but meditate upon the "change
that had come o*er the spirit of my dreams,** in the short space of ten
days.

Nothing worthy of notice occurred, until our arrival at Port-au-Prince,
July 26th. The Island of St. Domingo— now Hayti — was at this time
convulsed by civil commotions. It was but a short period after the mas-
sacre of the whites, the horrors of which are too well known to be
recapitulated. A war of extermination raged between the blacks and
mulattoes, the former occupying the north side of the Island, and the
latter the south side. An embargo had been laid upon the porta occu-
pied by the blacks, in order to starve them into submission; and this had
just been taken off.

While lading here, I had frequent opportunities of seeing the barbarity
of the blacks toward their prisoners. Fears were entertained that the mu-
lattoes would attack the city of Port-au-Prince, therefore we lay at anchor
a short distance from the shore, with the stem warped in and moored.
Beyond us, lay an old French frigate, converted into a prison-ship, which
received a body of prisoners every day. When this prison became
crowded, they were taken out, the oath of allegiance administered to
such as would receive it, and the remainder were shot. Being on shore
one morning, I witnessed the execution of ten in this manner. A few
days after, several were executed in a different way. A lighter was

ADVKNTURE8 OP A YANKEE SAILOR.

4U5

and introduced

chubby fellow

land of shurlu,

or's name,) "I

hich 1 readily

aid that I could

month's pay in
and Mary, New-
nd tu the VVeit

this turn in my

ho world, being

ich was alt that

ichod a letter lo

re my intention!)

ik. bed, blankets,

iu company with

then lyiuK at an-

1 on board. The

runk in there, the

's stores, such u

I to make up my

on shore^ and left

lonts, 08 I thought,

ind helped myself

laas of ««iop-ey«,'

ition having been

upon the '<chaoge

hort space of ten

at Port-au-Prince,
—was at this time
riod after the maa-
well known to be
en the blacks and
he Island, and the
)n the porta occu-
ssion ; and this had

leeing the barbarity
rtainod that the mu-
re we lay at anchor
ed in and moored.
1 prison-ship, which
this prison became
ce administered to
[>t. Being on shore
is manner. A few
my. A lighter was

hove out, end in old twenty-four |ioundor hoisted out over the side,
about five feet above the wale, to which eighteen or twenty victiiiiM wtire
triced, when the tacklo was cut, and the gun ttimbled into tho iiia, (lriit{-
giiir with it the unfortunate prisoners. This took place imini'iliiilnly
but u our brig, and the water wos so clear that [ could see the iiiiHeriibUi
h«<'>^>4 laying upon the Imttoin. Having ut length completed our cargo,
witu'ti consisted of coflco and sugar, we set sail in company with Mtncrai
other vessels, under convoy of the United Hiatus frigate WaHJiiii^'tou;
and September 16, arrived at Boston, after a passage of twenty-one ilays.

I then bought me a suit of clothes, and resolved to act the geutleuiiin;
but found the buHinosa duller than I liad sup|K)Med — moreover, I found
that there still reigned in my breast the same ardent desire of seeing the
world. I therefore, in a few days, shipped on board thu Essex, lM>und
on a whaling voyage to the South Sea. The crew was shipped on dhnrcH,
with fifty dollars paid in advance, and consisted of forty handi). About
the last of October, 1799, all things being ready, we put to sea, with a
fair wind, and flattering proi poets of a fine voyage. Our captain was
Joseph Kilby, a fine, gentlemanly appearing person, and a thorough sea-
man. The first mate was n imed Iiaskell, a Scotchman, who hud for-
merly been a lieutenant in the British navy, and master of a (iuiueuinan,
and was, in my estimation, one of the greatest villains that ever trod a
deck. The ship was arir.ed, on account of the war between the United
StaUs and France. Still, wo were obliged to keep a sharp look-out for
French privateers, aitd were trained to the guns every day, in complete
man-of-war style. Nothing of a hostile appearance, however, troubled
us, and as we were now drawing near the line, preparations were niade
to introduce about fifteen green hands to his majesty, Neptimo, the sove-
reign of the ocean. For this purpose,' the day before crossing the line,
about twenty barrels of apples were hoisted on deck, overhauled, and
the rotten ones thrown into some flour barrels, while those that were
sound were returned below. The next day, aliout one o'clock, p. m., all
the green hands were sent below to clean the forecastle, where they
were immediately secured by closing the hatches. One of the whale-
boats was then hoisted out of the launch, lashed to the starboard side,
and filled with water. In the meantime, the gunner, who personified old
Neptune, the ruler of the deep, horribly disguised, proceeded over the
head of the vessel, and after having been thoroughly drenched with wa-
ter, appeared coming in over the bows, as well soaked as if he had just
sprung from the bottom.

Armed with a trident in one hand and a speaking trumpet in the otheri
he addressed the captain in the following terms:

*' Ship ahoy ! from whence came you ? '^

'< From Boston, and bound to the South Pacific Ocean, on a whaling
voyage. Pray, what do you wish here f '* replied the Captain.

" f came on board to see if any of my children here have not been
initiated."

** There are none here."

His majesty, however, was not to be deceived, but soon smelt them
out, and one by one they were hauled forward, and shaved with the hoop
of an old barrel for a razor, and a precioua mixture of tar, pitch, lime,
and whitewaah for aoap-auds. As soon as this ceremony was over, about
a dozen aailors, with each a bucket of water, proceeded to wet the offi-
cers, as is customary on such occasions, who heeled it for the cabin ; but
in their haste, the captain, two mites, and steward, got completely

406

ADVENTURES OK A TANKSE BAILOR.

jammed up ir. the companion-way, and before the snarl could be well
cleared, their capital extremities were smoothed down wi*h about fifty
bucketsfuU of the trident king^s element, much to the glee of the sailors,
who delighted in this spargefaction of their officers.

The rotten apples were next called into requisition, which fle-v in all
directions, until the vessel and crew were as completely bedaubed as
one could wish. But as all visits must come to an end, so must Nep-
tune^s. Therefore the head pumps were set to work, and soon all things
looked trim again. The rest of the afternoon, it being calm, was spent
in drinking lemon-punch, singing songs, and spinning yarns. [There
are records of this custom of the " baptism of the line '^ as far back
as 1712. It probably originated in the love of fun and frolic, for which
sailors are so peculiar, and may have been designed with a view to
relieve the tedium and monotony of a long sea-voyage, amid the calms
which prevail in the region of the equator. The observance is now gra-
dually falling into disuse.] The next morning, a favorable breeze spring-
ing up, we shaped our course for th§ Cape de Verde Islands, and the
first land we made was St. Jago. From here we took our departure, and
steered for St. Augustine.

Soon after our arrival at St. Augustine, the ship was overhauled and
condemned. She had formerly been a whale-ship belonging to Salem,
and after lying in port about two years, had been fitted up with a new
deck and bulwarks, brought to Boston, and sold. Being now about to
separate, the crews of the American vessels in the harbor resolved to
have a grand supper on shore. I had in my chest one hundred and ten
dollars, five of which I took to defray the expenses of the night; and
about dark we were all assembled, each armed with a club to keep off
press-gangs. Having passed the greater part of the evening merry mak-
mg, myself, with three others, walked down on the beach, to enjoy th«
cool sea-breeze, and drive off the effects of our tamarind punch, where
we were suddenly surrounded by an officer and ten or twelve armed
men, who very unceremoniously bundled us into a boat and pulled off.
There were eight or ten more in the boat, who appeared to be condi-
tioned like ourselves. Aft^r winding our way among the different ves>
sels in the harbor, we were pulled along side of an armed ship, and
ordered on board. Inquiring, I found that I was on board his Britannic
majesty's sloop-of-war Cayenne, and that they had, according to the
principles of John Bullism, taken me, without inquiring as to the charac-
ter I sustained, into his majesty's service.

In the morning, we were all taken aft and overhauled ; and here you
may see a specimen of every day tyranny exerci<*ed, at that time, upon
American citizens. The captain of the Cayenne asked me my name,
and on answering that I was an American, he demanded to see my pro-
tection. I took it from my pocket, and gave it to him. After looking at
it, he said, " You are an Irishman. What business have you with a pro-
tection 7 There are plenty of Nevenses in Ireland, but there never was
one bom in America." He then tore up my protection, and threw it
overboard, stating that he wanted men, and should keep me. When I
found that right was of no avail against might, I sent, by a bum-boat, .i.
note to Captain Kilby, stating my situation, and asking his assistance.
Accordingly, about eleven o'clock, he came on board, and demanded
me as an American citizen ; but the British Captain swore that he knew

my father in Ireland, that I was a Irish rebel, and ordered Captain

Kilby into his boat. Finding that he wu determined to retain me, I

larl could be well
n wi'h about fifty
glee of the sailors,

, which fle-v in all
letely bedaubed as
end, so must Nep-

and soon all things
[tgxalm, was spent
ng yarns. [There

line" as far back
nd frolic, for which
led with a view to
ge, amid the calms
ervance is now gra-
irable breeze spring-
rde Islands, and the
k our departure, and

(vas overhauled and
belonging to Salem,
tted up with a new
Being now about to
» harbor resolved to
me hundred and ten
sa of the night; and
I a club to keep off
5 evening merry mak-
j beach, to enjoy the
marind punch, where .
ten or twelve armed
I boat and pulled off.
ppeared to be condi-
)ng the different ves-
f an armed ship, and
»n board his Britannic
had, according to the
liring as to the charac-

sauled ; and here you
led, at that time, upon
B asked me my name,
Handed to see my pro-
him. After looking at
ss have you with a pro-
id, but there never was
tiotection, and threw it
lid keep me. Whon I

gent, by a bum-boat, a.

asking his assistance.
I board, and demanded
tain swore that he knew
el, and ordered CapUin
snnined to retain me, I

ADVENTURES OF A YANKEE SAILOR.

407

requested Captain Kilby to take homo my chest and bedding, and if, at
the expiration of a year, I did not return, to send them to my parents.
Having made these dispositions, I bade adieu to liberty, and settled my-
self to the consoling prospect of serving Great Britain a few years for
nothing.

Cnses of impressment were not then of rare occurrence. Beside
myself, there were eight or ten American born citizens in this same
8lo(>i>-of-war; and there was not a vessel in the British Navy but what
had more or less on board. Many escaped ; but many more ^ere obliged
to endure servitude until the commencement of the late war, when thou-
sanils surrendered themselves as prisoners of war, rather than light
against their native land. But some were not allowed this, and were
compelled to serve the enemy under the ignominious lashes of that in-
strument of torture, the cat-o' -nine-tails.

Completely disheartened, about one o'clock in the afternoon I heard
the coarse tones of the boatswain, calling, "All hands up anchor, ahoy!"
and went aft to help man the capstan bars, and heave up the anchor. We
were soon under weigh — the Cayenne, having the leeward station, was
bound to Surinam. When about ten days out, we fell in with the Amer-
ican sloop-of-war Moreland, Commodore Rogers, under the following
circumstances. About sunset, saw a ship running from us, and the cap-
tain expressed his fear that it was a French frigate that waF cruising in
this quarter, since we could not muster more than ninety men. Com-
modore Rogers was cruising for this same Frenchman, and had seen us
long before we saw him, and to give us no alarm had run from us. As
soon as it was dark, he tacked ship and stood for us; and while we were
gogging on, in a comfortable drizzle of rain, about teii, what should we
see but a large ship sweeping down across our bows, with her ports
up, lanterns lighted, and men at their quarters, all ready to give us a
broadside.

The lieutenant, in a fright, ran down and called the captain, who
came up and ordered the boatswain to pipe all hands to their quarters;
but before this could be done. Commodore Rogers hailed, "What ship is
that?" To which the captain of the Cayenne answered, in true Yankee
style, by asking who he was. "The United States ship Moreland."
This answer calmed the fears of our heroic captain, since he was inti-
mately acquainted with the American commodore. He now had his gig
lowered, and was pulled on board of the American vessel, and stopped
the remainder of the night. About sunrise, the lookout on board the
Moreland discovered a sail right ahead, and in two minutes her canvas
was spread, and she was darting along, with a fresh breeze, in full chase,
leaving our captain to make his way on board in his gig. We also made
sail, but at eight o'clock the Moreland was hull down ahead of us. The
captain of the Cayenne observed to the first lieutenant, " These Yankees
have deuced fine ships for sailing, but they do not know how to work them."
•' Don't know 'bout that," replied the lieutenant, who was willing to give
every one his due; " if we had been an enemy, he would have shown us,
last night, how to work ship, and would have blown us out of the water,
before we could have brought a gun to bear." The stranger was soon
out of sight, and we saw no more of her until we had brought to anchor
in Surinam river, when she came in, and anchored close by us.

After lying here about a month, we set sail, and on the 20th of April
arrived at St. Kitts, and cast anchor about three miles from the shore.
This was done to prevent the crew from deserting. About half way
32

H-

49g ADVENTURES OF A YANKEE SAILOR.

between us and the shore lay the American sloop-of-war Baltimore. I
here resolved to seize the first opportunity to attempt an escape. 1 coa-
sfdereS myself quite a swimmer U had never swum any great distance^
There were also plenty of sharks, but I thought U no worse to be eaten
bv the sTarks thai to spend my life in British servitude. At length, one
dark s 0^ my night, when no one was on deck but a sentinel, I crept mto
fhrhcaSZested myself of my clothing, threw over the swab rope, let
nvselTdown, and struck off for the Baltimore. The wmd was fresh,
and on my starboard beam, so tliat instead of making the sloop, I found
that I wTs\alf a mile to the leeward, and to reach her I would be neccs-
luated to bea up against wind and tide. I therefore abandoned my
Sal intention^ and put for the shore. After I had been m he water
rireThantwo'hourUd was ai-st exhausted I ca™e a>o„g -d«^
of a London brig, and climbed up her cable on board. Ihere was oui
one rnT on deck, who, after listening to my recital, gave me a jacket
and TantaLns, and a so a glass of grog, which refreshed me much.
He theTinSrmed me that I was not safe there, for his captam had been
an officer in the British Navy, and that, but a short time previous, two
sailofs Sad swum on board, whom he had taken in his boat, and returned
In fhp vpssel from which they had deserted.

'° Under these c'nsiderationJ, I thought properto ^^d some otljer shelter^
therefore, after resting about half-an-hour, I threw off he clothes wh ch
he had so kindly given me, and once more committed myself to the
waves At length! when almost exhausted, I reached another brig,
with a boat moved under her stern, into which I climbed, and from
hence went upon deck, where I found the foremast «"«« «'"'°g °" ^^!f
main-hatch, drinking and singing, although it was near twelve o clock.
Z mie,' lo was^valking}he deck, «Pon/i-overmg me sung out
"Who's there?" "A friend," I responded. "A friend in distress, i
should Uiiiik," he returned, " since you are scudding "n/-^^^- H^ e
He then save me his jacket, and ordered one of the men to bring more
rot ling for me In he meantime, he mixed a pint of weak sling, and
to?dme^o drink it, a little at a time. When I was somewhat revived, I
related my stoiy, and found that I was among friends,
''on th7following morning, I was called into the cabin by the captum,
who after inquiring into my affairs, told me that, as he had a tull crew,
he did not want me, but that his brother had written to h.m from TetoUen.
fo shfp a cou'pll of hands for him, and if I would 8?' ^e -uW take m^^^^^
that nlace The vessel in which I then was, was tiie Sally, of '^'•eenock,
ScotlandrCaptain Walker, and was about to join the co^/oy J<>;,hoX
Fn three days we sailed for Tetollen, and on our arrival I found that the
iaSs brother Tad shipped all his crew, and did not want me. Here
now was Tp^kle. The'aptain was unwilling to take me but -.die
wonld set mTon shore; and this I did not at all relish, for there were
Teveral In of^^arTn the harbor; and as I had no Fotect.on 1 should
bpTrnDrrssed The brig lay about four miles from the town, in the pas-
s^rEetwet tl small rJcky islands. As the captain expec^^^
.moment to hear the signal gun fr°™.;,h\.'=°T?nr,;im tf 2 me oi

hearted Scotchmen, who appeared to have a good deal of "^^^^^n;;;
me oarticularlv when we came to the island, which was afo"t an acie
reV.^F'nUed with Ume bushes, and not a drop of water to be found

ir Baltimore. I
, escape. 1 coki-
ly great dintance.
orse to be eaten

At length, one
[inel, I crept into
le swab rope, let
wind was fresh,
le sloop, I found
would be neces-
a abandoned my
jeen in the water
came along side

There was but
rave me a jacket
isshed me much,
captain had been
me previous, two
toat, and returned

ome other shelter ;
the clothes which
ted myself to the
hed another brig,
limbed, and from
len sitting on the
ar twelve o'clock,
ing me sung out,
iend in distress, I
mder bare poles."
nen to bring more
»f weak sling, and
mewhat revived, I

}in by the captain,
e had a full crew,
him from Tetollen.
e would take me to
3ally, of Greenock,
5 convoy for home,
al I found that the
)t want me. Here
[e me, but said he
ish, for there were
jrotection, 1 should
le town, in the pas-
tain expected every
, for getting under
him to land me on
of being taken off
d by two stout, kind
al of compassion for
was about an acre
' water to be found

ADVENTURES OP A YANKEE SAILOR.

499

This, I thought a little harder than anything I had yet Been; for if I was
not soon taken off", I must inevitably perish by hunger or thirst. Al
length, the boat returned to the vessel, and when the sailors on board
had learned my situation, they refused to leave unless I was taken on
board. Presently, the admiral fired the signal for getting under weigh,
but the sailors would not budge an inch to heave up the anchor, until a
boat had been sent and taken me off, when they appeared as willing as
ever.

Soon after we had cleared the harbor, a small brig ran along side,
which the captain hailed, and found her bound to New York. Seeing
but few men on deck, our captain told them of my case, in answer to
which he said, that, if I would go with him he would give me twenty-
two dollars per month. This good fortune relieved my mind of an incu-
bus which had weighed upon it ever since I had suffered impressment.

The next thing was to get on board. Each of the vessels had but one
boat, both of which were safely stowed on deck, and it seemed too much
trouble to hoist them out. Therefore the little brig sheered up, as near
as was safe, an oar was made fast to a line, and thrown under our bows.
I tlien went into the forechains, threw off niy clothes — thus leaving the
vessel as naked as I entered it— seized the oar, and was dragged along
side, from whence I crept into the main-chains, and there received some
articles of dress before making my debut on deck. Just as I had reached
the main-chains, a huge shark made his appearance from under the brig,
who eyed me very wishfully, but happened to be a little too late « for
tea," for I was out of his reach. I found myself on bfiard of the brig
Sally, Captain Evans, and a few weeks later in New York.

During my intercourse with the English at this period, and in later
years, I had taken many dry jokes in silence, upon the fainl-heartedness
of the Americans. A British officer once remarked to me that the Yan-
kees were great cowards, or great fools, to stand all the sauce that the
English government had given them. I replied that brother Jonathan
was remarkable for his good nature, but that there was that in him, when
roused, which would humble the British lion on anything like terms of
equality; that we h? " suffered a great deal of imposition from Great Bri-
tain, but such things, I told him, would not last long, and when war did
come, they would find as brave hearts and strong arms in our insulted
country, as in their own boasted land. He said he did not doubt the
bravery of the people, but that would avail nothing while the policy of
the government remained the same. " I know," said he, " that we have
violated the law of nations, but they dare not declare war against us, and
all they can do is to remonstrate. Our naval power, at one sweep,
would annihilate your force at sea, thus leaving your extensive coast
open, and exposed to our attacks. Your government perceives this, and
they will not venture into the contest. They will rather suffer in silence."
I excused this, by saying that it was much better to have a good andstrf-
ficient cause to make a war, than, at the first insult, to rush headlong
into hostilities, without resources or preparation; but rather go calmly
and deliberately to work, and at one swoop wipe out a long catalogue of
insults and aggressions. I fiequently remarked to them, that I myself
had once suffered impressment on board his Majesty's sloop-of-war Ca-
yenne, and that I should yet see myseU" revenged, by seeing the Ameri-
can stars and stripes waving at her r/iast-head, which was afterward so
fully verified. To be sure, ray assertions would sometimes raise a laugh
at my expense, but there was generally some American near, who would

■^»»--^<»<i« itfliihBMiwi pit II

■9

500

ADVENTURES OF A TANKEK SAILOR.

join me in a hearty cheer for our own native land. Indeed, when war
ias d^clL"ed, alar'ge portion of the English were opposed o Uie movo-
ment, and would cheeVaB loud as I could, when they hoard of any d.s-
Jlter to themselves. When the loss of the Guorriere was ascerKiim-d
U gave meTfine opportunity of throwing back the insinuations agamst

'' On;:"d!;4™hVurr:while at Portsmouth, I was standing on vho
wha^f'and ie^ ng a beautiful frigate lying .t anchor a short d,. anc^
from me, an officer accosted me, by saying, "There is auolhcr ol our
St^s going to be cut in pieces by the Yankees; and," he contmucd,
"rhope^thrthey will send every such one ,o the botto.n. I hen he
Admiraltv will learn to send such ships as will be able to cope ^. h he
America^ frigates. The metal of your frigates ,s too h.^avy for such
nuTsh" Us as tSese, and the Board will find it out -»';" I'-J, •j-'^J^"^,;,
few more of them." The disposition and ^-^^''^g °f. ^J^^,^";!'' "'^Pp^^
were very much changed after the first successes of the Americans. 1 he
boastful manner of cSptain Dacres, and his deep humiliation, were be-
fore them^ and acted as a caution to ti.ese hitherto invincible heroes of
Se oS, and they gave due allowance to the fineness of our ships and

the skill of our marksmen. . i :„ ,v,„ nn.«^m»

Before the close of the war, great caution was taken in th« jpo.nt-
ment of officers known for coolness and courage, and g^^'^* ^J"' '™
in giving instructions not to engage an American vessel ""/"y ^'"8 «//
than terms of equality. The feeling of the English '^^^ our country,
was much changed by this war, and although many of tiiem said hat
th^y had lost nothing, yet they would be as ready to admit that they had

%f il'Tr^tas for St. Thomas, on board the schooner Seaflower
of Boston We cleared the harbor of that city, Jui.o 11th, 1800, and
Sowtd along for six days, under a smacking breeze f.o.n the north-west
Our cap♦ain^as a verV pleasant man, had »>-" ,\7i»«^ '>;™;^^'^,*"j
knew and appreciated the merits of every man on board. The name ot
the mate was Joshua Sweet, of Newburyport, a thorough seaman, knew
his Tn place and duties, the captain's, and the place of every man in
ihe saip Nothing of importance occurred, until we judged ourselves
o be iS the neighborhood of land, when, at daylight one morning, we
found ourselves close along side of a French privateer of ten guns. As
we had no means of escapl or resistance, the frog-eaters took posse^smn
manned her, and sent her to Gaudaloupe The mate and myself, «Mth
Lther sailor, were put on board of the Frenchman They we e very
oolite and permitted us to take our clothes and bedding, ghe was
bound to Point Petre, where she arrived July 5th. As soon as she came
to anchor, a large lighter came along side, into which we were all put,
S 'he number of thirty, and landed. We asked permission to step into
a small grocery, and take a throat seasoning, which was granted, when
ie were hurried to our prison, a small stone building, about twenty feet
square, where we were all c«>wded in together. There was hut one
window, which was grated on the outside, affording but a smal c.rcula-
t^n of air, and the heat was excessive. Here we were obliged to remain
all night, without water, crowded to suffocation, and deprived of sleep,
from the smallness of our prison, and the noisomeness of the air. 1 us
night seemed the longest that ever I had experienced, and never did 1
hail the morning with greater pleasure. At length, our horrid den was
unlocked, and we werlonce more permitted to taste the sweetness ot

3d, when war
to the movo-
•d of any dis-
) ascertnincd,
Bitions against

anding on iho
short distance
nolhcr of our
he continued,
n. Then the
cope with tlie
leavy for such
jy have lost a
Jritisli officers
nericans. The
tion, were be-
ible heroes of
onr ships and

n the appoint-
eat care taken
a anything less
rd our country,
tijoni said that
t that they had

iner Seaflower,
ilth, 1800, and
tlie north-west.
3r himself, and
The name of

seaman, knew
f every man in
idged ourselves
ne morning, we
F ten guns. As
took possession,
nd myself, with
rhey were very
ding. §he was
)on as she came
^e were all put,
lion to step into
3 granted, when
jout twenty feet
ire was hut one
a small circula-
»bliged to remain
prived of sleep,
)f the air. This
and never did I

horrid den was
lie sweetness of

ADVENTURES OP A YANKEE SAILOR.

501

fresh air. Nearly exhausted with thirst, I ran to the pickets, called to
a black woman, and gave her twenty cents for a junk-bottle full of water,
which I turned olT at a draught. About eight oVlock, our provisions were
served out for the day, and four casks of water rolled into the yard, so
that we suffered no more from thirst. Not long after, they took us to
Basse-Terre, and confined us in an old church, where we remained about
twenty days before we were exchanged.

While we were there, several prizes were brought iu, and the owner
came to the prison to hire some of the prisoners to discharge the cargoes.
He offered us one dollar per day, and several of us went. I was sent
to assist in discharging an English brig, laden with teas. Some of the
chests were found broken open, and some were broken while hoisting
them out of the hold, so that, in a short time, the tea was a foot deep
under the main hatch. Knowing that it would be wasted, I asked per-
mission to carry some of it away. In order to do this, the next morning
I put on two pairs of pantaloons, and when I got into the hold, took otf
one pair, tied up the legs, broke open a chest of the best imperial, and
filled them up. At night. I lugged it up to my prison, emptied the flocks
out of my bed, and put the tea into it. I continued in this way until I
had filled my bed with about eighty-five pounds of tea. My mess-mates
frequently laughed at me, telling me that I should " get my labor for my
paina,'^ but I persisted in my course, telling them that " wc should see
who was right."

At length wo were exchanged, and a cartel carried us to St. Kitts,
where we went to the American consul and received a joe (eight dollars)
a-piece, to support us a few days, until we could find a passage home.
After I had found me a boarding house, I went to the American coffee-
house and disposed of my tea for one dollar per pound, receiving eighty-
five dollars, which I thought fine " potatoes" for a prisoner of war to
earn.

[The next event which Nevcns relates of prominent interest, is the
narrative of his shipwreck, which occurred many years later. We here
make the extract referred to.]

I now thought I would take what means and stores I had, and draw
from the bank what cash I had then deposited, and retire from a seafar-
ing life forever. While making the necessary arrangements so to do, I
fell in, at a public house at Boston, with Captain Joseph Crosby, of North
Carolina, with whom I had sailed before the mast some years before,
always having supposed him to be an Englishman until he made me
acquainted with his early history.

As was perfectly natural, we boarded for several days at the same
house, and had frequent conversations respecting seafaring life, the
voyages wc had made, the perils we had endured, the narrow escapes
we had met with, and, also, as to our future prospects and calculations.
He informed me there was a brig to be sold in a few days, of one hun-
dred and ninety tons burden, a good vessel, and that, if I would buy one
third of her, he would take the rest, and we would freight her for some
foreign port, and so make at least one more voyage together. I told him
plainly that I had determined, in my own mind, not to go to sea any more;
that it was a hard and dangerous life to lead, and my inclination strongly
led me to seek for a livelihood on shore. " But," said he, " make one
voyage with me, and when we return, if you wish to buy me out, and
own her alone, I will sell out to you; or if you wish to sell out what you
own, I will buy you out, for I have money enough to buy the whole, but

5Q3 ADVENTURES OF A YANKEE SAILOR.

it is too much to risk at once." For a long time I held back. But he
epre^nrd' in such glowing colors, the pleasures of hfe "QtJ^"?;
that I at las consented to buy one third of the br.g, for which I pa.d, in
cash two thousand dollars. After making some slight repairs, and re-
nain inKhcr, we advertised for freight to «>m«P"t"» Europe. In the
Se of e^ght or ten days, we were freighted with fish for B.lboa, ,n

^''our brig was now to be manned and victualed for a foreign voyage,
which, for t^e state of my funds, was rather a serious job. However
:« made out to manage it'; and as I had two ^^f ^."JjJ/^y^f '^J'^
left I invested it in fish, and placed it on board. All things were now
ifrearestand on the 26th of November, 1822, we weighed anchor

" C:;ui2 C^sbTa'd myself had thought it b.st not to have our vessel
insu^d, as it was a time of general peace, and the owners of the cargo^
for the same reason, concluded to get no insurance. But we made
irrangemeSs with the owners, that if the weather grew bod or he times
uncertain and dangerous, to eff-ect an insurance on vessel and cargo. But
Xr we saSed, pe^aco continued, the weather held firm, and no maurance
was effected Here, then, 1 was, with my little world around me, my all
inve8ted-.and the fruits of the toil, privUion and care of years committed
to a frail bark upon the treacherous wave.

The weather continued fine, and the winds fair, until we had !|a sed
the Western Islands, and then heavy gales from almost every point of
compass made our progress slow and dangerous; but no serious m.sfor-
treTcmed^m we had arrived in latitude forty-four, and longitude
sateen when a very heavy gale from the south-west ob iged us to lay to
f^twe'nt^eight hours ; she rode out the gale like a gu 1. From evening
til morn L, the gale seemed gradually to abate in its violence I had the
rnorrng K, md the two men in my watch were on deck with me
K est of he crew, with the captain, were below. About ««ve» o-^loj^
in the morning, I saw to windward a very heavy sea oiling along n the
wake oHhe vetel, directly upon us. As soon as I saw the danger, I sung
r'to the mln to look out^orthemselves and fcP«dj^«J^^™i ^
0inff followed by the two men in my watch. When the sea strucK me
bdf t waTwith such force as to bury her yards in the water ; she, how-
eve^r', partU Shted, when a second sea struck her, and buned her masts
under'^ water. ^ The' companion-way and forecastle were now four fee
under water. Our only hope v. as now to cut away the masts and clear
"he doc^ we had two JharJ axes, but both were in the cabin, and could
not be got r All hope, therefore, of saving either vessel or cargo being
Sow vain, our nfxt thought was of our own condition The only chance
we hTof saving our Swn lives, was by getting the long boat afloat
How to do this was now the question. After some time, I succeeded in
cutUng wUh my knife a piece of rigging, which I f^«t«"«'J "?"°'*,">^ !J
such f way, thkt my two companions lowered me down, and I at leng h
succeeded' n cutting some of the ropes, and giv ng her a shake, she slid
oJof the sLgs without filling. After some ^^^-f^y^^rilr^A pu
from the rigging of the vessel, got her under our lee quarter, and put
Inrher twfoars, and the cook's draw bucket, these being the only arti-
des we could get at. We staid by the brig as long as we dared, and
when we left her, we were in momentary expectation that she would go
Jown We shovk oflF about a cable's length from her, and after wuit-
fng abouihidf of an hour, she sunk, and with her the captam and crew

lack. But he
x>n the ocean,
nich I paid, in
pairs, and re-
rope. In the
for Bilboa, in

»reign voyage,
>b. However,
id fifty dollars
igs were now
eighed anchor

ave our vessel
8 of the cargo,
But we made
d, or the times
nd cargo. But
d no insurance
und me, my all
ears committed

ive had passed
every point of
serious misfor-
, and longitude
;ed us to lay to
From evening
nee. I had the
deck with me.
ut seven o'clock
ng along in the
! danger, I sung
to the main rig-
sea struck the
ater ; she, how-
luried her masts
! now four feet
nasts and clear
:abin, and could
j1 or cargo being
rhe only chance
long boat afloat.
, I succeeded in
ed around me in
and I at lengtli
a shake, she slid
we cleared her
quarter, and put
ing the only arti-
a we dared, ami
lat she would go
, and after wiiit-
;aptain and cruw

ADVENTURES OF A YANKEE SAILOR.

503

and a valuable cargo. Though we were alone upon the mighty deep,
nearly four hundred miles from land, yet we had strong hopes of being
picked up by some vessel, as we wore in the track of all European ves-
sels going to and returning from the West Indies. I therefore tried to
comfort my companions in affliction with hopes, that I dared not indulge
myself. But they tauntingly asked me to serve out their rations to them!
" Provisions," said I. " Yes! where is our bread! our water! our meat?
What arc we to eat? what are we to drink?"

These were questions I could not answer; for water we had none, and
our wiiole stock of provisions consisted of but three potatoes and a small
dry fish, which were by chance in the stern of the boat. These I divided
equally among us, and tried to encourage them, but ihey were frightened,
and gave up all for lost. The weather was favorable, the wind came in
light breezes from the north-west, and a smooth sea. We had but to
keep the boat before the wind, and let her drift as she would, for all
hope of reaching land was vain. The fourth day of our suff^ering I shall
never forget — our distress and sufl'ering were great; more, however, from
thirst than hunger. A sickly, gnawing sensation was all from hunger
that we suffered. But from thirst! reader, may you never know the
dreadful feeling. It is beyond all imagination, and far, very far, beyond
all description. Think of it, as you drink your fill from the bubbling
brook or sparkling fountain: think of it as the plentiful shower descends
to refresh and enliven nature: yes, think of it as you awake at midnight,
parched with the thirst of burning fever, and reflection tells you that
parching, burning, firing thirst will never bo appeased until death sets
bis cold seal upon you. The eighth day, one man laid down and died
without a groan. We laid his body in the stern sheets, to devour when
nature could hold out no longer. Horrible alternative, to starve or devour
dead humanity ! That same night, the other man became crazy, laid down
upon the bottom of the boat, and soon became insensible. He, too, was
dead. And here I was alone, with the dead around me; the shoreless
waters stretching their vast expanse around me — not an object to be
seen, and no sound to be heard but the sullen dash of the waves upon
the side of the boat. I was exhausted — I was discouraged — I was in
despair. Horrible whisperings, cursings, and blasphemies sounded in
my ears; ghastly, grinning faces seemed to mock my misery ; my imagi-
nation mistook the dull hoarse murmur of the sea, for fearful shrieks and
groans. My hunger was gone, and the dead rested as securely as though
1 had been feasting; but I was parching, drying, crackling, consuming ;
my vitals were on fire, and nature could bear no more. I sank down
upon the stern-sheets beside the dead, and prayed for death to cure my
pains. Soon I fell into a drowsy stupor; my pains were gone, and my fears
removed. The days of my boyhood had returned, and I was playing in
tlie flowery meadow, wandering over green fields, roaming through the
wild wood, slaking my thirst at the sparkling rill, as it gushed from th«
moss-covered rock. Again the scene changed, and I was in the school-
room of my childhood, and it seemed to me that the long, long summer
day would never pass; as lesson after lesson was heard, and noon camw
not, the hum still went on with youthful impatience. I longed to be at
my dinner, and, casting a furtive glance at the stern master of "the

birch," I eagerly seized a tempting morsel, and but again the scene

changed, and I dreamed that I was by my own father's fireside, a boy,
spending the evening of a glorious New England thanksgiving, and had
eaten to fullness — and as the apples, cider, and nuts went round, so did the

504

ADVENTURBS OF A TANKEE SAILOR.

merry jest: and the laugh, loud and boisterous, made the old kitchen
walii) echo again. At length, the old clock told the hour of nine, ond
sleep stole gently upon me ; their voices and glee grew fainter — the fire,
a few moments before blazing so brightly, grew dim — the lights danced
t moment, and all was dark and still — forgetfulness and insensibility now
held undisputed reign.

IIow long I continued in this state, I know not. I was suddenly
aroused by a sound that seemed familiar, like that of a ship going in
slays. I got up as well as I was able, and looked around, but my eyes
wore so dim I could see nothing. Everything around me was shrouded
in green, but no object could I distinguish. After rubbing my eyes
some time, I saw, a little to windward of me, a large brig in the act of
lowering a boat. The exertion had been too much for my exhausted
IKJWcrB, and I fell upon the stem-sheets again, perfectly insensible. My
first recollection on coming to, is of finding myself sitting upon the cabin
floor, and being fed with something warm by a French lady. I heard
her remark, " lie has been drinking." I could not speak for a long time.
Wiien 1 recovered the faculty of speech, my first inquiry was for my
dead friends in the boat! They told mo they had been buried, and iImj
l)oat lioisted on deck. The captain then prepared me a glass of warm
wine and water, after drinking of which I soon recovered my faculties
and thoiigiits, though it was a long time before I recovered from the
shock my syatem had received. The vessel which had picked me up
proved to be a French brig, bound from Havana to France.

[In tho course of his life, N'^vens had considerable experience on
board of whalers, and describes, in his narrative, the different kinds of
wiiales, and how they are caught.]

It may not be improper to speak of the different kinds of whales
usually met with, and the manner of taking them. These animals so
closely resemble fish in their outward form and developments, that they
are generally considered as such by the mass of mankind. Upon an
examination of their structure, iiowever, we shall find that they differ
from quadrupeds only in their organs of motion. They are warm-blooded,
• and, by means of lungs, breathe atmospheric air, and that only. Like
quadrupeds, they bring forth and suckle their young; and indeed, in aH
the details of their organization, they are the same as in this class of
animals. The head of the whale is very large and long, forming about
one third of the whole length of the animal. The opening of the mouth
is of corresponding magnitude. The nostrils are situated upon the top
of the bead, and aie usually denominated "blow holes;" through these
the air finds ite way to the lungs, when the whale rises to the surface of
the water. The skin is destitute of outward covering, and beneath it is
a covering of oily fat, called " blubber," from six to twelve inches in
thickness. Their senses are not very acute, and they do not seem to
possess much intelligence. Their ordinary speed in the water is about
four miles an hour, which, however, they sometimes increase to twelve
or fifteen. The common or Greenland whale is destitute of teeth, but
instead of them the upper jaw is furnished with transverse layers of a
horny substance, called baleen or whalebone. This species is timid
and inactive, and yields more oil than any other— consequently, they
are more easily captured than any other. When fully grown, its length
is from fifty to sixty-five feet, and its circumference from thirty to forty.
The ordinary weight is about seventy tons. They make a loud noise
when breathing or " blowing," and often eject water to the height of six

ADVENTURES OP A YANKEE SAILOR.

505

s old kitchen
' of nine, ond
iter — the fire,
lights danced
onsibility now

was suddenly
ihip going in
, but my eyes
vas shrouded
ling my eyes
in the act of
my exhausted
ensible. My
pon the cabin
idy. I heard
it a long time.
f was for my
iried, and tire
[lass of warm
I my faculties
(red from the
licked me up

xperience on
rent kinds of

ids of whales
se animals so
mts, that they
nd. Upon an
lat they differ
warm-blooded,
it only. Like
indeed, in aH
1 this class of
forming about
t of the mouth
upon the top
through these
the surface of
d beneath it is
elve inches in

net seem to
water is about
rease to twelve
te of teeth, but
se layers of a
lecies is timid
sequently, they
own, its length

thirty to forty.

1 a loud noise
le height of six

or eight yards, which, when seen in the distance, appears like a puff of
smoke. They usually remain at the surface about two minutes, mid
'' blow" eight or nine times, and then descend into the water, wlier<3
they remain five, ten, and, when feeding, fifteen or twenty minutes, and
then return to the surface to breathe. In thus rising, they ascend, at
limes, with such velocity as to throw themselves completely out of the
wfttor

Tiie Razor or " Fin Back" whalo is the most bulky and powerful of
its tribe. It " blows" with such violence, that in calm weather it may be
heard a mile. Its length is about one hundred feet. It is much more
swift and active in its motions than any other kind, and is by no means a
timid animal. When harpooned, or otherwise wounded, it exerts all its
energies. It is difficult and dangerous taking them, and the small quan-
tity of inferior oil it affords offers but little inducement to the whalemen
The Spermaceti whale differs from the one described in many important
particulars, The mouth is destitute of whalebone, but the lower jaw is
armed, on each side, with about twenty strong, conical teeth, which shut
into corresponding cavities in the upper jaw. The head is very large,
with a very abrupt termination in front; the upper part of the head is
composed of cavities, separated by cartilaginous partitions filled with oil,
which, on cooling, crystalizes, forming the substance known as "sper-
maceti." The males of this species are known among whalers as " bulls,"
and the females as " cows." This is the kind most sought for, and most
valuable.

A whale-ship, properly fitted and manned, has three or four boats, and
from thirty to forty men on board, according to the number of boats.
Tiie weapons used in securing and killing the whale are but two. First
the harpoon. This is an instrument of iron, about three feet in length,
with an arrow-shaped head, the two branches of which have internally a
reversed barb, like a fish-hook. When this instrument, to which a line
is fastened, is forced, by a well-directed blow, into the fat of the whale,
and the line drawn, the principal barb seizes the strong fibers of the
blubber, and it cannot be withdrawn.

The lance is used for killing the whale, when secured. It consists of
a sp'car of iron six feet in length, terminating in a head of steel, made
very thin and sharp.

These two instruments, with the lines, boats and oars, form all the
apparatus for capturing the whale. When the ship arrives on whale-
ground, two men are kept at mast-head c^drrtinually, on the look-out — the
boats ready to lower at a moment's warning.

The whale is discovered sometimes by the " spout," and sometimes
l)y the breach of the waves over it. When the " mast-head " sings out,
" There she blows," the captain asks, " Where away ? " When it is ascer-
tained to be a " sperm whale," the word is, " All hands on deck, see all
clear for lowering the boats." All is now bustle and excitement. Each
man is interested, as his wages depend upoa th^ success of the cruise.
The " lay" is one barrel of oil out of such a number. The master may
have, perhaps, one in twenty ; mate, one in fifty ; ship's keeper one in
one hundred ; boat steerer one in one hundred and fifty ; and a common
hand, one in two hundred, according to the " lay" on which they engaged.
Tiie captain supplies all their wants while out, from the ship's stores,
and it is deducted from their wages when they arrive home. Thus every
one is anxious of success. When the ship arrives within about half a
mile of the whale, she is hove-to, and the ship's keeper goes to the

■ .--, ;^'-*''r*'-'r'--5-T-^^;

506

ADVENTURES OF A YAKKEE SAILOR.

mast-head wit i r dpy-glaBS, to watch tho operation, and ^ivo directions
to tho man a' tliu iielm how to work tho 8hip. Tho boatu boing lowt-red,
(^acii with its own cruw, row for the whale. Cnrc and Hkill arc roi|uisitu
to approach the whale before it has its "blow'* out. The boat which is
noarest tiic whale, approaches tho whale at tho right moment, and some
expert workman throws tlie harpoon, and '' fastens^' to tiic whale. Sone-
tiines, when the whale has dono blowing, and is about going down, the
linrpuon is thrown n distance of ten yards, and made to " fasten." But
usually the boat is run directly u|>on the animal, and the harpoon buried
in its back. This is a critical moment, and re(|uiros presence of mind
iu an otlicor, and perfect obedience in tho boat's crew. The instant she
is fast, the word is, '' Stern all.'' The boat now moves rapidly astern till
out of tho reach of the fluke or tail of the whale. The tail of the whale
lying horizontally or flat in the water, enables him to dive almost instau-
tanoously and with great power. When the whale feels the wound made
by the har|)oon, it makes a convulsive eflbrt to escape. This is a moment
of danger, the men and boats are exposed to instant destruction from the
violent blow of the ponderous tail. The whale now goes down, some-
times to the depth of a mile, and the utmost care and order are requisite
on the part of the crew, while the line is running out. Should tho line
meet with any obstruction while running, the boat would be instantly
drawn down. Their stay down is from five to forty minutes, the longer
time they are down the greater their exhaustion when they rise, owing
to the pressure of tho water upon them. Wiien it rises, a second har-
poon is fastened to it, and then the lance is used for killing him. The
oliicer of tho boat goes forward to do tliis; the iance, which has a long
shank of wood, is forced into tho vitals just back of the fin. This being
dono two or tiiroe times, the whale is seen to be dying by the blood min-
gled with his spout, and, after a short time, rolls over upon the side or
back, and the job is done.

A signal is now made, and the ship comes along side, the boats arc
hoisted, and a strong chain, called the " fluke-chain," is put round the
tail, a little abovo where it begins to spread. A good " stifl' throat sea-
soning" is now expected by every man, and willingly given by the ofli-
cers. Two men i^ow get upon the whale, each armed with a straight,
sharp blubber-spade, with which they begin to cut near tho fin. They
cut lengthways of the whale about five feet, then, standing face to face,
tiiey cut round, as far as they can, down on the side. A hole is now
made through this " blanket-piece," near the end, into which a blubber-
hook, weighing about sixty pounds, is forced; this hook, being connected
with a very strong purchase and fall, the end of which is fastened to the
windlass, then the word is, " Haul taut." Eighteen or twenty hands, with
handspikes, now heave away at the windlass, and the blanket-piece begins
to rise, peeling ofl* from the carcass as fast as the men on the whale can
cut. As they cut spirally, and the whale rolls in the water and fluke-
ropes, the blanket continues to rise till it reaches the mainyard, and then
another hole is cut down near the whale, into which another hook is fas-
tened, and the operation goes on till the blubber is all in. These blan-
ket-pieces are swung in over the main-hatch and lowered into the blubber
room, where they are cut up into thin slices for the kettle. The head is
now cut from the body, and divided into two pieces, called the <' case "
and tho "junk," the last of which is brought on deck and lashed ; the
" case" is then raised as high as the plankshire of the ship, and a large
hole cut in it, from which head matter is taken, from ten to fifteen barrels

«iii

vo (liroctions
«ing lowered,
arc requisitu
Mai which is
lilt, and some
halo. Soi'ie-
ng down, thu
fasten." But
arpoon buried
once of mind
ic instant she
idly astern till
of the whalo
almost iostau-
e wound made
lis is a moment
iction from the
9 down, some-
r are requisite
hould the line
d be instantly
tes, the longer
hey rise, owing
a second bar-
ing him. The
ich has a long
in. ThiH being
' the blood min-
ran the side or

3, the boats are
I put round the
stiff throat sea-
iven by the offi-
with a straight,
• the fin. They
ing face to face,
A hole is now
which a blubber-
being connected
s fastened to the
^enty hands, with
iket-piece begins
m the whale can
water and fluke-
linyard, and then
ather hook is fas-
in. These blan-
1 into the blubber
tie. The head is
lied the "case"
and lashed ; the
ship, and a large
1 to fifteen barrels

ADVENTURES OF A YANKEE SAILOR.

50(

in quantity. The "junk," when tried out, goes in with this, and it is
called head oil, or "speriiiucoti."

Tlni.s tlio wliiilo is " cut in." It now has to bo "tried out," and even
the head oil inuHt bo boiled, to keep it from spoiling. The scraps made
in trying out the blubber are used to feed the fires, and after being lirut
Lindli d, they require no other fuel.

The oil is then stowed away, where it remains, unless some of the
casks lenk, which is discovered by the pumps. If they bring up oil und
water, tlio whole of it has to bo trimmed, that is, overhauled, and the
leiiky casks taken out, emptied, and repaired, and the whole stowed away
again.

[Captain Scoresby, in his works on the Whale Fishery, gives some
interesting anecdotes illustrative of the perils and disasters to which
whalemen arc subject, some of which we here annex, in addition to what
Nevcns has given us of the peculiarities of thid occupation.]

The moat extensive source of danger to the whale-fisher, when actively
engaged in his occupation, arises from the object of his pursuit, Except-
ing wliou it has young under its protection, tlio whale generally exhibits
remarkable timidity of character. A bird perching on its back alarms it;
hence, the greater part of the accidents which happen in the course of
its capture, must be attributed to adventitious circumstances on the part
of the whale, or to mismanagement or fool-hardiness on the part of the
fishers.

A harpooner belonging to the Henrietta, of Whitby, when engaged in
lancing a whale, into which ho had previously struck a harpoon, incau-
tiously cast a little line under his feet, that he had just hauled into the
boat, after it had been drawn out by the fish. A painful stroke of his
lance induced the whale to dart suddenly downward ; his line began to
run out from beneath his feet, and in an instant caught him, by a turn,
round his body. He had but just time to cry out, "Clear away the line!"
"Oh, dear!" when he was almost cut asunder, dragged overboard, and
never seen afterward. The line was cut at the moment, but without
avail. The fish descended a considerable depth, and died, from
whence it was drawn to the surface by the lines connected with it, and
secured.

While the ship Resolution navigated on open lake of water, in the
eighty-first degree of north latitude, during a keen frost and strong north
wind, on the 8d of June, 1806, a whale appeared, and a boat put off in
pursuit. On its second visit to the surface of the sea it was harpooned.
A convulsive heave of the tail, which succeeded the wound, struck the
boat at the stern, and by its reaction projected the boat-steerer overboard.
As the line in a moment dragged the boat beyond his reach, the crew
threw some of their oars toward him for his support, one of which he
fortunately seized. The ship and boats being at u considerable distance,
and the fast-boat being rapidly drawn away from him, the harpooner cut
the line, with the view of rescuing him from his dangerous situation. Bu
no sooner was this act performed, than, to their extreme mortification, they
discovered, that in consequence of some oars being thrown toward their
floating comrade, and others being broken or unshipped by the blow from
the fish, one oar only remained, with which, owing to the force of the
wind, they tried in vain to approach him. A considerable period elapsed
before any boat from the ship could afford him assistance, though the men
strained every nerve for the purpose. At length, when they reached
him, he was found with his arms stretched over an oar, almost deprived

"sStSfet"

80§ ADVRNTURE8 OP A YAVKEK SAILOR.

of ncnRatinn. On hia arrival at tlin Mhip, hn wuh in n ticplorahio condition.
Ilifl clotlicH wcro fro/.on liko mail, and hit* hair constitutnd n hnlinnt of
ico, Ilii was immodiately conveyed into the cahin, hia clothoH lak«>n
oflT, his limtm and body dried and woll riiltbcd, and a cordial adniiniHtf red
to him, which ho drank. A dry shirt and stockings wero thnn put upon
him, and ho was laid in the cnptain^s bed. After a few hours* sleep, he
awoke and appeared considerably restored, but complained of a painful
sensation of cold. Ho was, therefore, removed to his own berth, and
one of his messmates ordered to lie on each side of him, wliercby the
diminished circulation of the blood wos accelerated, and the anitnul heat
restored. The shock on his constitution, however, was ^rroater ihan was
anticipated. Ho recovered in the course of a few days, so nn to be able
to engage in his ordinary pursuits; but many months elapsed before his
countenance exhibited its wonted appearance of health.

The Aimwell, of Whitby, while cruising thr (ircenland seas, in the
year 1810, had boats in chnse of whales on the 26th of Mny. One of
them vim harpooned. But instead of sinking immediately on receiving
the wound, as is the most usual manner of the whale, this individual
only dived for a moment, and rose again beneath the boat, struck it in
the most vicious manner with its fins and tail, stove it, upset it, and then
disappeared. The crow, seven in number, got on the bottom of the
boat; hut the unequal action of the lines, which for some time remained
entangled with tlic boat, rolled it occasionally over, and thus plunged the
crew repeatedly into the water. Four of them, oftcr each immorBion,
recovered themselves, and clung to the boat ; but the other three, one of
wliom was the only person acquainted with the art of swimming, W( re
drowned before assistance could arrive, The four men on the boat
being rescued and conveyed to the ship, the attack <"' the whnic waB
continued, and two more harpoons struck. But thc^ whale, irritnted
instead of being enervated by its wounds, recommenced its furious con-
duct. The sea was in a foam. Its tail and tins were in awful pluy ; and,
in a short time, harpoon afler harpoon drew out, the fish was loosened
from its entanglement.^', and escaped.

In the fishery of 1812, the Henrietta, of Whitby, suffered a similar
loss. A fish, which was struck very near the ship, by a blow of its tail
stove a. small hole in the boat's bow. Every individual shrinking from
the side on which the blow was impressed, aided the iniluencn of the
stroke, and upset the boat. They all clung to it while it was bottom up;
but the line having got entangled among the thwarts, suddenly drew the
boat under water, and with it part of the crew. Excessive anxiety among
the people in the ship occasioned delay in sending assistance; so that,
when the first boat arrived at the spot, two survivors only, out of six
men, were found.

During a fresh gale of wind, in the season of 1809, one of the Reso-
hition's harpooners struck a sucking whale. Its mother being near, all
the other boats were disposed around, with the hope of entangling it.
The old whale pursued a circular route round its cub, and was followed
by the boats; but its velocity was so considernble, liat they were unable
to keep pace with it. Being in the capacity of harpooner on this occa-
sion myself, I proceeded to the chase, after havirt<r carefully marked the
proceedings of the fish. I selected a situation, wliicli I conceived the
whale would make his appearance, and was in iIk; act of directing my
crew to cease rowing, when a terrible blow wat^ struck on the boat. The
whale I never saw, but tiic effect of the blow was too important to be

ADVENTURES OF A YANKEE SAILOR.

609

o condition.

lu!l?n<'t of
•tlicH Initin
dminiHlt-rfd
on put ui|mn
rn' sleep, he
of II pain flit
n berth, and
wlicrcby the

animul heat
ater than was
Kt< to he ahle
)d before hi8

seas, in the
;\y. One of

«»n receiving
hifl individual
t, Htruck it in
et it, and then
bottom of the
inic remained
18 plunjjed the
cli imniprsiou,
r three, one! of
dimming, wrre
n on the boat
the whale waa
viialo, irritated
its furious con-
wful pluy; and,
1 was loosened

rored a similar
blow of its tail
shrinking from
ufluenco of the
wBi* bottom up;
donly drew the
? anxiety among
jtance; so that,
only, out of six

ne of the Reso-
being near, all
)f entangling it.
id was followed
ley were unable
er on this occa-
fully marked the
1 I conceived the
of diretting my
n the boat. The
} important to be

overlooked. About fifteen !i(|uaro feet of the bottom of the boat were
driven in; it filled, sunk, and upset in n moment. As-tislanco* was provi-
dentially at hand, so that we were all taken up without injury, after iieing
but a f«!W minutes in Iho water. Tiie whale escaped ; tho boat's linos
fell out and were lost, but the boat was recovered.

A remarkable instance of tho power which the whale possesses in its
tail, was exhibited, within my own observation, in the yiiar 1807. On
llie 29th of May, a whalo wu.t har|M>onerl by an oiiicir belonging to tlu*
Resolution. It doscende<l a eonsiderahle depdi, and, on its reiippear-
anco, evinced an uncommon degree of irritation. It made such a dis-
play of its fins and tail, ihut tew of the crew were hardy (Miongh to
approach it. The captain, oi)serving their timidity, called a boat, and
hunself struck a second hur|M>on. Another lH>at immediately followed,
and unfortunately advanceil too fur. The tail was again reared into the
air, in a terrific attitude. Tlie impending blow was evident — the har-
poi>ner, who was directly underneiith, leaped ovirltoar*!, and the aext
moment the threatened stroke w;t.s impressed on the center of tlie boat,
whicli it buried in tho water. Happily tm one was injured. Tho har-
pouner, who leaped overl)oard, escaped certain death by the act —
the tail having struck the very spot on which he stood. Tho etfects of
the blow were astonishing. The keel was broken, tho gunwales, and
every plank, excepting two, were cut through, and it was evident that
the boat would have been completely divided, had not the tail struck
directly upon a coil of lines. The boat was rendered useless.

Instances of disasters of this kind, occasioned by blows from the
whale, could be adduced in great numbers — cases of boats being
destroyed by a single stroke of the tail are not unknown — instances of
boats having been stove or upset, and their crews wholly or in part
drowned, are not unfre(|ucnt — and several cases of whales having made
a regular attack upon every boat which came near thern, dashed some in
pieces, and killed or drowned some of the people in them, have occurred
within a few years, even under my own observation.

Tho Dutch ship (iort-Moolen, commanded by Cornelius Gerard Ouwe-
kaas, with a cargo of seven tish, was anchored in Greenland, in the year
1660. The captain, perceiving a whale ahead of his ship, beckoned his
attendants, and threw himself into a boat. Ho was tho first to approach
the whale, and was fortunate enough to harpoon it before the arrival of
the second boat, which was on the advance. Jacques Vienkes, who had
the direction of it, joined his captain immediately afterward, and prepared
to make a second attack on the fish, when it should remount again to the
surface. At the moment of its ascension, the boat of Vienkes happening,
unfortunately, to be perpendicularly above it, was so suddenly and forci-
bly lifted up by a stroke of the head of tho whale, that it was dashed to
pieces before the harpooner could discharge his weapon. Vienkes flow
along with the pieces of the boat, and fell upon tho back of the animal.
This intrepid seaman, who still retained his weapon in his grasp, har-
pooned tho whalo on which he stood; and, by means of the harpoon and
and the line, which he never abandoned, he steadied himself firmly upon
the fish, notwithstanding his hazardous situation, and regardless of a
considerable wound that he received in his leg, in his fall along with the
fragments of the boat. All the efl[orts of tho other boats to approach
the whale, and deliver the harpooner, were futile. The captain, not
seeing any other method of saving his unfortunate companion, who was
in some way entangled with the line, called to him to cut it with his

■ >■ . I". iii _Lit-.

510

ADVENTURES OP A YANKEE SAILOR.

knifo, and betake himself to swimming. Vienkcs, embarrassed and
disconcerted as he was, tried in vain to follow this council. His knife was
in the pocket of his drawers, and, being unable to support himself vith
one hand, he could not get it out. The whale, meanwhile, contin.icd
advancing along the surface of the water with great rapidity, but forto-
nately never attempted to dive. While his comrades despaired of his
life, tlie harpoon by which ho held at length disengaged itself from the
body of the whale. Vienkes, being thus liberated, did not fail to take
advantage of this circumstance; he cast himself into the sea, and, by
swimming, endeavored to regain the boats which continued the pursuit
of the whale. When his shipmates perceived him struggling with the
waved, they redoubled their exertions. They reached him just us his
strength was exhausted, and had the happiness of rescuing this adven-
turous harpooner from his perilous situation.

Cuptain Lyons, of the Raith, of Leith, while prosecuting the whale-
lishory on the Labrador coast, in the season of 1802, discovered a large
whale at a short distance from the ship. Four boats were dispatched in
pursuit, and two of them succeeded in approaching it so closely together
that two harpoons were struck at the same moment. The fish descended
a few fathoms in the direction of another of the boats, which was on the
advance, rose accidentally beneath it, struck it with his head, and threw
the boat, men and apparatus about fifteen feet in the air. It was inverted
by the stroke, and fell into the water with its keel upward. All the
people were picked up alive by the fourth boat, which was just at hand,
excepting one man, who, having got entangled in the boat, fell beneath
it, and was unfortunately drowned. The fish was soon afterward killed.

Perhaps one of the most remarkable instances of the destruction of a
vessel by a whale, is that of the ship Essex, which sailed from Nantucket
about the year 1820. She was commanded by Captain Pollard, and had
entered the Pacific Ocean, where she was employed some time in catch-
ing whales. One day the seamen harpooned a young whale. In this
species, the aflTection of the mother toward its young is very strong, as
was evinced in a remarkable manner on this occasion. When the mother
of the young whale found that her progeny was killed, she went to some
distance from the ship, and then, rushing through the water, came against
tiie stern of the vessel with the greatest violence. So tremendous was
the force of the shock, that several of the timbers were loosened, and
the vessel pitched and reeled on the water, as if struck by a whirlwind.
Nor was the whale satisfied with this. Again she went to the distance
of more than a mile, and then, shooting through the waves with incredi-
ble swiftness, came like a thunderbolt upon the bow of the vessel. The
timbers were instantly beaten in, and the ship began to fill with water.
Scarcely had the crew sufficient time to get into their boat before she
went down. In this sudden and frightful situation, the poor seamen now
found themselves. They were upon the wide-heaving and perilous ocean,
in an open boat, and far from any land. If the whale had come upon
them in the condition they were now in, they must have inevitably
perished. But they saw no more of the monster. Captain Pollard and
his men for several days suffered severe hardships from the weather,
and from a want of water and food. At length, the delightful vision of
another ship broke upon their sight. They were all taken on board,
and finally reached their native country in safety.

In 1822, two boats belonging to the ship Baffin went in pursuit of a
whale. John Carr was harpooner and commander of one of them.

ADVENTURES OF A YANKEE SAILOR.

611

)arraBacd and
Ilia knife was
himself vith
lile, contin.'ied
lity, but forto-
apaired of his
tself from ihe
)t fail to take
3 sea, and, by
id the pursuit
^ling with the
im just us his
ig this adven-

ng the whale-
jvered a large
dispatched in
;lo8ely together
fish descended
lich was on the
sad, and threw
It was inverted
ward. All the
.8 just at hand,
It, fell beneath
fterward killed,
lestruction of a
from Nantucket
•ollard, and had
e time in catch-
whale. In this
1 very strong, as
^hen the mother
le went to some
er, came against
remendous was
e loosened, and
by a whirlwind,
to the distance
es with incredi-
he vessel. The
fill with water,
boat before she
oor seamen now
d perilous ocean,
had come upon
have inevitably
tain Pollard and
)m the weather,
lightfal vision of
taken on board,

in pursuit of a
of one of them.

The whale they pursued led them into a vast shoal of his own species ;
they weJeso 'Numerous that their blowing was i«;«--"i;;»'';/'^y ^t.
lioved that they did not see fewer than a hundred. Fearful ot alurm-
; hem wiS striking any, they remained for awhde mot.onless. A
last one rose near Ca^'s boat, and he approached, and, ffaHy ♦"'^ »'"
self harprned it. .'hen he struck, the fish was approachmg ho bo.t;
and nasC very rani-'Vy, jerked the line out of its place over the stern,
^nd thJew "t upon tht .nwale. Its pressure, in this unfavorable pos.-
?i^n so careened the boat, that the side was pulled under water, and .t
tion, so ^"«'^n''" this emerecncv, Cafr, who was a brave, active man,
sdS the 1 ne, ani ndTaS t'o'reliev'c the boat, by restoring it to ,ts
Dkce but by some circumstance which was never accounted for, a turi^
E ho line flew over his arm, dragged him overboard m an mstant am
drew him under the water, never more to r.se. &o «"dj«» ^as the
Sent that only one man, who was watching h.m, saw what had hap-
pened ^otharwhen the b^at righted, which it immed.ately d'd, though
harffJn of water, the whole crew, on looking round, inquired what had
Secome of Carr! 'it is impossible to imagine a death more awfully sud-
5!^ l„!l^ npxnected The invisible bullet could not have effected more
fnTtan anerSuction. The velocity of tho whale at U^first o^^^^^^^^^
« from thirteen to fifteen feet per second. Now, as this untoitunate
In was Ssan^he line at the'water's very edge, where it must have
™een perfeS t^Tght, owing to its obstruction in running out of the boa ,
{he interval betw^ee^ the fastening the line about him, and h>s diaappea_r-
ance cou?d not have exceeded the third part of a second of time lor m
one second only he must have been dragged ten or twelve feet deep.
Indeed he had not time for the least exclamation; and the person who
sawhis'removal"ob erved that it was so exceeding quick, that, though
fuseye waTupon him at the moment, he could scarcely distinguish lus

'^ITso'onls'ZS:;; recovered from their consternation, they appliea
thetsSveVtothe needful attention -l^-^^. ^'^ »'- V^rfaising Tt e
harpoon was struck, from the accompanying »^^^*' °\', ;^7;'i;Jho y
whale to the surface, and some lances were ^PP/'^^J'^v became Ui^d
occurrence had cast such a damp on al F^^^J' ^^at they he^^™« ^;™^^.
and inactive in their subsequent duties. The whale, when nearly
n^hiusted was allowed to remain some minutes unmolested. 1 11, having

(v..itla>a nnil were attended with serious loss.

two ;JSn BkhTover many yoor, ii. Nevcns' history. In the meantime.
he'hl^S o hece^for.^^^^^^

iHS«5-its^-tfr.hri^^^^^^

fnd hi." tuTto theTcenes of his boyhood, afte, the lapse of nearly

'SS

.512

ADVENTURES OF A YANKEE SAILOR.

requeatinff him to draw what funds 1 had from the bank, and forward the
same to ine at Providence. But day after day passed on, and I heard
„,.thing from him, and began to grow rather uneasy, when his son entered
my room, one evening, with the money. Hm father delayed sendmg it,
until a safer opportunity than by mail should occur, when unexpected
business called the young man to Providence. I now found myself in
possession of thirteen hundred and twenty-one do lars.

It was necessary for me to lay out immediately between two and three
hundred dollars, for clothing and other necessary articles. Havmg thus
supplied my most pressing necessities, I concluded to go to Boston, and
find out if any of my father's family were yet alive, having heard nothing
from any of tliem for most twenty years. I therefore began to look about
myself for some kind of conveyance. Here were the railroad cars,
which run from Providence to Boston weekly, but as the snow was very
deep, I was told that it was dangerous traveling in them, as they were
likely to run off the track, on account of the snow. As I was ignorant
about them, } did not know but this might be the case, and as a sailor
always feels safest on the water, I engaged a passage on board a small
schooner: I thought, as the weather had now become moderate and
pleasant, there would be little risk in so short a voyage.

I asked the captain when he should sail. He told me he was all ready,
and waited only for the tide. I accordingly lost no time in getting my
baggage on board, together with many curiosities, and some valuable
articles, which I had collected in the course of rny seafaring life AH
thin<Ts being now ready, we sailed down river, with a fair v^ind and plea-
sant^sky. The next day, however, the wind shifted round to the east-
ward, while wo were off Block Island, and there came on a fog so dense
that for some time we could not see the length of the schooner, and then
the fo.T would lift a little, and give us a momentary glimpse of our bear-
ings. "About two o'clock in the afternoon, it looked so likely for squalls,
that the captain said he would put back and go into Newport, and wait
fo" fair weather. Wo then wore the vessel round, and hauled her close
on the wind, so as to weather tno north-east point of the island. At this
critical moment, a squall struck us, and being closer in to the shore than
we thought, for we were not able to weather the point, the sea was
running very high, and before we were aware of our danger, the vesse
struck, with a tremendous crash, upon a reef of rocks. She rebounded
and struck the second time, and in a moment, seemingly, she was full ot
water The sea now broke over us with great fury, and washed our deck
from one end of the schooner to the other. At this moment, a pilot-boat,
which was driven in by the gale, came near to us, and seeing our help-
less condition, the pilot sung out to us to stand ready to jump on boaid,
one at a time, when the boat should come near enough to enable us

"^^The^pilot-boat tacked and stood off a little, then wore round and came
close to the weather-quarter of the schooner, when I jumped and caught
by the rigging. She then tacked again, and wore round in the same
wav, untd all were taken from the wreck. The boat now stood away for
Newport, and before we had sailed five rods from the schooner, she
went down. When we hauled into the wharf, we were as wet as drowned
rats, though our clothes were fast freezing to us, and it was piercingly
cold. We all went to a public house, and stopped that night, though
sleep was a stranger that I could not woo to my pillow. I spent the
night in reviewing my past life, and the strange reverses I had met with,

ADVENTURES OF A TANKEE SAILOR.

513

and forward the
on, and I heard
II his son entered
ayed sending it,
hen unexpected
found myself in

en two and three
s. Having thus

to Boston, and
:ig heard nothing
gan to look about
lie railroad cars,
! snow was very
im, as they were

1 I was ignorant
e, and as a sailor
n board a small
le moderate and

he was all ready,
le in getting my
id some valuable
afaring life. All
ir wind and plea-
•und to the east-
jn a fog so dense
:hooner, and then
[ipse of our bear-
likely for squalls,
ewport, and wait
hauled her close
e island. At this
to the shore than
lint, the sea was
ianger, the vessel
, . She rebounded
y, she was full of
washed our deck
tment, a pilot-boat,
seeing our help-
jump on board,
lugh to enable us

e round and came
imped and caughl
}und in the same
low stood away for
the schooner, she
as wet as drowned
it was piercingly
that night, though
How. I spent the*
les I had met with,

and now the scanty pittance I had saved with so much care, to build my
hopes in old ago upon, was swallowed up in a moment, and I was leA
destitute in the world. Before retiring to my bed, I took everything
from my pockets. I had a knife, a piece of tobacco, the key of my
trunk, in which my thousand dollars were snugly laid away, which was
now in the bottom of the ocean, about a dollar in small change, and one
poor, solitary five dollar bill. Here was the whole, my all — my forty
years of toil, of danger, of strife with the elements, of hardship and
suffering, for all this I had six dollars to show. The bill was in my
pocket by mere accident, as I put all my money into my trunk, as I sup-
posed, excepting a little change for present use, which was loose in my
pocket. The next morning, I concluded to take the stage for Swanzey,
and from thence I traveled on foot to Taunton. It was a very cold day ;
tlie whole face of the country was covered with snow ; the roads were all
ice, which the horses' feet had so cut up as to make traveling very loose and
difficult. However, I arrived at Taunton very much fatigued in body, and
discouraged at heart; I had hardly money enough to carry me to Boston,
and when I got there I was not certain of finding a soul living that cared
anything for me. Indeed, I never, in my moments of greatest peril, felt
so cast down as at this time ; my health was gone, my constitution broken
down, my friends dead, as I supposed, myself without means to gain a
living. 1 sat down and wept like a child. But again, the thought came
to mind, that I had nothing to reproach myself with ; I had not foolishly
squandered my money in drunkenness and riotous living, but it had been
taken from me by the " hand that tempers the wind to the shorn lamb."
[ liad ever adhered to the strictest principles of temperance and morality,
and I know not that I have ever spent a dollar to feed an unworthy
appetite, or gratify a wrong passion. I had now

" No wife nor babes to hold me here, ,

No cottage in the wilderness."

It was about dark, when I stopped at Mr. Willmouth's tavern in Taun-
ton. I had traveled from daylight till this time without eating a mouthful
of anything, fearing to spend any money, lest I should not have enough
to bear my expenses to Boston. I was, or had been, well acquainted
with the landlord, and was received as an old friend. After supper I
went to bed, but it was a long time before I could rest.

The scenes of peril, hardship and suffering through which I had recently
passed, had made so deep an impression on m^ mind, that my imagina-
tion was wandering among them still. At one time, I was in the crater of
a volcano, and as I was reposing my wearied limbs, I sunk into a dreamy
state of forget fulness, from which I was suddenly awakened by the
rumbling of the earth, and I saw, witK terror, smoke and flame issuing
from the cracks and fissures in the rocks around me. In alarm, I made
an eflbrt to escape from the fearful spot, when I found that I was bound
down by numerous yellow silken cords, and huge spiders were running
over me. A tremendous crash changed the " spirit of my dreams," and
I found myself sinking in the fathomless ocean. The boiling flooid was
gurgling in my ears, huge, slimy monsters were all around me, and eyes
of tire seemed peering at me from the dark caverns, while cold, serpen-
tine coils seemed to draw their folds with deathly tightness around me.
Again the scene changed, and I was in an open boat upon a wide
expanse of waters; the boat was filled with the dead, and huge monsters
of the deep, with fiery eye-balls, dashed along the main, scentbg theit
33

-.H»/13«^M>pfa<tW ■■"■

ff'^m'^mm

514 ADVENTURES OF A TANEEE SAILOR.

prey; they seemed to threaten my frail bark with instant destruction.
To divert them from their fearful purpose, I had to feed out to them my
dead companions. At length, the dead were all fed out, and still I was
followed by a fearful-looking monster, who, with wide-extended jaws,
seized the boat, and in an instant crushed it to atoms. With a shriek of
agony I made one spring, and I awoke. I was lying upon the floor of
my chamber, bedewed with a cold sweat of agony. At this moiuent,
the landlord entered the room with a light, to learn what the trouble was.
i told him what a fearful dream I had, and he said he would piepare me
something that would make me sleep. He left the room, and, in a few
minutes, returned with an opiate, which I drank, and in five minutes my
senses were steeped in forgetfulness. I knew nothing more till morning,
when the landlord entered my room, and, after much shaking, aroused me
to a sense of my situation. After breakfast, I went to the depot, to ascer-
tain what time the train started for Boston, and what the fare would be.
I found that I must be on hand at three o'clock in the afternoon, and
ready in disposition to fork over nine shillings of my little fortune, for
my passage. After dinner I called for my bill, when Mr. Willmouth told
me ho asked nothing, and should be happy to have me stay with- him
longer. At three o'clock, I was at the depot, and took my place in the
cars, and about dark arrived at Boston. The " shot in my locker" had
now got so low that I could not afford to go to a public house ; and I began
to cast about in my mind, to know where to stow myself away for the night.
Seeing a bright light in a large wooden building, I went in, and found it
to be an Irish boarding-house. I found I could have lodgings for twelve
and a half cents, and a supper for a shilling. I slept soundly that night,
and early the next morning I went down to a packet bound to Portland,
Captain Dyer. I asked the fare to Portland. " Three dollars,'' said the
captain. But when informed of my situation, he offered to cairy me for
two dollars. I accordingly paid my fare, and went on shore again, after
learning the time he would sail. I then went to see if I could find my
old boarding place. But the house was torn down, and in its place stood
a large brick store. I entered the store, and asked the man in attend-
ance if he knew where the family was who formerly resided there. He
said the woman had been dead eight years, and he knew nothing about
the rest of the people.

I then went down to the packet, and about twelve o'clock at night, we
sailed for Portland. The harbor was slightly frozen over, so that we
were two hours getting down as far as the castle. We had a fine pus-
lage, and the next day got into Portland. Captain Dyer invited me to
dine with him. After dinner, he made me a present of half a dollar, as
did one of the passengers. I now went out into the market, to see if I
could find any person from Danville. As I was passing down one of the
streets, I went into a shop to purchase some tobacco, and observing the
kind, benevolent look of the shop-keeper, I made bold to ask him if he
was acquainted with any people from that place. He said he was not;
hut there was a man "higher up," whose name was Tames True, who
r-had married his wife in Danville, and could probably give me any inform-
«tion I desired. I soon found True, and found he was well acquainted
with my father's family. He told me that my father and oldest brother
had both been dead several years. " But," said he, " your mother is
.nill living, and that is some consolation to you."

I felt that it was indeed to. " Have I any other relations?" I asked,
with anxiety.

n,— r*i iz^r^ "t^. 'hO 1^- *-^"t5.*^*»^

I deBlruction.
It to them my
nd still 1 wan
xtonded jaws,
ith a shriek of
a the floor of
this moment,
»e trouble was.
lid piepare me
and, in a few
ive minutes my
)re till morning,
ing, aroused roe
depot, to ascer-
fare would be.
) afternoon, and
ittle fortune, for
■. Willroouth told
e stay with- him
my place in the
my locker" had
use; and I began
way for the night.
1 in, and found it
dgings for twelve
loundly that night,
)und to Portland,
dollars," said the
pd to ca.ry me for
shore again, after
f I could find my
I in its place stood
w man in attend-
esided there. He
lew nothing about

,'clock at night, we
n over, so that we
^e had a fine pus-
)yer invited me to
of half a dollar, as
market, to see if 1
ing down one ot tne
, and observing the
Id to ask him if b«
e said he was not;
a lames True, who
give me any inform-
vas well acquainted
. and oldest brother
^e, "your mother is

relationst" \ asked,

ADVENTURES OF A TANKBIS SAILOR.

516

" Yes," said he, ** you have three brothers and three ■iaters.*'

" But," said I, " I never had so many to my knowledge."

" Well," said he, *' you have to my knowledge ; after you went to aea

i'ou had one brother and three aisters bom, who were alive and well the
Bit time I heard from them."

I now made True fully acquainted with my adventures and present
situation. He told me to give myself no uneasiness — that he would let
me have money to bear my expenses home, and find me a passage in the
stage. He told me that one of my brothers kept a tavern iu Poland, and
my mother lived with him. He said that he would see that the stage called
for me the next morning at sunrise, and I returned to the boarding-house.
[ went to bed at an early hour, that I might bo up in time for the stage
the next morning. My slumbers were quiet and refreshing, and I was
up at the first sign of the morning, before the family were any of them
moving, and had just got out of my chamber, when up drove the stage,
and I was forced to start immediately and without my breakfast. It was
one of the coldest days I ever knew, and I suffered much from the cold;
still my head was continually out of the stage, I was so anxious to fix
my eye upon some familiar object; but it was of no use. I had been
gone so long, and the face of the country had undergone such changes
and alterations, and being covered with snow, no Hpot looked familiar,
or awakened any remembrance of the past.

About nine o'clock, we arrived at what is now called Gray corner, and
after taking some refreshment we proceeded to New Gloucester. Here
some things upon which my eye rested awakened my sleeping memory,
and I began to feel that I was getting on "old ground" again. We
arrived at the house of my brother, in Poland, about half past eleven
o'clock. My brother, who was in the stable, saw me when I entered
the house, and soon came in. He was much changed in his personal
appearance, and instead of the light, elastic form he once possessed, he
was now a stout, portly looking man. Indeed, 1 could hardly discover
anything about him that reminded me of former days. As it was a very
cold day, I was much chilled with my ride, and it was some time before
I had got " thawed out," so as to be any ways comfortable. Finding
that he had no recollection of me, I entered into conversation with him
upon the state of the weather, badness of the roads, business of the
country, and such topics as are commonly first broached between
strangers. After some time, I asked him if he had ever followed the
sea. He answered that he never had. " But," said I, " there is one of
your name, who is a seafaring man, that went from these parts some-
where." " Yes," said he, " I had a brother William, who followed the
sea for a great many years; but as I have heard nothing from him for a
number of years, I suppose he must be dead — probably lost at sea."

During this conversation, I could occasionally see something that
reminded me of " by-gone days." Some peculiar glance of the eye or
turn of the head assured me that I was indeed holding conversation with
my own brother. He had several times, while I was talking, fixed his
eyes keenly and earnestly upon me, and then, as if disappointed, again
dropped them. I could govern my feelings no longer, and burst into
tears. He looked at me in much surprise, and suddenly exclaimed, " Is
it possible? Is this Williamt" I told him we were brothers, and we
were instantly in each other's arms. " This is an unexpected happinesss,"
said he. " I will call the family," he continued, and left the room. In
a few minutes an old lady came in, exclaiming, ** Where is William?"

.X.

ii:

516

ADVENTURES OF A YANKEE SAILOR.

It is useless for me to attempt to portray the scene that followed my
recognition. For more than forty years 1 had been roaming, and now
returned, an old uisn, to crave again a mother's blessing. That mother
was now about ninety years of age, and is still living. Many were the
questions that were asked and answered that night. I began to inquire
after my old associates — the companions of my boyhood. But they were
gone, some to the west, and some to the south. Some few had settled
down in that vicinity, while many had " gone to that bourne from whence
no traveler returns.'* I staid in Poland a few weeks, and then left for
the eastward, to visit other relations, with whom I am still living. And
now, kind reader, I must take my leave of you. I feel that I am an old
man, fast approaching my narrow resting-place, and my desire is that
my last hours may be peaceful.

FLOOGINO SCENE ON AN AMERICAN MERCHANT VESSEL.

'' For several days, the captain seemed very much out of humor.
Nothing went right or fast enough for him. He quarreled with the 'jook,
and threatened to flog him for throwing wood on deck; and had a dispute
with the mate about reefing a Spanish burton; the mate saying that he
was right, and had been taught how to do it by a man wko was a sailor.

This the captain took in dudgeon, and they were at sword's points at
once. But his displeasure was chiefly turned against a large, heavy-
molded fellow from the Middle States, who was called Sam. This man
h jsitated in his speech, and was rather slow in his motions, but was a
pretty good sailor, and always seemed to do his best; but the captain
took a dislike to him, thought he was surly and lazy ; and *< if you once
give a dog a bad name," as the sailor phrase is, " he may as well jump
overboard." The captain found fault with everything this man did, and
hazed him for dropping a marline-spike from the main-yard, where he
was at work. This, of course, was an accident, but it was set down
against him. The captain was on board all day Friday, and everything
went on hard and disagreeably. " The more you drive a man the less
he will do," was as true with us as with any other people. We worked
late Friday night, and were turned to, early Saturday morning. About
ten o'clock, the captain ordered our new officer, Russell, who, by this
time, had become thoroughly disliked by all the crew, to get the gig
ready to take us ashore. John, the Swede, was sitting in the boat along
side, and Russell and myself were standing by the main hatchway, wait-
ing for the captain, who was down in the hold, where the crew were
at work, when we heard his voice raised in violent dispute with some-
body, whether it was with the mate or one of the crew I could not tell ;
and then came blqws and scuffling. I ran to the side and beckoned to
John, who came up, and wo leaned dowr the hatchway; and though we
could see no one, yet we knew that the captain had the advantage, for
his voice was loud and clear.

" You see your condition ! You see your condition! Will you ever
give me any more of your^'aw?" No answer, and then came wrestling
and heaving, as though the man was trying to turn him. *' You may as
well keep still, for I have got you," said Sie captain. Then came the
question, " Will you ever give me any more of your jaw? '^

'■"'•»*<'W»i*i*'»»it'

-^j»<ti;<aaj-ay,'g!r«afe^?!»*8*g^^.. »j. ' » *j* ■ • ! I

ADVENTURES OF A YANKEE SAILOR.

617

followed my
ng, and now
That mother
&ny were the
m to inquire
8ut they were
1 had settled
from whence
then left for
living. And
It I am an old
deairo is that

VESSEL.

out of humor.
1 with the oook,
j had a dispute
saying that he
D voaa a sailor.
ord's points at
a large, heavy-
im. This man
ions, but was a
but the captain
i " if you once
ay as well jump
us man did, and
-yard, whore he
t was set down
, and everything
a man the less
le. We worked
noming. About
jell, who, by this
r, to get the gig
in the boat along
1 hatchway, wait-
e the crew were
ipute with some-
I could not tell ;
and beckoned to
r; and though we
he advantage, for

! Will you ever
en came wrestling
n. « You may as
Then came the
iw?"

" I never gave you any," said Sam; for it was his voice that we heard,
though low and half choked.

" That 's not what I asked you. Will you ever be impudent to me
again?"

" I never have been, sir," said Sam.

*< Answer my question, or I Ml make a spread eagle of you! I Ml flog
you, by G — ."

" 1 'm no negro slave," said Sam.

" Then I Ml make you one," said the captain, and he came to the
hatchway and sprang on deck, threw oif his coat, and, rolling up his

sleeves, called out to the mate, " Seize that man up, Mr. A ! Seize

him up! Make a spread eagle of him! I Ml teach you all who is master
aboard!"

The crew and officers followed the master up the hatchway, and, after
repeated orders, the mate laid hold of Sam, who made no resistance,
and carried him to the gangway.

" What are you going to flog that man for ? " said John, the Swede, to
the captain.

Upon hearing this, the captain turned upon him, but knowing him to
be quick and resolute, he ordered the steward to bring the irons, and,
calling Russell to help him, went up to John.

"Let me alone," said John; "I am willing to be put in irons. You
need not use any force," and putting out his hands, the captain slipped
the irons on, and sent him aft to the quarter-deck. Sam was by this
time seized up, as it is called, that is, placed against the shrouds, with
his wrists made fast to them, his jacket off, and his back exposed. The
captain stood on the break of the deck, a few feet from him, and a little
raised, so as to have a good swing at him, and held in his hand the bight
of a thick, heavy rope. The officers stood round, and the crew grouped
together in the waist.

All these things made me sick and almost faint, angry and excited as
I was. A man, a human being made in God^s likeness, fastened up and
flogged like a beast! A man, too, whom I had lived with and eaten with
for months, and knew almost as well as a brother. The first and almost
uncontrollable impulse was resistance. But what was to be done ? The
time for it had gone by. The two best men were fast, and there were
only two beside myself and a small boy, of ten or twelve years of age.
And then there were, beside the captain, three officers, steward, agent,
and clerk. But beside the numbers, what is there for sailors to do? If
they resist, it is mutiny; if they succeed and take the vessel, it is piracy.
If they ever yield again, their punishment must come; and if they do
not yield, they are pirates for life. If a sailor resists his commander,
he resists the law, and piracy or submission are his only alternatives.
Bad as it is, it must be borne. It is what a sailor ships for.

Swinging his rope over his head, and bending his body, so as to give
it full force, the captain brought it down upon the poor fellow's back.
Once, twice, six times. " Will you ever give me any more of your jawf "
The man writhed with pain, but said not a word. Three times more.
This was too much, and he muttered something which I could not hear;
this brought as many more as the man could stand, when the captain
ordered him to be cut down, and to go forward.

<' Now for you," said the captain, making up to John, and taking his
irons off. As soon as he was loose, he ran forward to the forecastle.

" Bring that man afl," shouted the captain.

i»;<*>iejs*'s.'««9lrtWW*Ss»re*W'J

■^^^ J^ *i . tf;«^ 'frg.^-;f>ig^;*.iyipi-^»j U < tyj |f.f nt «^^.*^-^u -- 'ii. ii#jL»->,..ijii ^ riU.i^j.^i<.»A.

,» >^*,~-^.i'fc,H^^»>^.'

018

ADVENTURKS OF A TANKKK SAILOR.

II >

The second mate, who had been a ahipmate of John's, stood still in
the waist, and the mate walked slowly forward; but our third officer,
anxious to show his zeal, sprang forward over the windlass, and laid hold
of Jolin ; but he soon threw him from him. At this moment I would
have given worlds for the power to help the poor fellow; but it was all
in Tain. The captain stooid on the quarter-deck, bare-headed, his eyes
flashing with rage, and his face as red as blood, swinfr'ng the rope, and
calling out to his officers: "Drag him aft! Lay hold of him! I Ml
sweeten him ! " etc., etc.

The mate now wont forward, and told John quietly to go aft; and he,
seeing resistance in vain, threw the blackguard third mate from him —
said he would go aft himself — that they should not drag him — and went
up to the gangway, and held out his hands ; but, as soon as the captain
made him fast, the indignity was too great, and he began to resist ; but
the mate and Russell holding him, he was soon seized up. When he
was made fast, he turned to the captain, who stood rolling up his sleeves,
and getting ready for the blow, and asked him what he was to be flogged
for. " Have I ever refused my duty, sir? Have you over known me to
hang back, or be insolent, or not to know my workf

" No," said the captain; '' it is not that I flog you for; I flog you for
your interference — for asking questions?"

" CanU a man ask questions here without being flogged?"

*' No," shouted the captain, '' nobody shall open his mouth aboard this
vessel but myself," and began laying the blows upon his back, swinging
half round, between each blow, to give it full effect. As he went on,
his passion increased, and he danced about the deck, calling out, as he
swung the rope,

" If ]^ou want to know what I flog you for, I Ml tell you. It 's because
I like to do it! — because I like to do it! It suits me! That's what I
do it for!"

The man writhed under the pain, until he could endure it no longer,
when he called out with an exclamation, more common among foreigners
than with us: " Oh, Jesus Christ! Oh, Jesus Christ!"

" Don't call on Jesus Christ," shouted the captain, "he can't help you.

Call on Captain T / He's the man! He can help you! Jesus

Christ can't help you now!"

At these words, which I never shall forget, my blood ran cold. I
could look on no longer. Disgusted, sick, and horror-struck, I turned
away and leaned over the rail, and looked down into the water. A few
rapid thoughts of my own situation, and of the prospect of future revenge,
crossed ray mind; but the falling of the blows, and the cries of the man
called me back at once. At length they ceased, and turning round I
found that the mate, at a signal from the captain, had cut him down.
Almost doubled up with pain, the man walked slowly forward, and went
down into the forecastle. Every one else stood still at his post, while the
captain, swelling with rage, and with the importance of his achievement,
walked the quarter-deck, and, at each turn, as he came forward, called
out to us :

''You see your condition! you see where I have got you all, and you
know what to expect." — " You have been mistaken in me : you didn't
know what I was! Now you know what I am!" — "I'll make you toe
the mark, every sort of you, or I '11 flog you all, fore and aft, from the
Iwyup!" — "You've got a driver over you! Yes, a slave-driver! a
■negro-driver! I'll see who'll tell me he isn't a negro slave!"

•* "*•" *' . ■ !" •■»■"—_■»?'•" ,-.ir'?-^r:>i ■•-fw ^f rK ^ir *^"

' fT. ■ -Iff.-wft -•*?!»«■,• *4JP"'-'^-"'"'>^?"'-'"*

stood itill in
third officer,
and laid hold
nont 1 would
)ut it was all
ided, hifl eyes
the rope, and
of him! I '11

aft; and he,
e from him—
im — and went
as the captain
, to resist; but
up. When he
up hifl sleeves,

aa to be flogged
er known mo to

; I flog you for

louth aboard this

1 back, swinging
As he went on,
ailing out, as he

,u. It's because
That's what I

ure it no longer,
among foreigners

he can't help you.
help you! Jesus

)lood ran cold. I
M-struck, I turned
he water. A few
[ of future revenge,
,e cries of the man
id turning round I
lad cut him down,
forward, and went
,t his post, while the
of his achievement,
ime forward, called

rot you all, and you
, in me: you didn t
I'I'll make you toe
re and afl, from the
)s, a slave-driver ! a
gro slave!"

..,-' ,J..L;J.*Jtl."i*^'^^^^^^^***^"

ADVENTURES OF ▲ YAMKKB SAILOR.

619

With this and tho like matter, equally calculated to quiet ui, and to
alluy any apprehension of any future trouble, he entertained us for
about ten minutes when he went below. Soon after, John came aft, with
his bare back covered with stripes and wales in every direction, and
dreadfully swollen, and asked the steward to ask the captain to let him
have some salve or balsam to put upon it. "No," said the captain,
who h(!ard him from below, "tell him to put his shirt on, that's the best
thing for him; and pull me ashore in the boat. Nobody is going to lay
up on board of this vessel."

He then called to Mr. Russell, to take those two men and two others
in the boat, and pull him ashore. I went for one. The two men could
hardly bend their backs, and the captain called out to them to " give
way! give way!" but finding they did their best, he let them alone.
Tho agent was in the stern-sheets, but fiiiring the whole pull — a league
or more — not a word was spoken. We lamJ-.d; the captain, agent, and
officer went up to the house, and left us with the boat. I and tho man
with mo staid near tho boat, while John arc! Sam walked slowly away,
and sat down on the rocks. They talked wome time together, but at
length separated, each sitting alone. I had some fears of John. He was
a foreigner, and violently tempered, and under suffering; and he had
his knife with him, and the captain was to come down alone to the
boat. But nothing happened, and we went quietly on board. The cap-
tain was probably armed, and if either of them had lifted a hand against
him, they would have had nothing before them but flight and starvation
in the woods of California, or capture by the soldiors and Indian blood-
hounds, whom the offer of twenty dollars would have set upon them.

After the day's work was done, we went down into the forecastle, and
ate our plain supper; but not a word was spoken. It was Saturday
night, but there was no song, no " sweethearts and wives." A gloom
was over everything. The two men lay in their berths, groaning with
pain, and we all turned in, but for myself not to sleep. A sound coming
now and then from the berths of the two nen, showed that they were
awake, as awake they must have been, for they could hardly lie in one
posture a moment; the dim, swinging lamp of the forecastle shed its light
over the dark hole in which we lived, and many and various reflections
and purposes coursed through my mind. I thought of our situation, living
under a tyranny, of the character of the country we were in ; of the
length of the voyage, and of the uncertainty attending our return to
America; and then, if we should return, of the prospect of obtaining
justice and satisfaction for these poor men ; and vowed that if God
should ever give me the means, I would do something to redress the
grievances, and relieve the suflferings of that poor class of beings of
whom I then was one.*

The excitement which immediately followed the flogging scene soon
passed off"; but the eflVjct of it upon the crew, and especially upon the
two men themselves, remained. The different manner in which these
two men were affected, corresponding to their different characters, was
not a little remarkable. John was a foreigner, and high-tempered, and

» Well has this resolntion been observed. R. H. Dana, Esq., of Boston, anthor of
Two Years Before the Mast, from which the above is extracted, is widely known for
his philanthropic advocacy in behalf of seamen who have suffered from the tyranny
of brutal officers.

(T't'ji.-s-^Ty «».y>>!ii* «i-^>» A»^a «* »— '^J»' T

^fm^v ■ -.^.Sf^ap ^

ADVKHTTOIB OF A TANKBB SAILOR.

\A K. .« hMino the worrt of an encoun-
though mortified m any <»»«J°J^i^*'^"M he talked much of
ter, yet his chief feehng •;«»«* to be Mger ^^^ ^.^^^ ^,^^

.atisfaction and revenge, f h?.«'"8°*^''Xmerican, and had had some
rther it was '"y «»'J«'«°»- ?"„ r^nhimTseenied completely to break
education, and this thmg comma W f""',"! ^^at had been inflicted
him down. He had a feelmg of the ^''P^^^^^f^^^fyre that he had
Spon l.im, which the other «»«; '["XJ'^t itS queer negro stories (he
a good deal of fun, •"'»»™""l"'°S\"e seldom smiled, seemed to lose
was from a slave St»t« but afterward he sewom ^^^, ^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^

all life and elasticity, and appeared »«> h»;« •»«„ ,,„„^„ him to draw a
[-iXrwrLTaSre,^^" l^.^ b. ntt. part or interest .

John's plans of "»"f«l«" ^fA^ef Eed to by us in the forecastle.
The floggmg was seldom, >/ ?'«J J^'^J ^^e others, with a dcl.cacy I
If any one was mclmed to talk a»o"\ "' ...pped him, or turned the
hardly expected to find r''"^/^ .'wi men Xwere flogged toward
Subject. But the behavior »//''« ^^^"^e „* honor which would have

one another, showed a .'!«»'';^7; *"?_Lr;X of life. Sam knew that
been worthy of admiration m ^he highes waiKs eomplaints he

the other had suffered solely »"/'» "^^ J Jd have beo" «°«^^'"g' ^"*
said that If he alone had been fl<>g8«J; '* ^Sin J what had been the
that he never could see that -nan without ^^^'^SJ' ^^^^ „,

means of bringing ♦^atd.sgrac upon h»n and ^^^^ .^ ^^ ^^ .^^^^^.

deed, let anythmg escape him »fj^™'7 ' V^j.
ferini to save his shipmate, that he had sutterea.

«4 \ *'

S'V,

'J»*f,*gM*!«!SSS^'

of an encoun-
iked much of

But with the
had had some
letely to break

been inflicted
e tha*. he had
;ro stories, (he
seemed to lose

and that was,
him to draw a
t or interest in

the forecastle.
Ih a delicacy I
, or turned the
flogged toward
lich would havo

Sam knew that
is complaints he
jen nothing, but
It had been the
sver, by word or
it was by inter-

ADVENTURES

Q»

A SLAVE-TRADER.

WHO WAS BNaAoio roa many team im tiib

AFRICAN SLAVE-TRADE.

Theopohk Canot, the son of a captain in the army of Napoleon,
was born in the interior of Italy, in the year 1807. When twelve years
of age, hin mother, a native of Italy, who had become a widow by the
battle of Waterloo, allowed him to follow the liont of his inclinations, and
with a lil)eral outfit, he embarked at Leghorn, as an apprentice, upon the
American ship Galatia, of Boston.

For several years he sailed out of the port of Salem, Massachusetts,
on voyages to all quarters of the globe. At this period he looked upon
slaves for the first time in his life. It was in India, at the disemi)arkiiig
of a cargo of slaves, when he saw a Malay drag a young nnd beaulilul
female by the hair. Indignant at the outrage, he felled the savage to tlio
earth with his boat-hook — an act more honorable to his humanity than to
his judgment, as it compelled their vessel to leave the port in haste, to
avoid popular retaliation. A disappointment of a tender nature caused
him to forsake his American employers, and he made several voyages
from European ports ; but, having grown reckless, his hard-earned wages
at sea were always spent on shore in dissipation: wine, women, and
gambling wore the chief attractions of this fast young man. At length
we find him on board of a Dutch galiot, bound for Havana. This was in
1824, at which time the West Indies were infested with those scourges
of the sea — pirates. When near the termination of their voyage, their
vessel was wrecked at night upon one of those hidden reefs of coral
which render navigation in those seas so full of peril. Day dawned, to
show them the blue mountains of Cuba rising in beauty in the distance,
while near they discovered a low, sandy, and apparently deserted key.
Suddenly there shot out from this barren islet a boat containing several
ill-looking fellows, in the garb of fishermen, who approached and boarded
their vessel. An arrangement was made, that it their vessel did not float oflf
by the next rise of tide, these men, with their companions on shore,
should the next day give their assistance to lighten her by carrying her cargo
to land. On the second morning, the wreckers proceeded to assist the
crew in discharging tihe cargo; but by sunset very little had been effected.
From various circumstances, Canot had his suspicions aroused in regard
to these men; but his fears only excited the ridicule of his companions.
FatitTued with the labors of the day, he retired to his state-room to sleep.
The night being very calm and the vessel near the land, ho found his
berth tilled with musquitoes, and took refuge in the stay-sail nettings,
and, notwithstanding a sort of nervous apprehension, was soon buried in

(521)

»iffjp<y^ ^ »fM ^ < ^' >t^j^**»^f S' > ■ ■. ■* w* %^ *" * * "^ *^/^

C2a

ADVENTURES (>l? A SLAVE TRADER.

illllilr

I li!

HlL«np. A littlo poHt inidiii^lit, ho wan aroiiRcd hy a piorcinf; nliriek.
Alttioii^li the moon liud sot, niillicitMit li^lit wan hnd to dimly hIiuw thf
<l(!ckH lii'hiiid him crowded with men. On b(;ii(( thuH Huddi-nly aroiinoH
i'loin xlri'p, Caiiot iit tirttt thoii;^ht ho waa lahtirii)); under n drt-ndfiil
nifthtmnri!; I)ut in n momiiiit more, thn HcreamH of thn woun<lrd an<l iho
dyin^, and thi; nppoaln for mercy that nroHc, convincrd him that n terrihio
tra^CMly wai niiactiu);. Tho vcsst'l liad boon boarded by piriit<>H, who
wori! then inaHsacrinK the cmw.

With hiii n!*nul pri'Hunco of mind, Canot Heizod tho f^anknt, and ^nntly
dropping into tho water, boldly »<tru('k out for land. IIu was, in rtpito of
bin euro, ovurhoard, and had Hwum but a abort diHtnnco, whnn ho wai*
ordered in har.sh tones and in Spanirtii, to return or be ahot. Anticipatin;;
'.vliut was to follow, lie turned over on hia buck, and the moment he suw
the expect<;d flash from a pistol, ho dodgod, like a duck, under tho water,
and the bull passed harmleiwly over his body, Heveral times the same
plan was resortt.'d to, until llic! increasing distunco placed him out of th(*
danger. Half an hour was then sfient industriously in swimming, in which
art ho was an adept, and by which ho maungcd to oacapo both pistol-bul-
lots and the sharks ever numerous in those waters, and reaching land,
he secreted himself in a dense growth of mangroves. Destitute of all
clothiug except trowsnrs, ho iiad been in this dismal jungle but a short
time wiicn swarms of muscpiiloes lighted upon him, and be was obliged
to run and plungn into the wat«!r to avoid the torture of their stings; and
80 it continued alternately through tho night. At the gray of i morning,
Canot dimbod the tallest tree he could find, which rose but a tow feet above
the sand, and casting his eye over the water, saw his vessel surrounded
by ncmcrous boats, which the pirates were busy loading with their ill-
gottc'i booty. All tho morning he watched the movements of tho ruffians,
with no pleasuralile emotions. To add to his distress, the sun poured
down upon his naked body with an intensity known only to the tropics,
and he sufierod greatly from burning thirst, which he vainly endeavored to
assuage by chewing bitter berries that grew around him. Late in the
afternoon, the pirates towed tho vessel iu a south-eastern direction, until
it was lost to view behind a headland. As the galiot disappeared, and
all traces uf his companions bad vanished, ho felt for the first time the
utter loneliness and destitution of his condition, and gavo vent to his
feelings in a copious flood of tears.

Tiie sun had sunk in tho west, when Canot, exhausted in body from
hunger and thirst, and his nervous system shocked by the dreadful scenes
ho liad witnessed, commenced arrangements to pass the night. To
escape the swarms of musquitoes, he was about to bury his body in the
sand, and cover his head with his trowsers, when he was startlod by a
noise in the adjacent bushes. Looking in that direction, he saw a blood-
hound quickly moving to and fro, his nose to the earth, snuffing out his
prey. Instantly divining his errand, Canot sprang into a tree, just in time
to escape tho fangs of the ferocious beast, which come bounding on with
yells of rage, followed by two armed men. These proved t(f have been
men sent out by the pirato leader in search of any of the crew of the
galiot that might have escaped.

Canot was conducted by his captors to a hut at no great distance,
made of planks and sails from wrecks, where the whole piratical commu-
nity had assembled. A council was had upon his fate, and he would
doubtless have bben sacrificed, upon the principle that dead men tell no
tales, were it not that their leader had taken an interest in the young

I i

*';\f?vw^?v yr ^:-^f^^

ADVFNTURRa OP A SLAVE-TRADER.

Rjn

c'TcinB shriek,
iinly hIiow the
hJ.-nly nroiiHOcl
lor i» (Irvnttful

I ilmt n. lerriltlc
)y jiirnUfH, who

kct, and Rontly
wn8, in H|)ito of
, when ho WM
t. Anticipating
moment ho saw
imcler the \fvatcr,
times the Hi\n»e
1 him out ol' the
mming, in whicli
3 both pistol-bul-
l rcachinj,' land,
DcHtitnto of all
nolo but a shott
I be was oblig«a
their stints; and
gray of > n\orning.
,t a tow feet above
ossel surrounded
ng with their ill-
nts of ttie ruffians,
J, the sun poured
iily to tlio tropics,
inly endeavored to
,im. I^ate in the
srn direction, unti
t disappeared, and
the lirst time the
I gave vent to his

isted in body from
the dreadful scenes
ass the night. To
ary his body in the
B was startled by a
tion, he saw a blood-
Ih, snuffing out his
o a tree, just in time

le bounding on with
proved t(f have been
f of the crew of the

It no great distance,
lole piratical commu-
fate, and he would
hat dead men toll no
merest in the young

sailor, and interpofti'd in hii< l)eh:tlf. Don Rnfnel, for so he was rnlliHl,
WHS originally an t>tTieer in thu French army, who, aQer the cIom'> of the
carfM'r of Na|)oleon at Waterloo, found his way to the New VVimM, and
hnii drawn his sword in behalf of the revohitioniats of Mwxici Imt, tin
JH common with similar adventurers, had been bufTiUi'd by fortnin; until
circnnistances had changed him into a leader of wrerker-pirntes — tho
very vilest of their kind, who never strike until their foe is i rippled.

'j'lie band of villains who made this island their lie td-cpinrters osti'nsi*
biy followed the occupation of fishing for tho market of Havana. But
tliejr poxition was chosen with a view to committing depredation.-* upon
the many uiifoitunate vessels which were wrecked, from time to time, by
the dangerous navigation in its vicinity. Caiiot was duly installed as
as.iistant cook to the band — no unimportant office, as to men who Ic^^i] n
mere animal existence a tickled palate is one of llie great chief eniln of
life. Ilix stay with them was bnt brief. In n few weeks therealter, Don
Rafael furni.slied him with a letter lo Signor (^arlo, a friend in Havana,
who was engaged in the slave-trade. He had been in tho Cuban city
but a few weeks, when Signor ('arlo bought .i pilot-boat of forty tons,
named her *• Kl Areostatico," from her great speed, placed a culverin
amidships, and furni.sheil her with all the rr<iiii.siles of a slave vessel, not
omitting several kegs of specie, wherewith to purchase her return cargo
of human beings. It was on the second of Sopteniber, 1826, that tho
*' El Areo.statico" sailotl from tho port of Havana, carrying Canot as a
sort of snperniinierary. The crow consisted of twenty-one scamps — the
ofTscoitrings of various nations. The captain, a native of the island of
Majoricn, was but a poor sailor, and tho want of distciplino and utter
worthlessness and ignorance of the men under him, rathor astonished
Canot, himself a thorough-bred sailor. On tho thirteenth of October,
they reached tho Rio Pongo, on tho African coast, and anchored at Bon-
golong. This place was the residence and slave factory of Mr. Ormond,
or, as he was called by the natives, Mongo John — the word " Mongo "
signifying chief.

The Areostatico, in a few days, was in complete order to receive her
cargo; was well supplied with wood, water and provisions; and being
small, without any slave-deck, soft mats were placed among and over tho
firewood and casks in her hold, to make an even surface for the stowage
of a living freight. This task completed, Canot was invited by Mongo
.Tohn to regale himself ashore. Ho was shown the town, tho baracoons
or pens for slaves, the stores, and the harem or wifery of his entertainer.
He had been but a few days on shore, when the chief offered and he
accepted tho situation of a clerk. His compensation was, a private
establishment, a seat at his table, and a negro per month, or his equiva-
lent value on his native soil, forty dollars. Tho runners into the interior
having filled the complement of the Arcostatico's cargo, Canot went
aboard, just previous to her sailing, to see it stowed. It was composed
of children, boys and girls, all under sixteen years of age. One hun-
dred and eight of these young people were packed in the hold of this
little vessel, which was but one foot and ton inches in height; yot, strange
of belief, all but three survived tho miseries of their passage to Havana!

The quarters assigned to Canot at Bengalong, consisted of a cane
house, plastered with mud and thatched, with an earthen floor and a
broad projecting veranda, shade and shelter being the chief points
required within the tropics. His employer was a fair specimen of the
African slave merchant. He was the mulatto son of a rich English

-I ^T;.*r*|!HS!9!WW!^'^

524

ADVENTURES OF A SLAVE-TRADER.

slave-trader, by the daughter of a negro chief. When a youth, he was
sent to England to be educated. His father dying a few years after, he
was thrown upon his own resources, and became a sailor, following that
business for five years, sometimes before the mast, and sometimes as a
dandy waiter in the cabin. Hoarding his earnings, he returned to Africa
to claim his father's property, and there found his mother yet alive. The
sable matron recognized her first-born; " a grand palaver" was had of all
his relations, when Ormond was duly reinstated, according to coast law,
in possession of all his father's property in houses, lands, and slaves.
Thus raised to comparative opulence, he embarked in the profession of
his deceased parent, under the name of ''Mongo," or Chief of the River.
Trade poured in upon him; his stores were supplied with the fabrics of
Europe and America, and the native products of hides, wax, palm-oii,
ivory and gold, while his overflowing slave-pens were from time to time
emptied by vessels which drove a thriving trade with Cuba and Brazil.
In a few years, he was a wealthy merchant, and a great man among the
petty chiefs of the Foulah and Mandingo tribes of the back country,
who flattered his vanity by tlie title of " king," and evinced their desire
to cultivate his good-will by stocking his harem with tlieir prettiest
daughters.

One of the first acts of Canot was to take an inventory of the Mongols
property. This showed a large deficiency, the result of the chief's
negligence, growing out of his debasing, voluptuous habits. On pre-
senting this to Ormond, he viewed it with indifference, and evinced such
petulance, that Canot felt satisfied he knew that his atiairs were in a
disastrous condition. On re-entering the warehouse, Canot met an old
iiag, Ungagolah by name, the manager of the Mongo's iiarem, wiio went
to the cloth-chest, and took out several yards of calico. Canot, upon
this, gave her to understand by signs, for he could not speak a word of
the dialect, he should not allow such liberties without a written order
from the chief. She thereat flew into a violent passion, her horrid face
lit up with a devilish ferocity, never seen excepting among savages, and
with violent contortions of the body, flashing eyes and awful screams,
she poured upon him torrents of abuse.

Ormond received the relation of this petty larceny with a laugh of in-
diflference. That night, while meditating on his pallet, Canot was aroused
by a gentle tap at his door. Extinguishing the light, to avoid treachery,
he grasped his pistols, and cautiously opened the door. A female stood
before him, whom he recognized in the starlight as one of the jioarls of
Mongo's harem — a beautiful quadroon. She was the child of a mulatto
by a white man, and having been born at Sierra Leon could converse in
English. She came on an errand of mercy — to warn Canot of the wrath
of Ungagolah, never to take anything that a Mandingo offered him, to
eat exclusively from the Mongo's table, or else Ungagolah, who knew all
the Mandingo ju-jus, (poisons,) would soon put him where she could
again have free access to the keys of the warehouse.

The wifery or harem of the Mongo was a primitive establishment,
formed by a square of mud huts. In his more earl} days, Mongo gov-
erned his harem with the usual decorum of such establishments. But
now, as age stole over him, he became a worn-out debauchei, his mind
and body weak from licentiousness, ardent spirits and opium. His harem
was kef>t up from fashion; and his wives had generally each a lover in
Bcngalong. Womanly quarrels sometimes took place, especially if two
n\' these black beauties happened to fancy tlie same lover. On these

I'll'

"ii;^

i i a>r i tprtet NM »wq ^ » i

*''^'**i*'*?^?. "-ir*

;»*.- • — ^— mn^Of-

a youth, he waa
V years after, he
,r, following that

sometimes as a
jturned to Africa
r yet alive. The
ir" was had of all
ling to coast law,
lands, and slaves,
the profession of
:hief of the River,
vith the fabrics of
les, wax, palm-oii,
from time to time

Cuba and Brazil,
at man among the
the back country,
inced their desire
irith tlieir prettiest

ory ofthe Mongo's
ult of the chief's
9 habits. On pre-
3, and evinced such
s affairs were in a
, Canot met an old
I's harem, who went
lalico. Canot, upon
ot speak a word of
out a written order
(ion, her horrid face
among savages, and
and awful screams,

y with a laugh of in-
3t, Canot was aroused
it, to avoid treachery,
oor. A female stood
one of the pearls of
the child of a mulatto
3on could converse in
irn Canot of the wrath
idingo offered him, to
gagolah, who knew all
him where she could

ise.

rimitive establishment,
arlj days, Mongo gov-
1 establishments. But
It debauchei, his mind
ind opium. His harem
snerally each a lover in
place, especially if two
same lover. On these

'■■•SB*!*"*'' ''

ADVENTURES OP AN AFRICAN SLAVE-TRADER.

525

occasions, they would sometimes strip, and a regular battle ensue,
aomctimos their lovers would have a sot-to fo (Ictcnnino these miittors.
The usual form of the duel was to decide i)y lot, lor the first chuncf,
when the lover stripped and received a certain number of blows from his
antagonist, fiom a cowhide. And so on in turn, the one who stood the
greatest number of blows without flinching was declared the victor. To
ihow a back well marked with the strijies of such conflicts, was a point
of great pride with those chivalrous youths.

At the close of the rainy season, the caravans were looked for, witli
slaves from the intejior, A number of messengers were dispatched
through the trails among the dense forests back from the coast, to meet and
welcome the traders of the back country. A few days after their depar-
ture, the report of musketry signaled the approach of a caravan, which
was replied to by the Mongo's people with firing of cannon. In a few
minutes, a long caravan entered the village, headed by a band of singers
praising their chief and leader— tlie great Ahmah-de-Bollah. 1 he train
consisted of about seven hundred persons, leading captive forty negroes,
bound with bamboo withes. Beside the slaves, were large quantities of
the usual articles of produce of the interior— hides, ivory, gold, rice,
bullocks, sheep, goats, beeswax, etc.

Mr. Ormond received the Mohammedan strangers, with great pomp, in
the piazza of his receiving house— the ceremony of presentation to the
traders of the caravan occupying about an hour. The trading lasted
several days, each day being devoted to one especial article. Each morn-
ing a crier went through the town, to give information of the special
trade of the day. One day it was in rice, another in cattle, another in
slaves, and so on.

Ahmah-de-Bellah was the son of the AliMami, or King of lootha-
Yallon, who, having arrived at the age of " twenty-four rainy seasons,
was invested with the honor of leading a caravan to the coast, which to
form requires time and skill. When the wet season is finished, the
chieftain goes out with bands of armed men, and lays in ambush on all
the trails which lead to the sea-side, until enough of small traders are
secured to form a large caravan, which gives consequence to the leader,
and enhances his property, by his per centage on the amount of sales at
the towns or factories on the coast. , , , », n

Eight of the slaves of this caravan were rejected by the Mongo. Une
of them Ahmah insisted should be shipped, as he could neither kill nor
keep him. This slave had been guilty of the murder of his son, and was
sentenced to bo sold a slave to the Christians, a punishment ranked
worse tlian death. It was interesting to watch the examination of the
slaves when brought before the Mongo for purchase. Disregardful ot
sex, he examined each from head to foot, handled the principal muscles,
the arm-pits, groins, cracked the joints, peered into their mouths to note
the missing teeth, scanned the eyes, voice, lungs, fingers, and even toes,
so -' to be assured of their soundness. To Canot's astonishment, the
Moiigo rejected one apparently powerf.',! man, whose full muscles and
sleek skin evinced high health. He had been subjected to the usual
jockey tricks ofthe dealers: they had medicated him with bloating
drugs, and given him a glossy skin by sweating him with powder and
lemon-juice. A few days after, Canot saw him abandoned in a neighbor-
ing hut, a mere wreck of a man. Whenever a slave in the interior
evinces an impaired constitution, he is sold to a peddler or broker, who,
with the aid of a quack, repairs him for sale to greenhorns; but the old

..^'.f^i-.^i'?----

!!"ii;: >

526

ADVENTURES OF AN AFRICAN SLAVE-TRADER.

slavers detect the ruse by the yellow eye, swollen tongue and feverisii
skin.

Canot eventually left the employment of Mongo John, and took up his
residence with a slave-trader, named Edward Joseph. While a guest
with him, a great event occurred in his history. This was on the fifth
of March, 1827, when a Spanish slaver, the La Fortuna, from Re^la, the
Havana grocer, arrived, which, to the astonishment of Canot, was con-
signed to him. with all the materials with which to purchase r<n " assorted
cargo of slaves." Thus suddenly elevated to the position of" a trader,"
but destitute of a baracoon or pen of slaves, he called in requisition all
the traders of the river, and offering unusually high terms, soon collected
the required number; so that, at the appointed day, the vessel sailed with
two hundred and twenty human beings packed in her hold. She arrived
safely at Cuba: the voyage yielded a profit of over forty thousand
dollars, which was more than one hundred per cent, profit, over all the
expenses. Canot was now fairly embarked in the slave-trade, and in the
history of his life gives a detail of the customs of this commerce, some
of which we here subjoin.

An African trader of reputation selects his cargo with great care, so
as to avoid sending to his employers any that are not able-bodied, or that
are afflicted with any contagious disease, that may be communicated to
otiier slaves on the voyage. Previous to the shipment, the heads of every
male and female are shaved, and the initials of their respective owners
burnt on their bodies. This is omitted, when the cargo is consigned to
but one proprietor. The last day is signalized by a feast gi\'en to the
slaves in their baracoons. When over, they are taken to the vessel in
canoes, and there stripped entirely naked, perfect nudity being cousid-
orcd indispensable to health and cleanliness during the voyage. Tlie
men are placed in the hold, the women in the cabin, and the children on
deck — tho latter protected at night by a sail. .They take their meals in
messes of ten, and in olden times, when the trade was lawful, it was a
universal custom of the Spanish captains to say grace and return thanks.
Nowadays, the ceremony is substituted for a "Hurrah for Havana!"
accompanied by a clapping of hands. Before eating, the slaves wash their
hands in buckets of salt water, and then kids of either rice, farina, yams
or beans are given to each squad. As a preventive against greediness,
each mouthful is dipped up at a signal from a monitor. Whenever a
slave refuses to eat, he is duly reported by the guard, and it* from illness,
he is cared for, and if from a desire to commit suicide by starvation, as
is sometimes the case, a good appetite is stimulated by a few blows from
a cat-o^-nine tails, well laid on. The slaves are fed twice a day— at ten
in the morning, and four in the afternoon, and a pint and a half of water
allowed them during the twenty-four hours. Aside from this they are
occasionally indulged in a few whifs of tobacco, each in rotation, from
pipes passed round by boys. Every alternate day their mouths are rinsed
with vinegar, and each morning a dram is given them to keep off the
scurvy. The sexes, although separated, are permitted during the day to
converse on deck, and when punishment is inflicted, it is for some fault,
and is done only by an order from an officer. Weekly they are shaved,
without lathering, by a barber, and their nails pared, so that they need not
harm each other in those nightly contests in which they battle for room on
their plank beds. In pleasant weather, they are permitted to unite their
voices in singing their native melodies, mixed with various drumming<<,
or tom-toms, on reversed tubs or tin-kettles

ADVENTURES OF AN AFRICAN SLAVE-TRADER.

527

iDER.

rue and feverish

1, and took up his
While a guest

was on the fifth
I, from Re„'la, the

Canot, was con-
lase !<n " assorted
on of " a trader,"

in requisition all
ms, soon collected

vessel sailed with
lold. She arrived
er forty thousand
profit, over all the
e-trade, and in the
a commerce, some

i^ith great care, so
ible-hodied, or that
e communicated to
, the heads of every

respective owners
go is consigned to

feast given to the
n to the vessel in
udity being cousid-
; the voyage. Tiie
and the children on
take their meals in
was lawful, it wns a
e and return thanks,
urrah for Havana!"
the slaves wash their
er rice, farina, yams

against greedinesp,
onitor. Whenever a
], and if from illness,
;ide by starvation, as

by a few blows from
I twice a day — at ten
,t and a half of water
e from this they are
ach in rotation, from
leir mouths are rinsed
liem to keep off the
tted during the day to
d, it is for some fault,
ekly they are shaved,
, so that they need not
they battle for room on
lerroitted to unite their
;h various drumming",

The greatest care is taken to keep the vessel clean : chloride of lime
is freely distributed, the decks often washed, scraped and holystoned, so
that in neatness and in discipline a well-conducted slaver is only equaled
by a man-of-war. At sunset, the slaves are stowed for the night; the
officers, with whip in hand, ranging the slaves — those on the right side
of the vessel facing the bows, those on the left facing the stern, so as to
bring each negro on his right side, and thus allow better action for the
heart. The tallest are placed in the center and broadest part of the ves-
sel, the shortest near the bows and stern. Strict discipline is required
for the nightly stowage, lest the living freight should take upon them-
selves the airs of passengers. To insure silence and order, every tenth
slave is provided with a whip, and if any of those under his charge are
noisy, he dextrously uses his weapon, and finds his reward in a present
of an old shirt or tar-besmeared trowsers. Ventilation is well provided
for, and when among the suffocating calms of the tropics, a portion of
the slaves sleep on deck under an armed watch. In the baracoons, and
while being shipped, slaves are chained in gangs of ten; but at sea they
are fastened in pairs, by irons at their ankles.

From this account of Canot, it would appear that no unnecessary
severity is or ever has been resorted to: the slaveis manifesting about
the same degree of interest in the welfare of tiieir cargo, as the com-
mander of a Connecticut horse jockey evinces in his cargo of four-limbed
quadrupeds, which he wishes to land on one of the Bermudas in as salable
a condition as is possible. Our own countryman, Captain Andrew II.
Foote, of the U. S. Navy, in his work on Africa and the American Flag,
has accumulated evidence which gives a very different account from that
drawn by Canot, and from which we subjoin some statements.

The slave-truJe is now carried on by comparatively small and ill-found
vessels, watched by the cruisers incessantly. They are, therefore, induced,
at any risk of loss of life, to crowd and pack their cargoes, so that a
successful voyage may compensate for many captures. In olden times,
when the trade was legal, large vessels were fitted expressly for the
business — Indiamen or whalers. It has been objected to the employment
of squadrons to exterminate that trade, that their interference has in-
creased its enormity. This, however, is not true, for if there ever was
anything on earth, which, for revolting, filthy, heartless atrocity might
make the devil wonder and hell recognize its own likeness, then it was
on the decks of any one of the old slavers. The sordid cupidity of the
older, as it is meaner, was also more callous than the hurried ruffianism
of the present age. In fact, a slaver now has but one deck ; in the last
century they had two or three, the number of decks rendering the suffo-
cating and pestilential hold a scene of unparalleled wretchedness.

Here are some instances of this, collected from evidence taken befoie
the British House of Commons, in 1792. James Morley, gunner of the
Medway, states: " He has seen them under great difficulty of breathing.
The women often, particularly, got upon the beams to get air, but they
were driven down because they take air from the rest. He has known
rice held in the mouths of sea-sick slaves, until they were almost strangled.
He has seen the surgeon's mate force the panniken between their teeth,
and throw the medicine over them, so that not half of it went into their
mouths— the poor wretches wallowing in their blood, hardly having life,
and this with blows of the cat." Dr. Thomas Trotter, surgeon of the
Brookes, says: " He has seen the slaves drawing their breath with all
those laborious and uizioui efforts for life, which are observed in expiring

.«».;, »Ji,'flf!,'iUl;,'J

^k \:i^.0-, *r..

528

ADVENTURES OF AN AFRICAN SLAVE-TRADER.

unimalH, subjected, by expcrimniit, to foul air, or iu the exhausted
receiver of an air-pump, llaa also seen them, wiicn tiic tarpaulius have
inadvertently been thrown over the ^'ratings, attempt to heave them up,
cryinj; out: ^ Kickeraboo ! kickerahoo ! !^ — i.e., 'Wle are dying! we
are dying!!'' On removing the tarpaulin and gratings, they would fly
to the hatchways with all the signs of terror and dread of suflfocation ;
many of those whom he has seen in a dying state have recovered by being
brought upon deck; others, who were previously well, perished by suffo-
cation.^' In regard to the (rar/and'« voyage in 1788, the testimony is:
'* The slaves, both when ill and well, were frequently forced to eat against
their inclination, and were whipped with a cat if they refused. The
parts on which their shackles are fastened, are oAen excoriated by the
violent exercise they are forced to take. Fell in with the Hero, which
had lost over three hundred, mostly by the smallpox — the surgeon stat-
ing, that when removed from one place to another, they left marks of
their skin and blood upon the deck, and that it was the most horrid sight
he had ever seen.''

Even at that time, when the trade was under systematic regulations,
the slaves were obliged to lie upon their backs, and were shackled by
their ankles, the left of one being fastened close by the right of the next;
so that the whole number, in one line for the length of the deck, formed
a single living chain. When one died, the body remained duringthe night;
and in bad weather, when the hatches were necessarily closed, suffocation
would occur. It can, therefore, be understood that the strong strangled
the weak intentionally, to procure more space, and that when striving to
get near some aperture affording air to breathe, many would be injured
or killed in the struggle. Such were ''the horrors of the middle
passage.'' We subjoin some extracts, giving the condition in which
slave vessels have been found in our time. The first is from a report of
Captain Hayes to the Admiralty, of a representation made to him
respecting a slaver, in 1832:

" The master, having a large cargo of these human beings chained
together, with more humanity than his fellows, permitted some of then
to come on deck for the benetit of the weather, but still chained together,
when they immediately commenced jumping overboard, hand in hand,
and drowning in couples. They had just been brought from between
decks, to which they knew they must return, where the scalding per-
spiration wa6 running from one to the other, men dying and living, and
dead bodies chained together; and the living, in addition to all their tor-
ments, laboring under the most famishing thirst. These unfortunate
people had just been torn from their country, their families, their all! —
men from their wives, women from their husbands, children from their
parents; and yet, in this man's eye, there was no cause whatever for
jumping overboard and drowning. The men are chained in pairs, and
as a proof they are intended so to remain until the end of the voyage,
their fetters are not locked but riveted by the blacksmith; and as deaths
are frequently occurring, living men are often for awhile confined to
dead bodies, the latter sometimes in a putrid state."

The uotorious Spanish slaver, the Velos Pasaagueiro, was captured by
the North Star, after a long chase and a battle, and was found full of
slaves. Behind her foremast was an enormous gun, turning on a broad
circle of iron, and enabling her to act as a pirate, if her slave speculation
had failed. She had taken in 662 slaves, and had been out seventeen
days, during which she had thrown overboard fifty-five. ^ ' ,t ■r^ijn - '

^♦ PMf il^Wf <W^*».,a»W>».<»i-w*J

WM * s. .ift g IM« i w t ,,>>^, < iwrtM ^ iiii i f^ f ^yTi t ^ igi i i ^ , 1

DER.

1 tlio exhausted

I tarpaulins have
heave them up,
are dying! we

I, they would fly
J of suffocation ;
covered by beinfi
erished by suffo-
ihe testimony is:
ced to eat against
sy refused. The
■xcoriatod by the
the Hero, which
the surgeon stat-
ley left murks of
most horrid sight

matic regulations,
f/exe shackVed by

right of the next;
' the deck, formed
d during the night;
closed, suffocation
le strong strangled
It when striving to

would be injured
jrs of the middle
;ondition in which

is from a report of
lion made to him

an beings chained
tted some of then

II chained together,
ard, hand in hand,
ught from between
3 the scalding por-
ing and living, and
ition to all their tor-

These unfortunate
imilies, their all!—
children from their

cause whatever for
lained in pairs, and

end of the voyage,
smith; and as deaths

awhile confined to

eiro, was captured by
td was found full of
I, turning on a broad
her slave speculation
been out seventeen
five.

ADVBNTURBS OP AN AJ'RIOAN SLAVE-TRADER.

639

The slaves were all inclosed under grated hatchways between decks.
The space was so low that they sat between each other's legs, and were
stowed so close together that there was no possibility of their lying down,
or at all changing their position by day or night. As they were shipped on
account of different individuals, they were all branded like sheep, with
a the owner's marks, of different forms. These were impressed under

I their hearts, or on their arms, and as the mate informed me, with perfect

indifference, " burnt with the red-hot iron." Over the hatchway, stood a
ferocious-looking fellow, with a scourge of many twisted thongs in his
hand, who was the slave-driver of the ship.

As soon as the poor creatures saw us looking down at them, their dark
and melancholy visages brightened up. They perceived something of
sympathy and kindness in our looks, to which they had been unaccus-
tomed; and feeling instinctively that we were friends, they immediately
began to shout and clap their hands. One or two had picked up a few
Portuguese words, and cried out, Viva! viva! The women were particu-
larly excited. They all held up their arms, and when we bent down and
shook hands with them, they could not restrain their delight: they endeav-
ored to scramble up on their knees, stretching up to kiss our hands, and
we understood that they knew we were coming to liberate them. Some,
however, hung their heads in apparently hopeless dejection; some were
greatly emaciated, and some, particularly children, seemed dying. But
the circumstance which struck us most forcibly, was, how it was possible
for such a number of human beings to exist, packed up and wedged to-
gether as close as they could cram, in low cells three feet high. In one
part of the hold, the average sitting space to each woman was not more
than thirteen inches. The heat of these horrid places was so great, and
the odor so offensive, that it was quite impossible to enter them, even
had there been room. The officers insisted that the poor suffering crea-
tures should be admitted on deck to get air and water.

On looking into the places where they had been crammed, there
were found some children next the sides of the ship, in the places most
remote from the air and light; they were lying in nearly a torpid state,
after the rest had been turned out. The little creatures seemed indif-
ferent as to life and death ; and when carried on deck, many of them
could not stand. After enjoying, for some time, the unusual luxury of
air, some water was brought; it was then that the extent of their suffer-
ings was exposed in a fearful manner. They all rushed like maniacs
toward it; no entreaties, or threats, or blows, could restrain them; they
shrieked, and struggled, and fought with one another, for a drop of this
precious liquid, as if they grew rabid at the sight of it. There is noth-
ing slaves in the mid-passage suffer so much from as the want of water.
It is sometimes usual to take out casks filled with sea-water, as ballast,
and when the slaves are received on board, to start the casks and refill
them with fresh. On one occasion, a ship from Bahia neglected to change
the casks, and on the mid-passage found, to their horror, that they were
filled with nothing but salt water. All the slaves on board perished. At
ihe time of this seizure of the Velos Passaguiro, Brazil was precluded
from the slave-trade north of the equator; but the time had not arrived
when, by treaty, the Southern trade was to be extinguished. The Captain
of this slaver had papers which exhibited an apparent uniformity to the
law, and which, false as they may have been, could in no way be
absolutely disproved. The accounts of the slaves themselves, that they
had originally come from parts of Africa ncrth of the line, the course
84

■Miifi, 'M^M'MiU'fSS "JP*

530

ADVENTURES OF AN AFRICAN SLAVE-TRADER.

which the slaver was steering, her flight from tho English cruiser — were
circumstances raising suspicions the most violent; hut the rciider will not
b« a little disappointed to learn that, with nil this, the case was too doiiht-
ful, in point of legal proof, to bear out a legal detention; and the slavrr,
therefore, aftor nine hours of close investigation, was finally set at liberty,
and suflfcred to proceed. It was dark when we separated, and the bift
parting sounds we heard from the unhallowed ship, were the cries and
shrieks of slaves, suflering under some bodily infliction."

We now return to the story of Canot, who had grown to such suddnii
importance, that the neighboring kings and chiefs sent him various pre-
sents, to propitiate the good graces of the young and enterprising slave-
dealer. In the month of November, he received and accepted an invita-
tion, by a messenger, from Ahmah-de-Bellah, to visit him in his own
country, the land of the Fellahs, several weeks' journey into the interior.
This journey was undertaken with an eye to the advancement of the
business interests of Canot, in the merchandise of human flesh. He
left Bengalong with a caravan of about forty -five. Ten of his servants
were assigned to carry his baggage, merchandise, and provisions. Ali
Ninpha, the guide, two interpreters, two servants, and a hunter, formed
his immediate guard. As the best of African roads are mere paths, the
train marched in single file, preceded by two men, armed with cutlasses
and muskets, who, by loud cries, warned the caravan when approaching
bee-trees, ant-hills, hornet-nests, reptiles, or any of those perils common
in African forests. Behind, came women, children, and guards, and,
last of all, Canot and the chiefs, with whip in hand, to spur up the strag-
glers. For a few days, they passed through a rolling country; with
alternate forests and cultivated fields and villages, where they were
welcomed by the head men. The time was beguiled by jokes and songs,
and chanting praises to Allah. Occasionally the masters would relieve
their slaves of their burdens ; at night, the women brought the water,
cooked the food, and distributed it to the men. The fourth night was
passed at Kya, a fortified town of the Mandingoes, where they were
feasted by the chief with the best of the land, and whose hospitality
Canot reciprocated by such abundance of the white man's strong water,
that the next morning he was unable to leave his couch to bid farewell
to his guests.

Traveling into the interior of Africa would be a mere rural jaunt, were
it not for the perils of war. The African, in his life, is a half shepherd
and half warrior. Though uncivilized, his country is not absolutely wild,
and Mohammedanism, descending from the north, in its southward jour-
neyings, has, in the course of centuries, much altered and improved the
negro character. The humanizing influence of the Koran upon the
interior tribes is evident. But with ali these changes, external nature is
ever magnificent. Shade and shelter is all the climate requires, and so
great the fertility, that trifling labor, united to the abundance of tropical
fruits, yields ample support. Amid such oppressive heats, with so little
occasion for eflbrt, it does not seem as though the African could ever be
stimulated to the industry which develops all that is noble in man in
more inhospitable climes.

For the six hundred miles that Canot traversed, his course was through
an almost continuous forest, and so dense the foliage, that often for hours
not a glimpse of the sun was had; but when they entered the bare vallies
the suffering from heat was intense. Everything was all glare: the
reflected rays from every surrounding object pierced them like lances,

r^trr,-^:'j«^i-.fr,«ftt'T

-"iS'S^iSf?!^^"

!*«."sr*-,.-*fc

^■K;.^JS?fe

XDER.

Ui criiiser— wfirc
10 reader will not
le waa too doiiht-
i; und the slavor,
ally Bct at libfirty,
ted, and tho liint
re the cries and

I."

1 to Buch Buddmi

him various pre-
snterprising fllayc-
ccepted an invita-

him in hia own
y into the interior,
vancement of the
luman flesh. He
;n of his servants
d provisions. Ali

a hunter, formed
,re mere paths, the
med with cutlasses
when approaching
lose perils common
, and guards, and,
> spur up the strag-
lling country; with
I, where they were
by jokes and songs,
sters would relieve
brought the water,
e fourth night was
8, where they were
A whose hospitality
man's strong water,
juch to bid farewell

ere rural jaunt, were
3, is a half shepherd
1 not absolutely wild,
1 its southward jour-
ed and improved the
he Koran upon the
B8, external nature is
date requires, and so
bundance of tropical
e heats, with so little
^.frican could ever be
is noble in man in

is course was through
[e, that often for hours
atered the bare vallies
ig was all glare: the
;ed them like lances,

ADVENTURES OF AN AFRICAN SLAVE-TRADER.

531

and it seemed as if their very eyes were simmering and drying up in their
sockets. When the higiilands were reached, the temperature became in-
vii;oruting, and the scenery always beautiful, and frequently grand. In
their rear, gently-rounded hills, checkered here and there by native huts,
with patches of sward and cultivation amid the forest, swelled up in sur-
passing beauty of contour; while to tlie north and east, lofly liills and
mountains rose up in continuous succession, until, in the far distance, the
blue of land and sky mot and mingled in the same ethereal tint. The
next principal town reached was Tamisso, which the caravan entered
with great pomp, the women being particularly careful in adorning their
persons. '' Wool was combed to its utmost rigidity; skins wore greased
until they sliunc like polished ebony ; ankles and arms were rostrung
with beads, and loins were girded with snowy waist-cloths." Mounted
on a beautiful horse, Canot rode with his motley group into the town,
amid tlic discharge of fire-arms, the noise of tom-toms, and the melody
of the unctuous women. Crowds of men, women and children, rushed
forward to gaze upon the white man, the Mongo of the coast. He
pressed on to the palace of Mohamedo, which, like all royal palaces in
Africa, consisted of a collection of mud huts, with shady verandas, in
the midst of a quadrangular court. On a couch covered with leopard
skins reclined in state the chief Mohamedo, in half-Turkish costume.
He was a fat old man, with a long, flowing, snowy beard, in strange con-
trast to his ebony skin. The old sinner being informed that Canot was
on a trading tour for the purchase of slaves for numerous vessels hover-
ing on the coast, with immense cargoes of red cloth, beads, and other
gew-gaws of savage desire, rose, and in a loud voice presented him to
his people as his " beloved son!"

That evening, Canot, jaded out with the dust, heat, and crowd of this
noisy African town, retired to a court behind his lodgings to take a bath.
But his modesty was shocked by the presence of a bevy of the sable
damsels of the harem, who, on learning that the " Furtoo" was about to
bathe, crowded around him as he commenced to disrobe. When he
pulled ofl* his shirt, but leaving his lower garment untouched, several of
them fled to call their companions to see " the peeled Furtoo," whose
snowy back and breast had excited their wonder. One old hag run her
fingers over his chest, and then, as if he were reeking with leprosy,
wiped them on the wall. With great difliculty, he got rid of the chatter-
ing crowd, and finished his preparations for his ablutions,

Tamisso, like many of the interior towns, was completely inclosed by
two lines of high fence, a few feet apart, the space between being filled
with upright staves, their sharp points hardened by fire. Admittance to
the town was through gates, with winding passages.

It was not many days before the caravan arrived at their journey's
end, the town of Timbo, the capital of the kingdom of Footha-Yallon.
The king, Ali-Mami, Canot found a gouty, inquisitive old Mussulman,
who greeted him with most aflfectionate hugs, then stretched out his arms
to Heaven, and exclaimed, "God is great! God is great! and Mohammed
is his prophet!" He then plied him with questions about his history —
"Who was his father? who was his mother? how many brothers had he?
were they warriors? were they book men?" etc., etc. The next day, a
grand palaver was had with the chiefs, in a beautiful grove of trees.
His friend, Ahmah-de-Bellah, presented him to the great men, stating
that he was a rich trader from the Rio Pongo, who was entitled to
most courteous treatment from FellahB) for he had penetrated to their

■■ftSv<',l'^'55'f!»9i'i*

> .«iH.<fc>:>*^>»fl4^ ^'il.-'Hh..

ADVENTURES OF AN AFRICAN SLAVE-TRADER.

distant country to purchase slaves on moat generous terms — an interesting
communication, wliich they received with shouts of Joy. Canot, in return,
made a sort of stump speech, and then unfolded to their view a quantity
of presents he had brought for them, consisting of gaudy calicoes, scar-
let cloth, powder, muskets, tobacco, and beads, not omitting a gilded
sword, and a package of cantharides for the king.

During his sojourn at Timbo, Canot made several incursions into the
neighboring villages, but the poor people, knowing that the object of his
journey was to obtain slaves, fled in the greatest terror before him,
Panic-stricken, they would leave their pots of rice, vegetables and m^at,
boiling in their huts, and fly in the greatest terror from the presence of
the notorious slaver. War-parties and scouts were sent out in the mean-
time, to collect slaves for Canot, and even the town itself was not
spared, so that the more common people regarded him as a sort of devil
incarnate.

Timbo was a town of narrow streets, low houses, mud walls, cul-de-
sacs, and mosques. The people appeared to be industrious. Peddlers
supplied them with fruit, vegetables, and meat. The females kept
themselves busy with their spinning-wheels, and occasionally an old
lady, devoutly disposed, was seen poring over the pages of the Koran.
The men wore cotton, worked in leather, fabricated iron from the bar,
and when at leisure, studied the Koran, or occupied themselves in
writing.

Canot, on his return to Bongalong, headed a caravan of near a thou-
i^and strong, the greater part of which were slaves collected by his friends
in Timbo. For a change of scene, he soon after took command of one
of his vessels, and set sail on a visit to Cuba. He had scarce got out
of sight of land, when the slaver fell into the hands of a British cruiser,
and Canot was taken prisoner. He managed to escape in a small boat,
and, with a slave for a companion, reached Bengalong in safety. He there
found the Felix nt anchor, a vessel which had been consigned to him
from Cuba, with remittances in money and merchandise to cover the
purchase of 360 slaves. Unable to procure in season a full cargo, he
made a short Journey to a village in the interior, to obtain the additional
fifty required. A grand " palaver'' was had with the chief and head
men, when he made known his wants and announced his terms. His
merchandise, his scarlet-cloth, bits of looking-glass, beads, etc., had
their usually magical efiects. Jealous husbands suddenly recollected
their wives' infidelity. Young folks, who had never dreamed of being
made slaves, were captured and brought in. The whole place was in a
turmoil. Every man was ready to accuse his neighbor of some crime,
that he might kidnap him, and obtain a share of the spoils. And when
Canot left the town, he carried with him the eternal remembrances of
some forty or fifty of its families, whom he had deprived of some one
of their members. The capture of his former vessel rendered it neces-
sary that Canot should visit Cuba in the Felix. This voyage was suo*
cessful. From Cuba he sailed for Jamaica, for a cargo of merchandise,
with the intention of returning and refitting for slaves. The trip was
disastrous, the vessel being wrecked, by which Canot was so reduced in
fortune, as gladly to accept the situation of sailing-master in the San
Pablo, a slaver which was fitting out at St. Thomas. This vessel was
armed with sixteen guns, and the entire crew and officers arrayed in the
uniform of the French navy, so as to convey the deception that she was
■a French man-of-war. Her destination was a town in the Mozambique

^fe^gi?l4-i:'s(|SS!:!g^.sssi^,3iri:«

lDER.

i — an interesting
Canot, in return,
r view a quantity
ly calicoes, scar-
mitting a gilded

suTsions into the
the object of bis
rror before him,
Btables and meat,
the presence of
t out in the mean-
rn itself was not
as a sort of devil

nud walls, cul-de-
itrious. Peddlers
'he females kept
;ca8lonally ap old
{es of the Koran,
ron from the bar,
led themselves in

n of near a tliou-
icted by his friends
L command of one
lad scarce got out
,f a British cruiser,
pe in a small boat,
n safety. He there
I consigned to him
ndise to cover the
on a full cargo, he
btain the additional
he chief and head
;ed his terms. His
s, beads, etc., had
iddenly recollected
• dreamed of being
hole place was in a
ibor of some crime,

spoils. And when
il remembrances of
privud of some one
3l rendered it neces-
his voyage was suc-
irgo of merchandise,
aves. The trip was
ot was so reduced in
ig-master in the San
18. This vessel was
>fficers arrayed in the
iception that she was

in the Mozambique

ADVENTURES OF AN AFRICAN SLAVE-TRADER.

533

Channel, on the eastern coast of Africa. Eight hundred negroes were
obtained and shipped, and the vessel had arrived off the Cape of Good
Hope when the smallpox broke out. A council was held, and it was
determined at first to destroy the sick by laudanum, to preserve the living;
but the examination showed that too many were infected to render this
of any avail. A series of tremendous gales springing up, rendered the
closing of the hatches imperative. When, at its termination, the grat-
ings were removed, it was f<9und that nearly all the slaves were sick or
dead. Twelve of the stoutest survivors, together with a part of the crew,
armed with tarred mittens, went into the hold, dragged out and threw
overboard more than three hundred corpses, men, women, and children,
in a most disgusting state of putrefaction.

Twelve thousand dollars fell to the share of Canot, as tlie result of
this voyage, which he applied to the fitting out of the Conchita, a
Baltimore clipper. He was no sooner ready for sea than his vessel was
seized for a fraud practiced upon tlie Cuban authorities, and Canot barely
escaped a prison, by fleeing to and remaining in the interior for several
weeks. He was too valuable a man for the slave-dealers to allow to
remain idle. He was speedily put in command of the Estrella, and
steered for Ayudah, on the Gold Coast, with a sufficient supply of rum,
powder, English muskets, and ricli cottons from Manchester, to purchase
460 slaves.

The Estrella was consigned to Senor da Sousa, one of the most noto-
rious and successful of those infamous merchants known in coast annals.
This man was a mulatto, born in Rio Janeiro. How he reached Africa
is unknown; but when there, he deserted his master, and eventually
made his way into the interior, to the court of Dahomey. At this period
the Brazilian slave-trade was in full vigor, and the adventurous refugee
managed with great skill in his dealings, as a broker, among the natives ;
from small beginnings, he gradually grew up into an opulent trader.
His mixed blood helped him on. He learned to speak like a native,
became an African among Africans, and among the whites assumed the
easy, winning address of his country. Chief after chief became his
friend, and he finally obtained the summit of his influence, in being
made the favorite of the powerful king of Dahomey. So great was the
estimation in which this man was held by the Dahomians, that when he
died, in 1849, a boy and girl were beheaded and buried with him, and
throe men offered up in sacrifice. For months the funeral honors to his
memory were continued. The town was kept in a continual ferment.
Three hundred of the women who compose the Dahomian army daily
paraded, and fired, and danced in his honor. Bands of people paraded
the streets, headed by guinea-fowls, ducks, goats, pigeons and pigs, on
poles, alive for sacrifice. Much rum was distributed, and nightly there
was shouting, firing, and dancing. Such were the hellish orgies occa-
sioned by the death of this infamous wretch.

At the time of Canot^s arrival, da Sousa was at the summit of his
career. He had built him a magnificent dwelling at Ayudah, and sur-
rounded himself with all the luxuries of an animal existence. " Wines,
food, delicacies and raiment were brought from Paris, London and Ha-
vana. The most beautiful women of the country were lured to his set-
tlement. Billiard-tables and gambling halls spread their wiles for detained
navigators. And here this horrible man had surrounded himself with all
that could corrupt virtue, gratify passion, tempt avarice, betray weakness,
satisfy sensuality, and complete a picture of incarnate slavery in Dahomey.

wjS35*8

534

ADVENTURES OF AN AFRICAN SLAVE TRADER.

II! 11

When he sallied forth, an officer preceded him to clear the path; a
fool or buffoon hopped beside him; a band of native musicians, and a
couple of singers, screamed, at the top of their voices, the most fuls<jme
praises of tlie mulatto. Numbers of vessels were of course required to
feed tliis African nabob with doubloons and merchandise. Hoinetimcs
commanders from Cuba or Brazil would be kept months in his perilous
nest, while their craft cruised along the coast, in expectation of liuman
cargoes. At such seasons, no expedient was left untried for '.lie enter-
tainment and pillage of wealthy or trusted idlers. If da Sousu^s lioard
and wines made them drunkards, it was no fault of his. If rouge-rt-iioir
or monte won their doubloons and freight at his saloon, ho regretted, liut
dared not interfere with the amusement of his guests. If tiio syrens
of his harem betrayed a cargo for their favor, over cards, a convenient fire
destroyed the frail warehouse after the merchandise v/ixa removed.^'
Canot, by avoiding the wiles of da Sousa and his dissipated soni), won
the respect of the great man, so that, at tlie end of two montiis, he had
secured a cargo of 480 prime negroes in the bowels of tlic EHtrellu.

While at Ayudah, da Sousa received an invitulioii from the king uf
Dahomey to visit his court, with his guests, at the yearly sacrifue of
human beings. Canot did not accompany the party ; but tlie I'hijjlisli
traveler, Duncan, some years later, (in 1845,) visited tlie court of Daiio-
iney, and in his travels gives an interesting account of his presentation
to this most powerful of all the monarclis of the Negro tribes. His
experiences there we give in his own language:

" We arrived at Abomey, the capital of Dahomey, at three minutes
past one o'clock, amid crowds of spectators, and were guided to an ex-
cellent house prepared for me by Maylio, the king's prime minister, an
excellent old man, and very different to the generality of uncivilized
Africans, not having that covetous and selfish disposition usual with
them. On the ftllowing morning, afler an early breakfast, I was fully
equipped, and rode, attended by some of the king's principal men, to
llic market-place, or parade-ground, in front of his palace or liousc. On
our march to the market-place, wo passed along part of the walls uf the
palace, which covers an immense space. Tlie walls as well as iiouscs
are made of red, sandy clay, and on top of the walls, at intervals uf
thirty feet, human skulls were placed along their whole cxtriit. On
approaching nearer the market-place we beheld, on an elevated pole, a
man fixed in an upright position, with a basket on his head, apparently
liolding it with both his hands. A little farther on we saw two more
men, now in a state of decomposition, hung by the feet from a thick
pole, placed horizontally on two upright poles, about twenty feet high.

On the opposite side of the market were two more human bodies, in
the same position as those I have just mentioned, with the exception that
the bodies had been mutilated. This excited my curiosity, for decapi*
tation is the favorite mode of execution in Abomey. I was informed
that these men had been guilty of adulterous intercourse with one of
the king's wives, in consequence of which they were sentenced to be
put to death by being beaten with clubs, and after death mutilated.
The king had not yet arrived at the appointed place, where a high stool
and footstool were pl|iced for him under a huge umbrella, surrounded
liy about twenty more of nearly the same dimensions, formin;^ a cres-
cent — his own being in the center. He had requested, througli Maylio,
'hat I would salute him as I would the Queen of England, for he was
anxious to become acquainted with European manners and customs.

"^SS-f^sTT

'-?";'t'-^»5M?*s

)ER.

ar the patli; a
iisiciaDS, and a
le most fulsome
rse required to
16. Hoinetimea
in Ilia perilous
alion of iiuman
for the eiiter-
SouHu^H hoard
If rougc-ct-iioir
I rejfrelted, hut
If tiio Byreua
convenient fire
was removed."
pated sourt, won
montlis, he had
the EHtrollii.
om the king of
arly sacrilice of
but the English
e court of Dulio-
hiH presentation
!gro tribes. His

it throe minutes
guided to an ex-
rime nunister, an
ity of uncivilized
sition usual with
kfast, I was fully
principal men, to
ice or house. On
f the walls of the
IS well as houses
Is, at intervals of
rholo cxttiit. On
1 elevated pole, a
1 head, apparently
ire saw two more
feet from a tiiick
twenty feet high,
human bodies, in
the exception that
riosity, for decapi-
. I was informed
)urBe with one of
e sentenced to be
r death mutilated,
where a high stool
ibrella, surrounded
18, forming!; a crcs-
d, through Maylio,
Qgland, for he was
aers and customs.

ADVENTURES OF AN AFRICAN SLAVE-TRADER.

585

""•^vJ:-""'^SSBSs65?®'

Accordingly, upon a nearer approach, I saluted his Majesty according to
military regulation, with which he seemed much pleased, and returned
the compliment in a much more graceful manner than I expected. He
then requested mo to dismount and come to him. Upon which his prime
minister, and four others next in rank, who were conducting mo to hia
Majesty^s presence, desired me to halt till they paid their complimiint to
his Majesty. Forming in line in front of me, they completely prostrated
themselves at full length, rubbing both sides of their faces on tlie ground,
and kissing it. They then raised themselves on their knees, where they
remained till they had completely covered themselves with dust, and
rubbed their arms over with dirt as high as the shoulders.

I was much surprised as well as disgusted with such absurd, abject
humiliation. Their robes, which a few minutes before looked clean and
respectable, were now, as well as their persons, smeared with dirt. My-
self and the governor of Whydah fort were the only persons who did not
observe the same degrading form. Even the soldiers, male and female,
although under arms, observe tiio same humiliation. AAer this cere-
mony, wo stepped forward to the king, and he descended from his stool
or throne, and shook mo cordially by the hand, declaring iiis great satis-
faction at iiaving an Englishman in his country. He then projwscd to
drink my health. A table having already been prepared for me, a li(|uur-
casc was placed thereon, containing numerous different sorts of llasks
and decanters, with as many sorts of liquors, namely, Iloilaiuls, rum,
brandy, aniseed, claret, cherry brandy, and other cordials. During tho
time the king is drinking, hia face is always concealed from observation
by a number of handkerchiefs, held up round his head. At this moment
a firing of muskets and beating of gong-gongs and hurrahing tUies
place.

I was ushered to a seat close to the king, wiio paid me great attention,
and show»d every anxiety to givo me information, and explain everything
to me. It may be well, before proceeding further, to state that all hia
attendants and soldiers on guard near his person, sit down cross-legged;
the soldiers with tho butt-end of the musket resting on tiie ground, be-
tween their legs, in a perpendicular position. During this time, troop
after troop of female soldiers arrived, preceded by a band of very bar-
barous music, similar to sheep-bells and drums, made from part of the
trunk of a hollow tree, with some bullock or sheep-skin covered over the
top of it.

Tiir- king is a tall, athletic man, about forty-three years of age, with a
pleasi.i^ expression and good features, but the top of his forehead falling
back rutiier too much to meet the views of a phrenologist. His voice is
good and manner graceful, in comparison with the barbarous customs of
the country.

In all directions, troops of female soldiers were now arriving, and tak-
ing their stations at a di.stance, lying down or squatted, until they are
called upon to come before his Majesty. No particular discipline is ob-
served. The regiments severally form up in an irregular column, and
the principal, or commanding officer, calls out the officers, who kneel on
both knees, and cover their heads and bodies with dust. The comman-
der then introduces, one after the other, each officer of this female regi-
ment; and if any one has in any way distinguish^^ herself, it is com-
mented upon, and the party complimented and rewarded for her valor.
This regiment belonged to the king's son, in the government of a country,
bearing an ensign or flag, ornamented with tho figure of u lion.

586

▲DVEKTURRS OP AN AFRICAN SLAVE-TRADKR.

After all the ceremony of compliments and boaMtinff of ralor in gnno
through, the officers fall in, and the whole regiment aing a song in com-
plimont to the king. After that, any individual who chooaea is allowed
to Btep to the front, and declare her fidelity to his majesty, and as soon
at one retires another takea he; place, ao that the ceremony liecomea
irksome. Sometimes the ceremony of one reg.ment passing occupies
throe hours. After all is over, the whole of the regiment kneel down,
with the butt of their muakota on the ground and the barrel slanting
back over the shoulder, and with both hands scrape up the dust and
cover themaelves with it. The dust being of a light red color, gives
them a very singular appearance. Many have their heads entirely
shaved, except a tuft resembling a cockade ; others only shave a breadth
of two inches from the forehead to the poll. After this ceremony, thej
all rise up from the stooping position, still on their knees, but body other-
wise erect, and poising their muskets horizontally on their two hands, all
join in a general hurrah. Suddenly, then, they rise up, throwing the
musket sharply into one hand, holding it high in the air, at the same
time giving another hurrah. The whole then ahoulder muskets, and run
off at full speed. Each individual runs as fast as she is able, so that it
is a race with the whole regiment of six hundred women. It would
surprise a European to see the speed of these women, although they
carry a long Danish musket and a short sword each, as well as a sort of
club.

It may be well to give some account of the dress and equipments of
these Amazons. They wear a blue and white striped cotton surtout —
the stripes about one and a half inch wide — of stout native manufacture,
mtkout sleeves, leaving freedom for the arms. The skirt or tunic reaches
as low as the kilt of the Highlanders. A pair of short trowsers is worn
underneath, reaching two inches below the knee. The cartoucli-box,
or agbwadj/a, forms a girdle, aud keeps all their dress snug and close.
The cartouch-box contains twenty cartridges, about four times the
quantity of that used in England, owing to the inferiority of the powder.
It is very conveniently placed, being girded round the loins. Tiicse wo-
men certainly make a very imposing appearance, and are very active.
From their constant exercise of body, (for the women in all cases do the
principal part of both domestic and agricultural labors here, as well as
at other places,) they are capable of enduring much fatigue.

Next came the king's second son's female soldiers, from a part called
Kakagee's country, in consequence of having the government of that
country. These soldiers, about six hundred, went through the sanin
ceremony as the others. His Majesty always anxiously explained every-
thing to me, and sent to the palace for paper for me to make notes upon.
During the day, about six thousand women-soldiers passed successively
before the king, who frequently introduced the principal officers of this
corps to me, relating their achievements. This seemed to give them
great satisfaction. Among them, he introduced me to one of his princi-
pal wives, a stout, noble-looking woman, of a light brown complexion.
She commanded the whole of the king's wives, who are all soldiers,
amounting to six hundred, present on this occasion.

Next morning, June 12th, as early as seven o'clock, I was again sum-
moned to attend ttiA review. Some of the principal ministers came
with me, to show me where to stand, to allow the passing soldiery to
have a full view of king's visitor, or king's stranger, as they called me.
The soldiers were now fast arriving from all quarters; each regiment

RR.

ralor i> ({ono
I 80D(i in corn-
ten is allowed
y, and ma noon
mony liecoinoi
iiiing occupioR
»t kneel down,
barrel slanting
) the dust and
sd color, givRH
heads entirely
ihave a breadth
ceremony, they
but body other-
r two hands, all
), throwing the
ir, at the same
uskots, and run
able, so that it
nen. It would
, although they
ell as a sort of

equipments of
otton surtout —
fo manufacture,
or tunic roaches
'owsers is worn
6 cartouoh-box,
snug and close.

four times the
r of the powder,
ins. Tiieso wo-
ire very active.

all cases do the
lere, as well as
guc.

)m a part called
eminent of that
ough the saniii
Dxplaiued every-
nake notes upon,
ied successively
1 officers of this
d to give theiu
ne of his princi-
»wn complexion.

are all soldiers,

was again sum-
ministers came

issing soldiery to
they called me.

i; each regiment

t -,... :

, , jfc, (.. .i*:*j*Ma;«L*a

1 ■.

.L..

Eu^ereU according to Act of Congrew. A. D. mdocclt, by H. Howe, io th

"^yV

cvwvuc

IV V\Vt VSaYttC OAA

" At sunset the slaves are stowed for the night: the officers,
sid. fiicinj; the bows, those on tlie left siJe facing the stern—
l)ettiT acflon for the heart."— PaRo 627.

i«0>r"~^.

lot of Congrew. A. D. mdccci-t. by H. Howf. iu the derk'. uffice of the DUt. Court of the V. 9. for the 8. Dirt, of Ohio.

stowed for tlie night: the officers, with whip in hand, ranging the slaves— those on the riglit
on the left side facing: the stern— ■*(• as to bring ea.!h negro on his riglit side, and thus .illow
-Paae 627.

\ _^....^..^

■- "*

•

fi ■
! ■'

■;

1'
1

!•

ADVENTURES OF AN AFRICAN SLAVE-TRADER.

537

preceded by its band, whose instruments produced the most discordant
sounds that can be imagined — drums, elephants* teeth, bullock^s horns,
and a sort of triangular iron tube, which they beat with a small stick,
and whicli gave forth sounds like a sheep-bell.

The commander rides in the center of his regiment, if provided with a
horse, (which is not stronger than a Shetland pony,) with two men hold-
ing him on. Others, who have no horses, are carried in hammocks.
After about four thousand men had passed me, marching without any
discipline or form, I returned to the king's canopy, to await the com-
mencement of the review. In a short time, the female soldiers made
their appearance, in full marching order, with provisions, amounting to
ab^ut seventeen hundred. This corps was preceded by its band. The
drum is carried on the head, one end to the front and the other to the
rear; the person beating it walks behind the carrier. The drum belong-
ing to the corps was ornamented with twelve human skulls. Seven stan-
dards are carried with this regiment, the tops of which are ornamented
with human skulls. Tiiis regiment belongs to Megah, the king's principal
jailor.

About two hundred marched past, as I have described, followed in
succession by the king's women, to-day amounting to six hundred, all
from the king's palace. These were headed by Dagbyweka. The
drum was also ornamented by twelve skulls of traitors, or men caught
in arms against the king. This corps observed certain regulations on
the march, not customary with the others : nine women and an officer
marched in front, as an advance guard; at a short interval fifty supporters;
then followed the main body. One individual officer is always appointed
to lead the attack, who is distinguished by a sword of 4jj[e rent pattern.
An attack is, if possible, always knade in the night, or flv early in the
morning. Next followed the female soldiers from !fl^domey, com-
manded by Kuawie, (or white man's motiier.) Next, Icandee people, a
country distant one day's journey to the W.N.W. of Abomey.

After this procession, which consisted altogether of about eight thou-
sand women, well-armed and clothed, had passed, the king asked me to
go and see what his women soldiera were about to perform. I was
accordingly conducted to a large space of broken ground, where fourteen
days had been occupied in erecting three immense prickly piles of green
bush. These three clumps, or piles, of a sort of strong briar or thorn,
armed with the most dangerous prickles, were placed in line, occupying
about four hundred yards, leaving only a narrow passage between them,
sufficient merely to distinguish each clump appointed to each regiment.
These piles are about seventy feet wide, and eight feet high. Upon
examining them, I could not persuade myself that any human being,
without bcots or shoes, would, under any circumstances, attempt to pass
over ao dangerous a collection of the most efficiently armed plants I had
ever seen. Behind these piles already mentioned, were yards, or large
pens, tX the distance of three hundred yards, fenced with piles seven
feet high, thickly matted together with strong reeds. Inclosed therein
were several hundred slaves belonging to the king.

It may be well to state that this affair was entirely got up to illustrate
an attack upon a town, and the capture of prisoners, who are of course
made slaves. Afte>° waiting a short time, the Apadomey soldiers made
their appearance at about two hundred yards from, or in front of the first
pile, where they halted with shouldered armn. In a few seconds, the
word for attack was given, and a rush was made toward the pile with a

TTigWf» iw r«nw« iip» i ii

■^1

538

ADVENTURES OP AN AFRICAN SLAVE-TRADER.

speed beyond conception, and in less than ono minute the whole body had
passed over this immense pile, and had taken the supposed town. Each
of the other piles was passed with equal rapidity, at intervals of twenty
minutes, after which we again returned to our former station in the mar-
ket-place. Here we found his Majesty waiting for us. He anxiously
inquired how I was pleased with the performance of his female soldiers,
and asked if I thought the same number of Englishwomen would perform
the same. I, of course, answered tu>: we had no female soldiers in
England, but we had females who had, individually and voluntarily,
equally distinguished themselves.

In a short time after our return, the Apadomey regiment passed, on
their return, in single file — each leading, in a string, a young male or
female slave, carrying also the dried scalp of one man supposed to have
been killed in the attack. On all such occasions, when a person is killed
in battle, the skin is taken from the head, and kept as a trophy of valor.
I counted seven hundred scalps pass in this manner. The captains of
each corps, in passing, again presented themselves before his Majesty,
and received the king^s approval of their conduct. After all had passed,
each regiment again formed in column before the king, and each officer was
presented to me, and their deeds of valor recorded for which they wjsre
promoted. No promotion takes place unless merited on account of some
act of distinguished merit. When the king's household troop or regiment
formed up, his Majesty asked me if I observed the form of an animid
worn on the white cotlen skull-cap of this corps. I replied in the affir-
mative. This animal, he informed me, was killed by some of his women
when in the bush, during the last war, a few months ago; and he had
ordered the figure to be worn on the cap as a badge of distinction.

One officer SDiis corps of king's soldier-wives was introduced to me.
Her name IMrai^Madimo. This female had, during the two last years'
war, taken, successively, each year a male prisoner, for which she was
promoted, and his Majesty had also presented her with two female slaves.
Adadimo is a tall, thin woman, about twenty-two years of age, and good-
looking for a black, and mild and unassuming in appearance. The king
also introduced her to an Ashantee prince and some attendants, who
were here on a visit. After presenting Adadimo to the Ashantees, he
addressed her and the regiment to the following effect, the regiment
being now on their knees: — He told them I was one of the Queen of
England's soldiers, sent on a friendly mission or visit, to collect informa-
tion respecting his kingdom; and he himself felt proud and much grati-
fied to be able to inform them all of the circumstance, more especially
as he could assure them that the Queen of England was the greatest and
most powerful sovereign in the world, and far surpassed all countries in
war, as well as in the manufacture of guns and cloth, the two British
articles best known in the country. He repeated that the highest possi-
ble compliment was paid to Adadimo, by her being introduced to me,
and having her name registered in ray book. During this speech, she
remained on her knees, and returned me repeated thanks. The same
example was followed by the whole regiment.

Next came a regiment belonging to a country called Ginoa, com-
mnuded by a female of the same name. This regiment consisted only
of three hundred women. This corps make no prisoners, but kill all.
Aftr'r all this ceremony was over, the principal male officers prostrated
themselves, and went through the regular form of harangue, as if this
review had becu actual service'. They informed his Majesty that they

"fT'

•«MMm>

hole body had
town. Each
als of twenty
m in the mar-
He anxiously
male soldiers,
vould perform
le soldiers in
,d voluntarily,

snt passed, on
roung male or
iposed to have
person is killed
rophy of valor,
le captains of
e his Majesty,
all had passed,
each officer was
hich they were
icconnt of some
oop or regiment
n of an animal
lied in the affir-
[le of his women
jo; and he had
distinction,
itroduced to me.
I two last years'

which she was
wo female slaves.
>f age, and good-
ance. The king

attendants, who
te Ashantees, he
;ct, the regiment
of the Queen of
a collect informa-
1 and much grati-
, more especially
18 the greatest arid
d all countries in
th, the two British
the highest possi- ,
ntroduced to me,
r this speech, she
lanks. The same

ailed Ginoa, cem-
ent consisted only
oners, but kill all.
officers prostrated
arangue, as if this
s Majesty that they

ADVENTURES OF AN AFRICAN* SLAVE-TRADER.

539

were happy to congratulate him upon the return of his victorious army,
and capture of a great number of slaves.

His Majesty, then turning to me, addressed me in a loud voice, to tho
following eflect: "You come from the greatest and richest country in
the world, and I am truly gratified at seeing you in my country. Tho
only thing I regret is that so few Englishmen come to see me. I should
at all times feel proud to do anything in my power to accommodate an
Englishman, and endeavor to make him comfortable in my country. I
am aware," he added, " that I have not in my power all the necessaries
required by Englishmen, but if I were more frequently visited by them,
I would take care to procure everything necessary for their comfort.
You have traveled much in Africa, and from what you have seen you are
now aware that I am as far superior in Africa, as England is to Spain or
Portugal."

Before breaking up, the king assembled all his principal officers, and
introduced them to me, describing their rank and office. Afler many
introductions, the principal officers were desired to drink the Queen of
England^s health. This was to be drunk out of a human skull: appa-
rently, not long before, it had been useful to the original possessor.
However, as this was considered the highest compliment that can be paid
to any person, I drank my sovereign's health from the bony goblet. The
king also joined. I then proposed his Majesty's health, which was drunk
from the same vessel. This concluded tlfe second day's performance.

I may be permitted to make a few remarks on the army of women. It
is certainly a surprising sight in an uncivilized country. I had, it is true,
often heard of the king's ^male soldiers, but now I have seen them, all
well armed, and generally fine, strong, heahhy women, and doubtless
capable of enduring great fatigue. They seem to use theWong Danish
musket with as much ease as one of our grenadiers does his firelock,
but not, of course, with the same quickness, as they are not trained to
any pL.rticular exercise, but, on receiving the word, make an attack like
a pack of hounds, with great swiftness. Of course they would be use-
less against disciplined troops, if at all approaching to the same numbers.
Still, their appearance is more martial than the generality of the men;
and if undertaking a campaign, I should prefer the females to the male
soldiers of this country. From all I have seen of Africa, I believe the
King of Dahomey possesses an army superior to any sovereign west of
the Great Desert.

June 13th. — To-day I attended at the king's hoase or palace. After
passing through two quadrangles of about sixty yards by thirty, we
entered the principal square. This square is formed, of three sides,
of houses, or long sheds, and on the opposite side to the principal
part or side is a high wall of clay, with human skulls placed at short
intervals on the top. All the quadrangles were filled with a mob of
armed men, some sitting, some lying down asleep, others walking about
smoking.

After I was comfortably seated, his Majesty advanced toward me to drink
my health, which was accompanied with lou<l hurrahs from his people.
After I had partaken of some eatables, the day's amusements commenced.
All the principal men in his Majesty's service were ordered to the front.
They were all dressed in their most gaudy dresses, uf various sliapes
and colors, according to the taste of the wearer; but all of the head men
wore silver gauntlets, and a profusion of beads and anklets, generally
made of a common small irrr.i chain, in substance similar to a horse-

^l,^Sjfe&fe^V»*4Sfe^te-*a*a<:-.'

._x-

540

ADVENTURES OF AN AFRICAN SLAVE-TRADER.

I i.

collar chain used in England, but the links merely closed, not welded.
Others of lower rank, or second, as they are called, (for each head man
has his second,) were dressed in their military dress. Several of the
principal men were also disguised in masks and clown^s dresses, who
performed antics and all manner of bulToonery. Some had on masks
resembling the head of a bear, others that of a monkey, Some also
displayed a pair of silver horns, fixed on the forehead by a bandeau.
About ten yards in front of the place where his Majesty lay, three
skulls were placed on the ground, forming an equilateral triangle, about
three feet apart. At a little distance from the three last named skulls,
a calabash was placed, containing several skulls of distinguished men
taken or killed in war.

Near the king were placed several large staflfs, or walking-sticks, with
a skull fixed on the upper end of each, the stick passing through the
skull so as to leave about seven inches of the stick above the skull, for
the hand when walking. In a short time his Majesty expressed his
wish to dance, which was approved of by all the people, by loud yells
and the /iring of muskets. The king then came forward to the open
space in front, where the three skulls were placed, and commenced a
dance, or rather elephantine motion, the movement being all in the hips
and shoulders. After moving in this way about one minute, his Majesty
took one of the staffs and skulLs, and recommenced dancing among the
three skulls, which lay on the ground. He then ordered a cigar to be
lighted for him, and began smoking; at the same time he folded his
arms, with the staff under his arms, resting with his breast on the top
of the skull, and displaying all the indifference possible. He then ad-
vanced toward me and gave me a cigar, and again desired me to drink
his health, lie asked me if I should like to be present on the following
day to witness the execution of four (men) traitors, and proffered me
the honor of being the executioner. This honor, however, I declined ;
but he pressed me, observing he should like to see the capability of my
sword, which he admired much. I told him I would rather save a man's
life than take it, unless in my own defense. This he admitted was all
very good, but asked me whether I should like to save the life of a per-
son who had attempted the life of my Queen? I, of course, replied,
Certainly not. Then he told me that the crime of these men was similar.

Hth. — Again I visited the palace, at half-past eight o'clock. The
ceremonies of this day were nearly a repetition of those of yesterday,
till the time arrived, (an hour before sunset,) when the four traitors
were brou^'ht into the square for execution. They marched through the
mob, or assembled crowd, apparently as little concerned as the specta-
tors, who seemed more cheerful than before the prisoners made their
appearance, as if they were pleased with the prospect of a change of
performance. They were all young men of the middle size, and ap-
peared to be of one family, or at least of the same tribe of Mahees,
who are much better looking than the people of the coast. Each man
was ga},'ged witli a short piece of wood, with a small strip of white
cottou tied round each end of the stick, and passed round the pole.
This was to prevent them from speaking. They were arranged in line,
kneeling; before the king. The head gong-gong man then gave four
beats on the gong, as one — two, and one — two, the upper part of the
goDg being smaller than the lower, and thus rendering the sounds
different, similar to our public clocks in England, when striking the
quarters.

•j

)ER.

ed, not welded,
each head man
Several of the
's dresses, who
; had on masks
ey, Some also
J by a bandeau,
ijesty lay, three
1 triangle, about
It named skulls,
itinguished men

king-sticks, with
ising through the
ve the skull, for
ty expressed his
lie, by loud yells
ard to the open
id commenced a
ig all in the hips
nute, his Majesty
ncing among the
ed a cigar to be
nc he folded his
reaat on the top
e. He then nd-
ired me to drink
t on the following
md proffered me
vever, I declined;
3 capability of my
ather save a man's
admitted was all
the life of a per-
jf course, replied,
e men was similar,
ght o'clock. The
lose of yesterday,
the four traitors
irched through the
ed as the specta-
joners made their
ct of a change of
iddle size, and ap-
tribe of Mahees,
coast. Each man
lall strip of white
d round the pole.
3 arranged in line,
in then gave four
upper part of the
lering the sounds
when striking the

mAfm

ADVENTURES OF AN AFRICAN SLAVE-TRADER.

541

After the four beats, the gong man addressed the culprits upon the
enormity of their crime and the justice of their sentence. During this
lengthened harangue the gong-gong was struck at short intervals, which
gave a sort of awful solemnity to the scene. After this, the men wore
suddenly marched some distance back from his Majesty, who on this
occasion refused to witness the execution. The men were then ordered
to kneel in line about nine feet apart, their hands being tied in front of
the body, and the elbows held behind by two men, the body of the culprit
bending forward. Poor old Mayho, who is an excellent man, was the
proper executioner. He held the knife or bill-hook to mc, but I again
declined the honor ; when the old man, at one blow on the back of the
neck, divided the head from the body of the first culprit, with the exception
of a small portion of the skin, which was separated by passing the knife
underneath. Unfortunately, the second man was dreadfully mangled, for
the poor fellow, at the moment the blow was struck having raised his
head, the knife struck in a slanting direction, and only made a largo wound ;
the next blow caught him on the back of the head, when the brain pro-
truded. The poor fellow struggled violently. The third stroke caught
him across the shoulders, inflicting a dreadful gssh. The next caught
him on the neck, which was twice repeated. The officer steadying the
criminal, now lost his hold on account of the blood which rushed from the
blood-vessels on all who were near. Poor old Mayho, now quite palsied,
took hold of the head, and after twisting it several times round, separated
it from the still convulsed and struggling trunk. During the latter part
of this disgusting execution the head presented an awful spectacle, the
distortion of the features, and the eyeballs completely upturned, giving
it a horrid appearance.

The next man. poor fellow, with his eyes partially shut and head
drooping forward near to the ground, remained all this time in suspense ;
casting a partial glance on the head which was now close to him, and
the trunk dragged close past him, the blood still rushing from it like a
fountain. Mayho refused to make another attempt, and another man
acted in his stead, and at one blow separated the spinal bone, but did not
entirely separate the head from the body. This was finished in the same
manner as the first. However, the fourth culprit was not so fortunate,
his head not being separated till after three strokes. The body afterward
rolled over several times,when the blood spurted over my face and clothes.
The most disgusting part of this abominable and barbarous execution was
that of an old ill-looking wretch, who, like the numerous vultures, stood
with a small calabash in his hand, ready to cntch the blood from each indi-
vidual, which he greedily devoured before it had escaped one minute
from the veins. The old wretch had the impudence to put some rum in
the blood and ask me to drink ; at that moment I could with good heart
have sent a bullet through his head.

From this period I passed my time heavily, rarely taking any exercise,
on account of the ridiculous cumIotc of being obliged to turn out of the
road if any of the king's wives should meet you. They are in all parts
of the town and neighborliood, employed on different domestic occupations,
but principally in carrying food in immense gourds or calabashes on the
head, containing provisions for the king's ministers and principal men,
who, although thoy live in their own houses with their families, yot are
al' furnished with food by the king, which is prepared in the palace.

The approach of the king's wives is always announced by the ringing
qC a small bell, which is carried by a female servant or slave, who invaribly

'-"^•^••^ifii^'i nMa i uix M iA ii ^ seSU^i;.' ■

■ f>i6.'

642

ADVENTURES OP AX AFRICAN SLAVE-TRADER.

precedes them. The moment tliia bell is heard all persons, whether
mule or female, turn their backs, but the males must retire to a curtain
dititance. In passing through the town this is one of the most intolerable
nuisances. Several other customs exist, one or two of which it may bo
well to mention. On passing many ditferent places, either in hammock
or on horseback, the traveler is obliged to get out and walk, and upon
passing out of the town from Dahomey toward the coast, are a sort of
custom-houses, where your pass is demanded. This is all very well,
but the nuisance does not end here. Should you have a number of fowls
aa presents in Dahomey, (which is mostly the coae,) and should any one
of the cocks crow in passing, or while you wait to be interrogated by the
appointed officer, the cock is seized as the king^s property; or if more
than one crow, the offenders, as many aa they may be, are seized.

We now return to Canot, who regretted that when he lefl Ayudah, on
the return voyage, that he had no interpreter to make the necessary com-
munications with the slaves. They soon became discontented, one threw
himself into the sea, and another choked himself to death, and apprehen-
sions soon began to be felt that the slaves would revolt. One aAernoon,
when a part of the slaves were on deck, a sudden squall arose, and all
hands were summoned by the boatswain^s whistle to take in sail. S'eizing
the opportunity amid the confusion of the gale, they poured upon the deck,
and about forty stout fellows armed with staves of broken water-casks, or
clubs of wood, found in the hold, with savage yells and passion-excited
visages, rushed upon the crew. A terrible fight occurred; several of
the sailors were laid prostrate, bleeding upon the deck, and the contest for
awhile seemed doubtful; but firearms in the hands of white men fighting
for life, were too much for ignorant savages with clubs only, and the
latter, after several discharges, were driven into the hold. The crew now
had leisure to attend to the vessel, which was in peril of foundering in the
aquall — the sails, ropes, tacks and sheets were in the greatest disorder, flap-
ping and dashing about in wild confusion. As soon as below, a battle took
place among the slaves, which was with difficulty quelled by firing in
among them, and pouring scalding water on the combatants through holes
bored for the purpose in the deck. A part only of the slaves had en-
gaged in the rising, otherwise this bold stroke for liberty would have
been successful.

Canot now felt as if he lived with a pent up volcano. Terror reigned
over all, and the lash was used with unmitigated severity. To add to
his anxiety, a slave-boy, of a gentle nature, who had been drilled as a
waiter in the cabin, was seized with that dreadful pestilence the smallpox.
To prevent the disease from spreading, he was murdered by laudanum,
and his body was thrown to its final resting-place in the depths of the
ocean. As they approached the termination of their voyage, continuous
storms and adverse winds prevailed. On the last two days they were
chased by a British vessel of war, and only escaped capture by running
the Estrella on to the beach, and with such force that the mainmast
snapped like a pipe-stem. They were obliged in their haste to leave a
part of their slaves to their pursuers, so close were they at their heels.

Canot's next voyage was taken in the Golden Eagle, a Baltimore
clipper of elegant proportions. The voyage was disastrous. While in
the river Salem, the Golden Eagle, with all her crew, was unexpectedly
pursued and taken by a French war-vessel, and Canot was carried to
France, and thrown into prison at Brest, where, after remaining a year or
two, ho was pardoned out by Louis Philippe, in conBequence of some

|\DER.

lorBonu, whether

vtiru to a curtain

most intolerable

which it may be

ther in hammock

1 walk, aad upon

}a8t, are a Hort of

is all very well,

I number ot' fowU

d Hhould any one

iterrogatod by the

perty; or if more

are seized.

e lefl. Ayudah, on

ie necessary com-

itcnted, one threw

th, and apprchen-

. One afternoon,

lall arose, and all

e in sail. Seizing

red upon the deck,

en water-casks, or

id passion-excited

;urred; several of

and the contest for

vhite men lighting

ubs only, and the

d. The crew now

r foundering in the

itest disorder, flap-

>elow, a battle took

lelled by firing in

tants through holes

he slaves had en-

iiberty would have

I. Terror reigned
verity. To add to

been drilled as a
lence the smallpox,
jred by laudanum,

the depths of the
royage, continuous
lo days they were
capture by running
that the mainmast
lit haste to leave a
hey at their heels.
Bagle, a Baltimore
lastrous. While in
, was unexpectedly
Qot was carried to
remaining a year or
sequence of some

ADVENTUIIES OF AN AFRICAN SLAVE-TRADER.

543

illegality in his condemnation. True to his education, ho was no sooner
liberated than he made his way to llie African cuust, and entcrud the
employment of the celebrated Pedro Blajico, at Cialliuas. This man
Blanco, the monarch of slave-traders, was a native of Spain. Carrying
into the business in which he was engaged, nil the far-reaching acumen
of the most thorough merchant, he selected, for his seat of trade, a s(>ot
upon the African coast, where a short sluggish river empties into the
Atlantic, by a perfect labyrinth of low, reed-covorcd islands, fronted by a
bar perilous to navigation, and otf which no vessel of war could, except
in the mo.st perilous weather, watch in safety this dismal spot, which
slavery had selected for her recruiting station. Blanco's factories and
barracoons were scattered about among the islands, and here and tiiure,
to the height of seventy-five or a hundred feet, rose telegraph stations,
shaded by the sun and rain, on which lookouts were constantly sweeping
the horizon with telescopes, to descry the approach of cruisers or slavers.

Blanco lived in barbaric splendor, with his seraglio of favorites, and
surrounded by the luxuries of every land. His ten or twelve barracoons
contained each from one hundred to five hundred slaves. These slave-
pens were formed of piles driven into the ground, strongly united by iron
bands, thatched overhead, and closely guarded by armed Spaniards or
Portuguese, whom dissipation and the malaria had givim an aspect little
less wretched than that of corpses.

The advent of Canot at Gallinas, was in the year 1836. Blanco, a man
of slender figure, swarthy face, and most graceful manners, had then
passed fifteen years upon this spot. Three years later he left it for Cuba,
a millionaire. The drafts of this Rothschild of man-merchants upon
Europe or America, were as good as gold in Sierra Leone and Monrovia.

A few years after the establishment of Blanco, the thousands of slaves
sent away began to exhaust the vicinity; but the appetite for plunder was
stimulated to such a degree, that the neighboring blacks supplied with
powder by the factories, and enticed by their tempting merchandize,
carried their hunts far inland. The multitudes, too ignorant to combine, by
fighting them singly, fell an easy prey, and yet the demand continued
until Don Pedro and his myrmidons established numerous branches along
the coast, north and south, offshoots from the parent-den, and reaped a
harvest greater than that of Californian gold. Various tribes were stim-
ulated by. avarice, to war upon each other, with all the wild ferocity of
African savages; so that down in the hold of many a slaver, as it steered
its way across the broad Atlantic, have been shackled to the same bolt,
two deadly enemies, while others have met in the same horrid union a
long-lost son or brother, or, perhaps, parent, taken in war. In these wars
among the natives, their soothsayers were ever consulted. The story is
told of Amftrar, a native chief of the Gallinas, who was besieged, and
wished to make a sally, that his oracle informed him the moment would
be propitious, as soon as he had stained his hands in the blood of his
own son. Amarar, upon this, snatched his infant from its mother's arms,
cast it into a rice mortar, and with a pestle mashed it to death ! Such is
man in his wild state, left to the instincts of his own perverted nature.

The familiarity of Canot with the slave-trade, in all its branches, was
such that Blanco engaged him to establish a branch factory at New
Seostris, an independant principality, under the control of Prince Free-
man, a Bassa chief. Having erected a house and surrounded it with
palisades, he purchased about seventy slaves, of an inferior quality, at an
exorbitant price ; and then sent for the chief to assist in shipping them, on

^'^^JSwfww^tiNcaBtJstBies^^

•M

ADVENTURES OF AN AFRICAN SLAVE-TRADER.

t •Itve-vessel that lay ofT tlio spoi. To thia request an impudent reply
was borne to Canot by the son of the king, n lad of sixteen, wiiicli so
enraged the former, that he gave the lad a blow that sent him bleeding
ind howling home. Shortly the whole black hive was in agreat ferment;
and, by a second messenger, word was sent Canot he must leave the
place. Anticipating trouble, Canot landed some whites from his schooner,
to assist in his defense. At evening, im placed a number of loaded
muskets in a long trade-chest, which he used as a avl'a, put an open keg
of powder upon a table, concealed beneath a blanket, and then, laying a
pair of double-barrelled pistols under his broad-brimmed hat, set a guard,
and threw himself into his hammock for the ni/>{lit. In the morning, he
was aroused by the war-drum and village bells, announcing the approach
of the people. In a few momenta his paliaadeii wore filled with nrmed
and chattering savages. The Prince strutted pompously into the presence
of Canot, attired only in the red coat of a British drummer, but without
any trowsers. Canot received him cordially, and conducted him into his
house. With some few preliminary words, Canot jerked olT the blanket
from the open powder, and aiming one pistol at the keg and the other
at the Prince, defied him to order him off. At this. Freeman ^avo a
sudden bound out of the house, followed by his body-guard, all in the
extremest consternation. He subsequently, cringing as a whipped puppy,
swore eternal fidelity to Canot. The oath was ratified over New England
rum, and by sunset the slaves were duly shipped in the canoes of his
people.

Canot, when securely established, erected permanent buildings. The
main structure was a large two story house, surrounded by broad
verandahs, on the summit of which was a watch-tower, commanding a
broad view of the ocean. Beside this, were stores, a private kitchen,
one for slaves, a rice-house, servant's-houses, a water depot, huts for
single men, and slave-pens, guarded by cannon. The whole was sur-
rounded by a lofty fence, with double gates. The center of the place
was an open square, where, after their meals, the slaves, sometimes to the
number of six or seven hundred, guarded by a few armed men, were
accustomed to recreate themselves by dancing, singing, and drumming
on tom-toms.

New Seostris grew wonderfully under the new system of things. Two
populous towns arose as if by magic, on the sandy beach, supplied with
merchandize and employment by the factory. Prince Freeman's memory
of past grievances, and of old debts due his ancestors, received a sudden
quickening, and expedition followed expedition to settle these old affairs.

On Canot's first arrival, the people were basely superstitio>js, and all
classes liable to be accused upon any pretext, by the ju-ju-men or priests,
who tested their innocence or guilt by giving the aaucy-wood potion.
Often when the removal of a sick wife, a superanuated parent, or a rich
relative was desired, they would be accused of witchcraft, and as the
potion could be graduated by the priest, death ensued when desired. As
large numbers of innocent people were, by these means, constantly
falling victims to avarice or malice, Canot determined to stop this abom-
inable practice. He respectfully requested that the next person operated
upon, should be brought to his barracoon. Shortly a Krooman accused
of the death of his nephew by witchcraft, was delivered to Canot, and
while the ju-ju-man was preparing the poisonous drink over a slow fire,
he bribed him to make it of unusual strength, **for,^* said he, "my own
ju-ju says he it innocent, and I wish to ascertain the relative truth of our

kDER.

I impudent reply
sixteon, which so
ent him blcodint;
1 a great ferment;
9 must leave the
From his schooner,
umber of loaded
, put an open keg
Lud then, laying a
d hat, set a guard,
1 the morning, he
cing the approach
filled with nrmed
f into the presence
mmer, but without
ucted him into his
(ed off the blanket
keg and the other
I, Freeman ^avo a
y-guard, all m the
1 a whipped puppy,
over New England
the canoes of his

nt buildings. The
rounded by broad
^er. commanding a
a private kitchen,
;er depot, huts for
he whole was sur-
;enter of the place
s, sometimes to the
r armed men, were
ing, and drumming

)m of things. Two
each, supplied with
Freeman^s memory
, received a sudden
tie these old affairs.
uperstitio-iS, and all
ju^u-men or priests,

aauejf-tDOod potion,
ed parent, or a rich
tchcraft, and as the

when desired. As
. means, constantly
d to stop this abom-
lext person operated
a Krooman accused
rered to Canot, and

ink over a slow fire,
" said he, " my own

relative truth of our

▲OYSNTURKS OF AN AFRICAN BLAVE-TRADER.

545

soothsayt'ra/* Just before the administration of the poison, Canot privately
gave to the accused a strong dose of tartar-emetic, which caused him to
throw lip the venomous drink, alniost the instant it was given. This
established the innocence of the drinker, and overwhelmed the ju-ju-man
with confusion. This result was soon noised about, and to the astonish-
ment of tho superstitious Africans. Ever after that, those who were to
be subjected to this ordeal, were brought to Canot. He thus succeeded
in saving many lives, ending eventuuly in a complete abandonment of
the practice.

Along the African coast, for a distance of many hundred miles, com-
merce has given rise to a peculiar class of men, known as Kroomen and
Fiahmen. These are the native boatmen, without whose skill and boldness,
merchandize could not be landed, nor slaves shipped from this part
of Africa, on account of the terrific surf, which, even in the calmest
weather, rolls in such tremendous combing waves, that a European or
American boat could not live in it. Their canoes are made of logs of
trees, hollowed out and sharpened at the ends : so indispensable are the
services of the boatmen, that it is the aim of all slavers, traders, and men-
of-war in these waters, to propitiate their favor. Among the first steps of
Canot, when he went to New Ueostris, was to obtain a little fleet of
Kroomen, with whose aid it was seldom that the condition of the surf was
such as to prevent him from shipping his cargoes. Off the more dan-
gerous bar of Gallinas, all the skill of these boatmen, could not, at times,
prevent boat load after boat load of slaves, from falling n prey to ravenous
sharks. On one occasion while loading a single vessd, over one hundred
slaves met this terrible death.

At one period, Canot had been greatly annoyed by the continuous
blockade of a cruiser. Finally, getting short of provisions, she steered
for Sierra Leone, for a fresh supply. Canot dispatched a messenger,
with the news, to his friend Don Pedro, at Gallinas; and in about two
days thereafter, a clipper brig, sent with dispatch by him, with the well-
known signal for a cargo, appeared in the offing. The moon was now at
the full, and the surf so terrible as to render an attempt at shipment
exceedingly perilous. But the absent cruiser was hourly expected, and
there was no alternative, as the barracoons were literally crammed with
slaves. By the stimulus of an extra reward, Canot persuaded the
Kroomen to make the attempt, with the smallest boats, and the best rowers,
while on shore stood a large number of the most expert swimmers, ready
for a plunge whenever a canoe was upset by the breakers. They com-
menced with the females, and had shipped seventy, when a strong wind
set in from the ocean, and rolled in the breakers with such fury, that
almost every other boat was npset, and negro after negro was rescued.
Night now approaching, left still one-third of his aJaves unembarked.
Canot ran to and fro on the beach, in great excitement, encouraging,
coaxing, and refreshing the boatmen and swimmers; but neither words,
nor rum were of any avail, the exhausted boatmen were immovable.
He was on the point of despair, when he suddenly thought of a quantity
of false coral beads amonc his goods, just then all the rage with the Kroo
girls. " The smile of a Tip hes the same magical power in Africa, as
elsewhere; and the offer of a coral bunch for each head embarked,
brdught all the dames and damsels of Seoetris to hit aid. Such a shower
of chatter was never heard out of a canary cage. Mothers, sisters,
daughters, wives, sweethearts, took charge of the embarkation, by coaxing
or commanding their reipective gentlemen; and before the sun's rim
36

'■•M'-^^^fi^S^^US^;fS^'^&i!ltSiS^^&*:i

546

▲OVBNTURIS or AN AFRICAN FLAVETRADER

dipped below the horiion, i few afr^ndii of faUo coral, or the kiaaofa
oegro i^irl,- aent one hundred more of the Afiicana into Spanish alovery.'*
The brig took flight in the dnrkneaa, and the next morning the cruiaer
appeared off the place, when Canot aent r. Krooman aboard with his com-
ptimenti, and an offer of hia aervicea if rei^uired!

In one of hia buiineaa riaits to Digby, Canot waa i. witnesa of the
fiendiah ferocity of the native AfVican, under the excitomont of war.
He had ea'abliahed a alave-factory at one of the two Digby towns, which
waa productive of a fatal quarrel butwt.en the reapoctive chiefa, who
were couaina, and had previoualy liv^fi in harmony. Canot, on thia oc-
Ofciion, had landed at aunset, at the neg!';cted town, with a lot of merchan-
dize, with a view to supply its chief wilh goods, and to establish a factory
if the openins appeared Tuvarable. Some time paat midnight, he waa
arouaed from hia aieep by uhrieka and volleys of musketry, and then in
rushed the negro chief with an appeal to him, to riae and fly for life, that
they had all been betrayod, and resistance waa in vain. Canot rcmgine<'
where he waa, knowing that he was in no peraonal danger; that ho only
would suffer a brief detention, and that if ho aitemptod to escape, he
miffht be slaughtered by mistake. The ahouta of the aavagea gruw'noarer
and nearer, as they rushed onward, murdering all they mot, On coming
to the door of the house in which Canot was, they battered it in, and
Jenkin, their leader, with a Ughtnd flambeau entered, and made his
party their priaonera. '' Of course,*' says Canot, in relating the history
o^thia tran8ac'c'.>n, "we aubmitted without resistance, for, although fully
armed; the odu^i were so great in those anti-revolver days, that we would
have been overw/elincd by a single wave of the infuriated crowd. The
barbarian chief iustar-tly selected our house for his head-quarters, and
dispatched his followers to complete theic taak. Priaoner after prisoner,
was thi U9t in. At times, the heavy mash of the war-club, and the cry
of atrangling women, gave notice that the work of death waa not yet
ended. But the night of horror wore away. The gray dawn crept
through our hevePa hart, and all was atill, save the groans of wounded
captives, and the wailinga of women and children.

"By dr'grees, the warriors dropped in around their chieftain. A
palaver-kotue, immediately in front of my quarters, waa the general
rendezvous; and scarcely a biuhman appeared without the bodv of some
maimed and bleeding victim. The mangled, but living captives were
tumbled on a heap in the center, and soon every avenue to the square
was crowded with exulting savages. Rum was brought forth in abundance
for the chiefs. Presently, slowly approaching from a distance, I heard
the drums, horns, and war-bells; and in leas than fifteen minutes a pro-
cession of women, whose naked black limbs were besmeared with white
and yellow paint, poured into the palaver house, to join the beastly rites.
Each of these devils was armed with a knife, and bore in her hand some
cannibal trophy. Jenkin'a wife, a corpulent wench of forty-five, dragged
along the ground, by a single limb, the alimy corpse of an infant, ripped
alive from ita mother's womb. As her eyes met those of her husband,
the two fiends yelled forth a about of mutual joy, while the lifeless babe
waa tosaed in the air, and caught as it descended on the point of a spear.
Then came the refreakment, m the ahape of rum, powder, and blood,
which was quaffed by the brutes, till they reeled off, with linked hands
in a wild dance, around the pile of victims. As the women leaped and
sang, the men applauded and encouraged. Soon the ring was broken,
and with a yell each female leaped on the body of a wounded prisoner.

lder.

, or the WiM of a
Spaniah alavery."
trning the cruiaor
ard with his com-

A witneaa of the
iciteinont of war.
gby towna, which
ctivo chiefs, who
Danot, on this oc-
1 alotof HK^rchan-
establish a factory

midnight, he was
tetry, and ihen ^n
nd fly for life, thot
Ganot romaineiA
iger; that ho only
ted to escape, he
ivages grow'noarer
' met, On coming
battered it in, and
ed, and made his
relating the history

for, although fully
ays, that we would
iated crowd. The
head-quarters, and
oner after prisoner,
r-club, and the cry
death was not yet
J gray dawn crept
groans of wounded

their chieftain. A
I, was the general
ut the body of some
iring captives were
venue to the square
|»t forth in obundance
a distance, I heard
leen minutes a pro-
jsmeared with white
oin the beastly rites,
re in her hand some
of forty-6ve, dragged
I of an infant, ripped
lose of her husband,
hile the lifeless babe
I the point of a spear.
1, powder, and blood,
ff, with linked hands
le women leaped and
the ring was broken,
' a wounded prisoner,

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WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580

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ADVENTURES OF AK AFRICAN SLAVE-TRADER.

547

and commenced the final sacrifice, with a mockery of lascivious embraces.
In my wanderings in African forests, I have often seen the tiger
pounce upon its prey, and with instinctive thirst, satiate its appetite for
blood, and abandon the drained corpse; but these African ncgresses
were neither as decent nor as merciful as the beasts of tiie wilderness.
Their malignant pleasure seemed to consist in the invention of tortures
that would agonize, but not slay. There was a devilish spell in the
tragic scene, that fascinated my eyes to the spot. A slow, lingering,
tormenting mutilation was practiced on the living, as well as on the dead;
and, in every instance, the brutality of the women exceeded that of the
men. I cannot picture the hellish joy with which they passed from body
to body, digging out eyes, wrenching off lips, tearing the ears, and slicing
the flesh from the quivering bones; while the queen of the harpies crept
amid the butchery, gathering the brains from each severed skull, as a
bonne bouche for the approaching feast. After the last victim yielded
his life, it did not require long to kindle a fire, produce the requisite
utensils, and fill the air with the odor of human jlesh! Yet, before the
various messes were half-broiled, every mouth was tearing the dainty
morsels with shouts of joy, denoting the combined satisfaction of usage
and appetite ! In the midst of this appalling scene, I heard a fresh cry
of exultation, as a pole was borne into the apartment, on which was
impaled the living body of the conquered chieftain's wife. A hole was
quickly dug, the stave planted, and fagots supplied; but before afire
could be kindled, the wretched woman was dead, so that the barbarians
were defeated in their hellish scheme of burning her alive ! I do not
know how long these brutalities lasted, for I remember very little after
this last attempt, except that the bushmen packed in plaintain leaves
whatever flesh was left from the orgie, to be conveyed to their friends
in the forest. The butchery made me sick, dizzy, paralyzed. I sank
on the earth benumbed with stupor; nor was I roused until nightfall,
when my Kroomen bore me to the conqueror's town, and negotiated our
redemption for the value of twenty slaves."

Canot remained at New Seostris several years, carrying on an ex-
tensive business. He was finally compelled by the English cruisers to
break up his establishment; and, after various adventures, he sunk all he
had acquired from his ill-spent years of labor. The same talents and
zeal applied to any of the ordinary avocations, which inure to the benefit
of man at large, might have yielded him an ample competence, and the
sweet solace in old age, of a well-spent life. His memoirs edited by
Brantz Mayer, of which this fragmentary and scattered abridgment, can
give but an inadequate idea, is a work full of instruction in African
aboriginal life, and in the characteristics of those atrocious men, who
live by trade in human blood.

Singular as it may seem, the slave-trade at the present hour is exten-
sively carried on, though not near so much as it was a few years since.
It was the cessation of the last great European war, which assembled
the matured villainy of the world on the African coast, to re-establish,
the slave-trade. This traffic had been suspended during the later years,
of the contest, as England and the United States had abolished it; the
former, too, swept almost the whole European marine from the ocean.
About twenty years since, England, by treaties with difierent slave-tradingy
powers, obtained permission to capture vessels outward bound for Africa,,
when fitted for the slave-trade, as well as afte; they had taken in their
cargoes. This, however, did not apply to American vessels, or those

548

ADVENTURES OP AN AFRICAN SLAVE-TRADER.

protected by the American flag. If a vessel, other than American, was
found on the African coast with slave-irons, and with a slave-deck laid
for packing slaves, she was seized and condemned. By this arrangement,
with a vigorous squadron, over a thousand slavers were captured in the
course of the ten years ensuing.

The efforts of the British squadron were seconded by those of France
and the United States. " France had withdrawn from the treaty, stipu-
lating the right of aearch, and sent a squadron of her own to prevent
French vessels from engaging in the slave-trade ; and the United States
which never has surrendered and never will surrender the inviolability
of her ownfiag to a foreign power, guaranteed in 1842, to keep a squad-
ron on the coast. These with other auhsidiary means, in 1849, had
reduced the exportation of slaves from 106,000 to 37,000 annually. And
since that period the trade has lessened, until in Brazil, the greater slave
mart, it has became almost extinct; although, at times, it has been carried
on briskly with Cuba.

" The subsidiary means alluded to, arose out of the presence of the
squadrons, and would have had no effect without them. They consist in
arrangements on the part of England, with some of the native powers,
to join in checking the evil, and in substituting the legal trade ; and in
conversion of the old slave-factories and forts, into positions defensive
against their former purpose. These measures have also prepared the
way for the establishment of Christian missions, as well as permitted to
legitimate traffic, its full development. As the missions grow, the slave-
trade diminishes, and legitimate trade advances."

" Trade of all kinds was originally an adjunct to the slave-trsde.
Cargoes were to be sold where they could find a purchaser. Gold, ivory,
dye-stuffs and pepper, were the articles procured on the coast. All of
these are from exhaustible sources. The great vegetable productions of
the country, constituting heavy cargoes, have but lately come into the
course of commerce. The heavier articles now in demand, require
more industry with hands, and a settled life. Trade thus becomes in-
consistent with slavery, and hostile to it ; and the more so, as it becomes
more dependent on the collection of oil, ground-nuts, and other produces
of agriculture. Covering the coast now with trading establishments
excludes the slaver. The efforts of the squadrons were necessary to
carry out this proceeding, for commerce needed to be protected against
the piracies of the slaver afloat, and robbery by the slaver on shore.

Exposure to capture, gave origin to the barracoons. A slaver could
no longer leisurely dispose of her cargo, at different points, in return
for slaves, who happened to be there. The crime now required con-
cealment and rapidity. Wholesale dealers on shore, had to collect suf-
ficient victims for a cargo, to be taken on board at a moment's notice.
This required that the slaver should arrive at the station, with arrange-
ments previously made with the slave-factor, ready to "take in;" or that
«he should bring over a cargo of goods in payment for slaves.

" In the case of falling in with British cruisers, an American slaver
was inviolate, on presenting her register or sea-letter, as a proof of
nationality, and could not be searched or detained. But the risk of
falling in with American cruisers, especially if co-operating with the
British, led to the disguise of legal trading; with a cargo corresponding
to the manifest, and all the ship's papers in form.

The American flag became in these ways deeply involved in the slave
traffic. In the prosence of BritiBh, or other foreign cruisers, only vessels

'•■**-*«i^ -...ij_- _,

PRADER.

han American, was
th a slave-deck laid
By this arrangement,
ere captured in the

by those of France
jm the treaty, stipu-
her own to prevent
d the United States
ler the inviolability
142, to keep a squad-
leans, in 1849, had
,000 annually. And
zil, the greater slave
I, it has been carried

the presence of the
m. They consist in
■ the native powers,
legal trade ; and in
positions defensive
ve also prepared the
well as permitted to
ions grow, the slave-

t to the slave-trade.
:haser. Gold, ivory,
n the coast. All of
ctable productions of
lately come into the
in demand, require
le thus becomes in-
ore so, as it becomes
i, and other produces
ding establishments
s were necessary to
be protected against
slaver on shore,
ins. A slaver could
ent points, in return
B now required con-
e, had to collect suf-
it a moment^s notice,
itation, with arrange-
to " take in ;" or that
for slaves.

, an American slaver
etter, as a proof of
id. But the risk of
o-operating with the
cargo corresponding

involved in the slave
cruisers, only vessels

ADVENTURES OF AN AFRICAN SLAVE-TRADER.

549

known to be slavers, to this day, run but little danger of capture, for the
Star Spangled Banner is a protection against the aearck necessary for
proof. In 1844 our minister to Brazil, stated: "It is a fact not to be
disguised or denied, thai the slave-trade is almost entirely carried on
under our flag, in American built vessels, sold to slave-traders here,
chartered for the coast of Africa, and there sold, or sold here — delivered
on the African coast. And, indeed, the scandalous traflic could not bt
carried on to any great extent, were it not for the use made of our flag,
and the facilities given for the chartering of our vessels, to carry to the
coast of Africa, the outfit for the trade, and the material for purchasing
slaves."

" Captain Smith, a slave-trader, who was arrested in New York, in
1854, for being engaged in this traflic, has made the astonishing statement,
that twenty or thirty slavers annually sail from that port — that New York
is the chief port in the world for the slave-trade: there are strong grounds
for believing in the truth of these allegations. An officer of an American
war-vessel, writing from off Sierra Leone, in 1846, says: " The English
are doing everything in their power to prevent the slave-trade ; and keep
a force of thirty vessels on this coast, all actively cruising. It is extremely
diflicult to get up these rivers to the places where the slavers are. In
these streams, almost concealed by the trees, the vessels lie, and often
elude the strictest search ; but when they have taken on board their
living cargo, and are getting out to sea, the British are very apt to seize
them, except, alas! when they are protected by the banner of the United
States^

As the right of search can never be given up by the United States,
and as our cruisers have not the right to search suspected vessels, sailing
under foreign flags, the only course for the complete suppression of the
traflic, is for the vessels of the two principal maritime nations, the United
States and Great Britain, to cruise in company for the detection of
slavers; and this, to some extent, is at the present time practiced.

" Civilized governments are now very generally united in measures
for the suppression of the slave-trade. The coast of Africa is rapidly
closing against it. The American and English colonies secure a vast
extent of sea coast against its revival. Christian missions at many points
are inculcating the doctrines of divine truth, which by its power upon the
hearts of men, is the antagonist to such cruel unrighteousness.

" The present is an interesting period in the history of the world.
Changes are rapid and irrevocable. Circumstances illustrative of the
condition of our race, as it has been, are disappearing rapidly. The
helplessness, and artlessness, and the make shifts of barbarism, are
becoming things of the past. There is, perhaps, no region of the earth
which is now altogether beyond the reach of civilized arts. Shells, and
flints, and bows, and clubs, and bone-headed spears are everywhere
giving way to more useful or more formidable implements. Improvements
in dress, and tools, and furniture, will soon be universal. The history of
man as he has been, requires, therefore, to be written now, while the
evidence illustrative of it, has not altogether vanished.

" The changes of the last three centuries have, to only a slight degree,
influenced the African races. An inaccessible interior, and a coast
bristling with slave-factories, and bloody with slaving cruelties, probably
account for this. The slight progress made, shows the obduracy of the
degradation to be removed, and the difficulty of the first steps needed
for its removal. Wherever the alave-tride or its efiects penetrated, there,

560

ADVENTURES OF AN AFRICAN SLAVE-TRADER.

of course, peace vanished, and prosperity became impossible. This evil
aiTected not only the coast, but spread warfare, to rob the country of its
iniiabitants, far into the interior regions. There were tribes, however,
uninfluenced by it, and some of these have gained extensive, although
but temporary authority. Yet nowhere has there been any real civilization.
It is singular that these people should have rested in this unalloyed bar-
barism for thousands of years, and that there should have been no native-
born advancement, as in Mexico, or Peru, or China; and no flowing in
upon its darkness, of any glimmering of light, from the brilliant progress
and high illumination of the outside world. It has been considered
worthy of notice, that a few years ago, one of the Veys had contrived a
cumbrous alphabet to express the sounds of his language ; but it is surely,
to an incomparable degree, more a matter of surprise, that centuries
passed away in communication with Europeans, without such an attempt
liaving been made by any individual, of so many millions, during so many
generations of men.

"The older state of negro society, therefore, still continues. With the
exception of civilized vices, civilized arms, and some amount of civilized
luxuries, life on the African coast, or at no great distance from it, remains
now much the same as the first discoverers fouml it."

Christian commerce is, however, destined to effect great changes, even
in the remotest parts of the African continent, and by creating now wants
to open up avenues to industry, which will eventually develop and civilize
her now degraded and barbarian people. Every part of our globe is to
be, in time, penetrated by enlightened christianized industry, and
wherever man may be, its surface is to be dotted with happy, virtuous
homes.

'RADER.

possible. This evil
» the country of its
ire tribes, however,
extensive, although
any real civilization.
. this unalloyed bar-
ave been no native-
i; and no flowing in
ie brilliant progress
s been considered
eys had contrived a
ige ; but it is surely,
(rise, that centuries
out such an attempt
ons, during so many

ontinues. With the

amount of civilized

incc from it, remains

great changes, even
r creating now wants
develop and civilize
rt of our globe is to
ized industry, and
fith happy, virtuous

CONVICT

LIFE IN AUSTRALIA.

HOWTSn

0£T THKM, AKD WHAT THW OW WHKH THIEl, TOOnBO WITH A HAIEAIITE OF

ooimoT Liin iM NOBjroix island, th« flaoe Foa thob

TOO BAD FOR BOTANY BAT.

When a ragged boy, (says O'Connell,) lounging around the Loudon
Docks, Captain Salmon, of the ship Phcenix, took a fancy to me, and with-
out the knowledge or consent of any of my friends, I shipped as cabin-
boy on board his vessel. A short time after I joined her at Deptford, she
moved down to Woolwich, to take in live freight; being chartered by
Government for the transportation of female convicts to Botany iJay.
The ship's company, including the two extremes, officers and boys, nuin-
bered about thirty-five. And her passengers were rising two hundred m

No crime or worthlessness of character can destroy all feeling of pity,
on the part of the philanthropist, for such unfortunates as render themselvea
amenable to the laws of their country. Indeed, as the worst conduct calls
down the severest punishment, perhaps the vilest characters command
more pity than those who are less guilty, and, consequently, liable to
punishment less severe. But pity for women embarking for Port Jackson
seems a waste of sympathy, as, just taken from jail, they seem rather
giddily to rejoice in the anticipation of a change of scene, than to ieel
sorrow at the prospect of punishment. Taken from the very lowest haunts
of vice and misery ; generally entirely destitute of self-respect, and ap-
parently careless ofeverything but mere bodily comfort and ease; incapable,
by habit, of appreciating anything but pleasure of the senses, they wore
the outward seeming of careless indifference, or thoughtless merriment.
Occasionally, among the crowd, there was a face the index of remorse,
and a consciousness of degradation; or, perchance, of the remembrance
of friends, and bitter grief at the loss of respectable standing, buch,
however, were rare; in the chatter of the convicts, flash, obscenity, and
profanity were the principal features. In dress they varied from the
beggars' rags of St. Giles', to the tawdry finery of the aristocracy in vice :
and'Uiere was not wanting even an occasional neat dress, which bespoke
the wearer not all degraded. Over the faces of the whole there was
more or less of the " prison aspect," a wanness, the effect of trial and

confinement. . , . , . c j *

After receiving her passengers, the Phoenix laid three or tour days at
Woolwich. The acquaintances and connections of the convicts were on
board in crowds, bidding farewell, and bringing trifles to minister to the
comfort of their erring friends duriug a long passage. Weeping, embra-
cing, hysteric laughter, snatches of flash songs, ribaldry, affected mirth,
and unaffected despondence, soon took the place of the general appearance

(551)

- ^^y^:^-z:4:xi{-iJfr,^^~ i i £ i i l ^ 3e^t -^i ivit

652

CONVICT LIFE IN AUSTRALIA.

of checrfiilness with which the convicts came from their placcH of confine
ment. The anchor is weigjjed, and the steamhoat takes us in tow down
the river. Handitcrchiefs of all complexions are waving to the people
who swarm in boats in our wake;— "Hip— hip— hip— hurra!"— three
cheers for Botany Bay from the convicts, and a response from the water-
men and the banks of the river. In a few hours the steamer left us;
we were in the channel. Two hundred female convicts, a little Piillion
to appearance in the snug quarters of the vessel, are not missed from
among the swarms of the vile in modern Babylon. They are us a bucket
from the ocean; and yet every one of these despised beings has friends;
low, and probably vicious, but still affectionate. Feelings and sensibility
they have too; blunted it may be, but still human. Their disappearance
may be unnoticed by the spectator of the mass, but each of them leaves a
void in the circle in which she has moved, though that may have been
none of the purest. Weeping eyes follow the departure of the convict
ship; aching hearts yearn after the guilty beings whom it is bearing to a
distant and degrading place of exile.

At Spithead we lay two days, and on the third weighed again, and made
no harbor, till at the end of a five months' passage we came to, in Sydney
Cove. The convicts were divided into three general divisions, according
to their sentences; — ^the sentenced for seven, those for fourteen, and those
for life. The crew of the vessel lived in the steerage, the short sentenced
convicts under the main hatch, the "lifers" forward; and forward of them,
in what is, on board of merchant ships, the forecastle, is the " sick bay,"
or hospital. The berths, in tiers at the sides, accommodated six persons
each; and the inmates of each berth formed a mess. The women were
all compelled to muster, in divisions, on deck, at least once a day, in
tolerable weather, one division at a time; and to insure this airing, neces-
sary to health, female "boatswains" were appointed. It was the duty
of these petticoat officers to compel cleanliness also. The provisions
were similar in quality and kind to those furnished vessels of the navy.
In lieu of "grog" a cheap wine was served out, which the prisoners were
obliged to drink at the tub, to prevent hoarding, or selling to one another.
The usual punishment for minor offenses was cutting off this allowance
of wine; for the more refractory, a machine was contrived, similar in
operation to the stocks, but more resembling a very straight sentry-box.
The offender was locked into it, standing erect, and when it was closed
upon her she could hardly move a limb.

The passengers, after the first fortnight, were generally healthy, and,
notwithstanding they were sentenced convicts, happy. The majority of
them had been in England as poor as vicious; no change could, with them,
have been for the worse, and "the temperate and regular manner of livmg,
attention to cleanliness, and relief from squalid poverty, made them happy
even under what are usually thought the privations of the vessel.

Land ho! from the foretop-gallant yard; land ho! on deck; and land ho!
the hearts of two hundred women responded. It was four or five day?
after making the land before we could fetch the harbor. The first joy
at the sight of land had changed, on the part of the women, to impatience,
and from impatience to a sort of careless half despair, which did not a
whit abate at sight of the rocky heads of Sydney Cove. When the head-
land was doubled, and the romantic situations of gentlemen's country seats,
and then the settlement at Sydney, were spread before them, hope and
expectation were awake again, and there was nothing in their deportment
to remind the observer that they were unwilling emigrants. Vessels which

CONVICT DIALECT.

553

places of confino

8 us in tow down

ng to tho pcopio

■hurra!" — thrcio

from the water-

stcamor loft us;

ts, a little r.illioti

not missed from

y aro us a bucket

cings has friends;

ja and sensibility

ir disappearance

of them leaves a

may have been

re of the convict

I it is bearing to a

again, and made

ame to, in Sydney

visions, according

>urteen, and those

le short sentenced

1 forward of them,

is the "sick bay,"

>dated six persons

The women were

ist once a day, in

this airing, neces-

It was the duty

The provisions

sscla of the navy.

he prisoners were

ng to one another.

off this allowance

itrived, similar in

raight sentry-box.

'hen it was closed

rally healthy, and,

The majority of

> could, with them,

r manner of living,

made them happy

he vessel.

leek; and land ho!

four or five day?
or. The first joy
len, to impatience,
', which did not a
When the head-
en's country seats,
e them, hope and
a their deportment
s. Vessels which

liuvc sickness on board arc ordercnl to tho quarantine ground; tlio.si> wlilcii,
as was our cast;, have no apparent sicknt-sH, other than the usual rti'tMas
of a lon<r |)asHagc, ride out a iialf (|uarantine outside the usual ran^rc of
anciioiiigi;. People arc not allowed to come on board, but all communi-
cation iH by no moans cut otV, as boats are continually along side, stOlin^r
froaii provisions, bread, etc., to the convicts. It may be well here to remark,
that if a convict is discovered to have money to any considerable amount,
it is taken from himor her, and deposited in a Savings Institution at Sydney,
where it accumulates till the time of sentence expires. The conversations
of the passenge.'s with the boats along side are peculiar, and have a charac-
ter which no greetings away from New South Wales can resemble.
"Lord love 'ee, Sal! is that you? and how long are ye lagged for?"
"Only for seven years." An Irish girl among our passengers was hailed
by her mother, who had preceded her to this land of promise about two
years. "Ocii, Mary!" cried the parent, "is it iierc I see you? and how
long are ye lagged for?" "Only eighty-four monllis, mother." "Och,
my ciiild, avourneen machree! It's glad I am that you're not lagged for
seven years. "An' where did ye I'ave Jemmy, my son?" "He's hanged,
mother, tiie assize before they lagged me. An' thin we brought him to
St. Giles', an a beauthiful corpse ho made, only he had tho black stroku
roun' his neck."

In about ten days after our arrival, the convicts were landed at the dock-
yard, where they were inspected. Upon the arrival of a convict ship at
Port Jackson, it is usual for such free residents as need domestics to make
application at the superintendent's olfice for them. These applications
are first answered, then the unappropriated residue are sent to the factory
at Paramatta, if females, if males, to the prisoners' barracks.

The Phconix was condemned at Port Jackson, as unworthy, purchased
by Government, and made a receiving ship for double convicts, sentenced
to penal settlements. This discharged tlie crew, and I was taken into
the employment of Mr. Charles Smith, with whom I remained about a
year. Mr. Smith's history was that of many of the free residents in New
South Wales. Originally,

" He left his country for that country's good."

Correct behavior procured him, at the end of three years, a "ticket of
leave," and at the end of his sentence he had collected a pretty little
capital to commence the world with anew. Enterprise, shrewdness and
industry, made him one of the we< Ithiest men in the colony. lie was a
large contractor for the supply of butcher's meat to the govermrie.- fDr
the soldiers and prisoners, and was one of the first, if not the ve ^ .^t,
who succeeded in packing beef in New Holland; the climate, prior i nia
giving proof to the contrary, having been supposed an insuperable
objection.

Mr. Smith's intercourse, as contractor, with the convicts, gave me
unusual advantages for becoming acquainted with their discipline and
situation, and, beside these, there were not wanting excellent opportuni-
ties of observing the general character of the colony. There cannot be
a better place than this to introduce notices of some other of the freed-
men of the colony, who at the time of my residence there, 1820 to 1826,
were prominent members of society. No secret is attempted to be made
of the cause of one's sojourn at Sydney. If two strangers meet in any
situation where copversation seems necessary, almost the first question
exchanged is, "Are you free, or a transport?" The next may be.

554

CONVICT LIKE IN AUSTIIALIA.

"VVliat wore you laRRCfl for, and for how Iohr?" Freemen arc Boin(!timcs
fooliali onouKli to take oflenso at a Botany Bay greeting. 1 was at first,
but Hoon learned the folly of permitting any such sensitiveness to appear,
and becoming acclimated, 1 ceased to feel it.

Mr. Samuel Torry paid a pig for his passage from hngland la bydney—
that is to say, the pig purchased his passage. It ia to he presumed how-
ever, that the simple feat of "going a whole pig," though reported a., the
ostensible cause of his transportation, could not have been the whole cause,
Previous convictions and character must have affected his sentf rice, as it
was, in flash phraseology, a winder. Nor did his acquisitive propcnsiticB
cease upon liis arrival, as it is in the memory of some of the colonists that
the rich Samuel Terry has been whipped for stealing poultry. Growing,
however, after awhile, to see the evil of his ways, he obtained by good
conduct a ticket of leave; put his acquisitiveness under restraint, and
became one of the wealthiest men in the colony. There was upon him
the nominal restraint of a convict, but with his ticket of leave, and ticket
of exemption, he was in efl'ect free, excepting the single condition of
remaining in Australia. To this however he had a stronger tie than
government restriction, the propricjtorship of one of the largest estates in
the possession of any individual. He married, and sons and daugiucrs
were born unto him. Although his children may not be particularly
anxious to perpetuate the family history, and care nothing about heraldry,
ihcy are not a whit the less respectable in Sydney from the alight circum-
stance that tlicir father is a winder. Mr. Terry is, or was, also connected
with the whale iishery. .

Mr. Thomas Cooper was a sort of aristocrat among convicts, lie was
transported for fourteen years, his crime being purchasing stolen goods.
The articles upon which he was convicted, were stolen from the wardrobe
of the Prince of Wales. Upon gaining a ticket of leave, he commenced
tlic manufacture of a sort of gin from Indian corn, and his name is identi-
fied with the grocer's vocabulary, "Cooper's best" being as readily under-
stood as Cogniac or Jamaica. Mr. Haynes, a proprietor of whale ships,
a principal stay of the Methodist Church, and a local preacher, was a

Paramatta factory, situate about fourteen miles from Sydney, is the
depot for female convicts before they are assigned as servants, and the
place to which assigned servants are sentenced for punishment for light
otfenscs, upon complaint of their masters; and wives upon complaint of
their husbands. The manufacture of the cloth which makes the uniform
of the convicts, male and female, and the making of it up into garments,
supplies the convicts at Paramatta with employment. The factory is about
two miles from the town of Paramatta. Tlio convicts in the factory are
divided into three classes; arranged, not with reference to their crimes
before transportation, but to their conduct in the factory. All convicts,
upon entering, are placed in the first class, in which their employment is
needlework, and other comparatively light occupations. Infraction of the
rules, or disobedience and disrespect to the government of the factory,
degrades the convict to the next class. Here she is employed m carding,
weavin", and other laborious employment. When convicts are degraded
from th'e second to the third class, employment suited to their sex ceases;
their heads are shaved, and they are set to breaking stone, wheeling earth,
and cultivating the grounds about the factory. The government of the
convicts at tliis institution is intrusted principally to a temale, whose title
> "The Matron."

T
I

MARRIAOE AMONO C0XVICT8.

5SB

nnrc soiiK^timcs
I wiiH at lirsl,
unc88 to upptiur,

md 10 Sydney —

proHumcd how-

rcportcd a., the

the whole cause,

Is Hentf nee, as it

itivo propenHities

10 coloniHts that

Itry. Growing,

tbtained by good

restraint, and

ro was upon him

leave, and ticket

igle condition of

tronger tie than

largest estates in

19 and daugiitcrs

t be particularly

ig about heraldry,

the slight circuin-

is, also connected

onvicts. He was
Mug stolen goods,
roin tlie wardrobe
0, he commenced
lis name is identi-
^ as readily under-
)r of whale ships,
1 preacher, was a

m Sydney, is the
servants, and the
nishmcnt for light
ipon complaint of
lakes the uniform
up into garments,
he factory is about
in the factory are
:c to their crimes
ry. All convicts,
eir employment is
Infraction of the
2nt of the factory,
iployed in carding,
I'icts are degraded
> their sex ceases;
le, wheeling earth,
government of the
emalc, whose title

When n ladtf (these women always speak of each other as "/«i(/iVtf")
is, in the third class, incorriyihU;, solitary con'inerncnt in a coll, or a visit
to the treadmill, is imposed as a piinishmnif. Freed women, married
luilirs, anil assigned servants, when recomittr;d to the factory, are pliiied
in cithi^r class, as their otV<'nses m«;rit. Spirits and tobacco are forbiddtm
the convicts in the factory. Wine, allowed as a cordial on the passage
out. Is also withdrawn, hut the food is wholesome, and abundant. Indian
corn meal stirred in boiling water, called in America hasty pudding, or
mush, in Australia hominy, makes the breakfast. At dinner they have
animal food and vegetables, and at supper "Scotch coffee," i. e. burned
corn. Convicts are discharged from the factory by throe methods — tickets
of leave at the expiration of half their time of sentence, tickets of exemp-
tion upon the arrival of their husbands in the colony, and tickets of exemp-
tion upon tlie application of a suitor, who must marry, forthwith, thu
damsel whoso liberty he seeks. Sailors who have conceived a penchant
for la<ly passengers on the voyage out, and are, also, upon their arrival in
the country, so in love with it as to wish to remain, and Irgitimate settlers
who have starved out their sentences and taken grants of land, are usually
the applicants for wives at the factory. Applications are oflcn made by
persons wiio come witiiout any particular damsel in view; and obtaining
a wife is pretty easy, from among a set of women who are ready to take
anything for a husband, rather than remain at the factory. The exciian;fe,
on the part of the woman, is, however, only the exchange of a mild
government for a despotic, as the husl)and can at any time turn her back
to llie factory by preferring a complaint. Consequently, the most frequent
result of matches formed by a mere freak, or love not the most refined,
on the one part, and the acceptance of any offer, rather than remaining
in durance, on the other, is the remanding of the bride back to the factory
and A sliaved head. The advantage is altogether on the side of the hus-
i)anfl, tiu) wife's sentence to the colony being standing evidence against
her to corroborate his testimony. Grey-bearded old settlers, wlio have
served out their sentences, and arc ready to recommence the world on an
.Vustralian farm, need a wife to take care of the homestead. Debarred
by character, ill personal appearance, and other disagreeables, from
obtaining an assigned or freed woman to wife, these gentry seek in the
factory a wife who will shut her eyes to the defects of a husband, be they
over so glaring, when by marriage she can again obtain "a home of her
own." Quarrels soon follow the tying of the nuptial knot, and a large
proportion of the police cases are complaints preferred by husbands against
wives, who have too soon let the motives of their marriage become
apparent by their conduct.

When an assigned servant woman is married, the consent of her master
or mistress is first to be obtained. The form of proclaiming the bans in
church is also, in such matches, adhered to. They are in every way
more respectable, as the parties know each other some weeks at least.
In such matches, the husband has also the right of turning his wife into
the factory again; but in all cases he is bound to take her out when her
term of punishment has expired. If he does not, her board is generally
charged to him.

Of a female convict ship I have spoken from observation. The ships
used for the transportation of males are managed in like manner, except
the additional urecautions necessary for restraining men. The usual
number of fem.i s conveyed in one ship is about ninety. Male convicts
are usually ironed, or a majority of them, on the passage. At night a

556

CONVICT LIFE IN ATTSTRALU.

strong Rrntinf,' ncpnrnlt s cmli Itcrtli from llin router of the hold, and a
^'iiiirtl (if uhout thirty iimmi arc alwiiys dii duly. I b(.-lit'vu the only iiistmiDi
on rucord of lint raiiturc of ti I'oiiviil ftliip, \i> lliat of tho Junt! Slioro.
'I'h.'it vi'SMid ciirriiMl ffiii ilr ('onvi('l,i wlio in!iti;riit(>d tlntHuiltirrt to t'lm' upon
lilt) olliciirs. Till y took tlic v( h-i^I into Monti! Vidi'o, hut tho ii.snal fiit(; of
mutineers iiiid runawiiy.s overlook tliein tlK!r(\ In a<Milion to the Hccurity
alforiied hy tin; pre.x iicc o\' soldiers and other preciiutions, on hoard a
male convii-.t ship, tht; appoinliiieni of huatswuinii,orcaptaia!i, to each mess,
fioin ainon^ the convicts, i.s u fiirtiier assiirauce of safety. The JualoUHy
thus created prevents conc(,-rt uniun;i{ the prisoners; the performance of
ills duty makes the convict oHumt unpopular, and the cr(!atioa of such u
state of feud he^'ets a jenlousy which renders him vi{{ilajit. Tlio food
ullo\v(!d till! prisoners is ^ood and ahundant; lime juice, vinc^rar, and three
or four gills of Spanish wine per week, arc allowed for the prevention
of scurvy. Under good ollicers, amusements are permitted a.') preventives
ofdiseusi!; sometimes private theatricals, ami more frequently dancing.
The convicts upon landing are marched to the prisoners^ barracks.
There, such as are not immediately assigned to answer applications for
servants or laborers, don the livery — u Paramatta suit, adorned with the
initials "P. B." and the broad arrow.

Tiie prisoners in direct custody of the government are employed about
trades, if they are fortunate enough to have them, if not, in road gangs,
und in breaking stone. Saturday is allowed to each prisoner to keep his
person und clothing in order, and to earn money for himself, if ho chooses
to labor. Upon this day the weekly rations arc served out; articles whicli
bear keeping, sulliciout for the next week, and tickets to obtain butcher^
meat und other perisliable necessaries, at the stores of the contractors.
At Wellington Valley, about a hundred and HOy miles from Sydney, is a
station to which are sent convicts from tlie better classes of society; well
educated men, convicted of such offenses as forgery, genteel swindling,
or a single departure from rectitude, sullicicnt, indeed, to transport them,
but not to sink them to a level with the representatives of St. Giles and
Ratclitfo High Way. They arc employed in agriculture, till such time
as they have given evidence of reformation, or proof of the fact that the
crime for which they were transported was an exception to their habitual
mode of life. As opportunities offer, they arc placed at the head of
schools, und employed as clerks in the government offices. Thus are
tliose who are supposed to possess some self-respect, allowed, as far as
is compatible with punishment, to retain it; instead of being degraded to
the standing of those who are known to bo utterly vile. Appointment to
schools, or secretaryships, makes them, in a manner, their own masters,
and is a reposal of confidence which appeals to, while it nourishes their
self-respect. Should one, however, despite these favorable circumstances,
transgress by inebriation, thcil,or other crime, all the respect at first paid
to their circumstances is forfeited. They are more rigorously punished
than common convicts, as they arc supposed to sin against superior light
and knowledge. Of the low rogues transgression is expected, and they
are treated as if constant oversight and rigorous discipline was necessary
as a thing of course; lighter peccadillos being winked at. The favored
prisoners who abuse the privileges extended to them are punished for
ingratitude, as well as the bare mfraction of the law. They get longer
sentences to the treadmill, to the iron-gang, and to the penal settlements,
than more ignoble offenders, while their previous habits of life render
any sentence to severe labor a double punishment. Labor on the road.

Hl'NTINd UirsHUANdERS.

r)67

the hold, and a

th(! only iimtanco

tilt! Juiii! Slu)rr'.

lilort* to ri.sc ii|)ou

till! iisuiil I'liti. of

onto the Hiictirity

lionH, on hoard u

inn, to (!ai'h nicss,

The jualouHy

pcrrornmnco of

nation of hucIi u

iliuit. The food

inn^ar, and three

the prevention

ted ao preventives

LMfuently dancing.

soncrs' barracks.

ir applications for

adorned with the

employed about
ot, in road gau^s,
isoner to keep liis
self, if he chooses
nt; articles whidi

obtain butcher's
f the contractors,
from Sydney, is a
s of society; well

genteel swindling,
to transport thcni,
!s of St. Giles and
jre, till snch time
f the fact that the
n to their habitual
id at the head of
ifficcs. Thus are
allowed, as far as
being degraded to
. Appointment to
their own masters,
! it nourishes their
ble circumstances,
cspect at iirst paid
gorously punished
inst superior light
expected, and they
line was necessary

1 at. The favored
I are punished for

They get longer
penal settlements,
bits of life render
■abor on the road.

which to a common convict ifl rouNideri'd no extra puniHhmcnt, in hucIi to
them. No system ofliiiman iiivrntion is witlioiit its deftcts. 'V\w n-iidi-r
will perceive that to carry out all (Ik- iiiacliinery of tiie colony, and llie
discipline of [irisoiiers, a very larye iiutnl)er of Hub-overseers are necessary

Wiierever llie expi rimi nt has been tried, it has been fiiund that pr«»-
rnoted liondsmen make cruel task itiasters. The tyranny of tlii'se sub-
njjeiits «)t' power overdoes the pur|)oses of punishment, rontlerin;,' men
de.^perali', and driving' them to attempt elopement, or, in the country phrase,
to "take to the bush." The first steps in an escape are by no means
diflicult, f.'xcept to members of a chain-gang; as tiiese, in addition to their
irons, are watched by soldiers. Goaded by the arrogance and cruelty of
their ovisrseors, two or three prisoners, or more, concert an escape.
There are constables' lodges outside the town, which the fugitives avoid
by avoiding the highroad. This first dilRcully surmourted,the rimaways
meet at an appointed rendezvous, and the first move is burglary. Tliey
surprise the house of some settler, or stock-keept-r, and plunder it of such
movables as can be most conveniently carried off; always taking care, if
possible;, to seize firearms. When armed, iiie f'ugilivfs organize themsilves
with others who have preceded, or who follow them to the bush, into
banditti, robbing tlie market carts for food, and finding the little shelter
which the climate renders necessary in cav<'s and bark huts, like the
natives. Some probably have method and wisdom enough to betake
themselves into unfrequented parts of the interior, where they make
clearings, build more substantial houses, and till the earth, upon which
very little labor is necessary to produce sulFicicnt for subsi.stence, and
remain undiscovered.

To return to the more usual fate of fugitives: in order to secure their
apprehension, it is a standing rule thai the apprehension, or the giving
of information which shall load to the apprehension, of four runaways,
entitles a soven years convict to a ticket of leave; six entitles a fourteen
years'; and eight, a life transport to the same r«!ward. In some cases a
handbill is issued, offering a ticket of leave, or a gratuity in money, to
liio person who shall bring in a notorious highwayman, burglar, or mur-
derer, dead or alive. The reward is of course adapted to the situation
of the person who apprehends the culprit, as a licket of leave could not
be given a free man. Sometimes a free pardon and pnasage to England
is held out as an inducement.

Trusty natives are created "bush constables." These are about the
only blacks who have guns and ammunition. The majority of the /i.i'ives
are incapable of using them, and as they have no articles to offer in traffic,
they could not obtain arms if they wished. The guns of the black consta-
bles are given them by government, and they wear a brass plate, on which
is inscribed the name of the wearer, the tribe he belongs to, and the cer-
tificate of his office. These fellows pretended to follow a man by the
scent, like a dog, and I have known several circumstances which would
seem to prove their possession of some such faculty. The capture of a
prisoner, and the surrender of him at the barracks, creates the black
captor a bush constable, and he is presented his musket and brass plate.
They get also a gratuity of some sort for each prisoner surrendered.
Still another method of arresting runaways is, to disguise soldiers, and
send them, in such squads as not to alarm suspicion, into the interior. It
is however dangerous service. Bushrangers who have plundered a house,
or a market cart, are burglars, or highway robbers, and of course liable,
upon conviction, to death. Murder of their pursuers can subject them to

(•|l

558

CONVICT LIFE IN AUSTRALIA.

no worse puniahniont, iind may procure their escape. The sale or gifl
of arms or aininiiiiitioii to a budliiiinifcr is puiii.shuble by tranHportatiuii tu
a peuiii si'ttlciiHMit, or ollu^r iieuvy pt'iiaity; yctllio I'uyilivos provide theni-
sflvcri in soiiu! way will arms, and encounters with tlieni are by no means
trifles, after they have been absent lonjj enoUHJi to become desperate.
Tiie dead bodies of fuj^itivcs wiio fail in defending tliemselves are fre-
((uently l)rouglit into Sydnciy to be identified. Wliere a prisoner is letaken,
if no robbery or murder is proved against him upon trial, and no attempt
at forcible escape by the use of deadly weapons, he gets a s jntence to a
penal settlement, for the crime of running away. Afler this sentence is
completed, he is returned to the barracks, on his original sentence, and
serves out tiiat; the time spent in the woods and in the penal settlement
counting him nothing. If he has resisted the soldiers, or officers, with
weapons, or if he bo proved to have committed burglary, or highway
robbery, he is hung.

A "ticket of leave," is a conditional pardon, granted to convicts afler
a series of years of good behavior in the colony. Those sentenced origi-
nally for seven years, if convicted of no crime in New Holland, receive
a ticket of leave at the end of three years; fourteen years' transports at
the end of six; and lifers at the end of eight or ten. Sometimes these
tickets give the possessor the liberty of the whole continent, but more
generally, only particular towns or districts. Unconditional pardon, or
emancipation, seldom precedes the expiration of the sentence. "Ticket
of leave" men are permitted to employ their time as they please, and are
exempted from the spotted livery, as also are assigned servants. A
"ticket of exemption" may be obtained by a male convict afler two years
of good behavior. This allows the receiver, if a barrack prisoner, to live
out of the barracks with his wife. No extra ration is allowed him for her
support, but only four days in the week are required of him for labor,
tlie day extra being supposed, with his wife's industry, sufficient for her
support. In the discipline and punishment of convicts, the intervention
of a magistrate is always customary. Complaint must be preferred to the
police authorities, particularly in the case of assign'ad servants. One
magistrate may inflict fitly lashes; a bench of two or more punish at
discretion, by lashes, or the stocks, or the treadmill. Crimes of character
meriting severer penalties, go before the higher court, at the quarter
sessions, for final trial and sentence.

For the offenses which come before the quarter sessions, the convicta
are sentenced to iron-gangs, to penal settlements, and to death. "Penal
settlements," to which frequent allusion has been made, are the places
to which criminals are sent afler conviction, before a colonial court, of
oflfenses which degrade them even below the Botany Bay standard. The
life-sentenced double convicts are usually sent to Not folk Island. This
island has no harbor, and the residents upon it are allowed no communi-
cation with the world, except such as is afforded by the arrival of new
exiles. A strong guard prevents the landing of boats from any vessel,
except those of the government. Prisoners sent here are, with few ex-
ceptions, sentenced to a perpetual and irremediable exile from the world;
tickets of leave and other indulgences are unknown, and I verily believe
that many of the prisoners brought io Sydney from penal settlements for
trial, commit crime to obtain that deliverance which is only reached by
the gallows. The employment of the prisoners at penal settlements
is calculated exclusively for punishment. Most of the malea labor with
irons on their legs. Indeed, the discipline of iron-gangs and of settlers

MUTINY OFF NORFOLK ISLAND.

559

;. The sale or gift
by transportation to
;itivos provide them-
icia lire by no means
become desperate,
themselves are fre-
i prisoner is lotaken,
rial, and no attempt
gets a s ;ntence to a
fter this sentence is
iginal sentence, and
he penal settlement
ers, or officers, with
irglary, or highway

ted to convicts after
ose sentenced origi-
ew Holland, receive

years' transports at
. Sometimes these
continent, but more
nditional pardon, or
sentence. "Ticket

they please, and are
iigned servants. A
iivict after two years
ack prisoner, to live
allowed him for her
3d of him for labor,
;ry, sufficient for her
cts, the intervention
St be preferred to the
ned servants. One

or more punish at

Crimes of character
ourt, at the quarter

essions, the convicta
id to death. "Penal
nade, are the places
I a colonial court, of
Bay standard. The
oifolk Island. This
Lllowed no communi-
y the arrival of new
tats from any vessel,
re are, with few ex-
exile from the world;
, and I verily believe
penal settlements for
1 is only reached by
it penal settlements
the maled labor with
gangs and of settlers

at penal stations difters only in name, and in the duration of the punishment.
Impatient of control, and roRartllnss of all cons.uiuoncos, they oi.ii(;rly
seize upon every opportunity of makinrr tlioir csciipe— with what latul
consociucncos let the followinir narrative, written by a gentleman tor some
time resident in Norfolk Island, bear witness: the whole may be relied
upon as a true relation of facts. . ,• , ,

"On the northern side of Norfolk Island the clifls rise higii, and are
crowned by woods, in which tiic elegant whitcwood and gigantic pine
predominate. A slight indentation of the land affords a somewhat sheltered
anchorage ground, and an opening in the clills has supplied a way to tiie
beach by a winding road at the foot of the dividing lulls. A stream ot
water, collected from many ravines, finds its way by a similar opouin« to
a ledge of rock in the neighborhood, and, falling over in teatliery spray,
has given the name of Cascade to this part of the island. ( Mf thus bay, on
the morning of the 21st of June 1 842, tlie brig Governor Philip was sailing,
having brought stores for the use of tiie penal establishmcjnt. It was one
of those bright mornings which this heinispiiere alone knows, when the
air is so elastic that its buoyancy is irresistibly communicated to the spirits.
At the foot of the clift', near a group of huge fragments ot rock fallen
from the overhanging clifls, a prisoner was sitting close to 'he sea, pre-
paring food for his companions, who had goneolf to the brig the previous
eveniua with ballast, and who were expected to return at daylight with a
load of stores. The surface of the sea was smooth, and the brig slowly
moved on upon its soft blue waters. Everything was calm and still, when
suddenly a sharp but distant sound as of a gun was heard. 1 he man,
who was stooping over the fire, started on his feet, and looked above and
around him, unable to distinguish the quarter from whence the report
came Almost immediately he heard the sound repeated, and then dis-
tinctly perceived smoke curling from the vessel's side. His fears were
at once excited. Again he listened; but all was hushed, and the brig still
stood steadily in toward the shore. Nearer and nearer she approached;
until, alarmed for her safety, the man ran to summon the nearest officer.
By the time they returned, the vessel had wore, and was standing ofl from
tlie land; but while they remaine 1 in anxious speculation as to the cause
of all this, the firing was renewed an board, and it was evident that some
deadly fray was going on. At length a boat was seen to put off from the
brig, and upon its reaching the shore, the worst fears of the party were
realized. The misguided prisoners on board had attempted to seize the
vessel They were but twelve in number, unarmed, and guarded by
twelve soldiers and a crew of eighteen men; yet they had succeeded in
gaining possession of the vessel, had held it for a time, but had been
finally overpowered, and immediate help was required for the wounded

and dying. , .

June 21 1842 My duty as a clergyman called me to the scene ot

blood When I arrived on the deck of the brig, it exhibited a frightful
spectacle One man, whose head was blown to atoms, was lying near
the forecastle. Close by his side a body was stretched, the face of which
was covered by a cloth, as if a sight too ghastly to be looked upon; for
the upper half of the head had been blown off. Not far from these, a
man badly wounded was lying on the deck, with others securely handcuHed
Forward, by the companion-hatch, one of the mutineers was placed,
bleeding most profusely from a wound which had shattered his thigh; yet
his look was more dreadful than all— hate, passion, and disappointed rage
rioted in his breast, and were deeply marked in his countenance. 1

560

CONVICT LIFE IN AUSTRALIA.

turned away from the wretched man, and my eye shrunk from the sight
which again met it. Lying on his back in a pool of blood, the muscular
frame of a man whom I well knew was stretched, horribly mutilated. A
ball had entered his mouth, and passing through his skull, had scattered
his brains around. My heart sickened at the extent of carnage, and I was
almost sinking with the faintness it produced, when I was roused by a
groan so full of anguish and pain, that for a long time afterward its echo
seemed to reach me. I found that it came from a man lying farther for-
ward, on whose face the death-dew was standing, yet I could perceive
no wound. Upon questioning him, he moved his hand from his breast,
and I then perceived that a ball had pierced his chest, and could distinctly
hear the air rushing from his lungs through the orifice it had left. I tore
away the shirt, and endeavored to hold together the edges of the \yound
until it was bandaged. I spoke to him of prayer, but he soon grew insen-
sible, and within a short time died in frightful agony. In every part of
the vessel evidences of the attempt which had ended so fatally presented
themselves; and the passions of the combatants were still warm. After
attending those who required immediate assistance, I received the follow-
ing account of the affair : —

Xhe prisoners had slept the previous night in a part of the vessel
appropriated for this purpose; but it was without fastening, or other means
of securing them below. Two sentries were, however, placed over the
hatchway. The prisoners occasionally came on deck during the night,
for their launch was towing astern, and the brig was standing off and on
until the morning. Between six and seven o'clock in the morning the
men were called to work. Two of them were up some time before the
rest. They were struck by the air of negligence which was evident on
deck, and instantly communicated the fact to one or two others. The
possibility of capturing the brig had often been discussed by the prisoners,
among their many other wild plans for escaping from the island, and
recently had been often proposed by them. The thought was told by
their looks, and soon spread from man to man. A few moments were
enough; one or two were roused from sleep, and the intention was hur-
riedly communicated to them. It was variously received. One of them
distrusted the leader, and intreated his companions to desist from so mad
an attempt. It was useless; the frenzied thirst for liberty had seized
them, and they were maddened by it. Within a few minutes they were
all on deck; and one of the leaders rushing at the sentry nearest to him,
endeavored to wrest from him his pistols, one of which had flashed in the
pan as he rapidly presented it, and threw him overboard; but he was
subsequently saved. The arms of the other sentry were demanded, and
obtained from him without resistance. A scuflle now took place with two
other soldiers who were also on the deck, but not on duty, during which
one of them jumped over the vessel's side, and remained for sonie time
in the main chains, but upon the launch being brought along side, he
went down into it. The other endeavored to swim ashore (for by this
time the vessel was within a gun-shot of the rocks;) but, encumbered by
his great-coat, he was seen, when within a few strokes of the rock, to
raise his hands, and uttering a faint cry to Heaven for mercy he instantly
sunk. In the meanwhile, the sergeant in charge of the guard hearing
the scuffling overhead, ran upon deck, and seeing some of the mutineers
struggling with the sentry, shot the nearest of them dead on the spot.
He had no sooner done so than he received a blow on the hf ad, which
rendered him for some time insensible. Little or no resistance was

■I

ink from the sight
lood, the muscular
ibly mutilated. A
kull, had scattered
carnage, and I was
I was roused by a
afterward its echo
1 lyinp farther for-
it I could perceive
id from his breast,
uid could distinctly
it had left. I tore
dges of the wound
le soon grew insen-
In every part of
io fatally presented
still warm. After
eceived the follow-
part of the vessel
ling, or other means
er, placed over the
I during the night,
standing off and on
in the morning the
me time before the
ich was evident on
■ two others. The
ed bythe prisoners,
om the island, and
lought was told by
few moments were
I intention was hur-
ived. One of them
i desist from so mad
liberty had seized
minutes they were
ntry nearest to him,
;h had flashed in the
rboard; but he was
trere demanded, and
took place with two
I duty, during which
ained for some time
tught along side, he
ashore (for by this
but, encumbered by
kes of the rock, to
r mercy he instantly
f the guard hearing
me of the mutineers
i dead on the spot,
on the hf ad, whicli
r no resistance was

DEFEAT OF THE MUTINEERS.

561

oTfVPd by the sailors; they run into the forecastle, and the vns.sol wa.M in
fli«' hands of the mutineers. All the hatches were instantly fastened
down, and every availaWo thing at hand piled upon them. But now,
having .secured their opponents, the mutineers were unable to work the
briij; they therefore summoned two of the sailors from below, and placed
ono of them at the wheel, while the otiicr was directed to assist in getting
the vessel oil". The coxswain, a free man in charge of tiie prisoners, had
the first onset taken to the rigging, and remained in the maintop with one
of the men who refused to join in the attack. At this moment a soldier
who had gone overboard, and endeavored to reach the shore, had turned
hack, and was seen swimming near the vessel. Woolfe, one of the con-
victs, immediately jumped into the boat along side, and saved him. While
this was the state of things above, the soldiers had forced tlieir way into
the captain's cabin, and continued to fire through the gratings overhead
as often as any of the mutineers passed. In this manner several of them
received wounds. To prevent a continuance of this, a kettle of hot water
was poured from above, and shortly afterward a proposal was made to the
captain from the prisoners to leave the vessel in the launch, provided he
iianded up to them the necessary supplies. This he refused, and then
all the sailors were ordered from below into the launch, with the intention
of sending them ashore. Continuing to watch for the ringleaders, the
captain caught a glimpse of one them standing aft, and, as he supposed,
out of the reach, lie mounted the cabin table, and almost at a venture
fired through the woodwork in the direction he supposed the man to be
standing. The shot was fatal; the ball struck him in the mouth, and
passed through his brain. Terrified at the death of their comrades, the
remainder were panic-struck, and instantly ran below. One of the leaders
sprung over the taffrail, and eventually reached the launch. The sailor
at the wheel, now seeing the deck almost cleared, beckoned up the cap-
tain, and without an effort the vessel was again in their possession. In
tiie confusion, a soldier who had been in the boat, and was at this moment
with the sailors returning on deck, was mistaken for one of the mutineers,
and shot by the sergeant. The prisoners were now summoned from their
place of concealment. They begged hard for mercy; and upon condition
of their quietly surrendering, it was promised tothem. As the first of them
in reliance upon this assurance, was gaining the deck, by some unhappy
error he received a ball in his thigh, and fell back again. The rest
refused to stir; but after a few moment's hesitation, another of them
ventured up, was taken aft by the captain, and secured. A third followed,
and as he came up, he extended his arms, and cried, 'I surrender; spare
me.' Either this motion was mistaken by the soldiers, or some of them
were unable to restrain their passion, for at this instant the man's head
was literally blown off. The captain hastened to the spot and received
tlie others, who were secured without further injury.

When wo reached the vessel, the dying, dead, and wounded were lying
in every direction. In the launch astern, we saw the body of one wretched
man who had leaped over the taffrail, and reached the boat badly wounded;
he was seen lying in it when the deck was regained, and was then pierced
through with many balls. Nothing could be more horrible than his ap-
pearance; the distortion of every feature, his clenched hands, and the
limbs which had stiffened in the forms of agony into which pain had twisted
them, were appalling. The countenance of every man on board bore
evidence of the nature of the deadly conflict in which he had been engaged.
In some, suUenness had succeeded to reckless daring, and exultation to-
36

562

CONVICT LIFE IN AUSTRALIA.

alarm in others. Nothing could have been more desperate than such a

attempt to seize the vessel. The most culpable neglect could alone have

encrragcdTand it is .lifficult to conceive how it could have succeeded

t .ho,„. Aw.y from ho™ .nd -S^^t^t/Stu'^a'Sm^;

dciSfcollMnoI help'thinkingth.. the, fell ., lea,s from he.v.n

"•S„'l'h?;,S.LlfiXg?e?Sre«,,one., ■ ';«-?*' *"' "VS
un me inoriiuig i" » , ™, u ^g small, but clean and light.

len and '^^ d'3spa.r. Lew.s who was 8^,^^.^^. ^jj^i^ g,„,

eel, seoined to glory m tne raiue oi j heav ly

All the P"--f ' --P^ «Yjy ^:^ I t^g but Lst solemn^ denied
participation m the attempt to seize ine r g, ^^

any knowledge of a preconcerted plan ^° ^'^J^^^'J^.^^^^^ to

hai attempted to th-- .^t5t\he\XresrLne?7gaTnst sLe of tLir

be interrupted, and mveighed '"jj^f^'^J^'^^lTrS^d thtm; or, at least, had
companions who had, they seemed to think, betrayed m^^^^ , ^^^^^ ^^

led them on, and at the «>o"™e"t "^ & Nkhls Lewis, Henry Sears,
the surviving mutineers were John Jonc^,™ ^^^^.^^ ^

George Beavers, James ^oolfe, Thomas wno^ian^ ^^^^^^

The depositions against ihem having beei^akena^^^ ^^^^^^^^

mentioned, with the exception of Jones ajd W W^ ^,^^^ ^,t,„,i,„.
^ere brought out to hear them J^/^^ J^J ',d Once only during the
l,ut none of them '^PP.«"^'* ,^° I'^ .'"ri? fXtements made by one of the
■reading. Beavers passionately 4f°'«ffl.*^^^V^^^^^^^ countenance

witnesses present, and was ^f^ difficulty sj^^^^^^^

at that moment was terribly '^g^^^J' JJ^J^ i^^^^^^^ and, with

perate than such an
ct could alone have
lid have succeeded,
se in charge of her
ly landed, and con-
rd brought on shore,
irf rolls in(arnfully

and solemn silence,
the graves prepared
found a fearful ter-
1 still bound them to
r their return, and,

Ihem, and forgiven
jthers were praying
.d still fondly loved,
frain at that moment
3 tears from heaven

itedthe jail in which
but clean and light.
IS Lewis, and Henry
;ell, and looking sul-
scanty space of the
ns; while Sears was
ey were all heavily
n to prevent escape.
It was once a public
I its present purpose,
s little calculated to
onduct was the snli-
hy whom any attc'inpt
3 other cell I I'ouiul
old wound in the \v^,
irons which galled it.
r acknowledged their
nost solemnly denied
or that they, at least,
\ey were unwilling to
: against some of their
them; or, at least, had
;hed. The names of

Lewis, Henry Sears,
1, and Patrick Barry.
n, all the men 1 have
1, who were wounded,
i with calm attention.
Once only during the
ts made by one of the
sd. His countenance
iling seemed to minjile
g, powerful, and, with

From the jail I pro-
irere lying. They had
were in great agony.

'™li

INTERESTING STORY OF A CONVICT.

The violence of Jones was excessive. Weakened in some degree by an
immense loss of blood, the bitterness of his spirit, nevertheless, exhibited
itself in passionate bursts of impatience. He was occasionally convulsed
with excessive pain; for the nerves of the thigh had been much hicorated,
and the bone terribly shattered. Hifl features were distorted with pain
and anger, and occasionally bitter curses broke from his lips; yet there
was sometiiing about his appearance which powerfully arrested my atten-
tion — an evident marking of intellect and character, repulsive in its present
development, yet in many respects remarkable. His iiistory had been a
melancholy one, and, as illustrative of many thousand others, I give it as
I aflerward received it from his lips.

At eleven years of age he was employed in a warehouse in Liverpool
as an errand-boy. While following this occupation, from which by good
conduct he might have risen to something better, he was met in the street
one day by tiie lad whom he had succeeded in this employment, and was
told by him how he might obtain money by robbing the warehouse, and
then go with him to the theater. He accordingly took an opportunity of
stealing some articles wiiich had been pointed out, and gave them to his
companion, who, in disposing of them, was detected, and of course crimi-
nated Jones. After remaining some weeks in jail, Jones was tried and
acquitted ; but his character being now gone, he became reckless, and
commenced a regular career of depredation. In attempting another
warehouse robbery, he was detected, and sentenced to twelve months'
imprisonment. By the time he was released from this, he was well tutored
in crime, and believed that he could now adroitly perform the same rob-
bery in which he iiad previously failed. He made the attempt the very
niglit of his release from jail, and with temporary success. Subsequently,
however, he was detected, and received sentence of transportation for
seven years. He underwent this sentence, and an additional one in Van
Diemen's Land, chiefly at Port Arthur, the most severe of the penal
stations there. From this place he, with Lewis, Moss, (who was shot on
board the brig,) and Woolfe, having seized a whale-boat, effected their
escape. During three months they underwent the most extreme hardships
from hunger and exposure. Once they had been without food for several
days, and their last hook was over the boat's side; they were anxiously
watching for a fish. A small blue shark took the bait, and in despair one
of them dashed over the boat's side to seize the fish; his leg was caught
by one of the others, and they succeeded in saving both man and hook.
They eventually reached Twofold Bay, on the coast of New South Wales,
and were then apprehended, conveyed to Sydney, and thence sent back
to Van Diemen's Land; tried, and received sentence of death; but this
was subsequently commuted to transportation for life to Norfolk Island.
Jones often described to me the intense misery he had undergone during
his career. He had never known what freedom was, and yet incessantly
longed for it. All alike confessed the unhappiness of their career.
Having made the first false step into crime, they acknowledged that their
minds became polluted by the associations they formed during imprison-
ment. Then they were further demoralized by thinking of the glory —
such miserable glory! — attending a trial; and the hulks and the voyage
out gave them a finished criminal training. The extent of punishment
many of them have undergone during the period of transportation is almost
incredible. I have known men whose original sentence of seven years
has been extended over three times that period, and who, in addition to
other punishment, have received five thousand or six tliou.^und lashes.

^>64

(X)NVIOT LIFE IN AUSTRALIA.

AAormany solemn interviews with the iniitincers, I found thoin arndually
softcninp. Thoy became more communicntivo, and extremely iinxioiiH
to receive instruction. I think I shall never forget one of the earjiost of
these visits to them. I first saw Scars, Beavers, and Jones. After a long
and interesting conversation with tliem, wo joined in that touching con-
fession of sin with which the liturgy of the Church of England commom^eH.
As wo knelt together, I heard them repeat with great enrnestnes.-, — 'Wc;
have erred and strayed from Thy ways like lost sheep,' etc. When we
arose, I perceived that each of them had been shedding tears. It was
the first time I had seen them betray any such emotion, and I cannot tell
how glad I feh; but when I proceeded afterward to read to them the first
chapter of Isaiah, I had scarcely uttered that most exquisite passage in
the second verse— 'I have nourished and brought up children, and they
have rebelled against me'— when the claims of God, and their violation
and rejection of them; His forbearance, and their ingratitude, appeared
to overwhelm them; they sobbed aloud, and were thoroughly overpowered.
For a considerable time we talked together of the past ; the wretched
years they had endured; the punishments, and the crimes which had led
to them ; until they seemed to feel most keenly the folly of their sad
career. We passed on to contrast the manner in which their lives had
been spent, with what God and society required from them; their miserable
perversion of God's gifts, with the design for which He gave them, until
we were led on to speak of hope and of faith; of Ilim who 'willeth not
tlie death of a sinner, but rather that he should turn from his wickedness
and live;' and then the Saviour's remonstrance seemed to arrest them—
'Ye will not come to me that ye might have life;' until at length the
influences of the Holy Spirit were supplicated with earnestness and
solemnity. These instructions, and such conversation, were daily repeated;
and henceforth each time 1 saw them I perceived a gradual but distinct
unfolding of the affections and the understanding.

August. The wounded men are much recovered, and the whole of the

mutineers are now confined together in a large war^ of the jail. They
have lon<T received extreme kindness from the commandant, and are
literally bewildered at finding that even this last act has not diminished
the exercise of his benevolence. That anybody should care for them, or
take such pains about them, afler their violent conduct, excited surprise—
at first almost amounting to suspicion; but this at length gave place to the
warmest gratitude. They were, in facv,, subdued by it. They read very
much, are extremely submissive, and carefully avoid the slightest infringe-
ment of the prison regulations. At first, all this was confined to the three
men I have mentioned; but their steady consistency of conduct, and the
strange transformation of character so evident in them, gradually arrested
the attention of the others, and eventually led to a similar result.

They will be detained here until the case has been decided by the
authorities in Sydney. They will probably be tried by a commission sent
from thence to the island for the purpose. Formerly, however, prisoners
charged with capital offenses here were sent up for trial; but (it is a
horrible fact) this was found to lead to so much crime, that, at much
inconvenience and expense, it was found absolutely necessary to send
down a judicial commission on each important occasion, in order to
prevent it. The mere excitement of a voyage, with the chances connected
with it, nay, merely a wish to get off the island even for a time, led many
men to commit crimes of the deepest dye in order to be sent to Sydney
for trial.

SEAR'S STORY OP HIMSELF.

565

id thoin nrndually
jxtreinely nnxioiiH
of tlio «!arlioat of
ncs. Aftf-r a long
hat toucliiiij,' con-
glnnd cominonccH.
cnrncstn«'Sn — 'Wc
{),' etc. WhcMi we
ing tears. It was
, nnd I cannot tcU
d to tliem the first
quisitc passage in
children, and they
and their violation
[ratitiide, appeared
ighly overpowered,
past ; the wretched
Ties whicii had led

folly of their sad
ich their lives had
am; their miserable
Ic gave them, until
n who 'willeth not
om his wickedness
;d to arrest them —

until at length the
\\ earnestness and
i^ere daily repeated;
radual but distinct

nd the whole of the
of the jail. They
nmandant, and are
has not diminished
Id care for them, or
, excited surprise —
th gave place to the
it. They read very
le slightest infringe-
onfined to the three
of conduct, and the
I, gradually arrested
nilar result,
jen decided by the
y a commission sent
, however, prisoners
Br trial; but (it is a
;rime, that, at much
f necessary to send
:casion, in order to
e chances connected
for a time, led many
be sent to Sydney

Two months, therefore, at least, must intervene between tho perpetration
of the oH'onsc and their trial; and this interval is usually employed in
similar cases in arranging a defense but too commonly supported by per-
jury. In the present instance, I found not the slightest attempt to follow
such a course. They declare that they expect death, and will gladly
welcome it. Of their life, which has been a course of almost constant
warfare with society, ending in remorseful feelings, they are all thoroughly
weary, although only one of them exceeds thirty years of age.

In addition to the ordinary services. Captain Maconochie each Sunday
afternoon has read prayers to them, and has given permission to a few
of their friends to be present. Singular good has resulted from it, both
to the men and those who join in their devotions. At the conclusion of
one of these services Sears stood up, and with his heart so full as scarcely
to allow him utterance, to the surprise of every person there, ho addressed
most impressively the men who were present. 'Perhaps,' said he, 'the words
of one of yourselves, unhappily circumstanced as I am, may have some
weight with you. You all know the life I have led; it has, believe me,
been a most unhappy one; and I have, I liope not too lute, discovered the
the cause of this. I solemnly tell you that is because I have broken God's
laws. I am almost ashamed to speak, but I dare not be silent. I am
going to tell you a strange thing, [never before was happy; I begin now,
for the first time in my life, to hope. I am an ignorant man, or at least I
was so; but I thank God I begin to see things in their rigiit light now.
I have been unhappily placed from my childhood, and have endured many
liardships. I do not mention this to excuse my errors; yet if I had years
since received the kindness I have done here, it might have been otiierwise.
My poor follows, do turn over a now leaf ; try to serve God, and you,
too, will bo happier for it.' The efl'cct was most thrilling; there was a
death-like silence; tears rolled down many cheeks, which I verily believe
never before felt them; and without a word more, all slowly withdrew.

This man's story is also a common, but painful one. At fifteen years
of age he was transported for life as au accomplice in an assault and
alleged robbery, of which, from circumstances wiiich have since transpired,
I have little doubt he was entirely innocent. During a long imprisonment
in- Horsham jail, he received an initiation in crime, wiiich was finished
during the outward voyage. Upon his arrival in New South Wales, he
was assigned to a settler in the interior, a notoriously hard and severe
man, who gave him but a scanty supply of food and clothing, and whose
aim seemed to be to take the utmost out of him at the least possible ex-
pense. Driven at length to desperation, he, with three fellow-servants,
absconded; and when taken, made a complaint to the magistrate before
whom they were brought almost without clothes. Their statements were
found to be literally correct; but for absconding they were sent to New-
castle, one of the penal stations of New South Wales, where Sears remained
nearly two years. At the expiration of that time he was again assigned,
but unfortunately to a man, if possible, worse than his former employer,
and again absconded. For this oifense he was sent to Moreton Bay,
another penal settlement, and endured three years of horrible severity,
starvation, and misery of every kind. His temper was by this time much
soured; and, roused by the conduct of the overseers, he became brutalised
by constant punishment for resisting them. After this he was sent to
Sydney, as one of the crew in the police-boat, of which he was soon made
assistant coxswain. For not reporting a theft committed by one of the
men under his charge, he was sentenced to a road party; and attempting

lAi.-;

Ill

n
m

111

500

CONVICT LIFE IN AUSTRALIA.

to escape from it, he wa« apprehended, and again ordered to Morolon
Bay for four years more. There ho waa again repeatedly flop>,'<d for
disobedience and resistance of overseers, as well as attempting to escape;
but hiiving <08t courageously rendered assistance to u vessel wrecked
olf the harbor, he attracted the attention of the commandant, who after-
ward showed him a little favor. This was the first approacli to kindness
lie had know since, when years before, he had left his home; amJ it haij
its usual influence. He never was again in a scrape there. His goo<l
conduct induced the commandant to recommend him for :•. mitigation
of sentence, which he received, and he was again employed in the police-
boat. The free coxswain of the boat was, however, n dnftikurd, and
intrusted much to Sears. Oftentimes he roused the men by his violence,
but Sears contrived to subdue his passion. At length, one night returning
to the hut drunk, the man struck at one of crew with his cutlass, and the
rest resisted and disarmed him. But the morning came; the case was
heard; their story was disbelieved; and upon the charge and evidence
of the aggressor, they were sent to an ironed gang, to work on the public
roads. When Sears again became eligible for assignment, a person whom
he had known in Sydney applied for him. The man must be removed
within a fixed period after the authority is given. In this case, application
was made a day beyond the prescribed time, and churlishly refused.
The disappointment roused a spirit so untutored as his, and once again
he absconded; was of course apprehended, tried, and being found with a
man who had committed robbery, and had a musket in his possession, was
sent to Norfolk Island for life. This sentence has, however, for meritorious
conduct, been reduced to fourteen years; and his ready assistance during
a fire which recently broke out in the military garrison here, might possibly
have helped to obtain a still further reduction. He never, during those
abscondings, was absent for any long period, and never committed any
act of violence. His constant attempt seems to have been to reach Sydney,
in order to aflect his escape from the scene of so much misery.

For some time past I have noticed his quiet and orderly conduct, and
was really sorry when I found him concerned in this unhappy affair. His
desire for freedom was, however, most ardent, and a chance of obtaining
it was almost irresistible. He has since told me that a few words kindly
spoken to himself and others by Captain Maconochie, when they landed,
sounded so pleasantly to him— such are his own words— that he deter-
mined from that moment he would endeavor to do well. He assures me
that he was perfectly unconscious of a design to take the brig, unti awoke
from his sleep a few minutes before the attack commenced; that he then
remonstrated with the men; but finding it useless, he considered it a point
of honor not to fail them. His anxiety for instruction is intense; he listens
like a child; and his gratitude is most touching. He, together with Jones,
Woolfe, and Barry, were chosen bv the commandant as a police-boat s
crew; and had, up to this period, acted with great steadiness and fidelity
in the discharge of the duties required from them. Nor did 1 think they
would, even now, tempting as the occasion was, have thought of seizing
it, had it not been currently reported that they were shortly to be placed
under a system of severity such as they had already suffered so much

from. . „ J 1

Woolfe's story of himself is most affecting. He entered upon evil
courses when very young; was concerned in burglaries when only eleven
years of age. Yet this was from no natural love of crime. Enticed from
his home by boys older than himself, he soon weaned of the life he led,

I* i*--,'-ir«f^';"K'f

TRIAL OF THE MUTINEERS.

567

ored to Mtiretoii

todly flojj^'fd for

iipting to t'Hcapc;

u vortsel wit'tkeil

ndunt, who aller-

roacli to kindnosi*

home; and it had

there. IliH ^oo<l

for ;i mitij^atioii

•ycd in the police-

a dhfnkurd, and

n by his violence,

no night returning

is cutlass, and the

inc; the case was

irg<! and evidence

vork on the public

int, a person whom

must be removed

is case, application

hurlishly refused.

s, and once again

leing found with a

lis possession, was

ver,for meritorious

y assistance during

ere, might possibly

ever, during those

[rer committed any

!n to reach Sydney,

h misery.

dcrly conduct, and
nhappy affair. His
chance of obtaining
a few words kindly
when they landed,
ds — that he deter-
II. He assures me
le brig, until awoke
inced; that he then
;onsidered it a point
! intense; he listens
Qgethcr with Jones,
; as a police-boat's
adiness and fidelity
^OT did I think tiiey
I thought of seizing
ihortly to be placed
suffered so much

entered upon evil
B8 when only eleven
ime. Enticed from
i of the life he led,

mid longed to return to his homo and his kind mother. Of\cntimv9 he
lingered near the street she lived in. Once ho had been very unhappy,
for he had seen his brother and sister that day pass near him, and it had
rekindled all his love for thorn. They appeared happy in their innocence;
lie was miserable in hia crime. Ho now determined to go homo and
pray to be forgiven. Tho evening was dark and wet, and as he entered
tiie court in whicii his friends lived, his heart failed him, and ho turned
back; but, unable to resist the impulse, he again returned, and stole under
the window of the room. A rent in tho narrow curtain enabled him to
sec within. His mother sat by tho tire, and her countenance was so sad
that ho was sure she thought of him; but tho room looked so comfortable,
and the wliole scene was so unlike the place in which ho had lately lived,
that lie could no longer hesitate. He approached the door; the latch was
almost in his hand, when shame and fear, and a thousand other vile and
foolish notions, held him back; and the boy who in another moment might
have been liappy — was lost. Ho turned away, and I believe has never
seen them since. Going on in crime, he, in due course of time, was trans-
{mrtcd for robbery. His term of seven years expired in Van Diemen's
Land. Released from forced servitude, he went a whaling voyage, and
was free nearly two years. Unhappily, he was then charged with aiding
in a robbery, and again received a sentence of transportation. Ho was
sent to Port Arthur, there employed as one of the boat's crew, and crossing
tlie bay one day with a commissariat ofiiccr, tho boat was capsized by a
sudden squall. In attempting to save the life of the officer, he was seized
by his dying grasp, and almost perished with him; but extricating himself,
he swam back to tho boat. Seeing the drowning man exhausted, and
sinking, he dashed forward again, diving after him, and happily succeeded
in saving his life. For this honorable act he would have received a remis-
sion of sentence; but ere it could arrive, he and five others made their
escape. He had engaged with these men in tho plan to seize tho boat,
and althougii sure of tho success of the application in his favor, he
could not now draw back. The result I have already shown. There
were two more men concerned in the mutiny, who, with those I have
mentioned, and those killed on board tho brig, made up the number of
the boat's crew. But neither of these men came under my charge, being
both Roman Catholics.

At length the brig, which had been dispatched with an account of the
affair, returned, and brought the decision of the governor of Now South
Wales. He had found it extremely difficult, almost impossible, to obtain
fitting members for the commission, who would be willing to accept the
terms proposed by the government, or trust themselves in this dreadful
place, and therefore he had determined that the prisoners should be sent
up for trial. The men were sadly disappointed at this arrangement.
They wisiicd much to end their days here, and they dreaded both the
voyage and the distracting effect of new scenes. They cling, too, with
grateful attachment to the commandant's family, and the persons who,
during their long imprisonment, had taken so strong an interest in their
welfare. I determined to accompany them, and watch for their perseve-
rance in well-doing, that I might counsel and strengthen them under the
fearful ordeal I could not doubt they would have to pass. The same
steady consistency marked the conduct of these men to the moment of
thoir embarkation. There was a total absence of all excitement; one
der-p serious feeling appeared to possess them, and its solemnity was
coaiiiiiinicated to all of us. They spoke and acted as men standing on

568

OONVIOT LIFE IN AUSTRALIA.

the confines of tho unsoon world, and who not only thought of its wondcrH,
but, better still, who seemed to have caught something of its spirit and

purity.

November.— The voyage up was a weary, and, to the prisoners, a very
tryiii},' one. In a prison on tho lower deck of u brig of one hundred and
.iighty-two tons, fiRy-two men were confined. The place itself was about
twenty feet scpiure, of course low, and badly ventilated. Tiie men were
all ironed, and fastened to a heavy chain drove through iron rings lot mto
the deck, so that they were unable, for anv purpose, to movo from the
spot they occupied; scarcely, indeed, to lie down. The weather was also
unfavorable. The vessel tossed and pitched most fearfully during a
a» session of violent squalls, accompanied by thunder and lightning.
I cannot describe the wretchedness of these unhappy convicts: sick, and
surrounded by filth, they were huddled together in the most disgusting
manner. The heat was at times unbearable. There were men of sixty-
quiet and inoffensive old men— placed with others wiio were as accom-
plished villains as tho world could produce. These were either proceeding
to Sydney, their sentences on tho island having expired, or as witnesses in
another case, (a bold and wicked murder,) sent there also for trial. The
sailors on board the brig were for tho most part the cowardly fellows who
had so disgracefully allowed the brig to be taken from them; and iho),
as well as the soldiers on guard, (some of them formed a part of the former
one,) had no very kindly feeling toward the mutineers. It may be ima-
gined, therefore, that sucli feelings occasioned no alleviation of Iheir
condition. In trutii, althougii there was no actual crueUy exhibited, they
suffered many oppressive annoyances; yet I never saw more patient
endurance. It was hard to bear, but their better principles prevailed.
Upon the arrival of tho vessel in Sydney, we learned that the case had
excited an unusual interest. Crowds assembled to catch a glimpse of the
men as they landed; and while some applauded their daring, the great
majority very loudly expressed their horror at the crime of which they
stood accused. I do not think it necessary to describe the trial, which
took place in a few days after landing. All were arraigned except Barry.
The prisoner's counsel addressed the jurors with powerful eloquence;
but it was in vain: the crime was substantiated; and the jury returned »
verdict of guilty against all the prisoners, recommending Woolfe to mercy.
During the whole trial, the prisoners' conduct was admirable; so much
so, indeed, as to excite the astonishment of the immense crowd collected
by curiosity to see men who had made so mad an attempt for liberty.
They scarcely spoke, except once to request that the wounded man, who
yet suffered much pain, might be allowed to sit down. Judgment was
deferred until the following day. When they were then placed at the
bar, the judge, in the usual manner, asked whether they had any reason
to urge why sentence should not be pronounced upon them? It was a
moment of deep solemnity; every breath was held; and the eyes of the
whole court were directed toward the dock. Jones spoke in a deep clear
voice, and in a deliberate harangue pointed out some defects m the evi-
dence, though without the slightest hope, he said, of mitigating the sentence
now to bo pronounced on himself and fellows. Three of the others also
spoke. Whelan said, 'that he was not one of the men properly belonging
fo the boat's crew, but had been called upon to fill the place of another
man, and had no knowledge of any intention to take the vessel, and the
part he took on board was forced upon him. He was compelled to act as
he had done; he had used no violence, nor was he in any way a participator

•^•4^fiiiwfMk ' iwm « » -j^ ipi^ -w^ ^-

,.l^.-r^-jO:^'Jub--«-^>->*»;'^«^!=»fi.:J

fht of it* wonders,

[ uf itt) spirit mid

prisoncra, a very
one hundred and
li itHoir was about
Tlic men were
iron rin^'» let into
to move from the
weatlicr waH also
jarfully during a
}r and lightning,
jnvicts: sick, and
! most disgusting
ire men of sixty —
o were as accorn-
either proeeeding
or as witnesses in
so for trial. The
^ardly fellows who
them; and the),
part of the former
. It may be iina-
lleviation of their
Ity exhibited, they
saw more patient
nciples prevailed,
that the case had
:h a glimpse of the
daring, the great
me of which they
the trial, which
ned except Barry,
werful eloquence;
le jury returned a
y Woolfe to mercy.
Imirable; so much
30 crowd collected
ttempt for liberty,
vounded man, who
n. Judgment was
hen placed at the
ey had any reason
n them? It was a
id the eyes of the
oke in a deep clear
defects in the evi-
gating the sentence
! of the others also
properly belonging
e place of another
he vessel, and the
;ompeIled to act as
^ way a participator

*WJMb--.-*^<5f^^«»*-i-»W^ =

■^ ;t«l ' WULH

'• ft- "V n, ,

liinl«r[.'<l a«»rdiii« la Act of Conjren, A. D. UDOOOLr, by U. Oowi, in tk* olerk'i oBet of Um Dlit OonH of th« C. S. for lb* 8. DUt. of Obio,

«hi

TtVV

Wor(lf> canndl iinrold.to view (he t«rrors of a ship on fire, Tar out at sea. When the
flaiiu'F hud );i)l the iniiKlcry on hoard of the Prince, "dejection filled every luind; the
cciiiiitvriiiition tu-caino (general : niithing; but nighr and groans were beard : oven tlie animals on

0^ vivt

•WWCi.

board uttered the most dreadful cries. Every one began to raise bis hand* and heart
towards heaven ; and, in the certainty of a speedy death, each was occupioil only with the
melancholy alternative between the two elements ready to devour them." — Page &T2.

KXKcrTio?; np Tiin jiuTiNKKna.

M'J

in any tl\nt Iiml hern r»)mrnll!' d,' .4f »li'' '•nnrlii'iioii of the Uflilrfss to
ihiMii, .Innrs, titiiid til*' (li"r|) siliMicc of thr •ourt, iironoiincril ii most ciii-
|i|uific pitiyr Cor mo re y on hi!* -i.vn iw)»il andlli..*! i lii>» fcllow-iirixotuT:',
for till! jil'l;,'!' iiikI jury, iillil tiiwilly for <ll<' wilncssr-. SiiiIciut of ili';it''i
w;iH tlicii solemnly proiionii' '' upon lli(rii ull; but tlii- |ii(lu<> inroniiiii
VVooMV' lliat III' iiii;{lit liol<l out to r' iiii (■\pi>('(iilJor>') (liut liis lil'i- wouM In'
"parcil. 'I'lii-y wore tiicii ri'inovod fruin tl»o bar, and t (|l buck lo llio
<;ond(!ti)ii»'d (•«'ll«.

I niriiiot Hoy liow iniicli I drfaded iny ifit/ rvirw with tlicm tli;ii day;
for nilliou;,'li I had rdl iiloti^' ftidcavorod lo prcpari' their rnitids Cor llio
wofHt result, mid Ihey had themselves never Cor a iiiomk lit appeared to
rx|)(:(-t niiy other tlinii iliis. I t'eared that the reaii/.niion oC thiji <ad ex-
pectation would break them down. Hitherto there mi;,'lit Irivc been sonio
secret hope sustaining' them. Tiie convulsive clinj;in;,' to liCe, so cnmnmn
to nil oC us, would now, jierhaps. be more palpably exhibited. Kiiteriiif}
ihrnr cells. I Cound them, as I feared, stunned by the blow which had now
fallen oil lhein,iind almost overpowered by mental and bodily exiiauslion.
A few remarks about the trial were at len;.'lh made by tin in; and tVom
tiiat moment I never heard lliein refer to it a;.'ain. 'I'hern was no bilter-
iK^.Ms of spirit against the witnessps, no expression of hostility toward thu
i!oldii"'s. no eipiivoc.ition in any explanation liiey yave They soleiniilr
denied many of the statements made a;,'ainsl them; but, nevertli(dess. tlie
broail fact remained, that they were ;»uilty of an attempt to violently seize
ihe vessel, and it was useless di^batin;; on minor considerations.

Ill the meantime, without their knowled^re, |)etitions were pri'|iared and
forwarded to the jiid;rcfi, the <;overiior. and executive council. In tlieni
won,' sfati^d various mitifratory facts in their favor; and llu! meliorated
charact(!r «)f the criminal code at iioiiie was also stroii^dy iir^'f^l. Mvcrv
Httention was paid to these addresses, following; each other to tlii; la.<t
moment. But all was in vain. Tlie council s.'it. and determined that five
of tli(! men should be hanged on the following Tuesday. Wlndaii, who
could liavo no previous knowlotlgc of a plan to aej/.e the vessel, togf^ther
with VVoolfe, was spared. The remaining four wore to aiiflcir. Tiie
painful oflico of communicating this final intolligoiK'n to those inon was
intrusted to me, and they listened to the announcement not without deep
feeling, but still with composure.

It would bo v(My [lainful for mo to ilwell on the closing scene. The
unhappy and guilty men were attended by the zealous chajilain of the
jail, whose earnr>st exhortations and iiislnrctions tiiey most gratefully
received. The light of truth shone cl«!arly on tlu; past, and they felt that
their manifold fopsos from the path of virtue had beim the original cause
of the complicated misery they had endured. They enfrf^ated forgivoneps
of all against whom llicy had oflTcnded ; and in the last words to their
friends were uttered grateful romembrancos to Captain Maconochie, lii.^
family, and others. At the place of execution, they behaved with fortitude
and a composure befitting the solemnity of tiio occasion. Having retired
from attendance upon them in their last moments, I was startled from the
painful stupor which succi-eded in my own mind, by the loud and heavy
bound of the drop as it fell, and told me that their spirits had gone to (loil
who gave them."

Our reverend informant, in closing his narrative, adds some reflections
on the painful nature of the tragedy in which Ik; was called lo lend his
professional assistance. He laments the general harshness of penal dis-
cipline, and attributes the last fatal crime of these men to the recent arrival

and hewt
J with the
572.

_i,;»» ||

' --j^ CONVICT LIFE IN AUSTRALIA.

Of orders which shut out all hope of any i™P,7,';';«";^ ^•'';f,:Sy Ju'

fcelinirs ; dressed in the most degrading apparel , cluii leci ''"•^a *''"

state of servitude, he is liable to ire h P" ' " j J^^, j,^ 1,^;^ that no
^"^'rhis S.S:t^.U^^^Si in,uS which wouW expose
E^tl;:S:?r^:^ihle an i-^ti.. . U^of U^-- ^

s: Its Sm^sv:;^ c^i^'^^^ch ih:; owe to the^s^jv.

and sc"c c V can scarcely be said to be in possession oi a sound inmd ,
^d they g; oi" floundering from one degree of vice to another.

' '*i-.

int being effected in
avc. Previously, he
inducted themselves
Id, at the same time,
ijr circumstances.

men before us, that
ito slavery — that the

froni his family, his

of the crown and its
ever repugnant to his
lined like a wild beast
offense, while in this
t by transportation to
almost be said that no

which would expose
C transportation, even
lien who have entered
hey owe to themselves
on of a sound mind ;
ice to another.

THE

HOREORS OF A FIRE AT SEA,

aBOWN BY THE AOOOUNT OF THK BUENINQ Of THE 7BIN0E, A HUHCH VIMBL,
BELATED BT LIEUTSNA.ST FONDA, ONE OF UKB OFFIOEBS, TO WHIOB U ANNUUD A
SEKIKS OF ARTiCLIB

ILLUSTRATING LIFE ON THE DEEP,

Our vessel, the Prince, was in the service of the French East India
Company. She was commanded by M. Morin, and left the harbor of
L'Orient. bound to Pondicherry, on the 19th of February, 1752.

After a fortunate navigation, we met with a disaster, of which the
strongest expressions can convey but a faint idea. In this narrative, I
shall confine myself to a brief detail, as it is impossible to recollect all
the circumstances. The 26th of July, 1762, being in the latitude of 8''
30' south, and in longitude 6° west, the wind being south-west, just at
the moment of taking the observation of the meridian, I had repaired to
the quarter where I was going to command, when a man informed me
that a smoke was seen to issue from the pannel of the greater hatchway.

Upon this information, the first lieutenant, who kept the keys of the
hold, opened all the hatchways to discover the cause of an accident, the
slightest suspicion of which frequently causes the most intrepid to
tremble. The captain, who was at dinner in the great cabin, went upon
deck, and gave orders for extinguishing the fire. I had already directed
several sails to be thrown overboard, and the hatchways to be covered
with them, hoping by these means to prevent the air from penetrating
into the hold. I h'.d even proposed, for the greater security, to let in
the water between decks to the height of a foot, but the air, which had
already obtained a free passage through the openings of the hatchways,
produced a very thick smoke that issued forth in abundance, and the
fire continued gradually to gain ground. The captain ordered sixty or
eighty of the soldiers under arms to restrain the crew, and prevent the
confusion likely to ensue in such a critical moment. These precautions
were seconded by M. de la Touche, with his usual fortitude and prudence.
That hero deserved a better opportunity of signalizing himself, and had
destined his soldiers for other operations more useful to his country.
All hands were now employed in getting water; not only the buckets,
but likewise the pumps were kept at work, and pipes were carried from
them into the hold; even the water in the jars was emptied out. The
rapidity of the fire, however, baffled our efforts and augmented the
ceneral consternation. The captain had already ordered the yawl to be
hoisted overboard, merely because it was in the way; four men, among
whom was the boatswain, took possession of it. They had no oars, but
called out for some, when three sailors jumped overboard and carried
them what they st jd so much in need of. These fortunate fugitives
were required to return; they cried out that they had no rudder, and
desired a rope to be thrown them; perceiving that the progress of the
flames lefl them no other resource, they endeavored to remove to a

(571)

572

INCIDENTS OP OCEAN LIFE.

distance from the ship, which passed them in consequence of a breeze
that sprung up.

All hands were still busy on board; the impossibility of escaping,
seemed to increase the courage of the men. The master boldly ven-
tured down into the hold, but the heat obliged him to return; he would
have been burnt, if a great quantity of water had not been throwr oyer
him. Immediately afterward, the flames were seen to issue with
impetuosity from the great panncl. The captain ordered the boats over-
board, but fear had exhausted the strength of the most intrepid. The
jolly-boat was fastened at a certain height, and preparations were made
for hoisting her over; but, to complete our misfortunes, the fire, which
increased every moment, ascended the mainmast willi such violence and
rapidity as to burn the tackle; the boat pitching upon the starboard guns,
foil bottom upward, and we lost all hope of raising her again. We now
perceived that we had nothing to hope from human aid, but only from
the mercy of the Almighty. Dejection filled every mind; the conster-
nation became general; nothing but sighs and groans were heard; even
the animals we had on board, uttered the moat dreadful cries. Every
one began to raise his heart and hands toward heaven; and in the cer-
tainty of a speedy death, each was occupied only with the melancholy
alternative between the two elements ready to devour us.

Tl)e chaplain, who was on the quarter-deck, gave the general absolu-
tion, and went into the gallery to impart the same to the unhappy
wretches who had already committed themselves to the mercy of the
waves. What a horrible spectacle! Every one was occupied only in
throwing overboard whatever promised a momentary preservation; coops,
yards, sjjars, everything that came to hand, was seized with despair, and
disposed of in the same manner. The confusion was extretno; some
seemed to anticipate death by jumping into the sea, others, by swimming,
gained the fragments of the vessel; while the shrouds, tlio yards, and
ropes, along the side of the ship, were covered with the crew, who
were suspended from them, as if hesitating between two extremes,
equally imminent and equally terrible.

Uncertain for what fate Providence intended me, I saw a father
snatch his son from the flames, embrace him, throw him into the sea,
then following himself, tiiey perished in each other's embrace. I had
ordered the helm to be turned to starboard; the vessel heeled, and this
maneuver preserved us for some time on that side, while the tire raged
on the larboard side, from stem to stern. Till this moment I had been
so engaged, that my thoughts were directed only to the preservation of
the ship; now, however, the horrors of a twofold death presented them-
selves; but, through the kindness of heaven, my fortitude never forsook
me. I looked round and found myself alone upon the deck. I went
into the round-house, where I met M. de la Touche, who regarded
death with the same heroism that procured him success in India.
" Farewell, my brother and my friend," said he, embracing me. " Why,
where are you going?" replied I. " I am going (said he) to comfort
my friend Morin." He spoke of the captain, who was overwhelmed
with grief at the melancholy fate of his female cousins, who were
passengers on board his ship, and whom he had persuaded to trust
themselves to sea in hen-coops, after having hastily stripped oflT their
clothes, while some of the sailors, swimming with one hand, endeavored
to support them with the other. The yards and masts floating around
the ship, were covered with men struggling with the waves; many of

snce of a breeze

lity of escaping,
aster boldly ven-
eturn; he would
)een throwr over
n to issue with
id the boats over-
t intrepid. The
itions were made
3, the fire, which
luch violence and
le starboard gune,
again. We now
lid, but only from
ind; the conster-
vere heard; even
ful cries. Every
i; and in the cer-
h the melancholy
us.

le general absolu-
to the unhappy
the mercy of the
occupied only in
Bservation; coops,
witli despair, and
IS extrenio; some
lers, by swimming,
Js, tiio yards, and
ih the crew, who
;n two extremes,

, I saw a father
him into the sea,
3 embrace. I had
1 heeled, and this
liile the fire raged
loment I had been
le preservation of
h presented them-
tude never forsook
the deck. I went
he, who regarded
success in India,
icing me. " Why,
aid he) to comfort
was overwhelmed
ousins, who were
persuaded to trust
r stripped off their
3 hand, endeavored
sts floating around
le waves; many of

INCIDENTS OF OOEAN LIFE.

673

them perished every moment by the balls discharged by the guns, in conse-
quence of the flames, a third species of death that augmented the horrors
by which we were surrounded. With a heart oppressed with anguish, I
turned my eyes away from the sea. A moment afterward, I entered the
starboard gallery, and saw the flames rushing with a horrid noise through
the windows of the great cabin and round-house. The fire approaclicd,
and was ready to consume mc; my presence was then entirely useless
for the preservation of the vessel, or the relief of my fellow-sufferers.

In this dreadful situation, I thought it my duty to prolong my life a
few hours, in order to devote them to my God. I stripped off my
clothes with the intention of rolling down a yard, one end of wiiich
touched the water ; but it was so covered with unfortunate wretches,
whom the fear of drowning kept in that situation, that I tumbled over
them and fell into the sea, recommending myself to the mercy of Provi-
dence. A stout soldier, who was drowning, caught hold of me at this
extremity ; I employed every exertion to disengage myself from him,
but without effect. I suffered myself to sink under the water, but he
did not quit his hold ; I plunged a second time, and he still held me
firmly in his grasp ; he was incapable of reflecting that my death would
rather hasten his own than be of service to him. At length, afler
struggling a considerable time, his strength was exhausted in consequence
of the quantity of water he had swallowed, and perceiving that I was
sinking the third time, and fearing lest I should drag him to the bottom
along with me, he loosed his hold. That he might not catch me again,
I dived and rose a considerable distance from the spot.

This first adventure rendered me more cautious in future ; I even
shunned the dead bodies, which were so numerous, that, to make a free
passage, I was obliged to push them aside with one hand, while I kept
myself above water with the other. I imagined that each of them was
a man who would assuredly seize me and involve me in his own destruc-
tion. My strength began to fail, and I was convinced of the necessity of
resting, when I met a piece of the flag-stafi*. To secure it, I put my
arm through the noose of the rope, and swaiti as well as I was able. I
perceived a yard floating before me, when I approached and seized it
by the end. At the other extremity, I saw a young man scarcely able
to support himself, and speedily relinquished this feeble assistance that
amounted to a certain death. The sprit-sail yard next appeared in sight;
it was covered with people, and I durst not take a place upon it without
asking permission, which my unfortunate companions cheerfully granted.
Some were quite naked, and others in their shirts; they expressed their
pity at my situation, and their misfortune put my sensibility to the
severest test.

M. Morin and M. de la Touche, both so worthy of a better fate,
never quitted the vessel, and were doubtless buried in its ruins. Which-
ever way I turned my eyes, the most dismal sights presented themselves.
The mainmast, burnt away at the bottom, fell overboard, killing some,
and affording to others a precarious resource. This mast I observed
covered with people, and abandoned to the impulse of the waves; at
the same moment, I perceived two sailors upon a hen-coop with some
planks, and cried out to them, " My lads, bring the planks and swim to
me.^^ They approached me, accompanied by several others; and each
taking a plank, which we used as oars, we paddled along upon the yard,
find joined those who had taken possession of the mainmast. So
many changes of gituation presented only new spectacles of horror.

574

INOIDKNTS OF OCEAN LIFE.

I fortunately here met with our chaplain, who gave me absolution.
We were in number about eighty persons, who were incessantly
threatened with destruction by the balls from the ship^s guns. I saw
likewise on the mast two youug ladies, by whose piety I was much edi-
fied; there were six females on board, and the other four were, in all
probability, already drowned or burned. Our chaplain, in this dreadful
situation, melted the most obdurate hearts by his discourse, und the
example he gave of patience and resignation. Seeing him slip from the
mast and fall into the sea, as I was behind him, I lifled him up again.
" Let me go,'' said he, " I am full of water, and it is only a prolongation
of my sufi'erings." " No, my friend," said I, " we will die together,
when my strength forsakes me." In his pious company, I awaited
death with perfect resignation. I remained in this situation three hours,
and saw one of the ladies fall off the mast with fatigue and perish; she
was too far distant for me to give her any assistance. When I least
expected it, I perceived the yawl close to us; it was then five o'clock,
F. H. I cried out to the men in her that I was their lieutenant, and
begged permission to share our misfortune with them. They gave me
leave to come on board, upon condition that I would swim to them. It
was their interest to have a conductor, in order to discover land ; and
for this reason my company was too necessary for them to refuse my
request. The condition they imposed upon me was perfectly reasonable;
they acted prudently not to approach, as the others would have been
equally anxious to enter their little bark, and we should all have been
buried together in a watery grave. Mustering, therefore, all my strength,
I was so fortunate as to reach the boat. Soon afterward, I observed the
pilot and master, whom I had left on the mainmast, follow my example;
they swam for the yawl, and we took them in. This little bark was the
means of saving the ten persons who alone escaped out of nearly three
hundred.

The flames still continued to consume our ship, from which we were
not more than half a league distant; our too great proximity might
prove pernicious, and we, therefore, proceeded a little to windward.
Not long after, the fire communicated to the powder-room, and it is
impossible to describe the noise with which our vessel blew up. A
thick cloud intercepted the light of the sun; amid this horrid darkness
we could perceive nothing but large pieces of floating wood projecting
into the air, and whose foil threatened to dash to pieces, numbers of
unhappy wretches still struggling with the agonies of death. We, our-
selves, were not quite out of danger; it was not impossible but that one
of the flaming fragments might reach us, and precipitate our frail vessel
to the bottom. The Almighty, however, preserved us from that mis-
fortune; but what a spectacle now presented itself! The vessel had
disappeared; its fragments covered the sea to a great distance, and
floated in all directions with our unfortunate companions, whose despair
and whose lives had been terminated together by their fall. We saw
some completely sufibcated, others mangled, half-burned, and still pre-
serving sufficient life to be sensible of the accumulated horrors of Uteir
fate.

Through the mercy of heaven I retained my fortitude, and proposed
to make toward the fragments of the wreck, to seek provisions and to
pick up any other articles we might want. We were totally unprovided,
and were in danger of perishing with famine; a death more tedious
and more painful than that of our companions. We faund several

ve me absolution.

were incessantly
liip's guns. I saw
ty I was much cdi-
r four were, in all
in, in this dreadful
discourse, and the
I him slip from the
i\ed him up again,
only a prolongation

will die together,
impany, I awaited
nation three hours,
le and perish; she
ice. When I least

then five o'clock,
eir lieutenant, and
m. They gave me
swim to them. It
liscovcr land ; and
them to refuse my
srfectly reasonable;
I would have been
lould all have been
»re, all my strength,
rard, I observed the
bllow my example ;
s little bark was the
out of nearly three

rom which we were
at proximity might
little to windward,
der-room, and it is
essel blew up. A
this horrid darkness
ng wood projecting
pieces, numbers of
)f death. We, our-
tossible but that one
itate our frail vessel
i us from that mis-
If! The vessel had
great distance, and
lions, whose despair
their fall. We saw
urned, and still pre-
ated horrors of dieir

itude, and proposed

)k provisions and to

e totally unprovided,

death more tedious

We fi»und several

INCIDENTS OF OCEAN UFE.

576

barrels, in which we hoped to find a resource against this pressing
necessity, but discovered, to our mortification, that it was part of the
powder which had been thrown overboard during the conflagration.
Night approached, but we providentially found a cask of brandy, about
fifteen pounds of salt pork, a piece of scarlet cloth, twenty yards of
linen, a dozen of pipe-staves, and a few ropes. It grew dark, and we
could not wait till daylight, in our present situation, without exposing
ourselves a hundred times to destruction among the fragments of the
wreck, from which wo had not yet been able to disengage ourselves.
We therefore rowed away from them as speedily as possible, in order to
attend to the eiquipment of our new vessel. Every one fell to work with
the utmost assiduity; we employed everything, and took off the inner
sheathing of our boat, for the sake of the planks and nails; we drew >
from the linen what thread we wanted; fortunately one of the sailors
had two needles; our scarlet cloth served us for a sail, an oar for a
mast, and a plank for a rudder. Notwithstanding the darkness, our
equipment was in a short time as complete as circumstances would
permit. The only difficulty that remained, was how to direct our course ;
we had neither charts nor instruments, and were nearly two hundred
leagues from land. Wo resigned ourselves to the Almighty, whose
assistance we implored in fervent prayers.

At length we raised our sail, and a favorable wind removed us for-
ever from the floating corpses of our unfortunate companions. In this
manner we proceeded eight days and eight nights without perceiving
land, exposed, stark naked, to the burning rays of the sun by day, and
to intense cold by night. The sixth day a shower of rain inspired us
with the hope of some relief from the thirst by which we were tor-
mented; we endeavored to catch the little water that fell in our rnouths
and hands. We sucked our sail, but having been before soaked in sea-
water, it communicated the bitter taste of the latter to the rain which it
received. If, however, the rain had been more violent, it might have
abated the wind that impelled us, and a calm would have been attended
with inevitable destruction.

That we might steer our course with greater certainty, we consulted
every day the rising and setting of the sun and moon; and the stars
showed us what wind we ought to take. A very small piece of salt pork
furnished us one meal in the twenty-four hours; and from this even,
we were obliged to desist on the fourth day, on account of the irritation
of blood which it occasioned. Our only beverage was a glass of brandy
from time to time; but that liquor burned our stomachs, without allaying
our thirst. We saw abundance of flying fish, but the impossibility of
catching them rendered our misery still more acute; we were, therefore,
obliged to be contented with our provisions. The uncertainty with
respect to our fate, the want of food, and the agitation of the sea, com-
bined to deprive us of rest, and almost plunged us into despair. Nature
seemed to have abandoned her functions; a feeble ray of hope alone
cheered our minds and prevented us from envying the fate of our
deceased companions. I passed the eighth night at the helm ; I remained
at my post more than ten hours, frequently desiring to bo relieved, till at
length I sunk down with fatigue. My miserable comrades were equally
exhausted, and despair began to take possession of our souls. At last,
whan just perishing with fatigue, misery, hunger, and thirst, we dis-
covered land by the first rays of the sun, on Wednesday, the 3d of
August, 1762. Oaly those who have experienced similar misfortunes.

.■1

576

INCIDENTS OF OCEAN LIFE.

can form an adequate conception of the change which this discoTery
produced in our minds. Our strength returned, and we took precautions
not to be carried away by the currents. At two p. m., we reached the
coast of Brazil, and entered the bay of Tresson, in latitude 6**.

Our first care, upon setting foot on shore, was to thank the Almighty
for his favors; we threw ourselves upon the ground, and in the ?ran8-
ports of our joy rolled ourselves in the sand. Our appearance was
truly frightful, our figures preserved nothing human that did noi most for-
cibly announce our misfortunes. Some were perfectly naked, others
had nothing but shirts that were rotten and torn to rags, and I had
fastened round my waist a piece of scarlet cloth, in order to appear at
the head of my companions. We had not yet, however, arrived at the
end of our hardships; although rescued from the greatest of our dangers,
that of an uncertain navigation, we were still tormented by hunger and
thirst, and in cruel suspense whether we should find this coast inhabited
by men susceptible of sentiments of compassion. We were deliberating
which way we should direct our course, when about fifty Portuguese,
most of whom were armed, advanced toward us, and inquired the reason
of our landing. The recital of our misfortunes was a sufficient answer,
at once announced our wants, and strongly claimed the sacred rights of
hospitality. Their treasures were not the object of our desire, the
necessities of life were all that we wanted. Touched by our misfortunes,
they blessed the power that had preserved us, and hastened to conduct
us to their habitations. Upon the way, we came to a river, into which
all my companions ran to throw themselves, in order to allay their thirst;
they rolled in the water with extreme delight, and bathing was in the
sequel, one of the remedies of which we made the most frequent use,
and which, at the same time, contributed most to the restoration of our
health.

The principal person of the place came and conducted us to his house,
about half a league distant from the place of our landing. Our chari-
table host gave us linen shirts and trowsers, and boiled some fish, the
water of which, served us for broth, and seemed delicious. After this
frugal repast, though sleep was equally necessary, yet we prepared to
tender solemn thanks to the Almighty. Hearing that at the distance of
half a league, there was a church dedicated to St. Michael, we repaired
thither, singing praises to the Lord, where we presented the homage of
our gratitude to Him to whom we were so evidently indebted for our
preservation. The badness of the road had fatigued us so much, that
we were obliged to rest in the village ; our misfortunes, together with
such an edifying spectacle, drew all the inhabitants around us, and every
one hastened to fetch us refreshments. After resting a short time, we
returned to our kind host, who at night furnished us with another repast
of fried fish. As we wanted more invigorating food, we purchased an
ox, which we had in exchange for twenty-five quarts of brandy. We
had to go to Paraiba, a journey of fifteen leagues, barefooted, and with-
out any hope of meeting with good provisions on the way ; we therefore
took the precaution of smoke-drying our meat, and adding to it a pro-
vision of flour. After resting three days, we departed under an escort
of three soldiers. We proceeded seven leagues the first day, and
passed the night at the house of a man who received us kindly. The
next evening a sergeant, accompanied by twenty-nine soldier' o-me to
meet us for the purpose of conducting and presenting us .' t'le com-
mander of the fortress; that worthy officer received us grfu:iously, gave

-^*r','^.-^'T*5^ * '^^^''■%-^'^.^.--s*^'vl*~*^

ih this discoTory
took precautions
, we reached the
ude 6°.

ink the Almighty
lod in the rrans-
nppearance was
did no; most for-
ty naked, others
rags, and I had
rder to appear at
sr, arrived at the
St of our dangers,
id by hunger and
is coast inhabited
were deliberating
iifly Portuguese,
quired the reason
sufficient answer,
! sacred rights of
' our desire, the
^ our misfortunes,
itened to conduct
river, into which
allay their thirst;
ithing was in the
iost frequent use,
restoration of our

;d us to his house,
ding. Our chari-
ed some fish, the
:ious. After this
it we prepared to
at the distance of
;hael, we repaired
ed the homage of
indebted for our
us so much, that
[les, together with
und us, and every
; a short time, we
rith another repast
we purchased an
I of brandy. We
efooted, and with-
vay ; we therefore
idding to it a pro-
d under an escort
:he first day, and
1 us kindly. The
» soldier' c-me to
ig us .' tl:e com-
is grFx:iou8ly, gave

IiroIDENTS OP OOBAN LIFE.

677

us an entertainment, and a boat to go to Paraiba. It was midnight when
we arrived at that town; a Portuguese captain was waiting to present us
to the governor, who gave us a gracious reception, and furnished us
with all the comforts of life. We there reposed for three days; but
being desirous of reaching Pernambuco, to take advantage of a Portu-
guese fleet that was expected to sail every day, in order to return to
Europe, the governor ordered a corporal to conduct us thither. My feet
were so lacerated that I could scarcely stand, and a horse was therefore
provided for rtie.

At length, after a journey of four days, we entered the town of Per-
nambuco. My first business was to go with my people to present myself
to the general, Joseph de Correa, who condescended to give us an
audience; after which, Don Francisco Miguel, a captain of a king's ship,
took us in his boat to procure us the advantage of saluting the admiral
of the fleet, Don Juan d'Acosta de Porito. During the fifty days that
we remained at Pernambuco, that gentleman never ceased to load me
with new favors and civilities. His generosity extended to all my com-
panions in misfortune, to some of whom, he even gave appointments in
the vessels of his fleet.

On the 6th of October we set sail, and arrived without any accident
at Lisbon, on the 17th of December. On the 2d of January, our consul,
M. du Vernay, procured me a passage in a vessel bound to Morlaix.
The master and myself went on board together, the rest of my compan-
ions being distributed among the ships. I arrived at Morlaix on the 2d
of February. My fatigues obliged me to take a few days' rest in that
place, from whence I repaired, on the 10th, to L'Orient, overwhelmed
with poverty, having lost all that I possessed in the world, after a service
of twenty-eight years, and with my health greatly impaired by the hard-
ships I had endured.

A SAILOR'S LIFE AND DUTIES.

As we had now a long spell of fine weather, without any incident to
break the monotony of our lives, I will describe the duties, regulations,
and customs of an American merchantman, of which ours was a fair
specimen.

The captain, in the first place, is lord paramount. He stands no
watch, comes and goes when he pleases, and is accountable to no one,
and must be obeyed in everything without a question even from his
chief officer. He has the power to turn his officers ofi" duty, and to
even break them and make them do duty as sailors in the forecastle.
Where there are no passengers and no supercargo, he has no companion
but his own dignity, and no pleasures, unless he differs from most of
his kind, but the consciousness of possessing supreme power, and
occasionally the exercise of it.

The prime minister, the official organ, and the active and superintend-
ing officer, is the chief mate. He is first lieutenant, boatswain, sailing-
master, and quartermaster. The captain tells him what he wishes to
have done, and leaves to him the care of overseeing, of allotting the
work, and also the responsibility of its being well done. TV mate (as
he is always called, par exeeUenee,) alao keeps the log-book, for which
37

578

INCIDENTS OP OCEAN LIFE.

he is responsible to the owners and insurers, nnd has the charge of the
stowage, safe keeping, and delivery of tlie cargo. Ho \a nisn, ex-officio,
the wit of the crow; for the captain does not condescend to joke with
the men, and the second mate noonn cares for, so that wlion " the mnte "
thinks to entertain *' the people " with a course joke, or a littli! prncticnl
wit, every one feels bound to laugh. The second mute's, is provcrljiiilly
a dog's berth. Ho is neither officer nor man. Tiie men do not lespect
him as an olVicor, and he is obliged to go aloft to furl and reef tli(> top-
sails, and to put his hands into tlie slusii and tar witii the rest. The
crew call hiiu tiie " sailor waiter," as Ik; has to furnish tliem with spun-
yarn, marline, and all other stutfs that they need in their work, and has
charge of the boatswain's locker, which includes scrving-board.i, marline-
spikes, etc., etc. He is expected by the captain, to maintain his dignity,
and to enforce obedience, and still is kept at a great distance from the
mate and obliged to work with the men. Ho is one to whom little is
given, and of whom much is required. His wages are usually double
those of a common sailor, and he eats and sleeps in the cabin; but he
is obliged to bo on deck nearly all his time, and eats at the second table,
tiiat is, makes a meal out of what the captain and chief mate leave.

The steward is the captain's servant, and has charge of the pantry,
from which every one, even the mate himself, is excluded. These
distinctions usually find him an enemy in the mate, who does not like to
have any one on board who is not entirely under his control; the crew
do not consider him as one of their number, so he is led to the mercy
of the captain.

The cook is the patron of the crew, and those who are in his favor,
can get their wet mittens and stockings dried, or light their pipes at the
galley in the night watch. Those two worthies, together with the car-
penter and sail-maker, if there be one, stand no watch, but being
employed all day, are allowed to " uleep in " at night, unless all hands
are called.

The crew are divided into two divisions as equally as may be, called
the watches. Of these, the chief mate commands the larboard, and tho
second mate the starboard. They divide the time between them, being
on and off duty, as it is called, on dec!; and below every other four hours.
If, for instance, the chief mate with the larboard watch have the first
night watch from eight to twelve, at the end of the four hours, the star-
board watch is called, and the second mate takes the deck, while the
larboard watch and the first mate go below until four in the morning,
when they come on deck again and remain until eight, having what is
called the morning watch, As they will have been on deck eight hours
out of the twelve, while those who had the middle watch — from twelve
to four — will have been up only four hours, they have what is called " a
forenoon watch below," that is, from 8 a. m., until noon. In a man-of-
war, and in some merchantmen, this alternation of watches is kepi, up
throughout the twenty-four hours; but our ship, like most merchantmen,
had " all hands " from twelve o'clock till dark, except in bad weather,
when we had " watch and watch."

An explanation of the *' dog-watches'* may, perhaps, be of use to one
who has never been at sea. They are to shift the watches each night,
80 that the same watch need not be on deck at the same hour. In order
to effect this, the watch from /bur to eight r. m. is divided into two half
or dog-watches, one from four to six, and the other from six to eight. By
this means, they divide the twenty-four hours into aeven watches instead

..M^rm: -._ .7,- —

the charge of the

iii niso, cx-ofiicio,
cend to joke with
when " the innte"
or a httU) practical
e's, in provirbialiy
icii do not lospoct
1 and reef tiic top-
itii tlie rc'st. Tlie
h tl\em with spun-
icir work, and has
ig-hoardii, niarlinc-
laintain his dignity,

distance from the
e to whom littlo is
arc usually double

tlie cabin; but he
at the second table,
ief mate leave,
arge of the pantry,

excluded. These
vho does not like to
3 control ; the crew
is left to the mercy

ho are in his favor,
It their pipes at the
[ether with the car-
j watch, but being
ht, unless all hands

ly as may be, called
he larboard, and the
etween them, being
ery other four hours,
(vatch have the first
four hours, the star-
the deck, while the
our in the morning,
iight, having what is
on deck eight hours
watch — from twelve
ve what is called " a
noon. In a man-of-
■ watches is kepi, up
3 most merchantmen,
cept in bad weather,

aps, he of use to one
I watches each night,
same hour. In order
divided into two half
Tom six to eight. By
»even watches instead

INCIDENTS OF OCEAN LIPE.

670

tZ.: .1- u ft"^' ^!!^ '""," "7^ "'«'"• As the dog-watchc, com.
during w.i.ght, after the day's work is done, and before the night watch
>s set, thoy are U,e watches in which everybody is on deck. Tho captain
js up walking on the weather side of the quarter-deck; the chief nate
IS on he lee side and the second mate about the weather gangway.

smoko h s pipe with the cook in the galley. Tho crow are sitting on
the windlass or lying on the forecastle, smoking, singing, or felling long
yarns At eight o'clock, eight bells are struck, the fog is hovf , t!?
goes below '"' '«''«^«''' ""e galley shut up, and the other watch

The morning commences with the watch on deck "turning to" at
daybreak, and washing down, scrubbing, and swabbing the decks.
This, together with filling the scuttle-butt with fresh water, and coiling
up rigging, usually occupies the time until seven bells, (half past seven,)

h .?..^ il "'^r «" '" >:*'f ^"'*- ^' ''^^'^ '^' ^oy'" ^«^k begins and
lasts until sundown, with the exception of an hour for dinner

Belore 1 end my explanations, it may be well to define a day's work,
an. to correct a mistake prevalent among landsmen about a sailor's life!

;?£ „,"L'V" wl?'""''"^''''." '." ''^" P^'^P'^ '"y "Are not sailors very
indflna ^5«''='">'heyfindtodo?" This is a very natural mistake,
and being very frequently made, it is one which every sailor feels inter-
ested in having corrected. In tho first place, tho discipline of the ship
requires every man to be at work upon somethwff when he is upon deck,
except at night and on Sundays. Except at these times, you £ill neve;
sec a man on board a well ordered vessel, standing idle on deck, sitting
down, or leaning over the side. It is the officers' duty to keep every on!
at work, even ,1 there is nothing to be done but to scrape the rust from
the chain cables. In no state prison are the convicts more regularly
!.!''„ T' ""^T'*' ^'°'^'y y"iiched. No conversation is allowed
among the crew at their duty, and though they frequemly do talk when
aloft, or when near one another, yet they always stop when an officer is

wh!!iI^ r^f M '° ^^'^J""'^ "P»n "'hich the men are put; it is a matter
which P obably would not be understood by one who has not been at
sea. When I first left port, I found that we were regularly employed.

fri'™ r^M.°» ^r- »"PP°«! ^ ^f"** «« ««re getting the vessel into sea
trim, and that it would soon be over and we should have nothing to do.
bu to sai the ship, but I found that it continued so for two years, and
at the end of the two years, there was as much to be done as ever. As
has often been said, a ship is like a lady's watch, always out of repair.
VVhen first leaving port, studding-sail gear is to be rove, all the running
rigging to be examined, that which is unfit for use to be aot down, and<
new rigging rove m its place; then the standing rigging is to be over-
hauled, replaced, and repaired in a thousand different ways, and where-
ever any of the numberless ropes are wearing or chafing upon it, there
-chafing gear," as it is called, is to be put on. This diafini gear
consists of worming, parceling, foundings, battons, and' service of all
kmds— both rope-yarns, spun-yarn, marline, and seizing stufis. Takine
off, putting on and mending the chafing gear alone, upon a vessel would
fand consiant employment for two or three men during working hours,
for a whole voyage. e ">

The next point to be considered, is, that all the « small stuffs" which,
are used on board a ahip—iuch u spuo-jrirn, marline, seizing stuff, etc

'•»•

5^0

INCIDENTS OP OCEAN LIFE.

etc. — nrf! nintle on lioarH. Tin; owners of a vessnl buy tip incrodible
fpiHnlilica of •• old junk." wliicli tht; Hiiiloin untwist, nnd at\or drawing
oul thi- ynriix. knot lluin fo^^otlKir, and roll Ihi-m up in lialla. Those
•' ropi- yiiriis" i»r<; constantly nsfd for various purposfjH, hut tlio jjrrater
part in injiiiitacturfd into spim-yarn. For this purposn pvory vessel is
funiisiii'd with n " (<|>un-yiirn winch," which i8 vr-ry HJinpIo, cons;.<ting
of a whprl and s|tiii(ilp. This may ho hoard constantly ffoin;; on dork
in plcaHunl wcatlirr; and wo liad oinployincnt during a groat part of tho
time, lor tliroo liauds in drawing and knotting yarns, and making spun-
yarn.

.\iioihcr mctliod of employing tho crow is "setting up" rigging.
Wli(Mi(!vor any of the stanrling rigging becomes sla*k, (which is con-
stantly happening,) the seizings and coverings muat bo taken oH', tackles
got up, and aAcr the rigging is bowsed, well taut, the seizings and cover-
ings roplaced, which is a very nice piece of work. There is also such
a conunction botwecn dilferent parts of a vessel, that ono rope can seldom
he touched without altering another. You cannot stay a mast aft by the
hack-stays without slacking up the head-stays, etc., etc. If wo add to
all this the tarring, greasing, oiling, varnishing, painting, scraping and
scrubbing, which is required in the course of a long voyage, and also
remember that this is to be done in addition to watching at niglu, Peer-
ing, reefing, furling, bracing, making and setting sail, and pulling, haul-
ing and climbing in every direction, one will hardly ask, " What ::;.o a
sailor find to do at seaf "

If after all this labor, after exposing their lives and limbs in stovms,
wet and cold, the merchants and captains think they have not earned
their twelve dollars a month^-out of which they clothe themselves —
and their salt beef and hard bread, they keep them picking oakum — ad
infinitum. This is the moral resource upon a rainy day, for then it will
not do to work upon rigging; and when it is pouring down in floods,
instead of letting the sailors stand about in shfc.'eied places and talk,
and keep themselves comfortable, they are sepiitated to different parts
of the ship, and kept at work picking oakum. I have seen oakum stuff
placed about in different parts of the ship, so that the sailors might not
be idle in the snatches between the frequent squalls upon crossing the
equator. Some officers have been so driven to find work for the crew
in a ship ready for sea, that they have set them to pounding the anchors —
often done — and scraping the chain-cable.

This kind of work, of course, is not kept up off Cape Horn, Cape of
Good Hope, and in extreme north and south latitudes ; but I have seen
the decks washed down and scrubbed when the water would have frozen
if it had been fresh ; and all hands kept at work upon the rigging when we
had on our pea-jackets, and our hands were so numb that we could hardly
hold our marline-spik.es. Before leaving this description, I would state,
in order to show landsmen how little they know of the nature of a ship,
that a ship-carpenter is kept in constant employ, during good weather,
on board vessels which are in what is called perfect sea-order.

On Sabbaths, when the weather is fine, the decks are washed down,
the rigging coiled up, and everything put in order; and throughout the
day only one watch is kept on deck at a time. The men are all dressed
in their best white duck trowsers, and red or checked shirts, and have
nothing to do, but to make the necessary changes in the sails. They
employ themselves in reading, talking, smoking, and mending their
clothea. If the weather is pleasant, tiiey bring their work and their

ife'i

*-.■<■»» ti till 1 1 p -

S-n^-SiSiCT:'

■'CT^^^v

-:^rrrrigSit

y up incredible
(I atlcr drawing
n lialls. These
, but (lio greater
! rvrry vessel ia
in|)l<N coiisi.ninff
y goiiifj on deck
^ireat part of the
id niuking spun-

ig up" rigging.
, (wliicii is con-
tukf^n ott", tackles
izings and cover-
here is also such
I rope can seldom
a inaat aft by the
;. If wo atld to
ng, scraping and
voyage, and also
ig at nighi, jteer-
md puilirij!^ haul-
sk, " What ::^D a

1 limbs in stoims,

have not earned

ithe themselves —

eking oakum — ad

ly, for then it will

J down in floods,

[ places and talk,

I to different parts

seen oakum stuff"

sailors might not

upon crossing the

work for the crew

ding the anchors —

ipe Horn, Cape of
s ; but I have seen
would have frozen
he rigging when we
liat we conld hardly
(tion, I would state,
le nature of a ship,
ring good weather,
sea-order,
are washed down,
and throughout the
men are all dressed
ed shirts, and have
in the sails. They
and mending their
eir work and their

INOIDKNTS OF OCEAN LIFE.

681

iKjoks upon dock, and sit down u,)on tho forocastio and windlass.

I Ills IS the only day on which these privileges are allowed them When
Monday conies, they put on their tarry trowiors again, and prepare for
SIX days ol lahor. f i lui

To enhance the value of tho Sabbath to tho crow, they are allowed
on tliut day a pudding, or, as it is called, a "duff." This is nothing
more than flour boiled with water and eaten with molasses. It is very
dark and clammy, yet it is looked upon as a luxury, and really forms an
agreeable variety with salt beef and pork. Many a rascally captain has
made friends ot his crew by allowing them duff twice a week on the
passage home.

SCENES ON A MAN-OF-WAR IN A HURRICANE.

Among the mo.st vivid descriptions of a hurricane at sea is that given
by Lieutenant Archer, in a letter to his mother. He was on board of
Vi*'o,'I"'-'M''/. *" *!'!•' ^''°'"''' '" " ''""icane in tho West Indies, in tho year
iivi a »'''l> was lost, together with twelve others, comprising the
British f^oet on that station. The narrative is so powerful that the reader
seems almost transported to tho docks of the PhcL^nix, and to be an eye
witness ot tho awful events which are transpiring on the occasion

" It happened to be my middle watch, and about three o'clock, when
the man upon the forecastle bawls out :

'Breakers ahead, and land upon the lee bow!'
I looked out, and it was so, sure enough.
' Ready about! Put the helm down! Helm a lee!'
Sir Hyde Parker, hearing me put the ship about, jumped upon dock
Archer, what's tho matter? you are putting the ship about without
my orders! '

'?,'■■' '/';'. ''1^° '^^ p. '^'^"V ♦•>« ship is almost ashore; there is the land.'
' Good God ! so it is. Will the ship stay ? '

' Yes, sir; I believe she will, if we don't make any confusion; She is
all aback— forward now?'
'Well 'says ho, 'work the ship; I will not speak a single word.'
J he ship stayed very well.
' Then heave the lead! see what water we have.'

* Three fathom.'

' Keep the ship away, W. N. W.»
' By the mark, three.'
' This won't do, Archer.'

'No, sir; we had better haul more to the northward; we came S. 8.
E., and had better steer N. N W.'
' Steady, and a quarter three.'
' This may do, as we deepen a little.'
' By the deep, four.'
' Very well, my lad; heave quick.'
'Five fathom.'

'That's a fine fellow; another cast nimbly.'

• Quarter less eight.'

' That will do. Come, we shall get clear by and b?.'
' Mark under water, five.'

ggg 1N01DKNT8 OF OOKAlf LIFE.

'What'ithntt'

• Only live fathom, sir.' . l • a - .k- ..,<.K»r«

' Turn all hands up; bring the ship to ui anchor, boy! Aro the tnchom

rloarT'
' III a momi-nt, sir— all clear. #,

' Whal wiiUir have you in the chain! nowT

' Kighl, half, nint).'

' Kocp fast th(! aiuhora until I call you.

' Ay, ny, sir ; all fast.'

' I havo no urourul with this lino.

'How many faihoum iiavo you out? pass along the deep-sea JincJ

» Ay, ny, sir.' ,

'Hoav<! away— watch! watch! hoar away! veer away.

» No uround, sir, with a hiiiidroil fathom.'

'That's .lov.-r! (Jomc, Ma.lam Phmnix, there is another squeak m
vou yrt All down hut the watch; secure the anchors nRain; heave the
maintnpKail to iho mast; luff, and hrinR her to the wind!

°'I tild you, Madam, you should have a little seajar«on; if you can
und orstan.l^ half of whaJ is already said, I wonder at .t. thou«h .t .«
nS.ing to what is to conu, yet, when the old hurr.cane he^ins As soon
as the ship was a little to ri«hts, and all .pii.t aKa.n, S.r llyde ct.m ■ to
mo in t c'most f.ien.iiy marmer. the tears al.noBt startmjr from h.H .y.- :
: Archer, wo ou«ht all to be much obliged to you for the saf.ty ot he
ship, and, perhapH, of ourselves. 1 a.u particularly so, nothing hu

teaman )« us presence of mind and cahuness saved her; another .1 p s
ln.n I, and we should have been fast on shore; had you been 1.. least
diffident, or made the least confusion, so as to make the ship haulk m
l.iT st.ivs she must have been inevitably lost.

'' ' S r,^ o iro very good, but I have done nothing that I .«" Pi--' any-
body e se would no( have done in the same s.tuat.on. I d.d .... una

he hands up, knowing the watch able to work the ship; besi.h;, had i
Ipread immldiately about the ship that she was almost ashore, it might
have created a confusion that was better avoided.

' Well.' savs he, ' 'tis well, indeed.' ,,

- At daylight we found that the current had set us between t >o Colla-
dora rocks and Cape Antonio, and that we could not have g?t o"^ a^X
other way than we did; there was a chance; but Providence .s the be

pilot We ha<l sunset that day twenty leagues to the south-cast of our

" Atr'J.;ig cl- "this scn«.e, we thought ourselves fortunate and
,„ade sail for Jamaica, bnt misfortune seemed to follow ""'^fortune^
The next nicrht, mv watch upon deck, too, we wore overtaken by a
Bqual like a^hurricane while it lasted; ^r though I saw ,t coming, and
p^repa ed for it, yet, when it took the ship, it roared and laid her down so
Kl thoiu^ht lie ^ould never get up again. However, by keeping her
awiy,and ciueing up everything, she righted. The --emainder of the
nHu we had very heavy squalls, and in the morning found the mainmast
itaThM- the Ly thJough: one hundred and twenty-three leagues to

'•^Tcw m of Jamaica, the hurricane months coming on, the head of
e nn . mast almost off, and at a short allowance; well, we must make

the l^sl of U. The mainmast was well finished, but we were obliged

" rhinl- rm:;kl.:Ta7pone: ^r L days afterward, when we chased
a YaS man-of-war for six hours, but could not get near enough to

*■ *»f

ire the anchors

[>-8ea

line!'

other squeak in
ijain; heave the

[on; if you ran

it. thouijli it i»
L'jfiuH. As soon
• llvili! rtiiii ' to

I from his cvcm;
the safi'ty oi'tlie
nothing i)ui iliat
; another sliip's
u been the IcnsI
10 sliip hiiulk in

I I suppose any-
[ did not turn all
p; hesiilo, had it

ashoro, it might

twecn the CoUa-
havo got out any
denr-e is the best
south-cast of our

res fortunate, and
)llow misfortune.
3 overtaken by a
iw it coming, and
laid her down so
r, by keeping her
remainder of the
nnd the mainmast
yr-three leagues to
t on, the head of
'll, wo must make
we were obliged

I, when we chased
Bt near enough to

INCIDENTS OP OORAN LIFE.

688

her, before it was dnn, to keep sight of her; so that wo lost her became
unable to carry nnv ail on iIk; niainmnMt. In about twelve days more
made the ixlarid .if .lomaica, having weathered all the M(|iinl!M, nnd put
into Montogo Bav for watir: so that wo had a strong party for kicking
up a duHt on nhor- , iving found three men-of-war lying there. Dancing,
etc., etc., till two lock every morning; liitio thmking what was to
happen in four lU time: for out of the four men-of-war that were
there, not one wn' m being nt the end of that time, and not a soul alive
but thosn of oiir crew. Many of the houses whore wo hod boon so
merry, were so completely dcHiroyed that scarcely a vestige remained to
mark where ih^^ «lood. Thy works aro wonderful, O God! praised bo
thy holy name!

September the .SOth, weighed; Imund for Port Koyal, round the cast-
ward of Itic island; the Barbadoes and Victor had sailed the day before,
and the Scnrhorough was to sail tlio next. Moderate weather until
October the 2(1. Hjwke to the Barbadoes, oil" Port Antonio, in the
evening. yVt eleven at night it began to snuffle, with a monstrous heavy
bill from tln' eastward. Close roefed the topsails.

Sir Hyde sent for mo: ' What sort of weather have we, Archer?'

• It blown a little, and has a very ugly look ; if in any other quarter
but this, I should say we were goi-.ig to have a gale of wind.'

' Ay, it looks so very often here when there is no wind at all; however,
don't hoist the topsails till it clears a little, there is no trusting any
country.'

'At twelve I was relieved; the weather had tho same rough look,
however, they made sail upon her, but had a very dirty night. At eight
in the morning I came up again, found it blowing hard from the K. N. E.
with close reefed topsails upon the ship, and heavy squalls at times.

♦ Sir Hyde came upon deck: ' Woll, Archer, what do you think of it?'
'Oh, sir, 'tis only a touch of the times; wo shall have an observation

at twelve o'clock ; tho cloud.s are beginning to break ; it will clear up at
noon, or else blow very hard afterward.'

' I wish it would clear up, but I doubt it much. I was onco in a
hurricane in the East Indies, and the beginning of it had much the
same appearance as this. So take in the topsails, wo have plenty of
soa-rooni.'

At twelve, the gale still increasing, wore ship, to keep as near mid
channel between .Tamaica and Cuba as possible ; at one tho gale increas-
ing still ; at two harder! Reefed the courses, and furled them ; brought
to under a foul mizzcn-staysail. head to the northward. In the evening
no sign of the weather taking off, but«Bvory appearance of tho storm
increasing, prepared for a proper gale of wind ; secured all the sails
with spare gaskets ; good rolling tackles upon the yards ; squared the
booms; saw the boats all made fast; new lashed the guns; double
breeched tho lower deckers ; saw that the carpenters had the tarpaulins
and batins all ready for hatchways; got the topgallant-mast down upon the
dock; jib-hoom and sprit-sail-yard fore and aft; in fact, everything we
could think of to make a snug ship.

The poor devils of birds now began to find the uproar in the ele-
ments, for numbers, both of sea and land kinds, came on board of us.
I took notice of some, which happening to be to leeward, turned to wind-
ward like ship, tack and tack: for they could not fly against it. When
they came over the ship they dashed themselves down upon the deck,
without attempting to stir till picked up ; and when let go again, they

•'M:

584

INCIDENTS OF OOEAN LIFK

would not leave the ship, but endeavored to hide themselves from the
wind.

At eight o^clock a hurricane; the sea roaring, but the wind still steady
to a point; did not ship r. spoonful of water. However, got the hatrh-
ways all secured, expecting what would be the consequences should the
wind siiifl ; placed the carpenters by the mainmast, with broad-axes,
knowing from experience, that at the moment you may want to cut it
away to save the ship, an ax may not be found. Went to supper:
bread, cheese, and porter. The purser frightened out of his wits about
his bread-bags ; the two marine officers as white as sheets, not under-
standing the ship's working so much, and the noise of the lower deck
guns ; which, by this time, made u pretty screeching to the people not
used to it ; it seemed as if the whole ship's side was going at each roll.
Wooden, our carpenter, was all this time smoking his pipe and laughing
at the doctor ; the second lieutenant upon deck, and the third in his
hammock.

At ten o'clock I thought to get a little sleep: came to look into my
cot ; it was full of water; for every scam, by the straining of the ship,
had begun to leak. Stretched myself, therefore, upon deck between
two chests, and left orders to be called, should the least thing happen.

At twelve a midshipman came to me: ' Mr. Archer, we are just going
to wear ship, sir!'

' Oil, very well, 1*11 be up directly ; what sort of weather have you
got?'

' It blows a hurricane.'

Went upon deck, found Sir Hyde there. ' It blows hard. Archer.'
' It does, indeed, sir.'

'I don't know that I ever remember its blowing so hard before; but
the ship makes a very good weather of it upon this tack, as she bows
the sea ; but we must wear her, as the wind has shifted to the S. E. and
we are drawing right upon Cuba ; so do you go forward, and have
some hands stand by ; loose the lee yard-arm of the foresail, and when
she is right before the wind, whip the clew-garnet close up and roll up
the sail.'

'Sir, there is no canvas that can stand against this a moment; if we
attempt to loose him he will fly into ribbons in an instant, and we may
lose three or four of our people ; she'll wear by manning the fore
shrouds.'

' Oh, I do n't think she will.'

' I'll answer for it, sit ; I have seen it tried several times on the coast
of America with success.'

' Well, try it ; if she does not wear, we can only loose the foresail
afterward.'

This was a great condescension from such a man as Sir Hyde. How-
ever, by sending about two hundred people into the fore-rigging, at\er a
hard struggle she wore ; found she did not make so good weather on this
tack as on the other; for, as the sea began to run across, she had not
time to rise from one sea before another dashed against her. Began to
think we should lose our masts, as the ship lay very much along by the
pressure of the wind constantly upon the yards and masts alone ; for the
poor mizzen-staysail had gone in shreds long before, and the sails began
to fly from the yards through the gaskets into coach whips. My God!
to think that the wind could have such force! Sir Hyde now sent me
to see what was the matter between docks, as there was a good deal

^v^l

INCIDENTS OF OCEAN LIFE.

580

emselvea from the

e wind still steady
ver, got the hatch-
uences should the

with broad- axes,
nay want to cut it
Went to supper:
t of his wits about
sheets, not under-
of the lower deck

to the people not
going at each roll-
pipe and laughing
1 the third in his

me to look into my
lining of the ship,
pon deck between
ast thing happen.
•, we are just going

weather have you

s hard, Archer.'

so hard before; but
} tack, as she bows
ted to tl»c S. E. and
forward, and have
foresail, and when
close up and roll up

Is a moment ; if we
instant, and we may
y manning the fore

il times on the coast
y loose the foresail

as Sir Hyde. How-

fbre-rigging, after a
good weather on this
1 across, she had not
ainst her. Began to
•y much along by the
masts alone ; for the
!, and the sails began
,ch whips. My God!
: Hyde now sent me
;re was a good deal

of noise. As soon as I was below, one of the marine officers
calls out:

' Good (lod! Mr. Archer, we are sinking ; the water is up to the bottom
uf my cot.'

'Pooh, pooli! as long as it is not over your mouth you are well oft*;
what the d 1 do you make so much noise for?'

I found liicre was some water bntween decks, but nothing to be
aluruiod at; we sciUlled the deck and run it into the well; found she
made a good deal of water through the sides and decks ; turned the
watch below to the pumps, though only two foot of water in the well ;
hut expected to bo kept constantly at work now, as the ship labored
much, with scarcely a part of her above water but the quarter-deck, and
that but seldom.

' Come, pump away, my boys. Carpenters, get the weather chain-
pump rigged.'

' All ready, sir.'

' Then man it, and keep both pumps going.'

At two o'clock the chain-pump being choked, we set the carpenters
at work to clear it ; the two head-pumps at woiL upon deck ; the water
gamed upon us while our chain-pump.s were idle; in a quarter of an
hour they were at work again, and we began to gain upon it. While I
was standing at the pnmps cheering tlie people, the carpenter's mate
came running to me with a face as long as my arm.

'Oh, sir! tiie ship has sprung a leak in the gunner's room.'

'Go, then, and tell the carpenter to come to me, but do not speak a
word to any one eK-e. Mr.Goodinoh, I am toid there is a leak in the
gunner's room; go and see what is the matter, but do not alarm any
body, and come and make your report privately to me.'

In a short time he returned; ' Sir, there is nothing there ; it is only
tho water washing up between the timbers that this booby has taken for
a leak.'

- Oh, very well ; go upon deck and see if you can keep any of the water
from washing down below.'

'Sir, I have had four people constantly keeping the hatchways
secure, but there is such a weight of water upon the deck that nobody
can stand when the ship rolls.'

The gunner soon afterward came to me, saying, 'Mr. Archer, I
should be glad to have you step this way into the magazine for a moment.'

I thought something was the matter, and ran directly. ' Well, what is
the matter here?'

He answered. ' The ground tier of the powder is spoiled, and I want
to show you that it is not out of carelessness in me in stowing it, for no
powder in the world could be better stowed. Now, sir, what am I to do?
if you do not speak to Sir Hyde, he will be angry with me.'

I could not forbear smiling to see how easy he took the danger of the
ship, and said to him, ' Let us shake ort this gale of wind first, and talk
of the damaged powder afterward.' At four we had gained upon the
ship a little, and I went upon deck, it being my watch. The second
lieutenant relieved me at the pumps. Who can attempt to describe tho
appearance of things upon deck ? If I was to write for ever, I could
not give you an idea of it — a total darkness all above ; the sea on fire,
running ^s if it were in the Alps, or Peaks of TenerifTe; (mountains are
too common an idea ;) the wind roaring louder than thunder, (absolutely
no flight of imagination,) the whole made more terrible, if possible, by

■sa-^pfW"

586

INCIDENTS OF OCKAN LIFE.

y.m

a very uncommon kind of Wuc lightnmg; the poor ship very much
pressed, yet doing what 8ho could, siiaking her sides and groan ng at
Svery suoke. Sif Hyde upon deck lashed to windward I soon lashed
myselflng side of him, and told him the situat.on of thmgs below
laying the ship did not make more water than m.ght be expected in such
weather, and that I was only afraid of a gun breaking loose.

.1 am not in the least afraid of that ; I have commanded her six years,
and have had many a gale of wind in her ; so that her iron wo-k, which
"ways gives way first, is pretty well tried. Hold fast ! that was an ugly
Je^rwrmust lower the yards, I believe, Archer; the ship is much

'''^rle attempt it, sir, we shall lose them, for a man can do nothing;
besidertheir being down would ease the ship very little; the mainmast
U a sprun' mast ; I wish it was overboard without carrying anything else
alo',Kwit"rit; but that can soon be done, the gale cannot last forever :
'twill soon be daylight now.' . , • .• u i . „

Found by the master's watch that it was five o'foc\.,^houghhui.
little after four by ours; I was glad it was so near daylight, and looked
i^r it with much^nxiety. Cuba, thou art much in our way! Another
uJly se!- sent a midshipman to bring news from the P"n.pB ! ti.e ship
was gaining on them very much, for they had broken one of their chains,
but it was almost mended again. News from the pump again.
« Siie still gains! a heavy lee !'

Bvck-water from leeward, halfway up the quarter-deck; filled one o!
the iers upon the booms, and tore her all to pieces ; tl- ship lying
almost on her beam ends, and not attempting to right again. Wo d t.om
below that the ship still gained on them, as they could not stand to the
pumps, she lay so much along.

I said to Sir Hyde: 'This is

masts, shall we cut the mainmast away ?

' Ay ! as fast as you can.'

1 accordingly went into the weather-chains with a pole-ax, to cut

away the lanyards ; the boatswain went to leeward, and the carpenters

to Jl by the 'masts.' We were all ready, when a very volent sea broke

ri.rht on board of us, carried everything upon deck away, filled the sh p

iith water, the main and mizzen-masts went, the ship righted but was in

the last struggle of sinking under us. As soon as we could shake our

heads above water. Sir Hyde exclaimed:

» We are-gone, at last. Archer! foundered at sea!
' Yes, sir, farewell, and the Lord have mercy upon us !
I thek turned about to look at the ship, and thought she was struggling
to get rid of some of the water ; but all was in vain, she was almost full

''^'Tlmighty God ! I thank thee, that now I am leaving this world, which
I have always considered as only a passage to a better, I die with a fu
hope of thy mercies through the merits of Jesus Christ, thy Son, our

^*rthen felt sorry that I could swim, as by that means I might be a
quarter of an hour longer dying than a man who could "o*' ^^d it 'S
impossible to divest ourselves of a wish to preserve lite At the end of
these reflections I thought I heard the ship thump and grinding under
our feet ; it was so.

» Sir, the ship is ashore!'

» What do you say?'

no time, sir, to think of saving the

bip very much
nd groaning at
! I soon lashed
f things below,
ipected in such
ise.

d her six years,
•on wo'k, which
hat was an ugly
e ship is much

can do nothing;
i; the mainmast
iig anything else
not last forever :

k, though but a
ight, and looked
ir way! Anotiicr
pumps ; tlie ship
e of their chains,
again.

ck ; filled one of

I ; the ship lying

ain. Word from

not stand to the

)k of saving the

I pole-ax, to cut
id the carpenters
violent sea broke
ay, filled the ship
ighted, but was in
i could shake our

INCIDENTS OF OCEAN LIFE.

he was struggling
he was almost full

; this world, which
r, I die with a full
irist, thy Son, our

lans I might be a
>uld not, and it is
e. At the end of
nd grinding under

88T

'The ship is ashore, and wc may save ourselves yet"
hplnl ■'"! ^'"™« ^he quaner-dock was full of men who had come up from

The ship now made everybody sensible that she was ashore, for
every stroke threatened a total dissolution of her whole frame ; we found
she was stern rshore, and the bow broke the sea a good deal, though it was
washing clean over at every stroke, Sir Hyde cried out-

youl^be'i; Sance?""'"''"*^''' "^ '''' ' "'"" ^'" ^«^« *° P'^«=«- *» "

KJ/r'?'""?"^.^f '•'' ^"'^■'""'* '■-"' "^^"y'that she might not pay round
broadside Lost hve in cutting away the foremast, by The breaking of a
sea on board .M'st as the mast went. That was nothing; every one
expected It would be his own fate next; looked for daybreak wiU, °hc
greatest impatience At last it came; but what a scene did it show us!
I ho ship upon a bed of rocks, mountains of them on one side, and
Cordilleras of water on the other; our poor ship grinding and crying out
a every .troko between them; going away by piece-meal Ilowcvfrrto
show he unaccountable workings of Providence, that which often appears

sea lifted and beat us up so high among the rocks, that at last the ship

TJZ^ ""-'""'iu ^^Z r' r'^ '"'■""^' »"•' ''''' »«' so to pieces at the •
hist thumping, though her decks tumbled in. We found afterward thit
she had beat over a ledge of rocks almost a quarter of a mile in exten
beyond us, where, f she had struck, every soul of us must have p^-rSed

.hJ7 ""• "" "T."' "'^g/"'"? «" «hore, so I stripped off my coat and
hoes or a swim, and looked for a line, to c.rry the end with me Lucki y
I could not find one, which gave me time for recollection: 'This won't
do for me, to be the first man out of the ship, and first lieutenant- vvc
may get to England again, and people may think I paid a great deal of
attention to rnyse f, and did not care for anybody else. No, that won't

I now thought there was no probability of the ship's soon going to

vitSTki'.TlrhM'^ ""V ^^""^'^^ '• '"^•'"'' ^«^"'= '"""^ - '««k round
with a kind of philosophic eye, to see how the same situation affected

my companions, and was surprised to find the most swaggering, swearing

bui lies ,n fine weather now the most pitiful wretcheron earth, wl en

death appeared before them. However, two got safe ; by which means

with a line we got a hawser on shore, and made fast to the rocks upon

which rnany ventured and arrived safe. There were some sick and

wounded on board, who could not avail themselves of this method ; we

therefore got a spare topsail yard from the chains and placed one end

SSo" tHs wa;."''" "^ '" ^''''" ^''"•^°"' '"^ '''' '"-' '' "^'S got

A.S I had determined, so I was the last man out of the ship; this was

about ten o'clock. The gale now began to break. Sir Hyde came S

a™bi;t;speaL^ "' '''''' ''"''"" ^° ^'^''^'^^ '''''' ^' Jas scaTcelj

lo<;k\Torr'poorPhSrj!'"'""' ^''P"""" '^ ^^^ y°" "° «'^-''' ''"«

JJT^^^ ''*'°."'' •'"* '^°",'*' "^' '"y '^ ''"g'" ««'-<J' being too full; my
mind had been too mtenscly occupied before ; but everything now rushed
.pon me at once, so that I could not contain myself, and I inddged for

"isjr

It
I *

598

INCIDENTS OF OCEAN LIFE.

u full quarter of an hour. By twelve it was pretty moderate : got «""«
nails on shore and made tents; we found great quant.t.es of fish driven
up hy the sea into holes of the rocks: knocked up a fire and hau a most
comfortable <iinner. In the afternoon we made a stape from the cabin
windows to the rocks, and got out some provisions and water, lest the
ship should go to pieces, in which case we must all have penrhed of
hun-rer and thirst; for we were upon a desolate part of the coast, and
under a rocky mountain that could not supply us with a s.^igle drop ol

''''slept comfortably this night; md the next day the idea of death van-
ishing by degrees, the prospect of being prisoners, during the war, at
Havana, and walking three hundred miles to it through the woods,
was Sher unpleasant. However, to save life for the present, we
employed this day in getting more provisions and water on shore, W'^^uch
wai not an easy matter, on account of decks, guns^ and rubbish, and ten
feet of water that lay over them. In the evening I proposed to Sir Hyde
to repair the remains of the only lK>at loft, and to venture '" her to
Jamaica myself; and in case I arrived safe to bring vessels to take them
all olV: a proposal worthy of consideration. It was next day agreed to ;
therefore we got the cutter on shore, and set the carpenters to work on her ;
in two days she was ready, and at four o'clock in the^afternoon I embarked
with four volunteers and a fortnight's provision; hoisted Enghsh colors
as we put off from shore, and received three cheers from he lads left
behind and set sail with u light heart ; having not the least doubt that
with God's assistance, we should come and bring them all off. Had a
vorv squally night, and a very leaky boat, so as to keep two buckets
constantly bailing. Steered her myself the whole night by the stars,
and in the morning saw the coast of Jamaica, distant twelve leagues.
At eiL'ht in the evening arrived at Montego Bay. , . . ,p „ ,.^,„

I must now begin to leave off, particularly as I have but half an lour
to conclude; else my pretty little short letter vviU lose its passage which
I should not like, after being ten days, at different times, wn '"g ^ ^
beating up with the convoy \o the northward, which is a reason that this
epistle will never read well ; for I never sat down with a proper disposi-
tion to go on with it ; but as I knew something of the kind would please
you, I was resolved to finish it; yet it will not bear an overhaul ; so do
not expose your son's nonsense. • , • i .u„.

But to proceed-I instantly sent off an express to the Admual, anothc
to the Porcupine man-of-war, and went myself to Martha Bray to get
vessels ; for all their vessels here, as well as many of their houses, were
eone to Moco. Got three small vessels, and set out back again to
Cuba, where I arrived the fourth day after leaving my companions. I
thought the ship's crew would have devoured me on my landing; they
presently whisked me up on their shoulders and carried me to the tent
where Sir Hyde was.

oderate ; got some
titles of fish driven
ire anil had a most
ape from the cabin
uid water, lest the
I have perirhed of
t of the coast, and
h a six'gle drop of

idea of death van-
durlng the war, at
hrough the woods,
r the present, we
tcr on shore, which
nd rubbish, and ten
oposed to Sir Hyde
i venture in her to
essels to take them
next day agreed to ;
iters to work on her ;
i\ernoon I embarked
isted English colors
B from the lads left
the least doubt that,
;hem all off. Had a
» keep two buckets
night by the stars.
;ant twelve leagues.

ive but half an hour
e its passage, which
ut times, writing it,
is a reason that this
ilh a proper disposi-
e kind would please
■ an overhaul ; so do

the Admiral, another
Martha Bray to get
)f their houses, were
t out back again to
my companions. 1
m my landing ; they
irried me to the tent

INCIDENTS OF OCEAN LIFE.

A MAN OVERBOAUD.

589

MoNOAv, November 19th, was a black day in our calendar. At seven
o'clock in the morning, it being our watch below, we were aroused from
a sound sleep by the cry. " All hands ahoy! a man overboard!"

This unwonted cry sent a thrill through the heart of every one ; and
hurrying on deck, we found the vessel hove flat aback, with all her stud-
ding-sails set ; for the boy who was at the helm, left it to throw some-
thing overboard, and the carpenter, who was an old sailor, knowing that
tJie wind was light, put the helm down, and hove her aback. The watch
on deck were lowering away the quarter-boat, and I got on deck just in
time to heave myself into her as she was leaving the side j but it was not
until out upon the wide Pacific, in our little boat, that I knew whom we
had lost. It was George Ballmer, a young English sailor, who was
prized by the oflicers as an active and willing seaman, and by the crew
as a lively, hearty fellow, and a good shipmate. He was going aloft to
fit a strap round the main-top-mast-head, for ring-tail halyards, and had
the strap and block, a coil of halyards, and a marline-spike about his
neck. He fell from the starboard futtock shrouds, and not knowing how
to swim, and being heavily dressed, with all those things around his
neck, he probably sunk immediately. We pulled astern, in the direction
in which he fell, and though we knew that there was no hope of saving
him, yet no one wished to speak of returning, and we rowed about
for nearly an hour, without the hope of doing anything, but unwilling
to acknowledge to ourselves that we must give him up. At length we
turned the boat's head and made toward the vessel.

Death is at all times solemn, but never so much so as at sea. A man
dies on shore; his body remains with his friends, and, "the mourners go
about the streets ; " but when a man falls overboard at sea and is lost,
there is a suddenness in the event, and a difficulty in realizing it, which
give to it an air of awful mystery. A man dies on shore — you follow
his body to the grave, and a stone marks the spot. You are often pre-
pared for the event. There is always something which helps you to
realize it when it happens, and to recall it when it has passed. A man
is shot down by your side in battle, and the mangled body remains an
olfject, and a real evidence ; but at sea, the man is near you — at your
side — you hear his voice, and in an instant he is gone, and nothing but
a vcxancy shows his loss. Then, too, at sea — to use a homely but
expressive phrase — you mm a man so much. A dozen men are shut
up together in a little bark, upon the wide, wide sea, and for months and
months see no forms and hear no voices but their own, and one is taken
suddenly from among them, and they miss him at every turn. It is like
losing a limb. There are no new faces, or new scenes to fill up the
gap. There is always an empty berth in the forecastle, and one man
wanting when the small night watch is mustered. There is one less to
take the wheel, and one less to lay out with you on the yard. You miss
his form, and the sound of his voice, for habit had made them almost
necessary to you, and each of your senses feels the loss.

All these things make such a death peculiarly solemn, and the rtVect
of it remains upon the crew for some time. There is more kindness
shown by the officers to the crew, and by the crew to one another.
There is more quietness and seriousness. The oath and the loud
laugh are gone. The oflicers are more watchful, and the crew go more
carefully aloft. The lost man is seldom mentioned, or is dismissed with

690

INCIDENTS OF OCEAN LIFE.

rudo ciilopy. "Well, poor Grorgo is gone! Hi8 cruise is up
Hoon! lie iinow bis work, and did his duty, and was a good shipmato."
TlicMi usually follows soino allusion to anottier world, for sailors are
almost all believers; but their notions niid opinions aro unfixed and at
loose ends. They say, — ''God wont bo hard upon the poor fellow,"
and seldom get beyond the common phrase which seems to imply that
their sullerings and hard treatment here will excuse them here&tler, —

" To work hard, live hard, die hard, and go to hell after all, would
be hard indeed f'' Our cook, a simple hearted old African, who had
been through a good deal in his day, and was seriously inclined, always
going to church twice a day when on shore, and reading his Bible on a
Sunday in the galley, talked to the crew about spending their Sabbaths
badly, and told them that they might go as suddenly as George had, and
bo as little prepared.

Yet a sailor's life is at best but a mixture of a little good with much
evil, and a little pleasure with much pain. The beautiful is linked with
tho revolting, the sublime with the common-place, and the solemn with
the ludicrous.

We had hardly returned on board with our sad report, before an
auction was held of the poor man's clothes. The captain had first,
however, called all hands aft and asked them if they were satisfied
that everything had been done to save the man, and if they thought
there was any use in remaining there any longer. The crew all said
that it was in vain, for the man did not know how to swim, and was very
heavily dressed. So we filled away and kept her oft" to her course.

The laws regulating navigation make the captain answerable for the
effects of a sailor who dies during the voyage, and it is either a law or
universal custom, established for convenience, that the captain should
immediately hold an auction of his things, in which they are bid off by
the sailors, and the sums wnich \i\ey give are deducted from their wages
at the end of the voyage.

In this way the trouble and risk of keeping his things through the
voyage are avoided, and the clothes are usually sold for more than they
would be worth on shore. Accordingly, we had no sooner got the ship
before the wind, than his chest was brought up upon the forecastle; and
the sale began. The jackets and trowsers in which we iiad seen hirti
dressed but a few days before, were exposed and bid off while the life
was hardly out of his body, and his chest was taken aft and used as a
store-chest, so that there was nothing left that could be called his.
Sailors have an unwillingness to wear a dead man's clothes during the
same voyage, and they seldom do unless they are in absolute want.

As is usual after a death, many stories -.vcre told about George. Some
heard him say that he repented never having learned to swim, and that
he knew that he should meet his death by drowning. Another said that
he never knew any good to come of a voyage made against the
will, and the deceased man shipped and spent his advance, and was
afterward very unwilling to go, but not being able to refund, was obliged
to sail with us. A boy, too, who had become quite attached to him said
that George talked to him during most of the watch on the night before,
about his mother and family at home, and this was the first time that he
had mentioned the subject during the voyage.

His cruise is up
a pood shipmato."
Id, for sailors arp
TO unfixed and at
the poor fellow,"
;ems to imply that
them heretaier, —
II after all, xcoxtld
African, who had
ly inclined, always
ling his Bible on a
ing their Sabbaths
s George had, and

c good with much
tiful is linked with
d the solemn with

report, before an
captain had first,
ley were satisfied
d if they thought
rhe crew all said
wim, and was very
to her course,
answerable for the
is either a law or
he captain should
hey are bid off by
i from their wages

hings through the
or more than they
Doner got the ship
he forecastle; and
we iiad seen hirti
I off while the life
aft and used as a
lid be called his.
[;Iothes during the
bsolutc want,
ut George. Some
to swim, and that
Another said that
made against the
advance, and was
;fund, was obliged
tached to him said
n the night before,
e first time that he

NARRATIVE

OF THE

MUTINY ON THE SOMERS,

\ WIO 0» WA« IN THI AMERICAN NAVAL 8KRV1CK, AtEXANOWl SLIDELL XAOEBMUB
OOMMANPKR ; ANP Or TBS

EXECUTION OF SPENCER, CROMWELL, AND SMALL.

The United States brig-of-war "Soiners" sailed from Now York
on the twelfth of September, 1842, witii dispatches for tlie United States
sloop-of-wiir " Vandalia," at liiburia, on the coast of Africa. The Somers
had on board A. S. Mackenzie, commander, with seven ofliccrs in the
steerage, and four in the wardroom, making in all twelve; together with
twelve petty officers — four rated as seamen; nine ordinary seamen, si.x
landsmen, and sev.enty-four apprentices, rated as boys.

Early in October the brig arrived at Madeira, and from thence pro-
ceeded, according to orders, via Teneriffe, and Porto Prayo, to Liberia.
But, upon arriving there, the commander learned that the Vandalia had
sailed, on the fifth of October, for the United Slates. The dispatches
with which he was entrusted, being thus rendered of no use, were left
with the United States agent. On the eleventh of November, Captain
Mackenzie sailed for the United States by the way of St. Thomas, where
he thought it would be necessary to take in a supply of bread, water, and
other refreshments.

"On Saturday, the twenty-fifth of November," states Captain Mackenzie,
•• Lieutenant Gausevoort came into the cabin and informed me that he
had learned from Mr. Wales that a conspiracy existed on board to capture
the vessel, murder the captain, bring over as many of the crew as possible,
murder the rest, and convert the vessel into a pirate; and that Midship-
man Spencer, [a son of the Honorable John C. Spencer, United Slates
Secretary of War,] was at the head of the conspiracy. This, Lieutenant
G.said, had been told him by Mr. Wales, whose narrative was as follows: —
On the night of the — of November, betwen six and eight o'clock in the
evening, Wales said he was roused by Spencer, who asked him to go upon
the booms, as he had something to say tc him. He got up, and, upon
arriving at the booms, he was asked by Spencer, 'Do you fear death?
do you fear a dead man? do you fear to kill a man?' Wales, with ad-
mirable coolness, induced Spencer to go on, took the oath of secrecy,
and entered into all his plans. Spencer told him that he had about
twenty men in his plot; that they would easily get posses.sion of the ship,
murder the conmander and oflBcers, and commence pir.icy. He gave
V?ales all the details of his plan, which were admirably suited for hi.'<
purpose, and arranged much better, Mr. Wales said, than he could have
done it himself. As an inducement to embark in the enterprise, Spenc»r
said that a large box of wine on board contained a large amount of gold
and other treasure. Spencer's object was to go to the Isle of Pines, wh«;re

(591)

692

MUTINT ON THE S0MER8.

one of his associates, who had been a pirate before, had n confederate
lie said ho woiihi nttack no vessels that he could not capture, and would
destroy all that ho captured ; that he would select from Ihein such ftmalcf
aa were proper, use them, and then dispose of them; that he had all tlu'
details of the plan drawn out on paper, which was in the back of hi.«
cravat. lie showed money to Mr. Wales, and, before separating, threat-
ened him with instant death if he ever revealed what he had told him."
Such, says Captain Mackenzie, was the purjwrt of the information which
I received from Lieutenant Gansevoort.

Captain M. further said, that to him the whole affair seemed so mon-
strous that he at first treated it with ridicule, believing that Spencer had
been amusing himself and Wales with some story of piracy he had learned
from some novel or tale of murder; still he (Captain M.) could not help
feeling that it was sporting with a serious subject, and he resolvi d to
be on his guard and watch closely the movements of Spencer. During
that day Spencer was much in the wardroom, examining a chart of the
West Indies, and made some inijuiries in regard to the Isle of Pines;
he passed the day sullenly, and was often observed to be looking over
a paper and writing with a pencil. He was frequently seen engaged
in holding secret conferences with Cromwell and Small, and was known to
have given money to different persons of the crew. lie had also incited
the steward to steal brandy, which ho had given to some of the men, and
with which he had once or twice got drunk himself.

Spencer had the faculty of throwing his lower jaw out of joint, and
thus playing with it a variety of musicr" airs; and he was repeatedly found
to be thus amusing the crew. In his intercourse with Captain Mackenzie
{tide Captain M.^s narrative,) he was servile to the last degree; but
among the crew he was loudly and blasphemously vituperative against
him, and the captain was informed of his declaration that it would give
him pleasure to roll him overboard from the round-top. Captain Mac-
kenzie discovered that he had drawn a representation of a black flag, and
asked members of the crew what they thought of it; and that he had
oflen said the vessel co':ld be easily taken.

"These things," continues Captain Mackenzie's narrative, "induced
me to look back over all I had heard or observed of Spencer. When he
first reported himself to me for duty on board my vessel, I gave him my
hand and welcomed him on board. I heard, not long after, that he had
been involved in difficulty when on the Brazil station, and that he had
been dismissed for drunkenness. Upon hearing this, I earnestly desired
his removal from my vessel — principally on account of the young men I
had with me ; two of whom were connected with me by blood, two by
alliance, and four were entrusted to my especial care. The circumstance
of his connexion with a high and distinguished officer of the Government,
by enhancing, if possible, his baseness, increased my desire to get rid
of him.

"I desired Lieutenant Gansevoort to state to Mr. Spencer that if he
would apply to Commodore Perry to detach him from the Somers, I would
second his application. The application was accordingly made and I
seconded it, earnestly urging that it might be granted in order to secure
the comfort of the young officers. Commodore Perry, however, declined
to detach Midshipman Spencer, but said he would consent to detach
Midshipman Rogers. I could not, however, consent to part with Mr.
Rogers, whom I had long known to be an accomplished seaman, a gentU
man, and an officer of the highest attainments both in and beyond

ind a confcdcratr
iptiirc, and would
hem sudi ftmalc!'
ihat he hnd all tin'
II the back of his"
icparating, thriat-
hc had told him."
information which

r scorned bo mon-
that Spencer had
icy he had learned
A.) could not help
d he resolved to
Spencer. During
ing a chart of the
the Isle of Pin(s;
J be looking over
tly seen engaged
and was known to
c had also incited
c of the men, and

' out of joint, and
i repeatedly found
/aptain Mackenzie

lai?t degree; but
tuperative against
thiit it would give
Captain Mac-
i" a black ^ag, and

and that he had

irrative, •' induced

oncer. When he

el, I gave him my

after, that he had

and that he had

earnestly desired

the young men I

by blood, two by

The circumstance

"the Government,

desire to get rid

pencer that if he
e Somers, I would
ingly made and 1
in order to secure
lowever, declined
consent to detach

to part with Mr.

seaman, agentlo-
n and beyond bi*

IfUTINT ON THE SOMERS.

693

proression. The Somers accordingly sailed with aevcn in the steerage ;
they could not all sit down together at the table; two of them had no
lockers, but slept upon the steerage deck, and subjected themselves to
considerable inconvenience, lo all which, however, they readily submitted
without the slightest murmur or complaint, and performed every duty
which fell to them, to the perfect satisfaction of all the officers.

" All these things I called to recollection, and endeavored carefully to
review the whole conduct of Spencer. I had treated him precisely as I
treated other midshipmen; though I had, perhaps, reproved him somewhat
less than the others for slight deviations from the strict line of his duty.
This arose from my conviction that there could be but little hope of
essentially serving one who had proved to be so decidedly his own enemy.
I observed that he was in the habit of associating but little with the other
officers, but that he was continually intimate with the crew. Ho was
oflen in the habit of joking with them and smiling whenever he met them,
with a smile never known but on such occasions; and I had frequently^
observed in him a strange flashing of the eye."

Captain Mackenzie goes on to say that he observed a marked feeling
of disrespect toward himself and other officers of the vessel, which seemed
to be gaining ground daily. Samuel Crommell seemed especially surly
and disobedient. He was a large muscular man, and apparently of a
rough and vindictive disposition. When the vessel first sailed from New
York he was very tyrannical toward the apprentices, having no conver-
sation with them, and keeping aloof from ihem altogether, and when called
upon to inflict punishment, he would strike with ail his might, as though
it was pleasing to him to whip them. His manner toward them changed;
he endeavored by every means to please them, would laugh and joke with
them, allowed them to pull him about, and appeared anxious to secure
their favor. He also grew negligent in his duty, evincing no desire,
when orders were given him, to see them carried out, but repeating them
lazily to the men, and without any attempt to urge their execution. His
manner at times was disrespectful to the officers of the brig; and once,
when Captain Mackenzie asked why some rigging had not been attended
to, he burst into a lit of rage and heaped cuises upon the commander as

soon as his back was turned. He said he did not care a about the

rigging; that Captain Mackenzie wanted too much work out of the crew,
and he wished "the commander and the brig farther in than they

were out!'' Soon aAer the brig left New York, he told Wales that
Spencer had given him 915, he mentioned no purpose, though he said
something about its being a " pretty good present." Spencer also drew
from $15 to 620 worth of tobacco and cigars during the cruise, which he
distributed to the crew — the tobacco rather to the boys than the men.
He gave Cromwell a bunch or two of cigars at one time, and also to Small.

Recalling these matters, in addition to what had been revealed. Captain
Mackenzie resolved at once to make himself sure of Spencer's person.
In the evening he gave orders to Mr. Perry, his clerk, to have all the
officers come aft upon the quarter-deck. Midshipman M. C. Perry was
ordered to take the wheel, and all the officers, except Mr. Hays, assem-
bled on the starboard of the after-deck. Captain Mackenzie then addressed
Spencer :

" I understand, sir, that you aspire to the command of this vessel t^*

With a deferential air he replied, ** Oh, no, sir!"

<* Did you not," said the commander, '< tell Mr. Wales that you had a
mutinous project on foot — that yov intended to kill the commander and
88

•/»

594

MUTINY ON THE 80MEB8.

deference and

the officer! of the Somnrs, and such of the crow ns you could not seduce
to your plans, and to enter upon a course of piracy!*^

'' I may have told him something like it," Spencer replied, but it wbh
only in joke^

''You admit, then, that you told him of such a plan?"

" Yes, sir, but it was all in joke."

" This, sir, you must know is joking upon a forbidden subject. Thih
joke, sir, may cost you your life. Be pleased to remove your neck
handkerchief"

Spencer did so. Captain Mackenzie opened it, but there was nothing
in it.

"What have you done with the paper that was in it?"

" The paper," he said, " which had been in it, contained my day's
work; and I destroyed it."

" It is a strange place, sir, to keep your accounts!"

Spencer acquiesced with an air of the greatest
blandncss.

Captain Mackenzie said to him: "Your design was to make yourself
commander of this vessel. You must have been aware that you could
compass it only by passing over my dead body and over the dead bodies
of all the officers of the Somors. You had laid out for yourself, sir, a
great deal to do. It is my duty to confine you."

Turning to Lieutenant Gansevoort, Captain Mackenzie said, " Arrest
Mr. Spencer, and place him in double irons."

Lieutenant Gansevoort stepped forward and received from Mr. Spencer
his sword. Mr. Spencer was then ordered to sit down: he did so.
Lieutenant Gansevoort was directed to place a watch over Spencer, and
to give orders to put him to instant death if he was detected in speaking
01 iiolding any communication with any of the crew. The nature of these
orders was told to Mr. Spencer. At the same time Lieutenant G. was
directed to allow him every possible indulgence consistent with his safe
keeping. The task was executed by Lieutenant Gansevoort with the
greatest kindness and humanity. While he watched with an eagle eye
over all his movements, and was ready at a moment's warning to take his
life upon a violation of those conditions on which his safety depended,
he attended to all his wants, and covered him with his own garment from
the squalls of rain by which they were visited.

The officers were then remanded to quarters ; the crew and batteries
were inspected, the orders were repeated, and the retreat was beaten.
The officers of the watch were all directed to be fully armed with cut-
lasses and pistols, with rounds of ammunition, and everything was put in
order for the night.

On searching the locker of Spencer, a razor case was found in it, which
he had recently drawn from the purser. On opening it, there was no
razor within, but in its stead a piece of paper in which was rolled another.
On the inner paper was written a string of characters, afterward found to
be Greek letters, with which Spencer was known to be familiar. It
fortunately happened that there was on board another individual who was
well acquainted with the Greek— one whose knowledge of this, as of
everything else, was devoted wholly to the service of his country. The
Greek characters, on being converted into our own language by Mr. Henry
Rogers, proved to contain the plan for the proposed mutiny. There was
a list of the different members of the crew, some of whom were marked
certain, and others doubtful; some were marked to be kept at all events,

could not seduce
jplicd, but it WBH

n subject. Thih
move your neck

lere was nothing
itainod my day^s

deference and

make yourself
B that you could
- the dead bodies
ir yourself, sir, a

sie said, " Arrest

from Mr. Spencer
}wn: he did so.
ver Spencer, and
ectod in speaking
le nature of these
ieutcnant G. was
tent with his safe
isevoort with the
vith an eagle eye
irning to take his
safety depended,
wn garment from

rew and batteries
treat was beaten.
' armed with cut-
ything was put in

found in it, which
[ it, there was no
as rolled another,
fterward found to

1 be familiar. It
idividualwho was
Ige of this, as of
lis country. The
age by Mr. Henry
tiny. There was
torn were marked
kept at all events.

MUTINY ON THE SOMERS.

and others to bo destroyed. Those were designated who were to do
the work of murder in tlio various apartments; others wore to open the
arm-chest, and the stations of all wore assigned.

Tilt; Coiiowing day was Sunday, and all were to be insperlod at ten
o'clock. Captain Mackenzie took his station aft, for the purpose of ob-
serving CromWcll and Small, as they should come along on ihr f|uart<r-
deck. The persons of both were faultlessly clean and neat. Cromwell
stood up to his full stature, carrying his battle-ax firmly and steadily;
his cheeks pale, but his eyes fixed to starboard. 1I«> wore a determined
and dangerous air. Small presented a very different figure. His appear-
ance was ghastly, his manner uneasy; he shifted his weight from side to
side, and his battle-ax from hand to hand. His eye was never for a
moment fixed, but always averted from Captain Mackenzie. " I then
attributed his conduct to fear," says the captain, " though I now believe
the business upon which he had entered was repugnant to his nature,
but that liis love for money and rum was too strong for his fidelity."
Five bells, or ten o'clock, was the time for divine service. The roll was
called — crew all present — unusually attentive, and their responses more
than ordinarily full and audible. In the afternoon the sky-sails and stud-
ding-sails were set. Gazely, one of the best of the apprentices, was
sent aloft on the royal yard to make some alteration in the rigging. At
once a sudden jerk was given to the brace by Small and another, who
has not been discovered, and the fore-topmast, with the topsail, gallant
stay-sail, and head gaff-topsail, came down. Captain Mackenzie says,
'• i scarcely dared to look to see the spot where the boy should fall. The
next moment his shadow appeared at the mast-head, and I presently dis-
covered him examining with admirable coolness what was to be done.

I did not dare to believe this carrying away of the topmast the work
of treachery; but I know that an occasion of this sort, such as the loss
of the boy, which should create confusion, and interrupt the duty of the
officers, would be sought by them, if they were bent on the prosecution
of the enterprise. All possible measures were taken to prevent confusion.
The rigging was immediately restored and the sails bent afresh. Every
member of the crew was employed, and all things were made to go on
with regularity. To my astonishment, upon the occurrence of this dis-
aster all the conspirators who were named in the programme of Spencer,
no naatler in what part of the vessel they were engaged at the time, im-
mediately mustered at the mainmast — whether animated by some new-
born zeal to serve their country, or intending to carry out their designs,
1 cannot say. This circumstance at once confirmed my belief in the
continued existence of the danger. The eye of Spencer traveled con-
tinually to the mast-head, and he cast quick and stealthy glances about,
as he had not done before."

The wreck was soon cleared away and supper piped. After supper
the same persons mustered at the mast-head, and the sails were set.
After quarters they dispersed. Still Captain M. did not think it safe to
leave Cromwell at liberty during the night, which was emphatically the
season of danger. After consulting with Lieutenant Gansevoort, he
determined to arrest Cromwell. An officer was sent to guard the rigging.
As soon as Cromwell came upon the Jacob's ladder, Lieutenant Ganse-
voort met him, cocked his pistol and pointed it at him, and when he got
on deck told him that the captain wanted to see him. When he came tO'
where Captain M. stood, he was commanded to sit down. The captain
interrogated him about the conversation he had had with Spencer. He said-j.

-— ---irvEats^ftSBW**^ .

500

MUTINY ON THE S01IKR8.

" It waH not inf, »\t; it wm Hmnll." (rromwoll wnn the tnllost man on
board nnd Smnll tlir nhorlcHt.) Cromwell was iinniodinloly put in irona.
Siiiall, hniii;; iIiiik RcciiHfd ity nn ainociiitc, wrh ordered before the
captain.

" S|K<ii(MT liaH talked with you about the plot?" flui<i thn captain.
Minull iu-(|iiir.sc('d. He wax then ironed, and ^riven to understand that
ho would lio confined at the othetH were, brought lionie, and tried.
The utmost vigilance was then enjoined upon the olhcers. All were
armed, and either Lieutenant (iansevoort or Captain Mackenzie wai
constantly on deck.

The next mornint;, which was Monday, the twenty-sixth of November,
two crimes of considerable mn^nitmle came to light. One of the Men
had l)een delected in stealing from a boat, and the stewiird had stolen
montiy and given some of it to Spencer. This was no time to relax the
discipline of the ship, and l)Oth the men were punished to the extent of
the law. It was soon aflor found that a man named U'altham hnd told
M'Kinley where three bottles of wine wore placed, and olfered them to
him. M'Kinley was stationed near the arm-chest and reported this to
the first lieutenant. Punishment of Waltham, however, was postponed
till the next day. Punishnnent of the other two being over, the com-
mander deemed it a fit opportunity to make an impression upon the crew.
Ho had good reason to think that the danger of the conspiracy was not
over; he believed that a majority of the crew might be said to be in
general disaflTccted, and disposed to resist discipline. Some mysterious
agency had evidently been at work since the departure of the Somers
from New York, and this was now disclosed.

Captain Mackenzie explained to the crow the general nature of
Spencer's plot, and the atrocious character of the designs he had formed.
Ho took especial care not to betray a suspicion that he tho< :.'ht any
particular one of them was deeply implicated, but exhorted all of them
to repent of their intentions and attend faithfully to their duty. Ho took
good care to assure them that the majority of the crew must at all events
sh^re the fate of the officers. He strove to divert their minds from the pic-
tures of successful vice which Spencer had presented to them. He brought
up before them images of friends at home; he endeavored to impress
upon their minds the endearing nature of those ties of kindred from which
Spencer had sought to sever them forever, and expressed the hope
that within three weeks they should all be again among their friends.
He thanked God that he had provided them all with dear friends who
were deeply interested in their welfare, and that they had the prospect
of 80 soon being once more among them.

The effect of his address upon them was various. Many of them
seemed delighted at their narrow delivery, and others seemed struck
with horror at the thotight of the terrible danger they had f>. aped.
Some seemed overwhelmed with terror at the anticipation of punishment
that awaited them. Others were overcome bythoughtsof returning home,
and wept profusely at the mention of the fViends they hoped sc soon to
see. Ho could not help believing that all the crew were now tranquil,
and that the vessel was again safe. Having observed that Spencer was
endeavoring to hold intelligence with some of them, he directed the
faces of all the prisoners to be turned aft, and that no tobacco should be
allowed them when the supply they had upon their persi as at the time
of their arrest should be exhausted. He told them that he would see
thtt they h»d everything necesstrj for their comfort; that each should

^«6«t*«KW-. .i—^'^

tnllflot man on
ly put in irons,
oil before the

n rnptnin.
iindfrgtnnd that
iiiH!, and tried,
crs. All were
Vlackcnzio was

h of Novrmbrr,
>no of til'! Mcn
mrd had stolen
iriK! to relax the
to the extent of
ilthatn had told
ollorcd th«m to
reported this to
was postponed
over, the com-
n upon the crew.
iHpiracy was not

said to be in
ome mysterious
) of the Somcrs

icral nature of
i he had formed,
he tho' I'ht any
irtcd all of them

duty. He took
lust at all events
rids from the pic-
em. He brought
rored to impress
dred from which
ressed the hope
ig their friends.

ear friends who
had the prospect

Many of them

1 seemed struck
ey had (h> aped.
m of punishment

relurning home,
hoped sc soon to
)re now tranquil,
that Spencer was

he directed the
jba'-co should be
T8< iS at the time
lat he would see
til at each should

MUTINY ON THE HOMERS.

597

have his ration; that thny should ho abundantly supplied with everything
nceossary for tlinir health and convenience. Uut hn told thorn that tobacco
was only a Htimiilant, and that, as ho wished their minds to become as
quiet and tran(|uil as poasiblo, ho could not allow them to use it.

The day after Spencer's tobacco was stopped, his spirit gave wny. He
would sit for a long time with bis face buried in his cloak, and when he
raised his head, his face was bathed in tears. Ho was touched by tho
kind atttMition of Mr. (lanscvoort. Ho told him that he was not then in
a state to speak of anything, but that he would tho next day toll him all-
would answer any question that might be put to him.

On Tuesday, after quarters, all hands were again called to witness
punishment, and Waltham was punished to tho extent of tho law, for
ofl'cring three Iwttlcs of wine to M'Kinloy. Captain Mackenzie then
spoke to the crew of the noccssity of conforming in all particulars to the
orders of tho vessel, which were known. Ho told them that every pun-
ishment on board must be made known tutho Secretary of the Navy, and
that tho loss thoy were in amount, tho greater would bu tho credit that
would attach to tho commander and crow.

But iio soon discovered that the whole crow wore far from tranquil.
They collected in knots upon the deck — seditious words wero heard among
thom — and thoy assumed an insolitnt and menacing tone. Some of the petty
otficers wero examined and found to bo true to thu colors, but there was
reason to fear that on that very night a rescue would be attempted. The
commander obtained from time to time intelligence of various conferences
among the disafToctcd; and individuals not before supposed to bo deeply
implicated, wore now found in cioso association with tiioso who wore.

During tho first watch, while Midshipman Perry had charge of tho
deck, the boon-tackle was carried awoy. Tho ofticer of the deck told the
boy at tho wheel to get hold of the weathor-sheot, and sung out "Some
of you come ail.'* In similar cases, it had boforo been difficult to get
enough aft to do the duty required, but now some fifteen or eighteen
rushed aft; three were ordered to remain and tho rest to go forward.
Throughout tlie vessel there was strong evidence of an intention to attempt
a rescue. Tho men talked together in an under tone. In the morning,
while the crow wero holystoning the deck, Wales being officer in charge
of tho prisoners, observed signs passing between Spencer, Wilson and
M'Kinley; they put their hands to their chins, and Cromwell, who was
lying on the arm-chest, rose up. Wales told him that his orders were
to shoot him down if he made the least attempt to escape, and he should
do so if he did not lie still. Ho then lay down. Wales then went back,
with his pistol cocked, to the launch, where Wilson was looking about,
and found that ho had a number of tho holystones out, and that he was
taking out a handspike. Wales told him if he saw him making any
further signs he would blow his brains out. He said nothing; did not
put the handspike back, but went to draw some water. Wales expressed
his fears to Commander Mackenzie and the first lieutenant, telling them
he thought it dangerous to leave the holystones about, as they migh' be
offensively used. While Spencer was in irons, near the battlc-ax rack,
he was observed trying how he could work an ax with his irons on, moving
it up and down. After this was told to the first lieutenant, ho told it to
the captain, and the battle-axes were removed to the arm-chest.

Rendered apprehensive by these indications upon the part of the crew,
the commander felt more anxious than he had before done, and remained
continually oti decl... At twelve o'clock, when the watch was called,

598

MUTINY ON THE 80MER8.

M'Kinley, Green, and others, aeriously implicated, missed their muster;
they could not be asleep, and why they should be absent just a) that time,
when they never had been before, was not easy to be seen. When they
appeared, they all had some lame excuse. They probably had agreed
to meet at the time, and to commence some act of violence. Green said
ho could not get aft. The commander rejected his excuse with an ex-
clamation of impatience, and ordered him to take the forward look-out
for four hours.

" At four o'clock others missed their muster," continues the narrative
of the captain. "I heard of this with the greatest uneasiness. Where,
1 asked, was this to end? If the men upon a bright night like this seem
mutinous and disposed to undertake the rescue of those confined; on a
bad night, in a storm, in the midst of utter darkness, how much greater
will be the probability of a rescue? If all suspected should be ironed,
would the danger be over? What sympathy might not be felt for the
prisoners? These matters crowded upon my mind. I considered the
imminent peril which hung over the lives of the officers and crew; I
thought of the seas traversed in every direction by merchantmen, unarmed
and defenseless ; I thought of what was due to the interests of commerce,
to the safety of the Ifves of thousands upon the deep, to the sanctity of
the American flag, entrusted to my care, i.nd to my own honor. All
these considerations impressed me with the absolute necessity of adopting
.some further means of security for the vessel which had been given to
my charge.

" I took council with the first lieutenant, and was fortified in my pur-
l>o.se3 by finding his opinion identical with my own. In so grave a case,
involving so many interests and such high responsibilities, I felt desirous
of having the opinion of all my officers upon the matter, though not a
shadow of doubt remained in my mind of the guilt of the prisoners, should
their execution be deemed necessary. I did not forget that the officers
were still boys, and that all the responsibility of the proceeding must rest
upon the older and higher officers. Still I felt desirous to have their
opinion, and accordingly addressed them the following letter.

" U. S. Bkio Sohers, November 30tk, 1042.

" Gentlemen: I am desirous of availing myself of your counsel in the
very responsible position in which I find myself placed. You are aware
of the circumstances which resulted in the confinement of Midshipman
Spencer, of Boatswain's-mate Cromwell, and of Seaman Small; and I
purposely abstain from entering into details concerning them. Neces-
sarily ignorant, as I am, of the extent of disaffection among the crew who
have so long been tampered with, and knowing the suspicion which
attaches to some of the crew who are at large, I address you and ask
your united counsel as to the best course now to be pursued; and I call
upon you to take into deliberate and dispassionate consideiation, the
conduct which will be necessary for a safe continuance of the remainder
of our course, and to enlighten me with your opinion as to the proper
method to be pursued.

I am, your obedient servant,

AxBX. SuDBLL Mackenzie,

Commander.

"Lieut. Gansevoort, and others."

'^^k-A^ftMtftek^ - J«U»V.»4k^u>'

^■■lh^,.^ha,4y.^^£l£.- ^-

MUTINY ON THE 80MER8.

599

isscd their muster;
nt just a) that time,
seen. When they
obably had agreed
lence. Green said
excuse with an ex-
s forward look-out

:inues the narrative
easiness. Where,
light like this seem
lOse confined; on a
how much greater
I should be ironed,
not be felt for the
I considered the
ficers and crew; I
:hantmen, unarmed
srests of commerce,
), to the sanctity of
y own honor. All
Bcessity of adopting
had been given to

fortified in my pur-
In so grave a case,
ities, I felt desirous
latter, though not a
le prisoners, should
get that the officers
roceeding must rest
jirous to have their
ig letter.

ber 30th, 1042.

your counsel in the
;d. You are aware
lent of Midshipman
iman Small; and I
ling them. Neces-
inong the crew who
he suspicion which
ddress you and ask
pursued; and I call
} consideiation, the
ce of the remainder
ion as to the proper

at,

ACKENZIK,

Commander.

After I had written this letter, but before I had sent it, at about nine
o'clock, Wilson being foiled in his attempt to get up an outbreak at night,
and feeling that he was narrowly watched and was no longer lefl at liberty,
came forward and made some lame and worthless confession, and re-
quested that he might not be put in irons. I told him that if he had
made any real confession, in 8ince''ty and truth, he should not be molested ;
but that it was an insult to hii o.ilcer to offer him so lame a story as that
he had told. Nothing mort '•ould be got out of him, and he was
immediately put in irons.

While on the African coast i knew that he had procured an extraor-
dinary knife, broad in the middle, and running to a point. He had made
it very sharp on both sides. It was a singular weapon, of no use except
to kill. He had been seen also the day before sharpening his battle-ax
with a file, and had brought one part of it to an edge. This Was a thing
never allowed or known before on board. M'Kinley was now arrested.
He was evidently the individual in every way the most formidable of all
concerned. — M'Kee was also put in irons. They were made to sit down •
and "vhen the irons were put on I walked around the batteries, followecf
by Lieutenant Gansevoort, and made a careful inspection.

On the receipt of my letter the officers immediately assembled and
entered upon the examination of witnesses, who were sworn and their
testimony written down. In addition to this each witness signed the
evidence he gave. In this employment the officers passed the whole day
without interruption, and without taking the least food. I remained, my-
self, in charge of the deck. The officers were excused from watcii duty,
and the watches were so arranged that two in succession fell to me. On
the first of December the first lieutenant presented me with the following
letter:

"U. S. Brig Somers, December Ut, 1842.
"Sir: In answer to your letter requiring our counsel as to the best
course to be pursued with regard to tiie prisoners, Sj)encer, Cromwell
and Small, we have the honor to state, that the evidence which has come
to our knowledge afler the njost careful, deliberate and dispassionate
consideration which the exigency would allow, is of such a nature as to
call for the most decided action. We are convinced that in the existing
state of things, it will be impossible to carry the prisoners to the United
States. We think that the safety of our lives, and honor of the Hag en-
trusted to our charge, require that the prisoners be put to death, as the
course best calculated to make a salutary impression upon the rest of the
crew. In this decision we trust we have been guided by our duty to our
God, to our country, and to the service.

Respectfully, your obedient servants,

LiECT. Gan8£vo,ort, and others.
"Com. Mackenzie.'^

I at once concurred in the justice of this opinion, and made prepara-
tions to carry the recommendation into efiect. Two other conspirators
were almost as guilty as the three singled out for execution: they could
be kept confined without extreme danger to the ultimate safety of the
vessel. The three chief mutineers were the only ones capable of navi-
gating and sailing the vessel. By their removal, all motive to capture

K.«kV.)b...<»J«.v*«<DC. '•

, -.«^-i

!;i*(*»*jL^«**'-.».__«_^ .

-.^.i-,.^,.N*,^ii- '

-^«>*..llWi^i | | , >, ii . i ,W I

600

MUTINY ON THE S0UER8.

the vessel and carry out their original design would be at once taken
away. Their lives were justly forfeited, and the interests of the country,
the safety of the sea, and the honor of the flag, required the sacrifice.
/n the necessity of my position I found my law; and in that necessity
I trust for justijication. I thought it best to arm the petty oflicers; on
this point only the first lieutenant difiered from me; and I found that he
was of the same opinion with some of the petty officers themselves; —
they said that since I could not tell whom to trust, it would be best to
trust no one. I made up my mind, and judged of the characters whom
I could trust, and determined to arm them. I ordered to be issued to
each a cutlass, a pistol, and cartridges. I ordered preparation also to be
made for execution of the three. All hands were called to witness
punishment. The whips were arranged, the officers were stationed about
the deck, and the petty officers were directed to cut down every one who
should let go his whip or fail to haul when ordered.

I put on my full uniform, came on deck, and proceeded to execute
the most painful duty that ever devolved upon any officer in the American
Navy — the announcement to the prisoners of the fate that awaited them.
I approached Spencer and said to him. You were about to take my life,
Mr. Spencer, without provocation, without cause or the slightest ofiense.
You intended lo kill me suddenly, in the night, while I was buried in
sleep, without giving me a single moment to send one word of affection
to my wife, one prayer to God for her welfare. Your life is now forfeited;
and the necessity of the case compels me to take it. I do not intend,
however, to imitate you in the mode of claiming the sacrifice. If there
be in your breast one feeling true to nature, you will be grateful for the
premature di'sclosure of your horrible designs. You surely ought to be
thankful that you have been prevented from the terrible deeds you medi-
tated. If you have any word to send to your father, any satisfaction to
express to him that you were not allowed to become a pirate, as you
ought to do, you will have ten minutes granted in which to write it.
Midshipman Thompson was then directed to note the time and inform
us when it had expired.

Spencer seemed overcome with emo'ijn. He tburst into a flood of
tears, sank on his knees, and said he was not fit to die. I repeated (o
him his catechism, and begged him to offer sincere prayers for the divine
forgiveness. I recommended to him the English Prayer Book, assuring
him that he would {ind in it something suited to all his necessities.
Cromwell fell upon his knees, protesting his innocence, and invoking the
name of his wife. Spencer declared that Cromwell was innocent, and
begged that this might be believed. This, I confess, staggered me; but
the evidence of his guilt was conclusive. Lieutenant Gansevoort said
that there was not a shadow of doubt of it.

The petty officers said he was the one man from whom real appre-
hension was entertained. He was at first the accomplice of Spencer.
and was then urged on by him, and had been by him turned to his account.
I tried to show him how Spencer had endeavored to use him, and told
Spencer that he had made remarks about him he would not consider
flattering. He expressed great anxiety to know what they were. I told

him Cromwell had said of him and another person that * there was a

fool on one side, and a knave on the other,' and told him that Cromwell

would have allowed him to live only so long as he could have made iiini
useful to himself. This roused him, and from that time he said no more
of CromwelPs innocence.

>e at once taken
la of the country,
ed the sacrifice.
in that necessity
)etty officers; on
1 1 found that he
8 themselves; —
vould be best to
characters whom
to be issued to
iration also to be
;allcd to witness
D stationed about
rn every one who

eded to execute
in the American
lat awaited them.
it to taice my life,
slightest ofl'ense.
> I was buried in
word of aflfection

is now forfeited;
I do not intend,
crifice. If there
e grateful for the
urely ought to be
deeds you medi-
iny satisfaction to
a a pirate, as you
'hich to write it.

time and inform

it into a flood of
e. I repeated (o
ers for the divine
er Book, assuring
1 his necessities.
, and invoking the
vaa innocent, and
aggered me; but
Gansevoort said

vhom real appre-
plice of Spencer,
led to his account,
ise him, and told
>uld not consider
hey were. I told

* there wag a

him that Cromwell
Id have made iiini
B he said no more

MUTINY ON THE SOMERS.

601

Subsequent circumstances made me believe that Spencer wished to
save him, probably from the hope that he would yet get possession of the
ve.-isel aiui carry out his original design; and, perhaps, that Cromwell
woiil.i in Home way effect his rescue. He endeavored, at the same time,
to persuade me that Small was only an alias for some one else on his list,
though this was proved to be false. Small alone was the one we had set
down us the poltroon of the three ; yet he received the announcement
of his fate with great composure. He was asked what preparation he
wished to make. He said he had none : ' Nobody cares for me,' said he,
• but my poor old mother, and I would rather she would not know what
has become of me.'

I returned to Spencer. I asked him what message he had to send to
his friends. He said, ' None. Tell them that I die wishing them every
blessing and happiness. I doserve death for this and my other crimes.
There are few crimes I have not committed. I am sincerely penitent for
them all. I only fear my repentance is too late.' I asked him if there
was any one whom he had injured to whom he could make reparation —
any one who was suffering obloquy on his account. He said, 'No; but
this will kill my poor mother.' I did not know before that he had a mother,
and was touched by his allusion to her. I asked him if it would not have
been far more dreadful if he had succeeded in his attempt — if it were
not much better to die as he would, than to become a pirate and steep
himself so terribly in blood and guilt. He said, ' I do not know what would
have become of me if I had succeeded.'

I told him that Cromwell would soon have made away with him, and
that M'Kinley would probably have destroyed them both. He said he
feared this would injure his father. Had you succeeded, I replied, the
injury you would have done him would have been much greater. If it
had been possible to take him home, as I first intended, I told him that
he would have got clear, as in America a man with money and influential
friends would always be cleared;* that the course I was taking would
injure his father less than if he should go home and be condemned, yet
again escape. He said that he had attempted the same thing on board
the John Adams and the Potomac, but had been unsuccessful. He
asked if I had not exaggerated the danger. I told him No; that his
attempts to corrupt the crew had been too widely successful; that I knew
of the existence of the conspiracy, but did not know how extensive it was.
I recapitulated to him his acts. He was startled when I told him of his
stealing brandy. He admitted the justice of his fate, but asked me if I
was not going too far and too fast. ' Does the law justify you?' said he.
I replied that his opinion was not unprejudiced; that I had consulted all
the oflicers and they had given ^heir opinion that it was just — ^that he
deserved death.

He asked what would be the manner of his death. I explained it to
him. He requested that he might be shot. I told him that it could not
be — that he must be hung. He admitted that it was just. He objected
to the shortness of the time, and requested that an hour might be given
to prepare. I made no answer to this, but allowed much more than the
hour he asked for to elapse. He requested that his face might be covered.
I granted his request and asked him what it should be covered with.
He said a handkerchief. In his locker was found a black one, which

* Perhaps this is an extreme and crroneoue opinion, and not just. But I am merely
stating facts — what passed on the occasion.

- teZ.J*»* .

.. .-*.*i%.-»..MjSt*:

■- * --as'j^iiC: ;

602

MUTINY ON THE SOMERS.

'ir.

was put on his face. Cromwell and Small made the same request, and
frocks were taken from their lockers with v hich their heads were

covered.

Spencer asked for a Bible and Prayer Book— they were given to him.
He said ' I am a believer — but do you think that my repentance will be
accepted?' I called to his mind the thief on the cross, and told him that
God's mercies were equal to all his wants. He kneeled down an J read
from the Prayer Book, and asked again if I thought his repentance would
be accepted, saying that his time was short. I told him & d not only
understood his case hut could suit his grace to it. He begged that I
would forgive him. I told him I did, most sincerely and cordially, and
asked him if I had done anything which made him seek my life, or
whether his hatred was unfounded. He said he thought it was only fancy.
'Perhaps,' he added, 'there was something in your manner which ottended
me.' I read over to him what 1 had written down. He wished me to
alter the passage in wliich I said that he 'offered as an excuse,^ that he
had attempted the same thing on the John Adams and Potomac. He only
mentioned it as a fact, ho said.

More than an hour had now elapsed. Spencer, as he met Cromwell,
paused and asked to see Mr. Wales. As he passed Cromwell, he said
not a word of his innocence, nor did he make any appeal in his favor.
Spencer said, ' Wales. I hope you will forgive me for tampering with
your fidelity.' Wales replied, overcome with emotion, ' I do forgive you
from the bottom of my heart, and I hope God will forgive you also.'
Wales was weeping; and Spencer, in passing, met Small at the gangway.
He extended his hand and said, ' Small, forgive me for having brought

you into trouble.' Small answered, ' No, Spencer, I cannot

forgive you.' Spencer repeated his request. Small said, ' How can you
ask that of me after having brought me to this? We shall soon be before
God, and shall there know all about it.' Spencer said, ' You must for-
give me — I cannot die witiiout it.' I went to Small and asked him not
to cherish any resentment at such a time, and asked him to forgive
him. He relented — held out his hand to Spencei- and said, ' I do forgive
you — and may God forgive you also.'

Small then asked my forgiveness. 1 took his hand and expressed my
forgiveness in the strongest terms. I asked him what I had done that
he should seek my life; if I had been harsh either in deed or word to
him. He exclaimed, ' What have you done to me ? Nothing— but treated
me like a man.' I told him of the high responsibilities under which I
acted; of the duty I owed my Government and the ship with which it had
entrusted me; of his offense to his commander and the boys he intended
to put to death; and of the high duty. f owed to the flag of my country.
Right! he exclaimed; 'God bless that flag and prosper it! Now,' said
he, 'give me a quick and easy death.' Spencer said to Lieutenant
Gansevoort that his courage had been doubted; but he wished him to bear
witness that he died like a brave man.

He asked what would be the signal for his execution. I told him that
I was desirous of hoisting colors at the instant, to show that the flag of the
Somers was fixed at the mast-head; and that I intended to beat tie call
to hoist colors and then roll off"; and at the third roll a gun would bo fired
as the signal. He asked leave to give the signal. I at onco acceded.
He asked if it was the gun under him. I told him it was but one removed.
He asked if it would be fired by a lock and wafer. 1 was told that pre-
parations had been made to fire it with a match;- and immediately ordered

sr:lif 11 . ,-.».—

n ; 3ia>6'*i*^Jm*^^m*iiH*'^r^

same request, and
their heads were

vere given to him.
epentancc will be
, and told him that
ed down and read

repentance would
liim Gt'd not only
He begged that I
and cordially, and

seek my life, or
t it was only fancy,
ler which oticnded
He wished me to
m excuse,'' that he
*otomac. He only

he met Cromwell,
Cromwell, he said
ppeal iu his favor,
ibr tampering with
, ' I do forgive you
forgive you also.'
all at the gangway,
or having brought
Ipencer, I cannot
aid, ' How can you
ihH soon be before
d, ' You must for-
nd asked him not
ed him to forgive
said, ' I do forgive

and expressed my
lat I had done that
in deed or word to
rthing — but treated
;ies under which I
p with which it had
e boys he intended
lag of my country.
)er it! Now,' said
said to Lieutenant

wished him to bear

>n. I told him that
! that the flag of the
ed to beat tLe call
gun would be fired
[ at once acceded.
as but one removed.
I was told that pre-
nmcdiatcly ordered

MUTINY ON THE SOMERS.

003

a supply of live coals, and fresh coals to bo passed constantly; and tlion
assured bim that there should be no delay. The time was now wciiring
away. Small requested leave to address the crew. Spencer haviny had
leave to give the signal, was asked if he would give Small the leave ho
asked. lie said yes. Small then said:

^Shipmates and toptnates — Take warning by my example. I never
killed a man, but only said that I would do it, and for that I am about to
die. (ioing in a Guineaman [a slaver] brought me to this. Take warning,
and never go iu a Guineaman.' Turning to Spencer, he said, 'I am
ready to die; are you?'

Cromwell's last words were, 'Tell my wife that I die innocent; I die
an innocent man.' From the appearance of this man in assuming to be
innocent, it would seem that Spencer took all the risk of the affair, and
Cromwell intended to profit by it.

I placed myself where I could take in the whole deck with my eye.
No word was given by Spencer. He finally said he could not give the
word, and wished me to do it. The word was accordingly given and the
(execution took place.

The crew were ordered all, when I addressed them. I called their
attention to the fate of the young men who had ju.st been hung in their
presence. I spoke of the digtinguished social position Spencer had held
at homo, and held up before them the career of usefulness and profes-
sional honor to which a course of faithful duty would have raised him.
After having been but a few months at sec, he had criminally aspired
to supplant me in a command I had earned by thirty years' faithful service.
Their own future fortunes, I told them, were within their own control,
I opened to them the stations of respectability and of future honor to
which they might rise, but told them it could only be step by step, in a
regular course. I called their attention also to Cromwell's course. He
iiad received a handsome education, and his handwriting was even elegant;
but he had also failed through his love for gold. The first $16 he had
received from Spencer had bought him, and the hope of great plunder
iiad secured the purchase. An anecdote had been told to me by Collins
of Cromwell, which carried its own moral with it, and which I desired
Collins to repeat. He did so: he told them that he once went to India
with Cromwell, and that they took on board there a keg of doubloons for
Mr. Thorndike. Collins alone knew of its being aboard, and kept it a
secret till they went ashore. He then told Cromwell of it, who laughed
at him, and said that if he had known about it, he would have run away
with the keg.' I told the crew they had only to choose between the two —
Collins and Cromwell. Small also had been brought up to better things,
but had not been able to resist temptation, and had died invoking blessings
on the flag of his country.

All hands were then called to cheer ship, and gave three hearty cheers.
Three heartier cheers never went up from the deck of an American ship!
In that electric moment I verily believe the purest and loftiest patriotism
burst forth from the breasts even of the worst conspirators. From that
Tiioment I felt that I was again completely master of my vessel, and that
I could do with her whatever the honor of my country required.

Dinner was piped, and 1 noticed with feelings of pain that some of the
boys, as they passed the bodies, laughed and sneered at them. I still
desired that Spencer should be buried in a coflin, and gave orders to
have one built. But Lieutenant Gansevoort offered to relinquish a mess
chest he had, for that purpose, which was soon converted into a substantial

- .*«- j«*.;*.^-i«»-%-

V'^^w

mmc

604

MUTINY ON THE SOMERS.

coffin. The watch was set, and the bodies were lowered. They were
received by their messmates, to be decently laid out for burial. The
midsiiipmen assisted in the duty. Spencer was laid out clothed in his
complete uniform, except his sword, which he had forfeited the right to
wear. I noticed that upon the iiands of one of the others a seaman had
tied a ribbon, with the name upon it of that Somers who so distinguished
himself by his gallantry, patriotism, and skill. On Cromwell's face a
saber-cut was visible, and on removing his hair four or five more were
discovered; which showed that he had been where wounds were given.
He was said to have been in a slaver, and in Moro Castle in Havana;
and it was the general impression that he had been a pirate.

A squall of rain soon sprung up, which rendered it necessary to cover
the bodies with tarpaulins. They were arranged according to their rank,
and all hands were called to bury tiie dor.d. The American Ensign was
lowered to half-mast. Night had now set in. All the lamps were lit and
distributed among the crew and placed in the bows, in the gangway, and
in the quarter boat. The service for the dead was read, and the bodies
were committed to the deep. The offices were closed by reading that
beautiful prayer, so suitable to the occasion, ' Preserve us from the dangers
of the seas and the violence of enemies. Bless the United States: —
watch over all that are upon the deep, and protect the inhabitants of the
land in peace and quiet, through Jesus Christ our Lord.'

In riading this I sincerely thanked God for the protection of the
Somers, and folt a firm faith that he would sanction the deed of that day.
On the following Sunday, the fourth of December, after the laws for the
govcrniiiont of the navy had been read, according to invariable custom on
board the Somers, I took occasion to allude to the lessons to be drawn from
the fate of those who had suffered. I led the minds of the crew back to
tlieir youthful days, and showed them how they had trampled under foot
the wi. T counsel and admonitions of their friends. In Small's locker
were letters from his mother, expressing the joy she felt that he vvas so
happy on board the Somers. (This was before Spencer had joined.)
There was also a Bible, in the leaves of which he had copied some verses
from the Sailor's Magazine, in praise of its holy precepts. These verses
I read to the crew. I thus showed them how Small valued his Bible,
but that he did not resist temptation. I urged them to read it closely and
attend faithfully to its precepts. I endeavored to show that there could be
no such thing as honest Atheism. I held up before them how Spencer had
injured many people, and especially his parents. He had lacked filial piety
and piety toward God — two principles which would never have suffered
him to go astray. In conclusion, I called on them as they had given three
cheers for their country, now to give three cheers for God— as they would
do by singing his praise. The colors were then hoisted, and above
the American Ensign was raised the Banner of the Cross — the only flag
that ever floats above it from any vessel under my command. The hundredth
Psalm was sung, after which the crew dispersed. I could not help, on
that day of peaceful Sabbath worship, contrasting the condition of my^
vessel with that she would have presented had she fallen into pirates
hands. Nor could I avoid observing the marke 1 effect produced upon
the ship's company by the proceedings. I was satisfied at once that all
danger was past, and the mutiny broken forever.

On the fourteenth of December the Somers arrived at New York, and
in a day or two the sad catastrophe was communicated to the world
Captain Mackenzie sent a narrative of the affair to the seat of government

j.-.f-.ijtr*^''^-.

. <' 'A^..^ iMWb

|fjC^AlBhSM»^w«- <*>>AA A- '

ered. They were
t for burial. The
out clothed in his
rfeited the right to
hers a seaman had

10 so distinguished
Cromwell's face a

or five more were
ounds were given.
Castle in Havana;
pirate.

necessary to cover
rding to their rank,
lerican Ensign was

lamps were lit and
1 the gangway, and
;ad, and the bodies
3d by reading that
LIS from the dangers

United States: —
I inhabitants of the
rd.'

I protection of the
le deed of that day.
cr the laws for the
ivariable custom on
ns to be drawn from
»f the crew back to
rampled under foot

In Small's locker

felt that he was so
encer had joined.)
copied some verses
jpts. These verses

11 valued his Bible,
> read it closely and
' that there could be
m how Spencer had
ad lacked filial piety
never have suffered
hey had given three
3od — as they would
hoisted, and above
>oss — the only flag
ind. The hundredth

could not help, on
he condition of my

fallen into pirates'
feet produced !ipon
ified at once that all

d at New York, and
icated to the world.

seat of government,

. >*I>&A *- '

MUTINY ON THE S0MER8.

eoft

and a court of inquiry was appointed by Mr. Upshur, the Secretary of
the Navy, to examine the facts connected with the mutiny.

This court, consisting gf Commodore Charles Stewart, President;
Commodore A.J. Dallas; Commodore Jacob Jones; Hon.Ogden Hoffman,
Judge Advocate, met on board the United States dhip North Carolina,
lying in the harbor at New York, on Wednesday, December the twenty-
eighth, 1842, at eleven o'clock. Many distinguished persons were
present, and Captain Mackenzie appeared in full uniform. " He is,"
says the New York Tribune, " a man of medium height, with a fme
head covered rather thinly by light auburn hair, a high forehead, and an
amiable and pleasing rather than stern and commanding presence."

The examination of witnesses commenced, and nineteen days were
taken up in the inquiry. The president then stated that the testimony
being now closed, the court would bo cleared, which was accordingly
done. The court then deliberated and framed their decision in secret,
and sent it on to Washington for approval.

The authorities at Washington subsequently ordered a court martial,
which was accordingly opened, a re-examination of the witnesses took
place, and after a protracted trial Captain Mackenzie and Lieutenant
Gansevoort were acquitted.

Thus was crushed, by a vengeance swifter and more terrible than
human laws usually allot to human crimes, the first, as we fervently trust
it will be the last, regularly organized attempt at mutiny on board a vessel
intrusted with the honor and interests of the United States Navy. If the
attempt had succeeded, imagination shudders at the black pall of horror
and dread that would have fallen upon the sea.

All the officers examined, solemnly declared that they believed neces-
sity demanded the course pursued — that if the execution of Spencer,
Cromwell, and Small, had not been resorted to, the Somers would
never have r'jached any port under the command of her officers, but
would have leen a Pirate, scouring the ocean with destructive fury,
making it a highway of blood and terror to the world. If this belief be
well founded, we should rejoice that so terrible a calamity, so black a
disgrace, was not suffered to stain the escutcheon of our navy!

Under the impulse of thankfulness for what was regarded as a great
danger escaped, and a great ignominy avoided, the country, generally,
applauded the act of Captain Mackenzie as justified by the emergency
of the case, and by the crimes of the victims. Commerce and trade,
from their very nature, are timid, and it is not strange that the great com-
mercial cities of the Atlantic should have given way to the impulse of the
moment, and have justified the doubtful act instead of remembering the
sanctity of every human life, until such life has been pronounced forfeited
according to the form, and by the authority of the law.

But now that years have elapsed since the painful occurrence, it is
probable that the more thoughtful of the mercantile as of other classes,
cherish serious doubts, to say the least, of the necessity or expediency
of the course pursued. The great law of humanity, as well as the law of
the Lord, demands that every man accused of crime, shall be tried not
by hurried and frightened courts, but by the calm deliberate judgment
of his peers. Hardly any necessity can arise in time of general peace
to justify a departure firom this salutary requirement.

Q0g • MUTINY ON THE S0MER8

ABSTRACT OF AMERICAN NAUTICAL LAWS.

Shippino artiolim are required to be signed by every mariner, declaring
the voyfific and the term of the time for which the seamen are shipped,
and when they arc to render themselves on board. Seamen are liable
to imprisonment for desertion. But if the master sails and leaves a
seaman in imprisonment abroad, he will be entitled to his wages till his
return to the United Slates, deducting the time of impris^ iment. Pro-
vision is made for the prompt recovery of seamen's wages, by admiralty
process against the ship, if ihe wages be not paid within ten days.

It is the duty of the American consuls and commercial agents, to
relieve American seamen who may be found destitute in foreign ports,
and to provide for their passage to some port in the United States, at the
expense of the United States. American vessels are bound to take them,
not exceeding two for every hundred tons, at a rate not exceeding ten
dollars per man.

If an American vessel be sold in a foreign port, or a seaman discharged
with the master's consent, the master is obliged to pay the consul three
months' wages beside the amount then due, two months to be paid to the
seamen when they engage again, and one month's pay to the fund for
the return of American seamen.

The master has the right to discharge a seaman for just cause in a
foreign port, but is responsible in damages if he does it without just cause.
The master must be supreme in the ship. The French law affords
peculiar protection to seamen, and prohibits the master from discharging
a seaman, for any cause, in a foreign country.

The expense of curing a sick seaman in the course of the voyage is a
charge upon the ship; and this rule recommends itself as much by its
intrinsic equity and sound policy, as by the sanction of general authority.
Such an expense is in the nature of additional wages during sickness,
and it constitutes a material ingredient in the just remuneration of seamen
for their labor and services. This claim, equally with a claim for wages,
may be enforced in a court of admiralty. ...

Every seaman engaged to serve on board a ship, is bound, from the
nature and terms of the contract, to do his duty to the utmost of his ability,
and, therefore, a promise made by the master when the ship is in distress,
or when some of the crew are sick, or the like, to pay extra wages, as
an inducement to extraordinary exertion, is illegal and void. It requires
some service not within the scope of the original contract, as by becoming
a hostage, or the like, to create a valid claim for extra wages. No wages
can be recovered for an illegal voyage, for the law will not countenance
such a contract, nor permit any one to claim the wages of iniquity.

A seaman is entitled to his wages for the whole voyage, even though
he is unable to render his service by sickness, or bodily injury, happening
in the course of the voyage, and while in the performance of his duty;
or if wrongfully discharged by the master in the course of the voyage,
or forced to quit the ship by the cruelty of the master. In this case the
voyage is ended as to him, and he is immediately entitled to his wages

for the whole voyage. , ^ . ^ • u. • .u .u

The general principle of the marine law is, that freight is the mother
of wages, and if no freight be earned, no wages are due. If the ship
perish by the perils of the sea, as tempest, fire, enemies, etc., the mariners
lose their wages. Otherwise they might not use their endeavors to save

^' ^ta^^^i&a r jy l jMtfi k at

Jk-.

*f-s*S»

ABSTRACT OK AMKRIOAN NAUTICAL LAWS.

607

AW9.

mariner, declaring
imcn arc shipped,
Seamen are liable
laiis and leaves a
> his wH^'cs till his
pris'-iinont. Pro-
ages, by admiralty
lin ten days.
[Ticrcial agents, to
[c in foreign ports,
lited States, at the
lound to take them,
not exceeding ten

seaman discharged
y the consul three
IS to be paid to the
>ay to the fund for

for just cause in a
without just cause,
'rcnch law affords
r from discharging

of the voyage is a
Etlf as much by its
f general authority,
s during sickness,
neration of seamen
. a claim for wages,

is bound, from the
tmostof his ability,
! ship is in distress,
>ay extra wages, as
I void. It requires
ict, as by becoming
wages. No wages
ill not countenance
3S of iniquity,
lyage, even though
y injury, happening
nance of his duty;
irse of the voyage,
r. In this case the
ntitled to his wages

eight is the mother
3 due. If the ship
8, etc., the mariners
r endeavors to save

the ship. But the seamen do not lose their wages, if the freight is lost
by the misconduct of tlie master.

When a seaman dies on tiiu voyage, his wages are due to liis ropre-
sontativos, up to the time of his death. The seamen's wages on the
outward voyage are due when tiie ship delivers her outward cargo.
And if the owners and the charterer iigree to consider the voyages
out and home as one entire voyage, they cannot, by this, deprive the
seamen, without their consent, of the right.s belonging to them by the
general principles of the marine law. Capture by an enemy extinguishes
the seamen's contract for wages, but if by recapture, the owner recovers
his freight, the seamen recover tiieir wages, for freight is the parent of
wages. And this holds for tiiose seamen who remain prisoners and
render no assistance in the recapture, or afterward; because they are suf-
fering in the service. And in case of shipwreck, if an/ portion of freight
is paid for the cargo saved, the wages of the seamen are due in the same
proportion.

Every agreement that goes to separate the demand for wi.^os, from the
fact of freight being earned, is viewed with distrust by the court, as an
encroachment on the rights of seamen. " The courts of nijritime law
extend to them a peculiar protecting favor, and treat them as wards of
the admiralty; and though they are not incapable of making valid con-
tracts, they are treated by the courts in the same manner that courts of
equity are accustomed to treat young heirs dealing with their expectancies,
wards with their guardians, etc. They arc considered as placed under
the influence of men who have naturally acquired a mastery over them.
Every deviation from the terms of the common shipping paper is rigidly
inspected, and if additional burdens are imposed upon the seamen,
without adequate remuneration, the courts will interfere, and moderate
or annul the stipulation."

Mariners are bound to contribute out of their wages for embezzlement
of the cargo, or injuries produced by the misconduct of any of the crew.
But the individual criminal must be unknown, and circum ances must
be such as clearly to fix and prove the wrong upon some of the crew;
and then those of the crew upon whom the presumption of guilt rests,
must stand sureties for each other, and contribute rateably to the loss.
If an individual can free himself from suspicion, he does not contribute.
And if no reasonable presumption lies against any of the crew, the loss
falls upon the owner or master.

In case of shipwreck, and there are materials of the ship saved, the
seamen by whose exertions they are saved, are entitled to their wages
out of the proceeds of the fragments, even although no freight was earned
to the owners. Chancellor Kent, however, thinks that in such a case,
the allowance to seamen out of the wreck ought to be called salvage.
" Wages, in such cases, would be contrary to the great principle in marine
law, that freight is the mother of wages, and the safety of the ship the
mother of freight."

The wages of seamen constitute a lien upon the ship, which does not,
like other liens, depend on possession. Seamen's wages are hardly
earned, and liable to many contingencies, by which they may be entirely
lost, without any fault on their part. Few claims are so highly favored
by law, and when due, the vessel, owners, and master, are all liable for
them. Their demand takes precedence of all bottomry bonds, and is
good against even a subsequent bona fide purchaser. It is a sacred
claim, and as long as a single plank of the ship remains, the sailor is

-mi I r.iiwira.ite<i-i*^u»jM

608

ABSTRACT OF AMERICAN NAUTICAL LAWS.

nntitled, as against all other porsons, to the proceeds, as security for his
wages. The wogcH of seamen do not contribute to the general average,
when a loss of goods, masts, or the like, is voluntarily incurred at sea for
the common safety, except in the single instance of the ransom of the
ship. They are exempted here, lest the fear of personal loss should
restrain them from making the requisite sacrifice; and the hirdships
and perils they endure, well entitle them to an exemption from further

distress. .,..,.• l

Desertion from a ship without just cause, or the justifiable discharge
of a seaman by the master for bad conduct, will work a forfeiture of the
wages previously earned. This is the rule of justice and of policy. But
if the seaman quits the vessel involuntarily, or is driven ashore by reason
of cruel usage, and for personal safety, the wages arc not forfeited. On
the other hand, it is the duty of the seamen to abide by the vessel as
long as reasonable hope remains; and if they desert the ship in the perils
of the sea, when they might have prevented damage, or saved the vessel,
they forfeit their wages and are answerable in damages.

So liberal and kind is the care which our laws have taken for the
interests of seamen in the merchant service. It would seem that nothing
more is wanting for their benefit, excepting a more effectual security for
the kind of provision which is to be made for them when they fall into
sickness or distress in a foreign port, and some arrangement for their
comfortable support, when worn out and decrepit at home.

•.■y.V.'.,-i'8f*'-*~S35i3^-'(»-.-!^i~-- " *-■

■ -f^HTs*?^^

LAWS.

, as security for his
he general average,

incurred at sea for
' the ransom of th)<
ersonal Iosh should

and the hirdships
mption from further

ustifiable discharge
Ic a forfeiture of the
and of policy. But
en ashore by reason
c not forfeited. On
de by the vessel as
the ship in the perils
or saved the veaael,
;es.

I have taken for the
Id seem that nothing
effectual security for
when they fall into
rangement for their
home.

MEN AND THINGS

IN THl

NAVY OF THE UNITED STATES.

■T TM aiT. OBAI. BOOXWIU, LATB OBArLAIN IN TBS

AMBRIOAN NAVAL SERVICE.

As THE condition and character of our Navy, and the reputation and
conduct of its officers and men abroad, are matters of national interest
and concern, it may not be amiss, briefly to allude to these and other
kindred topics. To enter fully upon them, and give nt length the
results of years of free daily intercourse with seafaring men of ail
classes, as suggested by a close and constant observation of their peculiar
habits and modes of thought and feeling, and a sincere and heartfelt
sympathy with them and their friends, under the severe and varied trials
of their lot — fully to present these points, would indeed require a
volume.

With a view to aid us in forming a correct estimate of our navy, as
also to furnish with important facts, those illustrious orators who are
wont to speak of our ships of war as fully able to sweep the vessels of
all other nations from the face of the ocean, it may be well to give the
following statement of the naval forces of the United States, Great
Britain, and France, as they were some few years since, and which have
not since relatively materially changed. Including those in commission,
as also those building and afloat, there were belonging to the Navy of
the United States, 68 vessels of war; to that of France, 486: to Great
Britain, 702.

In speaking of those who man our ships of war, I shall begin with
such as are rated as boys. Of these, we had nearly thirty on board our
ship, many of whom were taken from the House of Refuge, in New
York, or were the sweepings of the streets of our large cities. Some
were children of poor parents, who had been placed under the care of
some sailor of their acquaintance, to take their first lesson in shipcraft,
and, I may add, in devilcrafl, too, on board a man-of-war; for surely a
boy must be a dull scholar, who, in such a place, would not learn far
more evil than good. These boys were from ten to sixteen or seventeen
years of age, and some of them, from having been familiar, from their
earliest years, with vice and crime, in almost every form, were among
the most hardened, hopeless vagabonds in the world; and yet, they had
so much shrewdness and intelligence, and such perfect self-possession
in all circumstances, that one could not but feel a peculiar interest in
them.

In turning from the boys to the men on board our ships of war, let us
first notice the marines. These are soldiers who dress in uniform, are
plac«d as sentries in difierent parts of the ship, and aro not required to
39 (609)

610

MEN AND THINGS IN T»iK AMERICAN NAVY.

f[() alofk on suilorVs duty, but aid in pulling; tlio ropci oti dnk. Tiny
lavo tliiMr owu oliioTS, iliDtinct Iron) tlio.^it of tint .Hlii|i; iiini a:4 liiry
know l)Ut litllt: (if siia-lifi.', ami aro pluccii on hoitnl us ii riiiiiiiiiit iipoii
till! siiiior:4, till! IntliT ilo not like llirin, iirr fond of ,iliiyiii^ trirkM iipo'i
tlieni, mill t-Hpeciully of pulinin^ olF upon iIhmu ail HortH of iinproiml)!)!
■toiioM us triiu. Ilunco tliu cumniun provorli, " Toll that to tlio iiiuriues/'
which in used when one listnns to a doubtful or iucrodibln Htory.

Wo had on board our ship filly-two mariniH, of whom twenty-two wi-re
forui^norH; thirtoon of this nunibor biting HwiMti. Tiicy had an ctVicicnt
coinniandor, and wore under oxcolh'nt discipline. On one occuHJun,
when oll'tlio coant of Africa, dome oran^'e.s and bananax, which hun^ where
sentries had charge of them, were stolen, and hence some oni; of the
six marincH, wiio had been on duty there during the night, must have
connived at the thell. But as all denied biding guilty, they were all
whipped, that thus the rigiit one might be punished, and nil collusion as
to screening each other in future might be prevented. This was indeed
summary justice; and yet, among men in whose word you cannot con-
fide, you must either lump matters in this way, or criino will thrive and
pass unpunished. As it was, no more fruit was stolen.

Among the marines there are often men of education and intelligence,
who, as merchants that have failed in business, or the profligate sons of
respectable parents, or professional men, who have become dissipated,
have seen better days; but having fallen from their former condition,
have fled to a man-of-war as a place of refuge from trouble or disgrace.
Not to dwell on other cases, we had with us a young man, who had
come from a foreign country to obtain an education. While n senior at
Yale College, ho became involved in a fracas, for which ho was dismissed
from the institution; and thinking that he was not kindly treated by his
guardian in this country, he enlisted as a marine. Such men like to
dwell upon their brighter days; and where they find ono who will listen
to and sympathize with them, they take a kind of melancholy pleasure
in minutely describing the scenes of trial and disgrace through which
they have passed. There are many such, as well among the seamen as
the marines, on board a ship of war; and often has my heart been deeply
pained, when listening to the story of their woes. When in port,
marines are stationed at every accessible entrance to the ship, to prevent
men from deserting, and ardent spirits from being smuggled on board.
Ne.xt to the officers of the ship, the marines aro the main reliance
for quelling a mutiny, and sustaining rightful authority on board our
men-of-war.

In a crew of from five hundred to u thousand men, as collected
together on board our larger ships, one meets with seamen of every
class and condition, and of almost every nation under heaven. Most
common sailors are of no nation, but change from the employ of one to
that of another, just as convenience, or caprice, or higher wages may
induce them to do so. We have many English seamen on board our ships
of war; and it is said, that there are some thousand American sailors in
the English Navy. That by desertion, or otherwise, men are constantly
passing from one service to the other, is well known.

As those who ship seamen of\cn receive so much a head for all they
furiiish, no very close inquiries are mtidc as to whether a seaman's
protection, as it is called, that is, the legal paper which certifies to what
nation he belongs, tells the truth about him or not; for, aside from false
swearing, at which few common sailors would hesitate, there are other

■ i
-I

on il.'.k. Tluy

ip; iiii.i !H •i>«'y

U ri:<tliliul 111""!

yin^r iritk;^ tiliD'l
:t« of iiiiiiri)iiiil)li!

to llio iiiuriut's/'
bio 8tory.

twenty-two were
y liiid un iilVicient
.)n one occimion,
n\\h-\\ iiiuiK wlicrc

some oni! of tl»c

uijilit, must liavo
Ity, tlioy woro all
ml nil collusion aa
This was imlecil
il you cannot con-
mo will tlirive and

n and intelligence,
i proflifjatu sons of
becoino dissipated,
• former condition,
rouble or disgrace,
ing man, who had
While a snnior at
ch ho was dismissed
indly treated by his
Such men Uk<! to
Olio who will listen
melancholy pleasure
race through which
iiong the seamen as
y heart been deeply
39. When in pott,
the ship, to prevent
smuggled on board,
the main reliance
hority on board our

men, as collected
th seamen of every
ider heaven. Mo.^t
he employ of one to

higher wages may
in on board our ships

American sailors in
, men are constantly

,"a head for all they
whether a seaman's
lich certifies to what
for, aside from false
itate, there are other

MK.V AND ruiNOS I.V TRK AMERICAN KAVV.

r,u

way* in which seamen obtain now papers, and a new nauin, For
ONuinple, wo harl on Ixxird our ship a fi)roi;,'nor by tiic nnnie of John
doll', a Swede*, or a Dane, if I mistake not. lie N|H>ke Kti^^'lish in u
very hntki^n manner, and this led me to ask him, one day, how hi' came
til havo such a regular huilt Ynnki-e name.

•' I bought it of a landlord in Portland," was his reply.

" What did you give for it?"

•• Fil>y cents," he said; " but I 've got most sick of it, and shall change
it for another before long." And thus it is olU-n true that sailor-land-
lords sell the papers of seamen who have died in their houses, or have
gone to sea leaving them bohiad. Many of the seamen in our navy, ship
by n WW name almost every cruise.

itut few otKcers and men of the old school now remain in our navy.
By this I mean thoso who were trained amid scenes of war and carnage,
and wcri! more distinguished for their rough and reckless manners and
habits, and thi.'ir noisy, dare-devil bravery, than for improvement of mind,
or a desire so to shape their course as to please those around them.
Tlie fact that many of the officers of our navy were formerly taken from
the inerciiant service, with more regard to their energy of character and
good seamanship than to their education and roHnemcnt of manners,
together with the exciting inlluonce of war, and the demoniac power
of ardent spirits, gave a far ruder and more turbulent cast to our navy
in fonni-r days than now belongs to it. liy raising tho standard of edu-
cation among our naval officers, by limiting their power of inflicting
punisiinient, and by promoting temperance among the men, a tranquiliz-
ing, elevating intluence has been exerted on board our ships of war; so
that now they deserve, far less than formerly, the appellation of" floating
hells." Still much remains to be done, as will be seen when I come to
speak of the prevailing vices of seamen. An old man-of-war's man is
a very dili'erent being from a merchant-sailor. From mingling with so
large a mass, he has been able to select such associates as pleased him,
and thus to retain and strengthen his own peculiar tastes, feelings and
habits, lie has also been led to look well to his own rights, and to guard
with jealous care against the encroachments of others.

From the rigid discipline to which seamen in our navy arc subjected,
as also from the fact that they arc closely pressed upon by the mass
around them, they become peculiarly sensitive and sclHsh as to what
they regard as their rights, and are greatly given to grumbling when they
fancy themselves misused. As to seamanship, too, from being confined
to a narrow round of duties, such as handling the ropes and sails in a
given part of the ship, as, for example, on tho forecastle, or in one of
the tops, they become very skillful in performing these duties, but know
little of anything else. Hence, a good merchant-sailor, who knows a
little of everything, and not much of anything, about a ship, may not
succeed well on board a man-of-war; while, on tlic other hand, a good
navy sailor may know but little of many things required to be done on
board a merchant vessel. Merchant-sailors, too, have to labor much
harder, and bear more exposure to the weather, than seamen in our
navy ; and they are apt, withal, to be much more filthy in their habits,
and slovenly in their dress, than they would be permitted to be on board
a man-of-war. These remarks show, in one point of view, 'he importance
of training men expressly for our naval service.

There are several distinct classes of seamen to be met with on board
our men-of-war. Of these, the first and most numerous are sailors by

612

MEN AND THINGS IN THE AMERICAN NAVY.

profession, who, from the poverty of their parents, or some other cause,
have early entered on a seafaring life, without such an education as
would tit llicm to rise above the grade of common seamen, and in this
condition they remain for life. A few of these have families, ond arc
frugal, liorii'st and trustworthy. By far the greater number, however,
are reckli'sti, profligate, intemperate and profane. Cut off at an early
age from ail correct moral and religious influence, and exposed ♦o tempta-
tion to vice in almost every form, they become the mere creatures of
iiiipuliie, slaves to the will of despotic masters at sea, and the dupes of
rapacious landlords and greedy harpies on shore. With no high and
commanding motives to effort, in the hope of improving their condition,
they yield tiicmselves up to the pleasures of the moment, without regard
to the future; and though, from the dangers of tiic sea, and exposure to
corroding vices, and in sickly climes, they are in daily peril of their
lives, yet, drowning reflection with reckless gayety, with sensual pleasure,
or the druukarcPs cup of woe, they rush madly on in the way to death.
"Let us eat and drink, for to-morrow we die," seems to be their motto.
We had on board our ship an old sailor, who ran away from his parents
in Boston wIkmi nine years of age, and had been at sea, almost without
cessation, forty-five years. In the year 1800, he was on board the Eng-
lish frigate Austria, on the coast of Egypt, where he had the plague, of
whicii two hundred out of two hundred and fifty on board died. He
had been shipwrecked seven times. The year before he joined our
ship, he was cast away on the Scylla rocks, and was in the water two
hours and a half. lie lost his wife and two children by the ciiolcra in
New York; and, ihougii himself one of thirteen children, he has now
no near relative living. He was broken down with the rheumatism, and
his lot was sad and cheerless indeed. Such is too oflen the condition
of the few weather-beaten sailors, who are spared, almost by a miracle, to
reach the period of old age. With no friends to care for them, and no
means of support, they float like a weed torn from its native rock, where
wind and wave may bear them. Perhaps they find a refuge in some
naval hospital, or, cast forth on the cold charities of the world, they beg
a humble pittance from door to door.

Another class of seamen are those who arc rained in character or
property, or both, by a course of vice, or by some single act of folly or
of crime, but who have seen better days. Of many a commander of a
man-of-war, as of King David when he gathered his bandit forces at
the cave of Adullam, may it be truly said, " And every one that was in
distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discon-
tented, gathered themselves unto him, and he became a captain over
tbem." Among these are merchants and others, who have failed in
business, broken down play-actors, and sometimes professional men, the
wayward and profligate sons of wealthy and respectable parents, con-
victs from State prisons, who have been guilty of forgery, counterfeiting,
house-breaking, or other gentlemanly crimes, with now and then a pirate,
and one who has been engaged in the slave-trade, to say nothing of old
sailors who were pressed into the English service during the last war,
and are as familiar with Dartmoor prison and its usages as r/ith the
district school in which they spent their boyhood. We had one who had
lived among the natives of one of the South Sea islands, and conformed,
for many months, to their savage modes of life ; another who had been
with Major Ashley to the Rocky Mountains, and had many amusing
stories of the Flathead and other tribes of Indians ; and another stiU

NAVY.

r some other cause,
ch an education as

seamen, and in this
ve families, and are
;r number, however,

Cut off at an early
d exposed ♦o tempta-
e mere creatures of
a, and the dupes of
With no high and
ving their condition,
ment, without regard
sea, and exposure to
I daily peril of their
vith sensual pleasure,
I in the way to death,
ims to be their motto,
iway from his parents
at sea, almost without
as on board the Eng-
lie had the plague, of

on board died. He
before he joined our
was in the water two
Iren by the cholera in
children, he has now
1 the rheumatism, and
JO often the condition
almost by a miracle, to
care for them, and no

its native rock, where
ind a refuge in some
Df the world, they beg

■uined in character or
( single act of folly or
any a commander of a
d his bandit forces at

every one that was in
ry one that was discon-
>ecame a captain over
•8, who have failed in
3 professional men, the
spectable parents, con-
forgery, counterfeiting,

now and then a pirate,
e, to say nothing of old
ce during the last war,
its usages as ivith the
We had one who had
islands, and conformed,

another who had been
nd had many amusiiig
liana; and another still

MEN AND THINGS IN THE AMERICAN NAVY.

613

who had been in the service of the fur-traders in the region of Hudson's
Bay. traveling hundreds of miles over the snow, with a heavy burden
on his back.

Seamen are perfectly accessible; and, from the free, social intercourse
in which they indulge, will rarely refuse to answer a question of the
most personal nature, if your manner is such as to gain their confidence.
Indeed, they take peculiar pleasure in dwelling even on the darker por-
tions of iheir past history, when they meet with one who will kindly
listen to and sympathize with them. Many an hour have I spent, during
the night watches, in listening to their singular narrations; and often
have I thought, in reviewing the sketches of these stories in my journal,
that, were one to collect an account of the most striking characters on
board a man-of-war, as given by themselves, it would make a book of
peculiar variety and effect.

There was one man on board our ship who had fled from domestic
troubles, but whose mind was oppressed with a sadness which nothing
could remove. He was the son of an elder of one of the first churches
in the city of New York, and having married a beautiful woman whom he
tenderly loved, and by whom he had several children, he removed to Illinois,
where he purchased a farm of several hundred acres. For some time
he had suspected the fidelity of his wife; when returning from hunting
one night, sooner than he was expected, he found her with her guilty
paramour, a man of weaUh, in the vicinity. Highly excited, he aimed
his rifle at them, intending to siioot them both, when he was seized by
his hired man, who thus prevented a fatal deed. Having obtained a
divorce from his wife, she married again, and he, feeling wretched
where he was, and fearing that, should he meet the ruthless destroyer
of his happiness alone, he should, in a moment of excited wrath and
anguish, be led to murder him, he leased his farm to one in whose care
he left his children, and sought a refuge from his troubles on board a
man-of-war.

The most hopeless class of seamen, so far as moral reformation is
concerned, are those who, like the squatters and others on the outskirts
of civilizaiion on land, have broken away from virtuous society, because
they have forfeited the protection of the laws, by their crimes, or could
not brook the restraints of religion, morality and law, or were unable,
elsewhere than on board a man-of-war, to gratify their love of strong
drink, or were conscious of being such helpless slaves of vice as to be
wholly unfit to take care of themselves, and have, therefore, placed
themselves in "durance vile," just as some men on shore wish to be
imprisoned for the same reason.

There is another small class of seamen, sons of respectable parents,
who have become so from a love of adventure, an attachment to a sea-
faring life, a strong desire to see foreign lands, or with a view to improve
their heaUh, or a wish, on the part of their friends, to check, by means
of the rigid discipline of a ship, an unsubdued and refractory spirit.

In treating of the peculiar characteristics of seamen, and the vices to
which they ai' most addicted, I shall notice, first, their superstition.
The old idea that Sunday is a lucky and Friday an unlucky day, because
on one Christ was crucified, and on the other he rose from the dead, has
a strong hold on the minds of most seamen. There are commanders,
even in our navy, who would not sail from port on Friday if they could
avoid it, and who would make peculiar efforts to do so on the Sabbath.
There are still many vessels, on the masts of which a horse-shoe is

♦514

MEN AND THINGS IN THE AMERICAN NAVY.

nailed, as a protection against the devil; and ship owners will rarely
purchase a vessel which, by meeting with repeated accidents at sea, has
proved to be unlucky.

Sailors have a peculiar superstition with regard to cats, especially
black ones. Some years since, two men fell from the mast-head on
board oiH! of the ships in our navy, in a single day, of whom one was
killed, and the other had his arm broken. Finding that one of the crew
had killed a cat the night before, his shipmates regarded thai as the
cause of these accidents, and could not be appeased until the man was
severely whipped; and then, as no one would mess with him, it was
necessary to send him on shore. Clergymen have, in times past, been
regarded as bringing ill luck to a ship on board which they sail, on the
ground that the devil owes them a spite, and, as prince of the power of
the atr, strives, by means of tempests, to destroy them. This supersti-
tion may, however, have owed its origin to the story of Jonah, and the
troubles which he brought upon his shipmates

There are thone who regard the playing of a death-march as a sure
sign that some one on board is soon to die; and I have known a higiily
intelligent oiBccr who would punish a man for such an act as soon as for
a gross crime, on the ground, as he said, that he never knew it fail of
being soon followed by a death. When lying in the bay of Gibraltar,
during a violent storm, two of our massive anchors were broken, and
we were driven rapidly out to sea. There was, at the time, on board,
the body of one of the crew, lying in a coffin, with a view to his being
buried on shore. Being compelled, however, to inclose him in iiis ham-
mock, and bury him at sea, the carpenter was compelled to cut the collin
up into small pieces, and throw it overboard, because the men were
superstitious and fearful as to its remaining on board.

The credulity of seamen as to gliosts and apparitions, good and bad
signs, lucky and unlucky days, and the like, are owing, in part, to the
peculiarly dangerous and exciting mode of life which tiiey lead, to the
many marvelous stories that are told in order to astonish the young and
inexperienced, or to beguile the tedium of the night watches; but, more
than all, to their being, from an early age, cut off from religious instruc-
tion. Tiiere are seamen who most religiously believe that when a man
has been hung from the fore-yard-arm, two voices always reply when the
man who is stationed there by night is hailed, one being that of him who
has been iiung; nor would the wealth of tiie world induce them to keep
watch tiiere.

That seamen have commonly much wit and humor, all know who have
had intercourse with them. They have a great number of pithy expres-
sions at ready command, and are very quick at repartee. This is owing
to the fact that their mode of life is so peculiarly varied and exciting,
that their minds act much more rapidly than those of most other men,
as also to their being in such close and constant contact and collision
with those around them, to which we may add the attention and applause
secured by such as, by their ready wit, can aid in cheering the spirits
of those around them, and thus relieve the monotony of a long and
tedious voyage at sea. The craving for social excitement, on the part
of seamen, leads them also to be very attentive hearers on the Sabbath,
and few congregations on shore will follow a plain, but condensed and
rapid, logical argument with so full an understanding of it as will a body
of seamen on board our men-of-war. The wit and the songs of seamen
are, for the most part, however, of a low, vulgar, and licentious cast.

-*- .f.. .M

A.VY.

ivners will rarely
idcnts at sea, has

) cats, especially
he mast-head on
)f whom one was
t one of the crew
irded thai as the
intil the man was
with him, it was
times past, been
I they sail, on the
B of the power of
I. This supersti-
af Jonah, and the

h-march as a sure
!e known a higlily

act as soon as for
'er knew it fail of

bay of Gibraltar,
were broken, and
ie time, on board,
view to his being
30 him in his harn-
jd to cut the collin
ise the men were

ions, good and bad
ng, in part, to the
1 they lead, to the
lish the young and
vatches; but, more
n religious instruc-
e that when a man
ays reply when the
ng that of him who
iduce them to keep

all know who have
»er of pithy expres-
:ee. This is owing
aried and exciting,
(f most other men,
ntact and collision
mtion and applause
iheering the spirits
ony of a long and
itement, on the part
ers on the Sabbath,
but condensed and
; of it as will a body
he songs of seamen
Eind licentious cast.

MEN AND THINGS IN THE AMERICAN NAVY.

615

This is the more to be regretted, as seamen are fond of the excitement
of music, and, where a sailor has a iine voice, his songs arc often called
for, as well by officers as by the men.

As most seamen are, from an early age, cut off from kind parental
restraint, and from moral and religious instruction, and exposed to the
hardening and debasing influence of vice, it is not strange that, among
other bad habits, they should form that of lying. Fear of punishment,
too, leads them to resort to falsehood to conceal their guilt, when charged
with it; nor dare they disclose the evil deeds of their shipmates, for fear
of reproach and personal injury from them. Hence, most common
sailors are inveterate liars, where their interest leads them to be so; nor
is their word or oath, in such cases, regarded as of much value by those
who know them well. One of our ship's boats, with ten or twelve
rowers, had been ashore at a port where we were lying at anchor, and
the midshipman who had charge of it, as is often done, had given the
men a bottle of ardent spirits to drink, with a view to gain fuvor with
them. As the men came on board, the officer of the deck saw that they
had been drinking, and charged them with it. They all, to a man, stoutly
denied the charge, and persevered in doing so, even after the officer of
the boat had admitted before them that he had given them the spirits,
and, in thus doing, had violated the rules of the ship. Events of this
kind are of frequent occurrence on shipboard. It is, indeed, true that
we hear much of the noble frankness of seamen, in freely confessing
their faults, just as if there was some merit in it. The amount of it is,
however, that such is the standard of morals to which they have con-
formed themselves, that they feel no guilt as to those things of which
they so freely speak, but rather take pride in them.

Thieves are in very ill odor on shipboard, mainly because every one
is exposed to suffer from them. Wlien detected and brought up for
punishment, the boatswain's mate always whips them with a relish.
Still there is much thieving on board a man-of-war, and no small article
of value is safe if exposed where it may be taken. Another prominent
vice of seamen is selfishness. Many will, doubtless, be surprised at this
statement. They have so often heard, in anniversary addresses and the
like, that seamen are the most liberal, noble hearted and generous men
in the world, that they really believe it to be true. But let us look, for
a moment, at facts in the case. Seamen, on shipboard, are under such
despotic rule, and are, in so many ways, checked and restrained, that
they become peculiarly selfish and sensitive as to what they regard as
their rights; and, where they dare to be so, are noisy and obstinate in
defending them.

Much of the apparent liberality of seamen is shown when, from the
influence of ardent spirits, they are hardly moral agents. I have known
a seaman on shore, in a foreign port, buy a donkey with its load of fresh
meat on the way to market, and, taking out his jack-knife, he cut up the
meat, and divided it among the poor who thronged around him, and
then, turning the donkey adrift, he went on his way. He was so drunk,
however, that he hardly knew what he was doing. Money, too, has not
the same value to a sailor, who has no one to provide for but himself,
that it has to others. When a seaman gives three or five dollars to a
disabled shipmate, the only difference it makes with him is that he has
three or five dollars less in two or three hundred dollars of which to be
robbed, when drunk, or otherwise defrauded of, at the end of his cruise.
Sailors are often tired of the land before they have spent all their

616

MEN AND THINGS IN THE AMERICAN NAVY.

money, and are anxious to ship again. They feel much more nt liome
to sit down on the deck, cut up their victuals with a jack-knife, and
drink their tea out of a quart-cup, than to conform to table usages on
shore. The same is true also of their clothes; while the unrighteous
way in which tiiey are fleeced by landlords and others, leads them to
regard those around them as a set of landsharks, and to hasten on ship-
board for safety. . , .

Wo had on board our ship an old quarter-master, who had been to sea
from childhood. He said that once, after a long cruise, ho was seven
days on shore before he spent all his money, and that when he went to
the rendezvous to ship again, they scolded at him for having been gone
so long. On one occasion he was paid off at Pensacola, and finding it
difficult to get rid of his money, he hired a house for a month, with a
man servant, and a yellow girl for a housekeeper. Having staid a few
days, and paid all his bills, he had sixty-five dollars loft, and not knowing
how else to get rid of it, he had it all changed into silver half dollars,
when, going to a plantation near, he gave each negro one of these coins,
and then went and shipped for another cruise.

Licentiousness, of the lowest and most debasing character, is the
habitual and easily besetting sin of most common seamen. That a
sailor has a wife in every port he visits is an axiom in their creed and
practice ; and, so far are they from being ashamed of this fact, that they
will most resolutely argue in favor of this indulgence as right, on the
ground that such is their course of life, that they cannot, like other men,
well sustain the social and domestic relations, and perform the duties of
the marriage connection. And this unblushing advocacy of the grossest
vice, must, forsooth, be regarded as a specimen of the noble frankness
of the sailor, of which we hear so much. Allurements to licentiousness
are among the surest and most common means of enticing seamen into
tho^c snares, which greedy and rapacious landlords so often spread for
them. When the agent of these landsharks visits a ship just returning
from a distant voyage, he excites the passions of his wretched dupes by
offering his services as a guide to her whose " house is the way to hell,
leading down to the chambers of death."

In times past, it has been customary with our naval commanders, when
in foreign ports, both of savage and of so-called civilized and Christian
nations, to permit hundreds of abandoned females to spend nights on
board our national ships; thus converting them into floating brothels, and
deeply disgracing the land from whence they came. The experiment
was tried on a limited scale by a base and profligate commander, on
board two ships belonging to the station where we cruised; the one just
before our arrival, and the other while we were lying in the same port.
So decided, however, was the opposition of many of the officers to Uu^
vile profanation of our country's flag, that the evil was soon checked,
and did not spread to the other vessels in the squadron. So gross anil
brutal are most common seamen in this respect, that the most seriou.^
difficulties which occur on board our national ships arise, froni opposing
their wishes for liberty to go on shore in foreign ports, mainly with a
view to gratify their lower passions and appetites.

The known corruption, in principle and practice, of many ot the
younger and some of the older officers in the navy, as to licentiousness,
is a serious obstacle to efforts for the reformation of the common sea-
men What good can be hoped for, in this respect, when the commander
of a ship or squadron, when wintering in a foreign port, openly hires

.V*V"-i^^!,fi^^=^'^^''^^'^-''^'^^^'^'

rAVY.

uch more at liomo
a jack-knife, and
o table usages ou
e the unrighteous
irs, leads them to
to hasten on ship-

ho had been to sea
jise, ho was seven
it when he went to
having been gone
:oIa, and finding it
'or a month, with a
[laving staid a few
ft, and not knowing
silver half dollars,
one of these coins,

r character, is the
seamen. That a
in their creed and
this fact, that they
;e as right, on the
Mt, like other men,
rform the duties of
:acy of the grossest
he noble frankness
Its to licentiousness
nticing seamen into
so often spread for
ship just returning
wretched dupes by
3 is the way to hell,

commanders, when
ilized and Christian
to spend nights on
bating brothels, and
. The experiment
[ate commander, on
ruised; the one just
J in the same port,
the officers to this
was soon checked,
Iron. So gross and
at the most serious
arise, from opposing
ports, mainly with a

ce, of many of the
as to licentiousness,
)f the common sea-
^hen the commander

;n port, openly hires

MEN AND THINGS IN THE AMERICAN NAVF.

617

a house, and keeps a mistress as an undisguised member of his house-
hold, inviting iiia youngest officers to his table, and sending home in a
national siiip the illegitimate offspring of a former cruise? For an
unniarri(Ml officor in our navy, from the youngest to the oldest, to bo
notorioiLsiy and iiabitually licentious when abroad, is not considered
aurioiisly disreputable, or a matter to be concealed in common conversa-
tion; anil this because so few are without sin in that respect, that no
corrtkt i)ublic sentiment is embodied against this form of vice. Wjiere
young officers are first corrupted by low and gross conversation when at
sea, and tlien with passions strong and reckless, and far removed from
homo and its virtuous and wholesome restraints, are exposed in foreign
|)orls to the most seductive influences, and enticed along in the pathway
to ruin by debased companions, who would reduce all around them to
their own degraded level of infamy and vice — young officers, thus
|)laced, are almost sure to fall; and siiould tlicy aflerward chance to
reform, the oppressive consciousness of their own past misdeeds, fully
known as they are to those who associate with them, will commonly
restrain thenj from any strong and decided eilbrts to check the onward
flow of corruption and vice around them.

Gambling is a vice to which our naval officers are too much addicted
when in foreign ports, and especially when confined for the winter at
such places as Mahon, where there is but little in the way of social
intercourse, or of literary and intellectual amusements, to interest and
attract them. In such places, sharpers assemble, and open their gamb-
ling-shops, with no other object than, by the thousand frauds and tricks
of play, to fleece those wretched dupes who place themselves in their
power. It is said that when our ships of war wintered some years
since at Smyrna, Spanish gamblers repaired there, with their implements
of trade; thus making a voyage of several hundred miles, rather than
lose a golden harvest.

As these gambling places are open to all, the young officer visits them
at first merely as a spectator. He wishes, he says, to study human
nature, and see the world. He gazes upon the scene with lively interest.
lie watches the play of absorbing passions, as they glow in the faces of
those around him — the rapid succession of iiope and despair, of deep
depression and lively transport. In a moment, as if by some magic
spell, the shining heaps of gold become the spoil of him who, but just
before, was almost penniless. Alas! the temptation is too strong for
iiim. He begins by staking a small amount, and thus the fever grows
upon him. If, for a time, successful, he is injured by spending in reck-
less dissipation the weaUh so easily acquired. If stripped of his own
means, he is tempted to borrow all he can of others, that, by staking it,
he may indulge his love of play, or feed the momentary and delusive
hope of regaining what he has lost. Unless taught by sad experience,
he early breaks away from this seductive course ; the love of play becomes
a desperate and engrossing pa.ssion, which absorbs the soul, and destroys
his relish for all minor excitements. Literary pursuits, and the purer
and more elevated social pleasures, lose their relish, and he gives him-
self fully up to the influence of this feverish excitement.

Well do I remember my feelings, when conversing with a foreign mer-
chant of uncommon intelligence and worth, speaking of a commander
who had left the place several thousand dollars in debt. He said that
he came to him, just before he left for home, and begged him, with tears
in his eyes, to become his security for a year for one thousand dollars.

f,18 M™ AND THINGS IN THE AMERICAN NAVY.

most solemnly pledging himself that hn would pay the deht within that
time, and that hin bondman should suffer no inconvenience tor it. Since
that time he had received several letters from the officer in question, in
which he did not even allude to this debt, and the merchant had bee^n
compelled to pay it, though he knew not how to spare the funds iot the
purpose. He then asked me if such were the principles, and such the
value of the word of honor of the liighcst officers of our navy. Sucii
acts of unprincipled swindling leave a stain of infamy on our national
flag, and their corrupting influence extends, in the way of example, from
the higher to the lower grades of our naval officers.

One form of imposition, from which seamen in our navy suffer, is
connected with their half-pay tickets. There is a rule, by which, when
they go abroad, they can receive a certificate, which entitles the holder
of it to draw iialf his wages, as they become due, from the navy agent
of the station at iiomc, where it is given. Of these, sailors are often
defrauded by landlords and other sharpens, but especially by tiieir so
called wives. These women, who are often the lowest and most abandoned
harpies in our large cities, manage to secure the confidence of the sea-
men of our navy, when they are on shore for a spree, and thus secure
to themselves the benefit of a half-pay ticket for years. It is said of
one of them at New York, that the disbursing officer noticed that she
came quite often for pay, and, on inquiry, he found that slic had been
married to two seamen, whose cruises commenced and ended at dillerent
times, so that one was sure to be at sea while the otiier was at home.
By thus entertaining each of liiem a week or two, once in two or three
years, she received full seamen's pay, equal, perhaps, to one hundred

and fifty dollars a year. .... r, n

Intemperance in the use of ardent spirits, is to the seaman literally
the mother of abominations, and the prolific source of most oi his
decrradation and deep and bitter woe. When our sliip was taking in
sto'res at the navy-yard, before leaving home, one ot the crew managed
to whitewash a barrel filled with whisky, and, thus passing it on board as
a tar-barrel, he rolled it forward on deck, and at night, iiaving broken in
the head, and using an old shoe for a cup, all helped themselves, and
twenty-eight were found drunk the next morning. We had on board a
man who, in going out to the Mediterranean, in one of our nations Hhips,
a short lime before, had become intoxicated, and being confined tor it,
and deprived of his grog, so strong was iiis thirst for ardent spirits, that
he drank a quantity of paint in which whisky had been mixed, tiiough
he knew that it was rank jioison. , . . ,

A common way of bringing ardent spirits on board, is in what are
called snakes; that is, in the skins of the intestines of animals, which
sailors, who have been on shore, wind around their legs under their
large trowsers. When they come on board, tiiey are always examined
by passing the hand over every part of their bodies. Boatmen who
bring on board articles to sell, often manage to conceal ardent spirits,
and smuggle it on board, knowing, as they do, that a sailor will give
almost any price for it. In one case, a man used to take bladder-skins,
and putting them, when empty, into a large earthern jug,\yould fill them
with spirits, and then, tying a string around the mouth, dropped them.
Having thus filled tho jug, he poured in a liule milk among them, so
that, when he came on board, he would open his jug, and show Ins milk,
and was permitted to pass on, when by breaking the jug, or piercing the
Bkins, he came at the liquor, and sold it. At tlie island of Malta, ardent

-'t«:mS^Jfr0^^^f?ffA'Vi-- ^',*>?i'-.--.»:- .- &"^:o/-',SMS^<"7*l£MJS*^*.^5*SSte'>i'?i^-'

"1 >- ■ "I vmfmim^ig^a

^'%

lAVY.

n debt within that
3ncc for it. Since
cer in question, in
lerchaut had been
3 the funds for the
pies, and such the
■ our navy. Such
ly on our national
y of example, from

mr navy suffer, is
e, by which, when
entitles the holder
)m the navy agent
1, sailors are often
Bcially by tiieir so
nd most abandoned
fidenco of the sea-
3, and thus secure
!ars. It is snid of
r noticed that she
that she had been
1 ended at dilVerent
>tlier was at home,
ice in two or three
ps, to one iiundred

le seaman literally
ce of most of his
sliip was takiiii; in
the crew managed
ssing it on board as
It, having broken in
cd themselves, and
We had on board a
four national HJiips,
eing confined for it,
• ardent spirits, that
)een mixed, tliough

»ard, is in what are
8 of animals, which
ir legs under their
e always examined
lies. Boatmen who
iceal ardent spirits,
it a sailor will give
) take bladder-skins,
jug, would fill them
DUlh, dropped them,
lilk among them, so
;, and show his milk,
', jug, or piercing the
land of Malta, ardent

MEN AND THINGS IN THE AMERICAN NAVy,

619

spirits are smuggled on board in cigar-boxes, lined with parchment, those
who bring them having one box of cigars open, wiiicii tiiey show, in
passing, to the officer of the deck.

The most singular means, however, I have ever known of obtaining
ardent spirits, was the following: When we reached Mahon, most of
the crew of the Delaware 74, were at the hospital on an island in the
harbor, with the cholera among them. Some of the stronger ones were
employed, from time to time, to cover the walls of the hospital with a
wash, made of Spanish white, olive oil, and whisky. The lieutenant in
command, perceiving that, when he was absent, but little was done, con-
cealed himself, and, unseen by the men, watched their movements.
He found that they waited until the oil in their paint-tub had collected
together on the top, with the whisky next below, and the Spanish white
at the bottom, when, running a <juill through the oil, they sucked out the
whisky and drank it.

Many of our crew told me, that the great number of merchant ships
which sail on the temperance plan, led tiiem to go on board a man-of-
war, where they could have their grog. Tiicir allowance was iialf a pint
of whisky a day, which, on board our ship, was put in a large tub, and
mingled freely with water, and served out to them three times a day.
Thus, the time taken up in serving out this poison is nearly equal to
that taken up by their meals, to say nothing of the space occupied by it
on shipboard, which, in long voyages, is needed for water and provisions.

Those who relinquish their allowance of spirits for any period of not
less than tiiree successive months, receive in the place of it one dollar
and eighty cents a month. Of about five hundred on board our ship,
less than one hundred had, at the end of the first year of our cruise,
drawn their grog the whole time; and by thus saving' their money, they
were able to supply themselves with many little comforts in the way of
|)rovision and clothing, of which they must otherwise have been destitute.
In one case, the whole crew of one of our sloops of war stopped their
grog for two months, that thus they might have money with which to buy
a sword to present to a favorite officer, and then returned to their old
courses again.

We had on board an old man whose life, from his youth up, had been
a truly eventful one. He had, among other things, been impressed into
the English navy during the last war; his papers, proving him an Amer-
ican citizen, had been torn to pieces before his face by a British officer;
he had escaped from his ship, and lived for some time among the natives
in the East Indies; had for a long time been an inmate of Dartmoor
Prison, where, being one of the shrewdest of the universal Yankee nation,
he had carried on an active trade in selling beer. Having returucd to
Boston, at the close of the war, after an absence of eight or nine years,
some of his friends came a distance of forty miles to see him, furnished
him with money with which to clothe himself and go home. This he
spent in a spree, and shipped on board a man-of-war for a foreign cruise
of four years, and sailed without seeing his wife and children. When
with us, his children were respectable and prosperous, and would have
provided well for him at home, or he might at any time have had com-
mand of a vessel, if he would have consented to sign the temperance
pledge. This, however, he had refused, and, during the early part of
our cruise, his allowance of whisky so addled his brain, that he was
almost an idiot, being stupid and silly in the extreme. Having been
persuaded to give up his grog, he suffered severely by the change; and

^''

620

MEN AND THINGS IN THE AMERICAN NAVY.

*^-'?

ihh:

such were tl.o fears for the result, enfeebled as his constitut.on had been
by lor^^r indulKoncc, tl.at the surgeon, the cnpta.n, and o he officers
iLJ hin. .0 co.n.nonce drinking again Ho ^P^^'^'^J'';^,^" ''.^^
bound hiiusoir not to do so, and he would not, if he died. At Iciigth his
health i.Kil., and vigor of mind returned, and, as a petty officer, he
was 0.0 of tl.e shrewdest and most diligent and useful «n«>'on hoard
The Xange seemed almost miraculous, and one could hardy believe
him to l)e tiu! same man as before. . , j »r

•^ A so e evil connected with issuing spirit rations «" b""? °"r men-of^
war is found in the fact, that seamen often lose their lives by neglecting
To r;p«rt ihemselves until disease has such a hold upon them tha they
cannot be cured, and this, merely, because they cannot have their grog
w "en liiey are on the sick-list. I had a shipmate, who, from this cause
ruVee under a raging fever, without medical treatment, until within
th ee days of lis death,^hon ho was past all hope. Another of our
c ew w2 sick for several months, during which time, his diaracter seemed
to have undergone a radical religious change. As he began to recove
'a°„J come on leek, the surgeon s^ictly charged hi™ not to tas^e of ard n
«nirits as in the state he was, it would surely kill h m. l.ea ny inc
fo ce ^f ametite%owever, and U.e persuasions of his shipmates, to take
aXink of grog, be died a day or two afterward. When we firs reached
Ma on twKt ree men belonging to the Delaware had just died of
JJecolc^a Commodore P_told me, that not one of tben, would
have becM 'ost, had they obeyed orders us to reporting themselves ea
to the surgeon of the ship, and that the love of strong drink prevented

'"'IvMi'ol board our ship, were one night engaged in a drunke.

nuar^cl when, in falling, one of them had his own knife thrust into h.s

Toi by whkh the feSoral artery was severed so as soon to end h>.

fif?. loth ot- these men had respectable connexions in the vicinity of

£ton ami he one who was killed had been a merchant in that city.

1 nv;.rheard one of our men at breakfast, lamenting the degradation

ani luin ri'ch nteriperanco had brought upon him, and with strong

Si.rtelling his messmates of the efforts wh.ch a pious Jath" had

m ie '; reclaim him, and how he revered and loved the food old rnan

and how often he thought of him, though many years had passed since

TehTseen him. With burning shame, he compared h.s own wretched

and degraded state with the high standing and success in life of his

Shers, who were virtuous mel Soon ^fter this wen and pressed

him with the folly of his course, and he saw and felt that it was worse

SimldnU. At noon I saw him again, and oh, it -s enough to br

one's heart to see him.

To drown the voice of conscience, he liaa
drained the cup of woe. Confined, and in irons, he rolled about upon
the deck a drunken, raving maniac. He howled and prayed, and cursed
and blas'phemed the namf of his God, all in a single breath And oh,
that reSv howl! it made my blood run cold, as it rung through the
E irseemed r ike the voice of wailing from the pit of woe It was
noSuuid bruuil cry: it had in it the soul of a man, and was filled with
"he InSsh o a d^Lloss spirit. It came, too, from one of warm heart
I'nd SfLlings, who, but ^^ tins si^le -se^ SghMha rddZ

t^o"; whor^ake our la'ws could see and hear him, it would do more than
any human eloquence, to lead them, as one man, to rise up and refuse

*i»^ -jdfsi^--; Tr-^j^^.J:

■*-v;l!^i.V- 3t!ifli'-«r*(W.. ^,t rfit^'

■:i^; -^...iMJ.^'^i^

r NAVY.

jonstitution had been
1, and other officers
replied, that ho had
died. At length his
aa a petty officer, he
iseful men on board,
could harOly believe

on board our men-of-
ir lives by neglecting
upon them, that they
innot have their grog
who, from this cause,
reatment, until within
ipe. Another of our
, his character seemed
8 he began to recover
n not to taste of ardent
;in him. Led by the
his shipmates, to take
iVhen we first reached
itxTG had just died of
)t one of them would
■ting themselves early
trong drink prevented

engaged in a drunken
n knife thrust into his
so as soon to end his
ions in the vicinity of
merchant in that city,
•nting the degradation

him, and with strong
ich a pious father had
ved the good old man,
rears had passed since
lared his own wretched

success in life of his
lis, I went and pressed
I felt that it was worse
, it was enough to break
of conscience, he had
, he rolled about upon
and prayed, and cursed
ngle breath. And oh,
, as it rung through the
the pit of woe. It was
lan, and was filled with
iora one of warm heart,
might have been a man
thought, that could this
lalls of Congress, where
I, it would do more than
I, to rise up and refuse

MEN AND THINGS IN THE AMERICAN NAVT.

621

longer to furnish the poor sailor with this liquid fire. I have blushed for
shame when I have seen those who, as seamen, wore our naval uniform,
and such even as had the badge of petty officers, reeling, raying, and
belching forth their curses in the streets of a foreign city, or lying dead
drunk upon the pavement, the objects of pity, or scoflfed and sneered nt
by hundreds who were passing every hour, and exposed when night
came on, to be robbed even to the very clothes they wore. I have also
heard little children, when at play, freely using the vilest and most wicked
oaths, which were the only English words they knew, and which had
been fixed in their memory by hearing them so oflen used by our sea-
men. They did not know the meaning of these words, and when I have
told them that what they said was bud and wicked, they said tliat they
did not know it, and would say so no more.

I have one charge more to bring against intemperance, as it exists in
our navy: it is the crime of murder, and the guilt of shedding human
blood. So far as I could learn by observation and inquiry, not a winter
passes at Mahon, in which one or more of our seamen is not murdered,
either in drunken quarrels with each other when on shore, or with the
natives there. The witnesses of these deeds of blood, too, are commonly
so far intoxicated that their evidence is good for nothing, and hence
justice cannot bo done. The guilty do not, however, always escape
detection and punishment, as the following case will show.

Among those who went on shore on liberty, the last winter we were
in Mahon, were two young men who were shipmates and friends, and
about twenty-one years of age. Instead of returning, as commanded to
do, at the end of twenty-four hours, they were on shore a week, when one
of them came on board, and was confined for being drunk, and disobeying
orders. The next morning, having sleptoff the stupor caused by drinking,
as one of the lieutenants of the ship was passing near him, he rushed
toward him and, shaking with violence the irons which bound him, ex-
claimed, " I am a murderer!" " For God's sake, then, keep your hands
off from me," said the lieutenant, shrinking back, startled at the guilty
horror of the man. He then confessed that he had killed his friend, and
offered to go and point out where the body was. An officer with a guard
of marines, was sent with him, when he led them to a retired place,
where the body was lying in a natural position, as if sleeping, with a
small switch in its hand, and a pair of shoes beside it. Tho head was
badly broken and mashed, and the work of death had evidently been
instantaneous.

The story told by the murderer was, that he and his friend, during
their absence, had every day carried a supply of ardent spirits with them,
to some retired place in the fields, and there remained, more or less
intoxicated, until night, when they returned to the city to lodge. At
length, when in a kind of drunken stupor, he had tried to awaken his
friend, who was sleeping; and, failing to do it readily, he took a large
stone, weighing about fifty pounds, and raising it some feet, let it fall upon
the head of the sleeping man. This he did twice, though the first stroke
must have caused instant death. The body was removed, and I per-
formed over it the rites of Christian burial, when it was laid in the grave.
The murderer was tried by a court-martial, and sentenced to be hung
from the foreyard-arm of the ship, to which he belonged, six weeks from
time of his trial.

Wore we to turn from the seamen to the officers on board our men-of-
war, a volume might be written in tracing the various causes which unite

III I 1 I iilJflti<itiJMtiTf -

022

MEN AND THINGS IN THE AMERICAN NAVY.

ill forininR tlicir oliiirncliTS ami ilirncting tluiir coiidurt, niul in making
tlicin wliat they mIioiiM, or wliiil llioy siiould not bo. I can, liowr-vcr, only
(.'iiinco, in tlosin;/, at a fuw |)<!tuliarilit!S of the sin^'ular, unnatural, ami
liiyhiy arliticiiil state of society, under llio iniluonco of wliicii, as existing
iir<iur naval service, llio minds and morals of our otlicers arc shaped.
iMidMliipmen ou«ht, before receiving a warrant, to be closely cxannned
as to their habits, moral character, and health. Many a ropn.uate and
unj,'overna!ilfi son has. as a last resort, been placcul in the navy with a
view to sid)duo him, wiien, perhaps, his constitution has been impaired
by vicious indulgence, or undermined by disease; and thus, physically
weak and morally debased and depraved, has become a burden to the
service, and a curse to all around him. Unable to endure the exposure
and fatigue of duty, beneath the scorching sun, or chilling night-air, or
drenching rain, or amid the howling tempest, he hangs upon the sick-list,
and the duties he should do fall heavily upon others. Delicate boys,
transferred, at n tender age, from the school-room, or luxurious parlor, to
the steerage of a man-of-war, with its coarse faro and hard accommoda-
tions, its noise and riot, its loss of rest and fatiguing duty on deck, ore
full apt to wilt and wither, like the tender plant torn from its native
earth and placed in harder and more ungcnial soil. These causes, with
youthful intemperance and licentiousness, have not only driven many
from our navy, but have undermined or seriously injured the health and
constitutions of lor;^ numbers still connected with it. I once heard a
number of lieutenants give it as their united and deliberate opinion, that
were there an invalid list formed in our navy, of those who wore perma-
nently diseased, it would embrace one half the officers of the grade of
lieutenant and upward. Most of these, it is true, are engaged in active
duty, but a little extra exposure to the weather, or over exertion, or
undue indulgence of some of the animal appetites, brings them upon the
sick-list, and the burden (.f their duties rests severely on others.

The late increase of pay, in our navy, has a tendency to encourage
and enable the younger officers to appear and dress like gentlemen.
Compel a young man to live on coarse fare and dress poorly, to use his
sheets for a table-cloth, to borrow clothes of his messmates and be meanly
served, and you humble and degrade him, and greatly lessen his pride
of character and self-respect. A man's conduct and language are
affected not a little by the dress and style of living of himself and those
around him. An increase of pay furnishes the means of an earlier and
better settlement in married life than could otherwise be hoped for; and
no one, who has not witnessed the fact referred to, can know how niuch is
effected by a devoted and honorable attachment to a lovely and virtuous
woman, in restraining from vice wild and reckless young men, when
peculiarly exposed to temptation, and cut off from all moral and
religious restraint.

I am happy to state, that there is an increasing number of officers in
our navy, who, by their virtues and their moral and religious worth, are
a credit to the service, and would grace any circle in which they might
be placed. There are others, however, and sorry am I that it is so, who,
though wearing swords and epaulets, and claiming to bo gentlemen,
are so in dress alone; their conduct and their language grossly belying
their outward appearance and their vaunted claims to gentility. Some
of this class are so lost to all sense of decency, that their common con-
versation at the mess-table and elsewhere, is most loathsome and offensive
to every virtuous mind, and such, withal, as should forever exclude them

.", L-X ' '/tJ.''J* *^"-ri?.*:Jfei- "-'■**■''■ i

NAVY.

lui-t, niul in making
I can, liowr-vn, only
[ular, iinnatiiral, and
)f wliici), QH existing
ollicofH arc Hhapcil.
)c duHcly (<xan)inc<l
iny a ropniuutn and

in the navy with a

lius li(!(>n impaired
md tiuis, physically
itne a hiirden to the

nduru the exposure
[^hilling night-air, or
^d upon the Hick-lint,
„'r3. Dflicate boys,
r luxurious parlor, to
id hard acconmioda-
ig duty on deck, arc
torn from itfl native

These causes, with
it only driven many
jurcd the health and
1 it. I once heard a
liberate opinion, that
ISO who were perma-
jcra of the grade of
TO engaged in active
or over exertion, or
•rings them upon the
ly on others,
idency to encourage
ress like gentlemen.
SH poorly, to use his
mates and be meanly
iatly lessen his pride
I and language are
of himself and those
ans of an earlier and
se be hoped for; and
an know how much is
a lovely and virtuous

MKN AND THINU8 IN THE AMERICAN NAVY.

023

s young men,

when

from all moral and

Dumber of officers in
I religious worth, are
in which they might
m I that it is so, who,
ig to bo gentlemen,
Tuage grossly belying
s to gentility. Some
1 their common con-
athsome and oflfensive
forever exclude them

t'rom all di-coiit Hoci«*ly. 'I'licre iiri' «omi' protniiicnt evils connected
wiili tiic system of promotion to rank and uilicc, I'xiHtini; in our navy.
Where rcforencc! is had in proniiilion to the time one has ln-cn in the
"iervice iilone, and not to merit, each one being elivatcd to a highi^r rank
wlicn IiIh turn comes, it will, of coiirHc, Iwippcn tlnit sonic, and it iiiiiy l>e
many, will reach the highosl griuic of otlic<', who, liy their want ol' sdf-
< oiitrol, of natural talent, of courage, of good morals or education, arc
wholly unlit for tin; station they occujiy. It is ot'teii true, also, tliat the
weakest and most worliiless olliccis, have the most iiiHueiitial friiMids and
connexions to stand l>y thcni in tliir hour of trouble, and shield Ihem from
liicir just deserts. A coininamler, convicted of theft and other base
<'rimes, has been freed from the sentence of a coint-iiiarliul, by the dis-
covery, on the part of a learned friend, of a slii;ht inforinulity in the
procijcdingsof the court; and the wretch, guilty, hut unharmed, has been
sent back to his station, to tyrniini/.e over those by whose means he had
been brought to trial.

A weak and timid commander may not only disgrace his country in
time of action, but, when sailing in warm and sickly latitudes, may fear
to run near enougli to the coast to secure the benefit of the land hree/(!S,
or to avail himself, so far as it is prudent to do so, of the breath of the
tornado to bear him onwar<l, instead of putting his ship directly betbrc
it, and permitting it to carry him in u direction opjMJsite to that in which he
should go. Thus may the cowardice of a single man endanger the lives
of scores or hundreds, by detaining them where the deadly breath of the
pestilence reaches them. Such a man may, through natural weakness
of character, be scarcely a moral agent, and the guilt and blame in the
case must rest upon the government which employs such wretched
tools.

It has been said by one long familiar with our navy, that there are
many intimacies, but few friundaiiips, among the officers. The reason
of this, is found in the freiiuent collisions of feelings, arising from con-
tlicting claims to rank and honor, and the jealousy with which officers
of the lower grades regard the standing and authority of those above
them. The eager thirst for rank and promotion, attended as they arc
by higher authority, increased pay, and better ("arc and accommodations
on shipboard or elsewhere, loads the younger officers to feel anything
but unmingled grief for the death of those above them; nor is the chance
of promotion connected with war, or the cruise of a ship or squadron in
sickly climes, viewed without interest by the eager aspirants for rank and
office. This, surely, is a gross perversion of the moral feelings and
sympathies of our nature.

Though seamen often meet with incidents which excite the feelings,
far more than anything which occurs on land would do, yet, they not
unfrequently sacrifice, in a great degree, the religious benefit they might
derive from impressive dispensations of the providence of God, by their
unrestrained indulgence of wit and humor. Examples of this occur in
the epitaphs which they compose for their deceased shipmates. Of these,
the following, copied from monuments in the graveyard where our sea-
men are buried, at Mahon, may serve as a specimen. Over the inscription
which follows, the outlines of a cask are drawn. The epitaph reads
thus :

"In memory of William MuUoy, a native of Troy, state of New York,
a cooper on board the United States ship Delaware 74. Ilis ad/.e
becoming edgeless, his staves worm-eaten, his hoops consumed, his flags

624

ME5 AND THINGS IN THE AMERICAN NAVY.

expended, and hia bunffs decayed, he yielded up hia trade, with hi« lire,
on the twenty-ninth of April, 1829.^* The roilowing explaina itaelf:

" Although hi* ■kin's of dinky hua,
Hi* heart wai pure, hi* friendahip trua:
Hi* ala** upon thi* narth i* run,
He '11 ri*« again in kingdom coma.
Hi* duty he pt-rrormttd « ith cara,
Aa eaplain'a cook of Dalaware."

Another,—-

" The bark i* waiting,
' ' I mum \)e ready ;

Ohnron put off,
8t«er *mall and Hteady."

There has been a chani^o for the better, ereat and strongly marked,
in the general character and deportment of the officers and men of our
navy> within a few years post; nnd, in ropcntt-d instances, chaplains have
been cheered ond encouraged nrnid the peculiarly trying ond self-denying
labors of their office, by a general seriousness among those who sailed
with them, and the commencement, on the part of many, of ■& sober,
devout, and religious course of life. Some, who were formerly officers
in the navy, are novr able, pious, and successful preachers of the Gospel;
and there are others still, who are now connected with the naval service,
whoso education, talents, piety, and knowledge of the world are such as
would fit them for peculiar usefulness in the clerical profession.

a':

«r--^

\i&i

<ftilM' Iftf tor>)l>l»H»l'ii-'irrtnra»i—Mfc.»»

lERICAN NAVY.

od up hia trade, with hi* liTc.
following explain! itielf :

limky hu»,
rriendahip tru«!
1 in run,
lom coma,
-ith em,
kwara."

>?•

(luly."

, ffrcat and strongly marked,
the officers and men of our
ted instanccfl, chaplains have
liarly trying and self-denying
ess among those who sailed
B part of many, of ■& sober,
!, who were formerly officers
(All preachers of the Gospel ;
ectcd with the naval service,
Igo of the world are such ns
) clerical profession.

' " ■ ■■ %.

II - ■ p i^i pj.n i iMif ■ apit I '^»^

..->*

■iS'