Lea 848 Pb YALE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY THE LIBRARY ASSOCIATES Gift of the REVEREND WILLIAM H. OWEN YALE 1897 OCEAN SCENES, OR THE . PERILS AND BEAUTIES OF THE DEEP; BEING INTERESTING, INSTRUCTIVE, AND GRAPHIC ACCOUNTS OF THE MOST POPULAR VOYAGES ON RECORD REMARKABLE SHIPWBECKS, HAIR-BEEADTH ESCAPES, NAVAL ADVEPJ. TUBES, THE WHALE FISHERY, ETC. ETC. ILLUSTKATED BY FINE ENGRAVINGS. NEW-YORK : GEOEGE A. LEAVITT, (SUCCEfiSOB TO lEATITT & CO.), NO. 12 VESEY - STREET. 1852. Entered, according to Act of CongreBS, in the year 1847, by LEAVITT, TROW & CO. in the CI frit's Office of the District Court for the Southern District of New~Yoifc. PREFACE. The life of a sailor is far from being one of ease and inactivity ; but it still presents considerable in tervals of entire leisure, with very limited sources of amusement. Divided from the great herd of mankind, and cut off, for a season at least, from the knowledge of passing events, there is no class of persons thrown more upon their own resources for intellectual employment, than seamen. The ob jects which daily meet their eyes are the same ' their routine of duties is, for the most part, unva ried ; and except when a transient sail looms from the horizon, the elements alone furnish subjects of interest and excitement to the accustomed traversers of the deep. Next to the claims of religion upon minds thus undistracted by the avocations of society, or the allurements of the world, those of literature vi PREFACE. certainly appear the strongest. It is difficult, how ever, at sea, even in the most favorable capacity, to go through a long and continued course of reading, without frequent and provoking interruptions. The noise and motion of the vessel, the sudden shiftings of the wind, — in short, the very situation in which one finds himself "cabin'd, cribb'd, confin'd," — are so many impediments to a steady and success ful cultivation of literature. The object of the present volume has been to afford a series of brief and interesting sketches, which might be both useful and attractive to the seaman, and afford a convenient pastime for his lei sure moments. It was believed that a miscellany of the kind, which by its variety might not readily tire, and which might be laid down and resumed at freqiipnt intervals, without losing its interest, would not be unacceptable to the intelligent mar iner. It will be seen that no definite arrangement of materials has been attempted in this work The diflcrent articles are thrown together for the reader PREFACE. Tli to choose and digest according to his own inclina tion and capacity. The distinctions between the historical and the fictitious are, however, sufficiently apparent, and the plan of the book would hardly admit of a different disposal of the contents. Many voyages of interest have doubtless been passed over ; but an apology for the omission must rest upon the infinite number and variety of materials, all com ing w^ithin the scope of the work, which presented themselves. The limits of the book have been already extended beyond the original design. To seamen, it is believed that the work will prove an instructive as well as entertaining one. It embraces nearly every subject of importance in the history of navigation and maritime discoveries, while the sketches of nautical manners and adven ture are from the most authentic sources. From the examples presented, it will be seen of what astonishing advantage are the virtues of decision, temperance, perseverance, and unwavering hope, in moments of extreme peril and despair. It is the coward only, who at such times deserts his post; Tiii PREFACE. bids defiance to orders, and surrenders himself to a vile and degrading intoxication. The effects or such conduct are almost universally destructive and fatal. To transient passengers across the deep, it is hoped, that the volume will not be an uninterest ing and unsought-for companion; while to that very respectable class of persons who live on shore, it will be found to present an ample and genuine representation of the habits and excitements, the pleasures and perils of a mariner's life CONTENTS Pagt Early Discoveriea - .... 13 Columbus . - - - - 14 Magellan ..._.. 17 Sir Francis Drake ..... 20 The Spanish Wreck ----- 23 Dampier ------- 26 A Man Overboard - . - - 27 Captain Woods Rogera - - - - 29 Story of Alexander Selkirk - ... 31 A Scene off Bermuda .... 34 Captain John Clipperton - - - - 38 Ferocity of the Polar Bear . . - . 40 Le Maire and Schouten - - > - 42 The Florida ..... 44 Commodore Anson ... - _ 45 Fishing on the Grand Bank .... 60 Byron - - • ... 53 A Tale of the Sea - - - - - 57 Wallis - 60 Voyage from Halifax to Bermuda - - - 64 De Bougainville ... - - 68 History of the Buccaneers - - - - 71 Voyage of Captain James . . - . 78 The Pirate's Treasure ----- 85 Missionaries in Greenland - - - . (00 Dolphins and Flying Fish - . - - 102 Henry Hudson ----- 105 Famine on Board the Le Jacques ... 105 Law of Arrest - - - - - 110 Captain Cook - - • 113 CONTENTS. Pago 118 Captain Cook's Second Voyage - - ¦ Thu-d do. - - - - ^^ Sufferings of Ephraim Howe - - - " An Escape thr<^gh the Cabin Windows The Fatal Repast ----- 1'*'* Captains Portlock and Dixon - - - " Curiosity Baffled - - - 160 Shipwrecked Marmers Saved Through a Dream - 171 A Polite Sea-robber - - - " - 173 Feehngs Excited by a long Voyage . . - 176 Forty-five days' Sufferings .... 180 Monsieur de la Perouse ... - 185 Midshipman's Pranks - - - - 203 The Loss of the Phoenix - - - 212 Mutiny of the Bounty ..... 223 Bn-d Catching in the Shetland Islands - - 235 Dangers of a Nova Scotia Fog - - - - 238 The Eddystone Light House - - - 243 John Paul Jones - - - 246 James Lavirence .... 249 Early American Heroism - . - 252 Captain G. Vancouver - - . . 253 A Visit to Rockall . . . - 276 Captain Inglefield's Narrative . . . 282 A Monkey Trick - ... - 284 Captain Kennedy's Narrative - - - - 285 Tom Cringle's Log - - - . . 287 Nelson ------ 291 The Cumberland Packet - - . . 307 Captain D'Entrecasteaux - . - . 309 Captiun Riley ---.-. 325 Adventures of Captain Woodward ... 319 Shipwreck of the Blendenhall .... 005 The Cliffs of Dover " - - - ' 328 An Account of the Whale Fishery - . . ooi The Loss of the Peggy - - . _ _ _,_ The Medusa ----._ ofrq The Main Truck, or a Leap for Life - . , o!,„ The Harpooner Transport - - ^ . Commodore Barnej „__ oo7 CONTENTS. Naval Battles of the United States - . - 371 Captain Parry's First Voyage of Discovery - - 382 Second Voyage ..... 399 Third do. ..... 409 Loss of the Alceste ..... 411 Kotzebue .^ . . - . . 426 Wreck of the Rothsay Steamer ... 428 Narrative of Captain W. L. Cazneau - - . 432 New York ...... 436 Narrative of Captain Lincoln .... 437 Greenwich Hospital . - . - . 469 Loss of the Ship Boston ... 47O The Loss of the Kent . . - . . 472 Properties of the Sea, &c. - - - - 478 Classification of Clouds - . . . 480 Literary Pursuits of Sailors - - - 484 Abstract of American Nautical Laws .... 439 POETRY. The Beacon Light ..... 22 The Ocean ...... 34 Nautical Philosophy ..... 57 The Wreckers ...... 77 The Dying Dolphin . . . - - 104 A Sea Song 113 Lament for Long Tom ... - - 144 The Return of the Admu^l - . - - 170 The Sea Bird's Song . . . . , 176 The Grecian Mariner's Song .... 184 The Sound of the Sea - - - - - 211 ASeaBaUad 237 Address to the Ocean .... - 251 The Subterranean Stream ... - 281 As Fast and Far o'er Waves we fly - - - 287 Casablanca ...--- 306 The Mariner's Address to his Mistress - - - 314 The Mariner's Hymn ----- 330 The American Flag ----- 381 Old Ironsides 425 XU CONTENTS ENGHAVINGS Pogt The Landing of Columbus - - - . 16 Sn-aits of Magellan. ..... 18 Peak of Teneriffe ..... 30 Cape Horn -..--. 43 St. Helena ...--- 50 Pirate's Treasure ----- 99 Death of Captain Cook .... 133 Bird Catching on the Shetland Islands ... 236 The Eddystone Light House .... 244 Rockall ...... 270 The Wreck of the Cumberland Packet - - 309 Dover Castle ----.. 329 Boat Upset by a Whale - - - . 344 View of Boston --*.-. 3gQ New York ..--.. 43g Greenwich Hospital . - - . . 4^9 Classification of Clouds - - . - 4BI EARLY MARITIME DISCOVERIES. The Portuguese were among the first to signalize themselves in the career of geographical discovery. At the beginning of the fifteenth century, Prince Henry, son of John I. was at tne head of the marine of Portugal. Under his immediate direction, sev eral voyages were undertaken to the coast of Africa; in one of which the voyagers were driven by a storm out of their usual •course along shore, and for the first time the terrified mariners found themselves in the boundless ocean. When the storm abat ed, they were in sight of an island, to which, in their thankful ness to Heaven for the succor it afforded, they gave the name of Puerto Sancto, or the Holy Haven — the least of the Madeiras. The voyages of the Portuguese now succeeded each other rapidly; and other navigators of this nation, either grown bolder, or again driven off the coast, discovered the Azores. In 1433, the Por tuguese passed Cape Nun, hitherto the limit of their courses, and arrived at a cape, which presenting a frightful barrier to the still timid seamen, in the terrible surf that broke on the shoals near it, they named Bojador, signifying its projection into the sea and the consequent circuit it required to double it. In succeeding expeditions. Cape Verd was reached, and the Senegal arrived at, and Lisbon saw with astonishment a different race from the Moors. Cape Mesurado was the limit of the Por tuguese discoveries at the death of Prince Henry in 1463, which damping the ardor of discovery, it was not until 1471 that the Equator was crossed, and the islands in the gulf of Guinea were discovered. The terrors of the burning zone, and the belief of the union oi Africa and Asia being dissipated by these successive voyages, the passage to India round Africa was no longer deemed impossible, and a fleet was fitted out under Bartholomew Diaz for the express purpose of attempting it. The captain coasted Africa to within sight of its southernjpoint, to which he gave the name of Cape of all Torments from the violent storms he experienced off it, and which, as well as the want of provisions, obliged him to return to Lisbon, after an absence of sixteen months. The name of the Cape of all Torments was changed by the king to that of Good Hope, from the prospect it afforded of accomplishing the passage to India. 2 14 COLUMBUS. Ten years however elapsed after the discovery of the Cape before this passage was again attempted; and Vasco de Gama had the honor of doubling the promontory the 20th of November, 1497. Sailing along the east coast of Africa, he passed through the Mosambique Channel to Mombaze and thence to Melinda, where he procured pilots, and crossing the Arabian sea, arriv ed at Callicut the 22d of May, 1498. It is thought that the ridiculous ceremony of ducking, &c. on crossing the line was first oractised in this voyage. COLUMBUS. While the Portuguese were attempting to arrive at India by the east, Columbus conceived the idea of reaching it by the west, which produced a discovery that was totally to alter the face of Europe by inundating it with the treasures of a new world. — Christopher Columbus was a native of Genoa. He seems to have been accustomed, in a degree, from his yonth, to a sea-life, and once commanded a ship in an engagement with a Venitian galley, when both vessels having grappled took fire, and he saved himself by swimming nearly two leagues to the shore. Columbus had formed an opinion, after much reflection, that by sailing across the Atlantic towards the west, new countries, probably forming a part of India, must be discovered. Fired with this project, he first proposed his plans to the king of Portugal, but that monarch not readily complying with his terms, Columbus concluded to resort to the court of Ferdinand and Isabella, who then ruled the united kingdoms of Castile and Arragon. His proposals were listened to with respect, and an assembly of all the learned men of the realm was called to listen to his reason ing, and weigh his arguments. He rose before this learned body, and explained to them his project and the probabilities of its success. But his propositions were rejected as absurd. One of their assertions was, that if a man should sail away westward as far as Columbus proposed, he would not be able to return on account of the roundness of the globe. They said it would be going down; and that coming back would be like climbing a hill, which a vessel could not do without the strongest gale ! But though baffled by these prejudiced men, he finally found an advocate in the Queen Isabella, who promised her assistance to the undertaking. After much delay and difficulty, an expedi tion was fitted out, and Columbus appointed admiral. ' He sailed with his companions from the bar of Saltes, a small island in front COLUMBUS. 15 of the town of Huelva, on the morning of the third of August, 1492. They steered their course in a S. W. direction for the Canary Islands. The day after their departure, the rudder of one of the caravels was unshipped. This was supposed to have been done through the contrivance of two men on board, who disliked the voyage. Her captain however repaired the rudder by means of ropes, so as to be able to keep on their course as far as the Grand Cauary. Here three or four weeks were spent in repairing the vessel, and in taking in supplies of wood and water; after which, on the sixth of September, they departed in a westerly direction. On the fifteenth of the same month, at night, they saw a wonderful flash of fire fall into the sea. On the next day they fell in with a large quantity of green weeds, among which they found a live crab ; and soon after great flocks of birds \^re seen flying towards the west. The sailors watched, with the greatest anxiety, for every sign of land. But being often disappointed they began to murmur and grow afraid. Towards the night of the 22d, two or three land-birds came singing on board the vessels, and flew away at daybreak. One thing that terrified the sailors was that the wind always blew direct ly in their stern. They believed that in those seas they should never have a wind to carry them back again. It fortunately hap pened however, that about this time the wind started up freshly from another quarter, with a rolling sea. The signs of land having continually failed, the crews grew more incensed against the ad miral. Provisions were falling short, and the general wish seemed to be to turn back. Some of them even proposed to throw Colum bus into the sea, and give out on their return that he had fallen overboard, while engaged in taking some observations. On the eleventh af October they experienced signs of land, which could not be mistaken. A cane and a log were picked up, and a branch of thorn full of red berries was likewise found. Convinced, by these tokens, of the vicinity of land, Columbus after evening prayers, made an address to his crew, reminding them of the mercy of God in bringing them so far, and encourag ing them to continue. About ten o' clock that evening, while keeping an anxious look-out from the top of the cabin, the ad miral thought he beheld a light glimmering at a great distance ; and at two in the morning the signal of land was given by a sailor named Rodrigo de Triana. When the day dawned they beheld before them a large island, quite level, full of gv&en trees and delicious springs, and apparently well inhabited. The ships im mediately came to anchor. The admiral went ashore in his boat, well-armed, and bearing the royal standard. After formally taking possession of the island, he named it San Salvador. It is now called Cat Inland, and belongs to the group of the Baha mas. He also d'scovered Cuba, Hispaniola, and several ojther small 16 COLUBIBUS. islands, and having left a colony in a fort at Hispaniola returnea ?o Spain in March, 1493. In September following, he set out on his second voyage, and sailed by the Leeward Islands to His paniola; in a third voyage undertaken in 1498, he discovered the continent of America, but in consequence of some envious char ges made against him, was sent in fetters to Europe. He was instantly liberated on his arrival, but so deeply did the injury sink into his mind, that he always carried about him the chains he had worn, and ordered that they should be buried with him. He sailed from Cadiz, in May, 1602, on his fourth voyage. On arriving off Columbus. St. Domingo he found eighteen loaded ships preparing to depart for Europe. As from certain tokens he discerned the approach of a hurricane, he requested permission to enter the harbour and at the same time warned the fleet not to sail. Both his request and warning were disregarded. The hurricane came on By proper precautions he escaped its fury; but it fell with such de structive violence on the fleet, that only two or three ships were saved, and the rest perished with all their wealth. Columbus proceeded on his voyage and traced all the coast about the isthmus of Darien. Sailing homewards he was wreck ed on the island of Jamaica. Here he underwent great distress from the mutiny and desertion of his men, and the suspicions of the natives, who withheld their supplies of provisions, till by the ore diction of an eclipse, he obtained an irresistible authority over their mmds. At length he was delivered by a squadron sent from Hispamola; and after a short stay at St. Domingo, he embarked With two ships for Spain. One of these was obliged by storms MAGELLAN. IT to return, and in the other with great difficulty and danger, he reached St Lucar in December, 1504, and thus finished his last disastrous voyage. On his return he had the mortification of finding his best friend, Isabella, dead. He was worn down by anxiety and disease; his services were neglected, and his hopes miserably disappointed. He finally died at Valladolid, on the 20th of May, 1506, in the fifty-ninth year of his age; passing through the last scene with that piety and composure, which he had displayed in all the trying emergencies of life. In 1536, his remains were removed to Hispaniola, and interred in the city of St. Domingo. But in 1795, they were again disinterred and conveyed to Havanna, in Cuba. MAGELLAN. Ferdinand Magellan was by birth a Portuguese, descended from a good family, and born towards the end of the fifteenth cen tury. In consequence of certain services in the Indian Seas, he applied to the government for some recompense ; but being treated with neglect, he left his own country to seek employment in a foreign land. In company with Ruy Falero, an eminent astron omer, aud one of his associates, he travelled into Spain, and ex plained lo Charles V. the reigning monarch, his project of making discoveries in distant seas. * The court listened to the adventurers with favor, and consented to fit out an expedition. Magellan's little squadron consisted of five ships, manned witt 237 men, and supplied with provisions, ammunition and stores, for two years. On the 1st of August, 1519, they left Seville, and on the 27th of September sailed from Sanlucar, steering for the Canaries. They refreshed at Teneriffe, and early in October passed the Cape de Verd Islands. Holding on their course, they bore along the coast of Africa, till they crossed the line, seven ty days after their departure. In the beginning of December they, came to that part of Brazil which is now called the Bay of St. Lucia. They subsequently anchored at the mouth of a large river, supposed to be the Rio Janerio, where they continued a fortnight. On their first landing, the inhabitants flocked to the beach in great numbers, beholding, as they imagined, five sea- monsters approaching the shore. When the boats put out from the ships, the natives set up a great shout, conceiving them to be young sea-monsters, the offspring of the others. Proceeding along the South American Coast, the squadron arrived in April, 1520, at a large bay, now -.ailed by the name of 2* 18 MAGELLAN. St. Julian. Here they saw a wild, gigantic race, of great size and fierceness who made a roaring not unlike that of bulls. 4n the port of Batavia. The ships sailed thence on the 16th of October, 1768, and cleared the straits of Sunda on the 19th in the afternoon. By this time the crew were all perfectly recovered ofthe scurvy, but a few remained ill of the bloody flux. On the 20th the ships were in sight of the Isle of France, and, on the 8t.h of November, the Boudeuse anchored in the port of that island; the Etoile, which had been unavoidably left behind, anchoring in the same port on the following day. They sailed from this the 12th of December, 1768, leaving the Etoile behind them to undergo some necessary repairs. Without encountering any singular accident they had sight of the Cape of Good Hope on the 18th of January, and came to anchor in Table Bay on the following morning. Bougainville quitted this on the 17th, anchored off St. Helena on the 4th of February, and on the 25th, joined the Swallow, commanded by Captain Cartert. Noth ing material happened from this time till they had sight ofthe Isle of Ushant. where a violent squall of wind had nearly blasted the hopes ofthe voyage. On the 15th the commodore bore away for St. Ma.loes, which he entered on the following day, after an ab sence of two years and four months from his native country; during all which time he had buried only seven of his crew, a circumstance that will be deemed truly astonishing, when we re flect on the variety of dangers they had encountered and the amazing changes of climate they had experienced. HISTORY OF THE BUCCANEERS. The name Buccaneer, which originally signified one who dried or smoked flesh in the manner of the Indians, was given to the first French settlers of St. Domingo, who hunted wild boars and cattle, in order to sell the hides and flesh to their more settled neighbors. They lived in huts built on patches of cleared ground, just sufficiently large to admit of drying the skins. These spots were named Boucans, and the huts, which were comraonly only teraporary, Ajoupas, terms borrowed frora the native Indians. With the more regular Spanish settlers of the same island they were continually at war, a.id therefore concealment was. in some degree, necessary: the motives of the Spaniards for this persecu tion being jealousy ofthe presence of all other Europeans. The tenants ofthe Boucans, having neither women nor children, songregated in parties,^ each keeping a servant, who, being some 72 . HISTORY OF THE BUCCANEERS. adventurer from Europe, was obliged to bind himself for three years to an older BuccaiiiBer, in order to gain a footing in the community; more a companion, however, than a servant, t^he fruits of their labors were enjoyed in common; and, in cases o'f death, the domestic regularly succeeded to the property of his master. In process of time, some, tired of this occupation, settled as plant ers in the little island of Tortuga, situated at a short distance from the north side of -St. Domingo, to which they were, by de grees, driven by the repeated massacres of the Spaniards. Others commenced free-booters by sea, amply revenging upon that nation the injuries sustained by their companions on land. Success con tinually added to their confidence and to their numbers. They seldom at first, acted together; but in parties of from fifty to two hundred men each, embarked in small boats, ill adapted either to war or security from the elements, and would attack the largest vessels, overpowering them by a desperate bravery which notliing could withstand. Thus they fought their way to riches and power Every additional prize afforded increased means of capturing others; till, at length, the Spaniards, afraid of proceeding to sea, had their intercourse with the mother-country nearly annihilated. Although their vengeance was directed against this, their wealthiest and bitterest enemy, other nations were not exempted from their depredations. When distressed for men, money, or ships, almost every stranger became an enemy. Thus far they were pirates. Tlie booty was regularly divided into as many shares as there were raen. None had a preference. The leader of an enterprise, coramonly elected only for the occasion, among the most distinguished for skill and courage, enjoyed more hon' ors, but had no claim to greater emoluments than his associates, except what the general voice chose to award when an enterprise proved profitable, and had been able conducted. No fixed laws guided their proceedings. These were mads upon the spur ofthe occasion. But offences against the general good, such as peculation or treachery, vvere severely and summa rily punished, either by death, or by leaving the culprit upon a de sert island. Such was the certainty of punishment, or the sense of justice to each other, that few instances of this kind occurred. Their behavior verified the adage of — "Honesty among thieves;" for though robbers by profession, none were ever more equitable among themselves. Every share was chosen by lot. The woun ded were provided for by a certain sum, and an allovvanse during cure. The companion, or servant of a member killed, received his share. If he had none, it was transmitted to his relations; or, if these were unknown, given to the p. or, or to churches, to apo logize for misdeeds neither repented of nor discontinued. They seldom went to sea except when in want of money, and, when gain ed, it was as quickly spent. Jamaica commonly formed the resort of the English, and St. Domingo of the French, where the fruits HISTORY OF THE BUCCANEERS. 73 of their cruizes being soon dissipated in rioting and debauchery, necessity drove them to the same desperate undertakings for further supplies. These associations continued, with but few intermissions, for nearly 150 years, peace or war in Europe being of no import in the eyes of their leaders. The principal of these were Morgan, Sammq Wilner. Towley, and others, among the English; Mont bar, L'Olonois, Grognier. Picard, Le Sage, and Gramraont, among the French; Van Horn, a Dutchman, and De Basco, a Portuguese. Morgan, the most renowned of the English freebooters, after a variety of minor exploits, conceived the bold project of subduing Porto-Bello, which he accomplished with great skill and no loss, gaining a large booty from its plunder and ransom. Panama, iiowever. alargetown, situated across the isthmus of Darien. on the shore ofthe South Seas, promised still more wealth. Having re duced the island of St. Catharine's by a secret understanding with the Spanish governor, who wished to have the honor, though not the danger, of resisting the adventurers, he proceeded to the mouth ofthe river Chagres, leading part of the way to his ulti mate destination. Here was a fort situated upon a rock", against which beat the waves of the sea; and defended by an officer and a garrison, worthy ofthe trust committed to their courage. The buccaneers attacked it with desperation, and were as vigorously resisted, but this resistance only stimulated the energy of raen ac customed, not merely to expect, but almost to command success. For some time the contest continued doubtful, till a lucky shot killed the comraander ofthe fort, while, at the same time, it took fire, when the besieged, losing courage, surrendered. Morgan leaving his vessels at anchor under a guard, proceeded in canoes up the river, thirty-five miles, where, being no longer navigable, he disembarked, and marched towards Panama, about thirty miles distant. On a plain, without the town, a considerable array appeared drawn up to oppose his progress. This was no sooner attacked than dispersed. In the city, in boats, and in the neighboring forests, were found vast treasures concealed in caves and cellars, the inhabitants having had time to retire themselves, but not to carry off their wealth; added to these were immense quantities of valuable articles of commerce, which, being unable to remove, were, as well as the town, according to the barbarous practice of that age. set on fire by the adventurers, who regained their ships with a prodigious booty. Among the French, who distinguished themselves as much for cruelty as bravery, was Montbar, a native of Languedoc. He had, in early life, conceived a strong prejudice against the Span iards, on account of their cruelties to the Indians; this spirit in creasing with his years, he erabarked from Europe to join the buccaneers. In the passage out, a Spanish vess'el being met with, 7 74 HISTORY OF THE BUCCANEERS. was attacked, boarded, and taken, Montbar leading the way to the decks of the enemy, along which he carried wounds and death, nothing being able to resist his desperate fury; and when submis sion terminated the engagement, his only pleasure seemed to be to contemplate, not the treasures of the vessel, but the number of dead and dying Spaniards, against whom he had vowed a dead ly and eternal hatred. This inveterate enmity never subsided His opponents suffered so much and so frequently from it. during the whole of his life, that he acquired from them the name ofthe Exterminator. Another of the same nation, named L'Olonois, "rom the situa tion of bondsman, had raised himself to the command of two boats and twenty-two men. with which he was bold enough to attack, and fortunate enougli to capture a small Spanish frigate on, the coast of Cuba. With this vessel he succeeded in taking four ships fitted out at Port-au-Prince to destroy him; but cruelly threw their crews overboard, excepting one man, sent back to ihe governor of the Havannah. with a message that all Spaniards who might fall into his hands, not excepting even his excellency himself. should experience a similar fate. At Tortuga he met with Michael de Basco, already celebrated for having taken a ship under the guns of Porto Bello, valued at £220.000, and a variety of other enterp>-ises both daring and profitable. Between them a new ex pedition was planned, supported by 450 men: in the bay of Venezuela they reduced a fort, sinking the guns, and cruelly put ting the garrison of 250 men to death. -Re-embarking, they reached Maracaybo, built on the western shore ofthe lake of that name, a city which had acquired wealth by its trade in skins, cocoa, and tobacco. The inhabitants, at the first alarm, fled with their principal effects; enough, however, remained to keep the buc caneers in drunkenness and debauchery for some tirae; inthe mean while works were thrown up to impede their progress, which they reduced at the expense of blood and labor, but without any profit. Maracaybo itself was ransomed; Gibraltar, situated near the extremity ofthe lake, was burned, owing to the exasperation ofthe adventurers at missing the expected plunder; and, at length they retired laden with crosses, pictures, and bells, more than with wealth. Van Home, in 1603, formed the design of an expedition, which promised a rich harvest to his followers. He himself was at once their admiration and terror, being not only remarkable for intre pidity but for punishing the smallest want of it in others, often go ing round the decks during the heat of an engagement, and instant ly shooting tliose who, in the smallest degree, flinched from their guns. In other respects he was equitable and generouii, sharing equally with his crew the produce of their courage, though sail ing in a ship wholly his private property. To aid in the present scheme, he took Gramont, Godfrey, Jon« HISTORY OF THE BUCCANEERS. 75 que, and De Graff, all commanders of approved skill and courage, with 1200 men, the largest force which had yet been mustered, and in six vessels sailed for Vera Cruz. Night, and ignorance of the armament, favoring their design, the buccaneers landed eight miles from the town, entered it undiscovered, and, before day-break, secured the governor, forts, barracks, and all the sol diers capable of making opposition. The inhabitants sought re fuge in the churches, at the doors of which were placed barrels of gunpowder, guarded by the invaders with lighted matches, in or der to destroy the whole in case of insurrection or tumult. The work of pillage, in the meantime, proceeded without interruption, nothing being left which it was possible or desirable to carry away. A proposal was likewise made to the imprisoned people, who had not tasted food for three days, to ransom their lives and freedom for a sum of £430,000. This, whether able or not, they were compelled to accede to, half the money being paid immediately, and the other half promised in a few days. Suddenly, however, a large armed force appeared before the town, and a fleet of sevejj- teen ships from Europe before the port, which though sufficient to intimidate a regular array, if not to desert their plunder, had no other effect on the buccaneers than to induce !hem to retreat quietly with 1500 slaves, as an indemnification for the remaining half of the expected ransom, and to push deliberately through the Spanish fleet, which, instead of intercepting, was itself happy to escape frora such terrible assailants. For a long series of years these depredations continued. Scarcely a town escaped, except such as vvere situated very far in the interior; forts and soldiers were of -little use on the coast, for the forraer were soon reduced, and the latter, whenever they attempted a fair contest in the field, always conquered. Towards the decline of this predatory warfare, Gramont embarked with a considerable force for Campeachy, and landing without opposition, found 800 Spaniards di^wii up to dispute the approach ofthe town, who were attacked, beaten, and pursued into it, with the invaders close behind, till stopped by the citadel. Against this all the can non they could find was directed in vain. Fear, however, effect ed what force could not. The garrison dreading the name ofthe buccaneers, evacuated the place during the night, leaving only an Englishman in it, (a gunner,) who, with the spirit of a soldier, disdained to desert that which he had sworn to defend, and which, it appeared, was capable of being obstinately defended; and so highly did this principle of honor and -courage operate upon the assailants, who were held together solely by the same feelings, that they received him with distinction, and rewarded him, not only with praises and liberty, but likewise with wealth. For two months the conquerors kept possession of the city, searching not only every nook and corner in it for plunder, bu'. the country, for thirty or forty miles round discovering what had 76 HISTORY OF THE BUCCANEERS been hidden in the earth or in the woods, to the great loss of the inhabitants, who vainly believed they had, by this means, secured part of their property. The plunder, as soon as collected, was deposite(l,on ship-board. The governor of the province kept the field with nearly a thousand men, but dared not interrupt men who seemed as desperate, wherever booty was to be procured, as they were insensible to danger and regardless of death. His refusal to ransom the city caused its immediate destruction by fire. The citadel, likewise, w with what does not concern you; and belay your slack jaw, or, by --! Rink Mahone will find a way to make it fast for you!" He then turiied round, and walked forward to the forecastle. During this affray no attention had been paid to the wreck, though the crew had set up a yell of despair on seeing us leave them. Signals and shouts were still repealed, and a voice, loud er in agony than the rest, implored our help for the love of the blessed Virgin; and offered riches and absolution to the whole ship's company if they vvould but come back. The Captain was pacing fore and aft without appearing to mind them, when, as if struck with some sudden thought, he lifted his glass to his eye — seemed to hesitate — walked on — and then, all at once changing his mind, he ordered the vessel again before the wind. On speaking the wreck, she proved to be a Spanish felucca from the island of Cuba, bound for Curacoa, on the coast of the Caraccas. As they had lost their boats in the storm, and could not leave their vessel, our Captain lowered and manned our jolly- boat, and went off to them. After an absence of some hours he returned with the passengers, consisting of an elderly person inthe garb of a catholic priest, a sick gentleman, a young lady, apparently daughter ofthe latter, and a feraale black slave. With the utmost difficulty, and writhing under some excruciating pain, the invalid was got on board and carried down to the cabin, where he was laid on a bed on the floor. To the tender of my professional services the invalid returned hia the pirate's treasure. Sf ihanks, and would have declined them, expressing his conviction of being past huraan aid, bwt the young lady, eagerly catching at even a remote hope of success, implored him with tears to accept my offer. On examination I found his fears were but too well grounded. In his endeavors to assist the crew during the gale lie had. been standing near the mast, part of which, or the rigging, having fallen on him, had dislocatfed several of his ribs, and injur ed his spine beyond remedy. All that could now be done was to afford a little temporary relief fi-om pain, which I did; and leaving hira to the care of the young lady and the priest, I left the cabin. On deck I found all bustle and confusion. The ship was still lying-to, and the boats employed in bringing the goods out of the felucca, both of which were the property of the wounded gentle- raan. The body ofthe old man, Gemmel, had been removed some where out of sight; no trace of blood was visible, and Captain Mahone seemed desirous to banish all recollections both of our quarrel and its origin. As the invalid was lying in the cabin, and my state-room was oc cupied by the lady and her feraale attendant, I got a teraporary birth in the steerage made up for myself for the night. I had not long thrown myself down on ray cot, which was only divided from the main-cabin by a bulk-head, when I was awakened by the deep groans ofthe Spaniard. The violence of his pain had again re turned, and between the spasms I heard the weeping and gentle voice of the lady soothing his agony, and trying to impart hopes and prospects to him, which her own hysterical sobs told plainly she did not herself feel. The priest also frequently joined, and urged him to confess. To this advice he remained silent for awhile ; but at length he addressed the lady: "The Padre says true, Isabella! Time wears apace, and I feel that I shall soon be be yond its limits, and above its concerns! But ere I go, I would say that vvhich it would impart peace to ray mind to disclose — I would seek to leave you at least one human being to befriend and protect you in your utter helplessness. Alas! that Diego di Mon- taldo's daughter should ever be thus destitute! Go! my love! I would be alone a little while with the father." An agony of tears and sobs was the only return made by the poor girl, while the priest with gentle violence led her into the state-room. "Now,',' continued the dying raan, "listen to rae while I have strength. You have only known me as a merchant in Cuba; but such I have not been always. Mine is an ancient and noble family in Catalonia; though I unhappily disgraced it, and have been estranged from it long. I had the misfortune to have weak and indulgent parents, who idolized me as the heir of their house, and did not possess resolution enough to thwart me in any of my wishes or desires, however unreasonable. My -boyhood being hus spoiled, it is no matter of wonder that my youth should have 90 THE pirate's treasure. proved wild and dissolute. My companions vvere as dissipated as myself, and much of our time was spent in gambling and other extravagances. One evening at play, I quarrelled with a young nobleman of high rank and influence ; we were both of us hot and passionate, so we drew on the spot and fought, and I had the misfortune to run him through the heart and leave him dead. Not daring to remain longer at home, I fled in disguise to Barcelona, where I procured a passage in a vessel for the Spanish Main. On our voyage we were taken by buccaneers; and, the roving- and venturous mode of life of these bold and daring men suiting both my inclination and finances, I agreed to raake one of their number. For many raonths we were successful in our enterprises: we ranged the whole of these seas, and raade a number of prizes. some of which were rich ships of our own colonies. In course of time we amassed such a quantity of specie as to make us un willing to venture it in one bottom; so we agreed to hide it ashore and divide ii on our return frora our next expedition. But our good fortune forsook us this time. During a calm the boats of the Guarda-Josta came on us, overpowered the ship, and made ill the crew, except myself and two others, prisoners. We es caped with our boat, and succeeded in gaining the island of Cuba, where both of my comrades died of their wounds. Subsequent events induced rae to settle at St. Juan de Buenavista. where I married, and, as a merchant, prospered and became a rich man. .But ray happiness lasted not! My wife caught the yellow fever and died, leaving me only this one child. I now loathed the scene of my departed happiness, and felt all the longings of an exile to revisit my native country. For this purpose I converted all my effects into money; and am thus far on my way to the hidden treasure, with which I intended to return to Spain. But the green hills of Catalonia will never more gladden mine eyes! My hopes and wishes were only for my poor girl. Holy father! you know not a parent's feelings — its anxieties and its fears! The thoughts of leaving my child to the mercy of strangers ; orj it may be, to their barbarities, in this lawless country, is far more dread ful than the anguish of my personal sufferings. With you rests my only hope. Promise me your protection towards her, and the half of all ray wealth is yours." "Earthly treasures," replied the priest, "avail not with one whose desires are fixed beyond the little handful of dust which perisheth' — my life is devoted to the service of my Creator; and the conversion of ignorant raen, men who have never heard of his salvation. On an errand of fciercy came I to this land; and if the heathen receive it, how ranch more a' daughter of our most holy church? I, therefore, in behalf of our community, accept of your offer, and swear on this blessed emblem to fulfil all your wishes to the best of my poor abilities." "Enough, enough!"saidMontaldo, "lamsatisfied" Amongthaf tiie pirate's treasure. 91 archipelago of desert islands, known by the name ofthe Roccas. situated on the coast ofthe province of Venezuela, in New Gra nada, there is one called the Wolf-rock: it il the longest and most northern of the group, and lies the most to seaward. At the eastern point, which runs a little way into the sea. there stands an old vanilla, blasted and withered, and retaining but a single solitary branch. On the eve ofthe festival of St. Jago the moon will be at her full in the west. At twenty minutes past midnight she will attain to her highest latitude in the heavens, and then the shadow ofthe tree will be thrown due east. Watch till the branch and stem unite and form only one line of shade — mark its extrem ity — -for there, ten feet below the surface, the cask containing the gold is buried. That gold, father, vvas sinfully got;. but fasts and penances have been done, masses without number have been said, and I trust that the blessed Virgin has interceded for the forgive ness of that great wickedness! I have now confessed all. and confide in your promise; and as you perform your oath, so will the blessing or curse of a dying man abide with you. I feel faint, lying. Oh! let me clasp my child once more to my heart before [ " Here the rest ofthe sentence became indistinct from the death- rattle in his throat. I leaped off my cot, and s{)rang up thehatch- way, and had my foot on the top ofthe companion-ladder, y^hen a piercing shriek from below making me quicken my steps, I missed my hold, and fell on some person stationed on the outside of the cabin door. The person, without uttering a single word, rose and ascended the steps; but as he emerged into the faint light which still lingered in the horizon, I fancied that I could distin guish him to be the Captain, On my enteririg.'I found the Span iard dead, and his daughter lying in a state of insensibility by his side; while the female slave vvas howling and tearing her hair like one in a frenzy. The priest was entirely absorbed in his de votions; so. without disturbing him, I lifted the lady and bore her into the state-room. The greater part of the night was passed in trying to restore her to sensation. Fit after fit followed each other in such quick succession that I began to apprehend the re sult; but at length the hysterical paroxysm subsided, and tears coming to her relief, she became somewhat composed, when I left her in charge of her attendant. The next day was spent in taking out the remainder of the felucca's cargo. There seemed now no anxiety on the captain's part to proceed on his voyage — he appeared to have forgot the necessity, expressed on a former oc(!eision, of being in port within a limited time. He was often in a state of inebriety; for the wine and spirits ofthe Spaniards were lavishly served out to the whole ship's company, with vvhom he also mixed more; and banished hat haughtiness of beaming which had marked his conduct hith erto 92 THE pirate's treasure. In the evening the body of Don Diego was brought upon deck, where hi= crew, under the superintendence ofthe priest, prepared it for its commitment to the deep. The corpse was, as is usual in such cases, wra|)ped up in the blankets and sheets in vvhich it had lain, and a white napkin vvas tied over the face and head. In its right hand, vvhich vvas crossed over the breast, was plac,ed a gold doubloon. Its left held a small bag containing a book, a hammer, and a candle, while on the bosom was laid the little crucifix worn by the deceased. It was next enveloped in a ham mock, with a couple of eight-pound shots, and a bag of ballast at the feet to sink it. At midnight the vessel was hove-fo, and all the ship's company assembled at the lee-gangway. The Span iards and negroes bore each a burning torch in his hand; the blaze of which, as they held them elevated above their heads, cast a strange and fearful light through the deep darkness, and illum ined the ocean far and wide with a supernatural reful^jncy When all was ready, the priest, accompanied by Isabella, came up from the cabin, atid the Spaniards lifting up the body, carried it forward to the waist, where ope of the ship's gratings had been put projecting over the side, and on this the corpse was laid, and its feet to the water. Around this the torch-bearers formed a circle, and the priest, standing at the head, began the funeral service for the dead at sea. The wind had now subsided into a gentle breeze; and nothing disturbed the profound silence ofthe crew during mass, save the slight splashing of the waves against the windward side of the ship, and the deep drawn, con vulsive sobs of the young lady as she stood, enveloped in the mantillo, in the obscurity of the m.ain-rigging. Mass being con cluded, the priest soleranly chanted the funeral anthem: — "May the angels conduct thee into Paradise; may the martyrs receive thee at thy coming; and mayest thou have eternal rest with Laz arus, who was formerly poor!" He then sprinkled the body with holy water and continued: — " As it hath pleased God to take the soul of our dear brother here departed unto himself, we therefore, commit his body to the deep, in the sure and certain hope of a joyful resurrection on that day when the sea shall give up its dead. Let him rest in peace!" The Spaniards responded " Amen!" and the priest repeating, "May his soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of^ God, rest in peace — Amen!" made the sign of the_cross; and the bow-chaser, which had been loaded and made ready for the occasion, firing, the end ofthe grating was gently elevated, and the corpse heavily plunged into the water. The waves parted, heaving and foaminw round the body as it disappeared, — when to our horror and aston ishment we beheld it. the next minute, slowly return to the surface deprived of the canvass covering in which it had been sewed The dead man came up as he had gone dqwn, in an upright posi tion, and floated a little tirae with his back to the vessel; but the the pirate's treasure. 93 motion ofthe water turned him round by degrees till we distinctly saw his face. The head was thrown back, and the eyes wide open; and under the strong stream of light poured on them from the torches, they seemed to glare ghastly and fearfully upwards. His gray hairs, long and dishevelled, floated about his face, at times partially obscuring it; and one arm, stretched forth, and agitated by the action of the waves, appeared as if in the act of threatening us. When the first burst of horror had subsided, I caught hold of Isabella to prevent her seeing the body, and was leading her off, when some of the men, lowering their torches from the main-chains, whispered that it was the murdered man. old Jaraes Gemmel. The Captain had been hitherto looking on with the rest without having apparently recognised him; but when the name struck his ear, he shrunk back and involuntarily ex claimed, "it's a lie — it's an infamous lie! Who dares to say he was murdered? He went overboard two days ago? Bb don't let him come on board: for God's sake keep him down, or he'll take us all with him to the bottora. Will nobody keep him down? Will nobody shove him off? Helm a-lee !" he bawled out. waving to the steersraan; but the man had deserted his post, eager to see what was going on; he, therefore, ran to the wheel himself, and again issued his commands. "Let go the main top-sail weath er braces, and bring round the yard! Let them go, I say!" His orders vvere speedily execute'd. The vessel gathered way, and we quickly shot past the body ofthe old man. For several days after this, we pursued our course with a fa vorable wind, which drove us swiftly forward on our voyage. The Captain now kept himself constantly intoxicatedj seldom raade his appearance in the cabin, but left us altogether to the care ofthe steward. All subordination was now at an end — his whole tirae was spent among the seamen, with whom he mixed familiarly, and was addressed by them without the slightest portion of that respect or deference commonly paid to the Captain of the vessel. The appearance of the men, also, was much altered. From the careless mirth and gaiety and the characteristic good ,humor of sailors, there was now a sullenness and gloom onIy~ vis ible. A constant whispering — a constant caballing was going on — a perpetual discussion, as if some design of moment was in agitation, or some step of deep importance was about to be taken. All sociality and confidence towards each other were banished. In place of conversing together in a body, as formerly, they now walked about in detached parties, and among them, the boatswain and carpenter seemed to take an active lead. Yet, in the midst of all this disorder, a few of our own crew kept theraselves sepa rate, taking no share in the general consultation; but from the anxiety expressed in their countenances, as well as in that of the mate, I foresaw some storm was brooding, and about to burst on our heads. 94 THE PIRATE S TREASURE. Since Montaldo's death, Isabella had been in the habit of leav ing her cabin after sun-set. to enjoy the coolness of the evening breeze; and in this she was sometimes joined by the priest, but more frequently was only attended by her slave. One evening she came up as usual, and after walking back and forward on deck till the dews began to fall, she turned to go below: but just as we approached the companion-way, one of the negroes, who now, in the absence of all disciphne, lounged about the quarter deck without rebuke, shut down the head, and throwing himself on it, declared that none should make him rise without the reward of a kiss. This piece of insolence was received with an encour aging laugh by his fellows, and several slang expressions of wil were uttered, which were loudly applauded by those around. Without a word of remonstrance, Isabella timidly stooped, and would have attempted getting down the ladder without disturbing the slave; when, burning with indignation, I siezed the rascal by the collar, and pitched hira head foremast along the d^ck. In an instant he got on his legs, and pulling a long clasp-knife oU of his pocket, with a loud imprecation he made towards rae. All the other negroes likewise made a motion to assist him, and I expected to be assailed on all hands, when the mate interfered, and laying hold of the marlin-spike, which I had caught up to defend myself, pushed rae back, as he whispered, "Are you mad, that you interfere ? For heavea-'s sake, keep quiet, for 1 have no authority over the crew now!" And he spoke the truth; for the negro, brandishing his knife, and supported by his comrades, was again advancing, when the hoarse voice of the boatswain, as he ran to the scene of action, arrested his progress. " Hallo ! you there, what's the squall for ? Avast, avast, Mingo! off hands is fair play — ship that blade of yours, or I'll send my fist through your ribs, and make day-light shine through them in a minute." I related the behavior of the negro, and was request ing him to order the slaves forward, when I was cut short with — ," There are no slaves here, young man! we are all alike free in a British ship. But damn his eyes for an insolent son of a ; he pretend to kiss the pretty girl! I'll let him know she belongs to his betters! The black wench is good enough for him any day. Come, my dear!" he continued, turning to Isabella, "give me the same hire, and I'll undertake to clear the way for you myself." He made as if he meant to approach her, when, careless of what the consequences might be to myself. I hastily stepped forward, and lifting up the head of the companion, Isabella in an instant darted below. " This lady is no fit subject either for wit or inso lence," said I, shutting the doors, "and he is less than man who would insult an unprotected feraale." For a little while he stood eyeing me as if hesitating whether he would resent my interfer ence, or remain passive; at length he turned slowly and dogged ly away as he uttered — "you ruffle big, and crow with a brisk note, THE pirate's TREASURE. 96 my lad! But I've seen me do as wonderful a thing as twist your wind^iipe and send you over the side to cool yourself a bit; and so I would serve you in the turning of a wave, if it wasn't that we may have use for you yet! I see in what quarter the wind sets; but mind your eye! for sink me if I dont keep a sharp look out ahead over you." I now saw that things had come to a crisis — tha^ he crew meant to turn pirates; and I was to be detained among them for the«eake of my professional services. I could not, without a shud der, reflect on what must be the fate of Isabella among such a gang of reckless villains: but I firmly resolved that, come what might. my protection and care over her should cease but with my life. To be prepared for the worst, I immediately went below, load ed my pistols, and concealed them in my breast, securing at the same time all my money and papers about my person. While thus employed, one ofthe cabin-boys came down for a spy-glass, saying that a sail had hove in sight to windward. Upon this I fol lowed hira up, and found the crew collected together in clamor ous consultation as to the course they should follow. Sorae were for lying-to till she came down, and taking her, if a merchantraan; and if not, they could easily sheer off — but this raotion was over ruled by the majority, who judged it best to keep clear for fear of accidents: accordingly all the spare canvas was set, and we were soon gaining large before the wind..^ But the Dart, though reckon ed the first sailor out of Clyde when close hauled on a wind, was oy no means so fleet when squared away and going free: she had now met with her match, for the stranger was evidently gaining rapidly on us. and in two hours we saw it was irapossible for us to escape. The priest and I were ordered down with a threat of instant death if we offered to come on deck, or make any attempt to attract observation. I now communicated to Isabella my apprehensions with respect to the crew, along with my resolution to leave the vessel if the other proved a man-of-war, and earnestly advised both her and the priest to take advantage of it also. She thanked me with a look and smile that told me how sensible she was of the interest I felt in her welfare, and expressed her willingness to be guided by me whatever way I thought best. Shortly after this we heard a gun fired to bring us to, and the Dart hailed and questioned as to her port and destination. The answers, it appeared, were thought evasive and unsatisfactory, for we were ordered to come close under the lee-quarter of his Ma jesty's sloop of war Tartar, while they sent to examine our papers. This was now our only chance, and I resolved, that if the officer should not come below. I would force the companion-door and claim his protection. But I was not put to this alternative. As soon as he arrived, I heard him desire the hatches to be taken off, and order his men to examine the hold. The inspection did not 96 theT pirate's treasure. satisfy him; for he hailed the sloop, and reported that there were Spanish goods on board which did not appear in the manifest: — " Then remain on board, and keep your stern lights burning all night, and take charge ofthe ship!" was the reply. In a state of irksome suspense we remained nearly two hours, expecting every minute to hear the officer descending. At length, to our relief, the companion-doors were unlocked, and a young raan, attended by our captain, entered the cabin. He looked surprised on seeing us, and bowing to Isabella, apologized for intruding at such- an unseasonable hour. " But I was not given to understand." he ad ded, "that there were passengers in the ship — prisoners I should rather pronounce it, Mr Mahone, for you seera to have had them under lock and key, which is rather an unusual raode of treating ladies at least. No wine, sir!" he continued, raotioning away the bottles which the Captain was hastily placing on the table — "no wine, but be pleased to show me your register and bill of lading." He had not been long seated to inspect them when a shuffling and hurried sound of feet was heard overhead, and a voice calling on Mr. Duft" for assistance, showed thc^t some scuffle had taken place above. Instantaneously we all started to our feet, and the lieutenant was in the act of drawing his sword, when, accidentally looking round, I observed Mahone presenting a pistol behind. With a cry of warning, I threw myself forward, and had just time to strike the weapon slightly aside, when it went off. The ball narrowly missed the head of Duff, for whom it had been aimed, but struck the priest immediately over the right eye. who. making one desperate and convulsive leap as high as the ceiling, sunk down dead, and before the Captain could pull out another, I discharged the contents of mine into his breast. We then rushed upon deck; but it was only to find the boat's crew had been mas tered, and to behold the last ofthe men tumbled overboard. The pirates then dispersed, and exerted themselves to get the ship speedily under-way; while the boatswain sang out to extinguish the lanterns, that the Tartar might not be guided by the lights. "It's all over with us!" exclaimed my companion; "but follow me — we have one chance for our lives yet. Our boat is still tow ing astern; do you throw yourself over, and swim till I slide down the painter, and cut her adrift. Com^ bear a hand, and jump! don't you see them hastening aft?" And in an instant he pitched himself off the taffrel, slid down the rope which held the boat, and cast her loose. But this advice however judicious, it was impos sible for rae to follow — for, at the moment, repeated shrieks frofti Isabella put to flight all thoughts for my own individual safety; Ij therefore, hurried back to the cabin, determined, that if I couid not rescue her along with myself, to remain, and protect her with my life. And in a happy time I efrrived! The candies were still burning on the table; and through the smoke of the pistols, which still filled the cabin, I beheld her struggling in the arras of THE pirate's treasure 97 k negro — the identical slave who had displayed such insolence ia the early part of the evening. With one stroke of the butend of my pistol I fractured the cursed villain's scull — caught up Isabella 4n my arms — ran up the ladder, and had nearly gained the side, when the boatswain, attracted by her white garments, left the helm to intercept me — and I saw the gleam of his uplifted cutlass on the point of descending, vvhen he vvas suddenly struck down by some person from behind. I did not stop to discover who had done me this good office, but hailing Duff, and clasping Isabella firmly to my heart, I plunged into the water, followed by my un known ally. With the aid of my companion, whom I now found to be John Wyllie, the mate, we easily managed to support our charge till flie boat reached us; when we found that the greater part ofthe raen had been rescued in a sirailar manner. When the morning dawned, we perceived the Dart, like a speck in the horizon, and the sloop of war in close chase. Our atten tion was next turned to our own situation, vvhich was by no means enviable: we had escaped, it is true, with our lives, for the present; but without a morsel of food, or a single drop of fresh water, with us in the boat; we could, at best, only expect to protract existence for a few days longer, and then yield it up ultimately in horror aiid misery. By an observation taken the day before, on board of the Tartar, Mr. Duff informed us we were to the north-east of the Bahamas; and distant about one hundred and seventy miles from Walling's Island, which was the nearest land. This was a long distance; but, as despair never enters the breast of a British sailor, even in situations of the utmost extremity, we cheered up each other; and, as no other resource was left us, we nianned our oars, and pulled away with life, trusting in the chance of meeting with some vessel, of which there was a strong probability, as this vvas the common course of the leeward traders. And our hopes were not disappointed! for next day we fortunately fell in with a brig frora the Azores, bound for Porto Rico, on board of which we were received with much kindness; and, in five days, we found ourselves safe moored in Porto-real harbor. My .first step on landing was to inquire for a boarding-house for Isabella, and I had the good luck to be directed to one kept by a respectable Scotch family, in Orange Terrace, and to this I con ducted her. My next transaction was to charter a small cutter; and to communicate to Duff the' secret of the hidden treasure; at the samatime asking hira to adventure himself and his men on its recovery, i also gave him to understand the probability of a renconter with the pirates, in the event of their having escaped the sloop, for I vvas aware that Mahone had overheard the whole confession, from my finding him listening at the cabin door. Without hesitation, the lieutenant at once agreed to accompany me, and engaging some hands out of a vessel newly arrived, we soon mustered a party of fourteen men. As it wanted only six 0 98 the pirate's treasure. days ofthe festival of St. Jago, and the distance across the Carib. bean sea was great enough to require all our exertions to be there in tirae, we embarked and sailed that very ni^ht. Our cutter proved a prime sailer — and though the winds were liwlit and variable, by the help of our sweeps we made the Roccas on the evening of the sixth day. As the Spaniard had foretold, the moon wasclimbing the western sky, and pouring the fulness of her splendor with a mild and beautiful effulgence on the un troubled deep, as we slowly drifted with the current between the Wolf-rock and the adjacent isle. All was silent and calm over the whole desert ofthe Archipelago and the vast surrounding waters, save now and then the sudden flight of a sea-fowl awakening from its slumbers as we passed; or the occasional roar of the jaguar faintly wafted from the main land. We ran the cutter into a deep and narrow creek; moored her safe, and proceeded, well armed, to the eastern extremity. There we found the projecting point of land, and the old vanilla tree exactly in the situation des cribed — its huge, twisted trunk was still entire; and from the end of its solitary branch, which was graced by a few scattered leaves, the body of a raan in the garb of a sailor hung suspended in irons. The clothes had preserved the body from the birds of prey, but the head vvas pick-ed clean and bare, leaving the eyeless and bleached skull to glitter white in the moonlight. In perfect silence, and with soraething of awe in our spirits impressed by the solitude, and dreariness of the scene, we seated ourselves on the rocks, and, with my timepiece in my hand, I began to mark the progress of the shadow. For nearly three hours we watched in this manner, listening attentively for the slightest sound from sea-ward; but" every thing continued hushed and still, except the creaking ofthe chain as the dead man swang to and fro in the breeze. Midnight was now drawing near — the moon, radiant and full, was careering high through the deep blue of heaven, and the shadows of the branch and stera were approaching each other, and towards the desired point. At length the hand of ray tiraepiece pointed to within one minute of the time. It passed over. The branch and stem now merged into one, and threw their shadow due east; and the first spade-full of earth had been thrown out, when the man who had been stationed to keep a look out came running to inform iBt that a boat was rapidly approaching from the east. We im mediately concluded that they must be a part of the Dart's crew; and their long and vigorous strokes, as they stretched out to the full extent of their oars, showed that they knew the importance of every minute that elapsed. Our implements for digging were hastily laid aside, and we concealed ourselves among the rocks till they should corae within reach. In a short tirae the boat was seen ashore, and eight armed raen came forward, partly Spaniards and partly the ship's crew; araong whora I recognised the boat swain, and, to ray surprise, Mahone, whoiri I had shot and left for The pirate's treasure. 9d dead in the cabin. Without giving them tirae to prepare for the assault, we quitted our shelter, and sprung among them at once, Laying about with our cutlasses. For a little space the skirmish vvas toughly and hotly contested ; for the pirates were resolute and reckless, and fought with the desperation of men who knew that the only chance for their lives lay in their own exertions. In the confusion of the fray I had lost sight of Duff, and was closely engaged with one of the Span iards, when the voice of the boatswain shouting forth a horrible iipprecation sounded immediately behind me. I turned round, and sprung aside from the sweep of his cutlass, and, as my pistols were both empty, retreated, acting on the defensive; when he pulled out his, flred, and hurled the weapon at my head. The shot passed jvithout injuring me — but the pistol, aimed with better ef^ feet, struck me full in the forehead. A thousand sparks of light flashed from my eyes — I felt myself reeling, and on the point of falling, when a cut across the shoulder stretched me at once on the ground. When I recovered frora ray stupor, and opened my eyes, the morning was far advanced — the sun was shining bright over head; and 1 found myself at sea, lying on the deck of the cutter; and Duff busily engaged in examining my wounds. From him I learned that the pirates had been mastered after a severe conflict — in which four had been slain, and left on the island; two had escaped unobserved during the fight, and raade off with their boat; and two had been wounded, and were prisoners on board, one of whom was Mahone. On our arrival at Porto Rico, we delivered them over to the civil power; and, soon afterwards, Mahone was 100 Missionaries in Greenland. tried for the murder of the priest, when he was convicted on our evidence, condemned, and executed. Under good nursing, and care, I gradually recovered. Isabella is not now that destitute and unprotected orphan whom I first saw on the middle of the western ocean — but the happy mistress of a happy home, diffusing life and gladness on all around her. My friend Duff has lately been placed on the list of post captains, and is anxiously waiting for more bustling times, vvhen there will be more knocking about, and more hard blows got, than what our prftent peace establishment admits of. John Wyllie, too, has had advancement in his line, being now master of one of the finest ships from Clyde; and I had the additional satisfaction of knowing that none of the crew had reason te* regret their having jeopardized their lives iii fighting for the "Pirate's Treasure." MISSIONARIES IN GREENLAND. The hardships encountered by the early missionaries in Green land were many and severe. The missionary Rudolph, in attempt ing to return to Europe after devoting twenty-six years of his life to the cause of God in Greenland, experienced a very remarkable and merciful deliverance. On the 18th of June, he quitted Lich- tenau. in company with his wife, and in the evening embarked on a vessel which was lying off the Danish factory of Julianenhaab. The bay being nearly blocked up by drift-ice, they were detained here for several weelcs; but, some Greenlanders having stated that the sea was open at a short distance, the captain weighed anch'or on the 22d of August, though the wind was contrary, and vast bodies of ice were still within sight. For some time they advanced with a roaring noise and a most uneasy motion, through immense fields of ice; but, on the 25th, a storm arose from the south-west, which drove the mountains of ice close upon the ship, and appeared to menace immediate destruction. The scene was now truly tre mendous, and it appeared that the vessel, with her sails closely reefed, and driving before the wind must inevitably be dashed to atoms. At one time she struck upon a small rock; but was got off without receiving any particular damage ; but soon afterwards, she struck with such violence against an iraraense field of ice, that several planks started at once, the water rushed in. and the vessel filled so rapidly that the captain and the sailors had scarcely es caped with their boats to an adjacent field of ice, when nothing more appeared above the surface ofthe water than the larboard gunwale. Our missi«nary and his wife were the last who were MISSIONARIES IN GREENLAND. 101 taken from the wreck ; and, just before they quitted it, they were above their knees in water, and clinging firmly to the shrouds. The mariners were now anxious to make toward the shore, which was only about a league distant; but the large boat was so heavily laden, and the wind wa'fe s ) high, that it was deemed more advisable to steer for the nearest island they could reach. This proved to be a rough pointed rock, and destitute of vegetation, except one small plot at a considerable height which was covered with short grass. — Here they attempted to land the provisions which had been saved from the wreck; but the waves beat with such fury against the rock, that the boats, with eight of the sailors on board, were driven to the opposite shore and appeared to be crushed in pieces. "All our hopes of being saved," says Mr, Rudolph, " now van ished ; and the whole company gave vent to their feelings in loud and general cries and lamentations. In the evening we lay down to rest, close to each other, without either tent or covering, and, ,as it continued to rain heavily during the whole of the night, the water rushed down upon us in torrents frora the surarait ofthe rock, and we were completely soaked in wet, lying as it were, in the midst of a pool." On the 27th the captain and most of the sailors determined to attempt to reach the shore, by walking a*ross the ice; though, as it was frequently necessary to leap frora one mass to another, and a fall into any ofthe intermediate chasms would have beenjnstant- ly fatal, this undertaking was extremely dangerous. Rudolph and the partner of his affections would willingly have joined them, but they were too much weakened by fatigue and want of food to allow of such an exertion. They were, therefore, compelled to remain,' together with the ship's cook, who was in the same enfeebled sit uation. The crew, however, promised that if they succeeded in reaching the shore, a boat should be sent to rescue them from their painful and perilous situation. Time now passed heavily indeed, with our missionary and his companions, who, when the sun shone, employed themselves in drying the few articles which they had been enabled to save from the wreck; but they were, at last, so enfeebled by cold and hun ger, that even this little exertion proved too much for their ex hausted strength. Day after day they looked with inexpressible anxiety towards the land. -with the hope of discovering some Green- lander hastening to their relief. ^ On the 2d of September, as they were lying down to sleep, the wife of Rudolph happened to raise herself, and discovered some Greenlanders, who had been rowing about in their kajaks the whole ofthe day without seeing any persons on the rock, and who were now proposing to return. From them the sufferers obtaihed a few herrings, but were obliged to remain on the rock another night, as the Greenlanders had no boat for their accommodation. The following evening however, they were safely conveyed-to the 9 * 102 DOLPHINS AND FLYING FISH. colony of Julianenhaaf, where they learned that the whole ship's company, with the exception of one man, had been providentially preserved; and on the llth they proceeded to the settlement at Lichtenau, where their miraculous deliverance afforded inexpres sible pleasure to their fellow laborers and to the whole congrega tion. — Here they passed the winter; and in the course of the following year they removed to Lichtenfels. whence they sailed .n one ofthe Danish vessels, to Copenhagen. DOLPHINS AND FLYING FISH, Perhaps there is not any more characteristic evidence of our being within the tropical regions, — one, I mean, which strikes the imagination more forcibly, — than the company of those pictur esque little animals, the flying-fish. It is true, that a stray one or two may sometimes be seen far north, making a few short skips out ofthe water; and I«ven remeraber seeing several close to the edge ofthe banks of Newfoundland, in latitude 45^. These, however, had been swept out of their natural position by the huge gulf-stream, an ocean in itself, which retains much of its tempera ture far into the northern regions, and possibly helps to modify the climate over the Atlantic. But it is not until the voyager has fairly reached the heart ofthe torrid zone that he sees the flying- fish in perfection. No familiarity with the sight can ever render us indifferent to the graceful flight of these most interesting of aU the finny, or, rather, winged tribe. On the contrary, like a bright day, or a smiling countenance, or good company of any kind, the more we see of them, the more we learn to valufe their presence. I have, indeed, hardly ever observed a person so dull, or unimag inative, that his eye did not glisten as he watched a shoal, or, it may well be called, a covey of flying-fish rise from the sea. and skim along for several hundred yards. There is something in it so very peculiar, so totally dissimilar to every thing else in other parts ofthe world, that our wonder goes on increasing every time we see even a single one take its flight. The incredulity, indeed, of the old Scotch wife on this head is sufficiently excusable. "You may hae seen rivers o' milk, and mountains o' sugar," said she to her son, returned from a voyage; " but you'll ne'er gar me believe you hae seen a fish that could floe !" We were once stealing along under the genial influence of a light breeze, which was as yet confined to the upper sails, and every one was looking open-mouthed to the eastward to catch a gulp of cool air, when about a dozen flying-fish rose out of ths dolphins AND FLYING FISH. 103 water, just under the fore-chains, and skiraraed away to windward at the height of ten or twelve feet above the surface. A large dolphin, which had been keeping corapany with us abreast ofthe weather gangway, at the depth of two or three fath oms, and, as usual, glistening most beautifully j^^the sun. no sooner detected them take wing, than he turned hi^ead towards them, and, darting to the surface, leaped from the water with a velocity little short, as it seemed, of a cannon ball. Bi^t ahhough ihe impetus with vvhich he shot himself into the air gave hira an initial velocity greatly exceeding that of the flying-fish, the start vvhich his fated prey had got, enabled them to keep ahead of him for a considerable tirae. The length of the dolphin's first spring could not be less than ten yards; and after he fell, we could see hira gliding like lightning through the water for a moment, when he again rose and shot forwards with considerably greater velocity than at first, and, of course, to a still greater distance. In this manner the merciless pursuer seemed to stride along the sea with fearful rapidity, while his brilliant coat sparkled and flashed in the sun quite splendidly. As he fell headlong on the water at the end of each huge leap, a series of circles were sent far over the still surface, which lay as smooth as a mirror; for the breeze, although enough to set the royals and top-gallant studding sails asleep, was hardly as yet felt below. The group of wretched flying-flsh, thus hotly pursued, at length dropped into the sea; but we were rejoiced to observe that they merely touched the top of the swell, and scarcely sunk in it, — at least they instantly set off again in a fresh and even more vigorous flight. It vvas particularly interest ing to observe that the direction they now took was quite different from the one in which they had set out, implying but too obviously that they had detected their fierce enemy, who was following them with giant steps along the waves, and now gaining rapidly upon them. His terrific pace, indeed, was two or three times as swift as theirs — poor little things! and whenever they varied their flight in the smallest degree, he lost not the tenth part of a second in shaping a new course, so as to cut off the chase, while they, in a manner really not unlike that ofthe hare, doubled more than once upon their pursuer. But it was soon too plainly to be seen that their strength and confidence were fast ebbing. Their flights became shorter and shorter, and their course more fluttering and uncertain, while the enormous leaps of the dolphin appeared to grow only more vigorous at each bound. Eventually, indeed, we could see, or fancied we could see, that this skilful sea-sportsman arranged all his springs with such an assurance of success, that he contrived to fall, at the end of each, just under the very spot on which the exhausted flying-fish were about to drop ! Sometimes this catastrophe took place at too great a distance for us to see from the deck exactly what happened; but on our mounting high into the rigging, we may be said to have been in at the death; for 104 THE DYING DOLPHIN. then we could discover that the unfortunate little creatures, one after another, either popped right into the dolphin's jaws as they lighted on the water, or were snapped up instantly afterwards. It was impossible not to take an active part with our pretty little friends of th^weaker side, and accordingly we very speedily had. our revenge. The middies and the sailors, delighted with the chance, rigged out a dozen or twenty lines from the jib-boom-end and spritsail yard-arms, with hooks baited merely with bits of tin, the glitter of which resembled so much that of the body and wings ofthe flying fish, that many a proud dolphin, making sure of a delicious morsel, leaped in rapture at the deceitful prize, and " in his turn became the prey of a successful enemy. THE DYING DOLPHIN. The truth and beauty of the following description of a dying Dolphin by Falconer, will be attested by those of our readers who may have witnessed i similar scene. And now, approaching near the lofty stem, A shoal of sportive dolphins tliey discern. From barnish'd scales they beam refulgent rays. Till all the glowing ocean seems to blaze. Soon to the sport of death the crew repair. Dart the long lance, or spread the baited snare. One, in redoubling mazes, wheels along. And glides, unhappy! near the triple prong. RoDMOND unerring o'er his head suspends Tlie barbed steel, and every turn attends. Unerring aim'd, the missile weapon flew, And, plunging, struck the fated victim through Th' uptunning points his ponderous bulk sustain , On deck he struggles with convulsive pain But while his heart the fatal javelin thrills, And flitting life escapes in sanguine rills, What radiant changes strike tH' astonish 'd si !06 FAMINE ON BOARD THE LE JACQUES. ofthe return of the French ship Le Jacques from Brazil to France. Jean de Lery gives an account of an extraordinary famine on board that vessel, attended with the most appalling circumstances. This ship, called St. Le Jacques, haying completed -her .cargo of dying-wood, pepper, cotton, monkeys, parrots. &c. at Brazil, weighed anchor on the fourth of January. 1658. The whole crew, seamen and passengers, consisted of forty-five men, exclu sive of the captain. They had sailed seven or eight days, when a leak in the hold was discovered, which induced five of the pas sengers to return in a bark offered them by the captain, in pre ference to continuing on the course to France. We shall give in Lery's own words, the narrative of the re- rnaining part ofthe voyage. " On the third of February we found, that, in seven weeks, we had not made more than one third of our way. As our provisions diminished very fast, it was proposed to bear away for Cape St. Roch, where some old seamen assured us that we should be able to procure refreshments. But the majority advised that we should eat the parrots and other birds, of which we had brought away great numbers; and their opinion prevailed. " Our misfortunes began with a quarrel between the mate and the pilot; who, to aggravate each other, then went so far as to neglect their duty. On the twenty-sixth of March, the pilqt being at the helm, in his turn, for three hours he kept all the sails set, when a violent squall assailed the vessel with such force that she was oomnletely thrown on one side, so that the tops of the masts were immerseu ir the water. The cables, the hen-coops, and all the boxes which were noi. hashed fast, were swept overboard, and the vessel was on the point of upsetting. The rigging, however, being instantly cut away she righted again by degrees. The danger, though extreme, tended so little to produce a reconcilia tion between the two enemies, that the moment it was past, they attacked each other and fought with the most savage ferocity, notwithstanding all the endeavors that were made to pacify them. " This was only the beginning of a horrid series of calamines. A few days afterwards, in a calm sea. the carpenter, and other artisans, in the attempt to relieve those who were laboring at the pumps, were so unfortunate as to remove, among others, a large piece of wood in the ship's hold; upon which the water rushed in with such impetuosity, that the affrighted workmen' hurried breath less upon deck, unable to give an account of the danger. At length they cried, in a lamentable voice: ' We are lost! We are lost!' Upon this the captain, master, and pilot, not doubting of the magnitude ofthe danger, and determined instantly to put the ship about, ordered a great quantity of Brazil wood and other articles to be thrown overboard, and concluding to abandon the vessel. they first provided for their own safety. The pilot fearing lest the boat should be overloaded by the numbers who demanded a FAMINE ON BOARp THELE JACQUES. 107 ;he merchant turning round to a lawyer, whom the Devil had deserted, and who was now with the' victims of his profession, " dey tell me dat in Englant a man be called innoshent till he- be proved guilty; but here am I, who, because von carrion of a shailor, who owesh me five hundred pounts, takes an oath that I owe him ten thousand — here am I, on that schoundrel's single oath, clapped up in a prishon. Is this a man's being in noshent till he is proved guilty, sare?" " Sir," said the lawyer primly, " you are thinking of criminal cases. But if a man be unfortunate enough to get into debt that is quite a different thing — we are harder to poverty than we are to crime." " But, mine Got! is that justice?" "Justice! pooh! it's the Law of Arfest," said the lawyer, turning on his heel. Our merchant was liberated: no one appeared to prove the debt, He flew to a magistrate — he told his case — he implored justice against Capt. Jones. " Capt. Jones," said the magistrate taking snuff; " Capt Greg ory .Tones, you mean!" "Ay, mine goot sare — yesh!" " He set sail for Calcutta yesterday. He commands the Roy al Sally. He must evidently have sworn this debt against you for the purpose of getting rid of your claim, and silencing your mouth tin you could catch hira no longer. He's a clever fellow this Gregory Jones!" " De teufel! but, sare, ish dare no remedy for de poor mer chant?" " Remedy! oh yes — indictment for perjury." " But vat use is dat ? You say he be gone — ten thousand miles off— to Calcutta!" " That's certainly against your'indictment." "And cannot I get my monish?" "Not as I see." " An I have been arreshted instead of him!" "You have." " Sare. I have only von vord to say — is dat justice?" "That I can't say. Mynheer Meyer — but it is certainly the Law of Arrest," answered the magistrate — and he bowed the merchant out ofthe room. CAPTAIN COOK lis A SEA SONG. A wet sheet and a flowing sea, A wind that follows fast And fills the white and rustling soib, And bends the gallant mast ! And bends the gallant mast, my boys_ While like the eagle free, Ajyay the good ship flies, and leaves Columbia on the lea. O for a sofl and gentle wind ! 1 heard a fair one cry ; But give to me the swelling breeze, And white waves heaving high ; And white waves heaving nigh, my lads, The good ship tight and free ; The world of waters is our home, And merry men are we. There 's tempest in yon horned moon. And lightning in yon cloud ; And hark, the music, mariners ! The wind is wakening loud ; The wind is wakening loud, ffly boys, The lightning flashes free ; The hollow oak our palace is. Our heritage the sea. CAPTAIN COOK. Mr. Banks, a gentleman of considerable fortune in Lincolnshire, England, was induced to undertake this voyage from curiosity, - and an invincible desire of attaining knowledge. He engaged his friend Dr. Solander, a Swede, to accompany hini in this voyage. Mr. Banks also took with him two draftsmen, and had besides a secretary and four servants. Lieutenant James Cook was to command the expedition. On the 26th of August, 1768. the Endeavour sailed from Plym outh ; the islands of Puerto Santo and Madeira were discovered on the 12th of September, and the next day they anchored in FonchiaLRoad. The Endeavour sailed thence on the 19th. On the 22d, they saw the Islands of Salvages, northward of the Ca naries. The 23d saw the Peak of, Teneriffe, bearing west by south. This mountain is near 15,400 feet high. On the 29th perceived Bona Vista, one of the Cape de Verd Islands. On the 13th of November made sail for the harbor of Rio de Janeiro 114 CAPTAIN COOK. Captain Cook went on shore on the 14th, and obtained leave to, purchase provisions, and having requested that the gentlemen on board might remain on shore whilst they sojourned, and that Mr. Banks might go up the country to collect plants, these requests vvere peremptorily refused. December the Sth, having procured all necessary supplies. they left Rio de Janeiro. On the the 14th of January entered the Strait of Le Maire; but the tide being against thera. were' driven out with great violence ; at length, however, they got an chorage at the entrance of a little cove, which Captain Cook called St. Vincent's Bay. Mr. Banks and Dr. Solander set out from the ship on the 16th, with the design of going into the country, and returning in the evening. Having entered a wood, they ascended the hill through a pathless wilderness till the afternoon. The morning had been very fine, but the vveather now became cold and disagreeable; the blasts of wind were very piercing, and a shower of snow fell. Mr. Buchan, one ofthe draughtsmen, fell into a fit. It was abso lutely necessary to stop and kindle a fire, and such as were most 'atifijued remained to assist hira; but Messrs. Banks, Solander. Green and Monkhouse, proceeded and attained the spot they had in view. Upon returning, they found Mr. Buchan much recov ered. They had previously sent Mr. Monkhouse and Mr. Green back to hira and the others, in order to bring thera to a hill, which was conjectured to lie in a better track for returning to the wood. The whole party met there at eight in the evening. Dr. Solander having often passed mountains in cold countries, was sensible that extreme cold, when joined with fatigue, occasions a drowsiness, that is not easily resisted; he accordingly entreated his friends to keep in motion, however disagreeable it might be to th(!m; his words were, " Whoever sits down, will sleep; and whoever sleeps, will wake no more." Every one seemed accordingly armed with resolution; but on a sudden the cold became so very intense, as to threaten the most direful effects. It was very remarkable that Dr. Solander himself, who had so forcibly admonished his party, should be the first who insisted upon being suffered to repose. In spite ofthe most earnest entreaties, he lay. down amidst the snow, and it was with great difficulty they kept him awake. When a black servant was informed, that if he remained there he would be frozen to death; he replied, that he was so exhausted with fatigue, that death would be a relief to him. Dcctor Solander said he was not !mwilling to go. but that he must f rst take some sleep, notwithstanding what he had before declared to the com pany. Thus resolved, they both sat down, supported oy bushes, and in a short time fell fast asleep. Intelligence now came from -he advanced party, that a fire was kindled about a quarter of a mile farther on the way. Mr. Banks then waked the doctor, who had almost lost the use of his limbs already, though it was but a CAPTAIN COOK. 115 few minutes since he sat down. Every measure taken to relieve the black proved ineffectual; he remained motionless, and they were obliged to leave him to the care of the other black servant and a sailor, vvho appeared to have been the least hurt by the cold. Mr. Banks and four others went forth at twelve o'clock and met the sailor, with just strength enough to walk; he was immediately sent to the fire, and they proceeded to seek for the two others. They found Richmond, one black servant, upon his legs, but in capable of moving them; the other black vvas lying senseless upon thfe ground. All endeavors to bring them to the fire were useless, nor was it possible to kindle one upon the spot, on account of tho snow that had fallen, and was still faUing, so that there was no alternative, but to leave the two unfortunate negroes to their fate, making them a bed of boughs of trees, and covering them very thick with the same. On the 17th in tlie morning, at day-break, nothing presented itself but snow. However, about six in the morning they were flattered with a dawn of hope of being deliv ered, by discovering the sun through the clouds, which gradually Jirainished. Previous to setting out, messengers were despatched to the unhappy negroes, who returned with the melancholy news of their death. In about three hours, to their great satisfaction, found themselves upon the shore, much nearer to the ship than their most sanguine expectation could have flattered them. January the 26th, Captain Cook sailed from Cape Horn. The farthest southern latitude he made was 60 deg. 10 rain, by 74 deg. 30 min. west. April the 4th, a servant to Mr. Banks discovered land. Captain Cook came within a mile on the north-side, but found no bottom nor anchorage. There appeared along the beach some of the inhabitants, with pikes or poles in their hands, twice the height of themselves. This Island was in latitude 18 deg. south, longitude 139 deg. 28 min. west, and was named Lagoon Island. They saw another island in the afternoon, which was named Thrurab Cap. The 5th, continued their course, and dis covered Bow Island. From the 6th to the 10th, they passed several islands, and on the 13th, entered Port Royal Harbour, Otaheite, anchoring within half a mile of the shore. When the ship was properly se cured, the captain went on shore with Mr. Banks, Dr. Solander, a party under arras, and an old Indian. They were received by some hundreds of the natives, who were struck with such awe, that the first who approached crept almost upon his hands and knees. He presented them branches of trees, the usual symptom of peace. On the 15th, the captain, attended by Mr. Banks and others, went on shore to fix or. a proper spot to erect a small fort for their defence. Before this party had gone much further, they were alarmed by the discharge of two pieces, fired by the tent-guard. Upon their return, it appeared that an Indian had taken an op- 116 CAPTAIN COOK portunity to snatch away one ofthe sentinel's muskets; whereupm a young midshipman, ordered the marines to fire, which they did, when several Indians were wounded, but as the criminal did not fall, they pursued and shot him dead. The fort began to be erected on the 18th. Mr. Banks's ten* being got up, he, for the first time, slept on shore. On the 24th, Mr. Banks and Dr. Solander made an excursion into the country On the 25th. Mr. Molineux, master of the Endeavour, seeing a woman, whose name was Oberea, he declared she was the person he judged to be the queen of the island, when he came there 'in the Dolphin. She was soon conducted to the ship, and went on board, accompanied by some of her family. Many presents were made her, particularly a child's doll, which seemed the most to engross her attention. On the 5th, Mr. Banks and Dr. Solander set out in the pinnace and soon reached Eparre. Some Indians from a neighboring island, to which Captain Wallis gave the name of Duke of York's Island, informed tiiera of raore than twen ty islands in the neighborhood of Otaheite. They now began to raake the necessary preparations for the transit of Venus, and on the first of June, the next Saturday, being the day of the transit, they sent the long-boat to Ermayo, having on board Mr. Gore, Mr. Monkhouse, and Mr. Sporing, a friend of Mr. Banks; each furnished with necessary instruments They were visited on the 21st at the fort by many of the natives, and among the rest Oamo, a chief of several districts on the island, who was very inquisitive with respect to the English, and by his questions appeared a man of understanding and penetration. June 26th, the Captain set out in the pinnace, accompanied by Mr. Banks, to circumnavigate the island. July 1st. returned to the fort at Port Royal Harbour; having discovered the island, both peninsulas included, to be about one hundred miles in circumfer ence. They now began to raake preparations for their departure. On the 10th. two marines being missing, an inquiry was made after thera, when the Indians declared they did not propose returning, having each taken a wife. Mr. Hicks was immediately despatched in the long-boat, with several men, for them, atid this party re covered the men without opposition. July the 13th, after leaving the island of Otaheite. they sailed with a gentle breeze, and, on the 15th, discovered Huaheine. They found the people herte nearly similar to those of Otaheite in almost every circumstance. This island is situated in the latitude of 16 deg. 43 min. south, longitude 150 deg. 62 min. vve:-t, distant from Otaheite about thirty leagues, and is about twenty miles in circumference. From Huaheine they sailed to Ulieta. Captain Cook took possession of this and the adjacent islands in the name' uf the king of Great Britain. On the 25th they were whhin a league or two of Otaha. On the 2?th made sail ta the northward, and at eight o'clock next morning were close under the high CAPTAIN COOK. 117 craggy peak of Bolabola; but. after giving the general name of the Society Islands to the Island of Huaheine. Ulietea, Bolabola, Otaha, and Maurua. which lie between the latitude of 16 deg. 1? min. and 16 deg. 55 min. south, they pursued their course. The Endeavour now passed a small island, white and high. and. as it appeared quite barren, was named Bare Island. On the 17th Captain Cook gave the name of Cape Turn-Again to a head-land, in latitude 40 deg. 34 min. south, longitude 182 deg. 65 min. west. Before the Endeavour touched at New Zealand, which this was, it was not certainly known whether it was an island, or part of the continent . On the 20th anchored in a bay, about two leagues north of Gable End Foreland. Sailing to the northward, they fell in with a small island named East Island. In the evening of the 30th, Lieutenant Hicks discovered a bay, to which his name was given. On the 18th, the Endeavour steered between the main and an island which seemed very fertile, and as extensive as Ulietea. The 26th, Captain Cook continued his course along shore to the north. On the '29th, having weathered Cape Bret, they bore away to leeward, and got into a large bay. where they anchored on the south-west side of several islands. On the 5th they weigh ed anchor. The Bay which they had left was called the Bay of Islands. On the 13th of March discovered a bay. which Captain Cook called Dusky-bay; aud it is remarkable for having five high, peaked rocks, lying off it, which look like the thumb and four fingers of a man's hand; whence it was denominated Point Five Fingers. It was now resolved to return by the East Indies, and with that view to steer for the east coast of New Holland, and then follow the direction of that coast to the northward. They sailed March 31st and taking their departure from an eastern point, called it Cape Farewell. The bay from which thej sailed was named Admiralty Bay, and the two capes thereof Cape Stephens and Cape Jackson. They sailed from Cape Farewell on the 31st of March, 1770. On the, 19th, they discovered land four or five leagues distant. The narae of Botany Bay was given to this place, from the large number of plants collected by Messrs. Banks and Solander. They sailed hence the 6th of May, 1770; at noon were off a harbor which was called Port Jackson. Coasting this shore till the 10th of June, an accident had nearly terminated their voyage fatally. The ship struck on a rack in the night, at some distance frora the land, and made so much water as to threaten to sink every mo ment, which was only prevented by great exertions. After some little examination, they found a small harbor to look at the ship's bottom, and there found, that the only thing which prevented her from sinking, was a large piece of a rock, broken off and sticking 'u the largest "hole, which impeded the entrance of the water. Here they procured some refreshments, landed the sick and stores, 118 CAPTAIN COOK. made a variety of excursions by land and water to the neigboiing places, and. for the first time, saw the animal now known as the Kangaroo. They sailed hence on the 13th of August, 1770. and got through one of the channels in the reef; happy to be once raore in an open sea, after having been surrounded by dreadful shoals and rocks for near three months, during all which run they had been obliged to keep sounding without the intermission of a single minute; a circumstance which, it is supposed, never happened to any ship but the Endeavour. Previous to their leaving, Captain Cook, took possession of all the eastern coast of the country, from the 38th degree of south latitude to the present spot, by the name of New South Wales. They were now at the northern extremity of New Holland. The northeast entrance ofthe passage is form ed by the mainland of New Holland, and by a number of islands, which took the name ofthe Prince of Wales's Islands. They now held a northward course, within sight of land, till the 3d of September. On the 6th, passed two small islands, on the 9th, they saw what had the appearance of lafid, and the next morning were convinced it was Timor Lavet. On the 16th, they had sight of the little island called Rotte; and the same day saw the island of Savu, at a distance to the southward of Timor. The Endeavour sailed the 21st of September, 1770, and bent her courst. westward. In the afternoon of this day a little flat island was discovered in 10 deg. 47 min. south latitude, and 238 deg. 28 min. west longitude. They made considerable way, till at length, by the assistance of the sea-breezes, they came to anchor in the road of Batavia. The town of Batavia is situated in 6 deg. 10 rain, south latitude, and 106-deg. 50 rain, east longitude. On the 27th of December, 1770, the Endeavour left the road of Batavia, and on the Sth, came to anchor near Prince's Island. After a pas sage in which they lost twenty-three more officers and men, the ship was brought to anchor off the Cape of Good Hope, on the 15th of March, 1771. Quitting the Cape, they came to anchor off the island of St. Helena, on the 1st of May. from which place they sailed on the 4th, and arrived in the Downs, on the 12th of June following. CAPTAIN COOK'S SECOND VOYAGE. A second voyage being resolved upon. Captain Cook was ap pointed to the Resolution, and Captain Furneaux, to the Adventure ; and on the 13th of July, 1772, the two ships sailed from Plymouth. Sound ; and, on the evening of the 29th, anchored in Funchial Road, in the Island of Madeira. CAPTAIN COOK. 119 On ihe 9lh of August they made the Island of Bonavista, and on the 29th of October the land of the Cape of Good Hope. The 10th of December, saw an island of ice to the westward, being then in the latitude of 50 deg. 40 min. south, and longitude 2 deg.. east ofthe Cape of Good Hope. On the 9th of February. found that the Adventure was not within the limits of their hori zon. At ten o'clock of the 26th' of March, the land of New Zealand was seen from the mast-head. On Friday, the 26th, came to anchor, at three in the afternoon, after having been one hundred and seventeen days at sea. in which time they had sailed 3660 leagues, without having once sight of land. On the llth of April, weighed with a light breeze at south east, and stood out to sea. After leaving Dusky Bay they direct ed their course along shore for Queen Charlotte's Sound, where they expected to find the Adventure. On the 18th, they appear ed off the harbor, and discovered their consort the Adventure, by the signals she mad<). On the 7th of June, weighed and put to sea, with the Adventure in company, and on the 1 1th of Au gust, land was seen to the south, which upon a nearer approach was found to be an island of about two leagues in extent. It lies in the latitude of 17 deg. 24 min. longitude 141 deg. 39 min. west; and was called Resolution Island. Steering the same course, they discovered several of these low or half-drowned islands, or rather a large coral shoal of about twenty leagues in circuit, which M. de Bourgainville very properly calls the cluster of lov/ overflowed isles the Dangerous Archipelago. On the 15th, at five o'clock in the morning, saw Osnaburgh Island, or Maitea, discovered by Captain Wallis. At day-break found themselves not raore than half a league frora the reef of Otaheite. Several ofthe inhabitants came off in canoes, most of whom knew Captain Cook again, and many inquired for Mr. Banks and others who were there before. On the 17th, they anchored in Ouiti-piha Bay, about two cable's length from the shore. On the 1st of September the ships unmoored, and made sale for Ulieta. Arriving off the harbor of Ohamaneno, at the clos'e of the day, they spent the night in making short tacks. Captain Furneaux agreed to receive on board his ship a young man named Omai, a native of Ulieta. where he had some property, of vvhich he had been dispossessed by the people of Bolabola. After leaving Ulieta. they steered to the west, inclining to the south, to get clear of the tracts of former navigators, and to get into the latitude of the islands of Middleburgh and Amsterdara. At two o'clock p. m. on the 1st of October, made' Middleburgh, bearing west-south west; and then macle sail down to Amsterdam. These islands were first discovered by Captain Tasman, in January, 1642 — 3, and by him called Amsterdam and Middleburgh. But the former is called by the natives Ton-ga-ta-bu. and the latter Ea-vo-wee. Middleburgh or Eavowee. which is the southernmost, is about 120 CAPTAIN COOK. ten leagues in circuit, and of a height sufficient to be seen twelve leagues. The anchorage, named English Road, is on the north west side, in latitude 21 deg. 20 min. 30 sec. south. The island is shaped soraething like an isosceles triangle, the longest sides whereof are seven leagues each, and the shortest four. On the 8th of October, made the Island of Pilstart. This island, which was also discovered by Tasman, is situated in the latitude of 22 deg. 26 min. south, longitude 175 deg. 59 min. west. On the 21st, made the land of New Zealand ; at noon Table Cape bore west, distant eight or ten leagues. On the 25th, early in the morning, they weighed, with a small breeze, out ofthe cove. On the 26th, took their departure from Cape Palliser, and steered to the south, inclining to the east, having a favorable gale from the north-west and south-west. At 4 o'clock. 12th of Dec. being in the latitude of 62 deg. 10 min. south, longitude 172 deg. west, saw the first ice Island. 11^ deg. farther south than the first ice seen the preceding year, after leaving the Cape of Good Hope. On the 30th, at four o'clock in the morning, perceived the clouds, over the horizon to the south, to be of an unusual snow- white brightness, which they knew announced their approach to field-ice. Being at this time in the latitude of 71 deg. 10 min. south, longitude 106 deg. 64 min. west, they steered north from this time, and on the 1 1th of March, land was seen from the mast head, bearing west. They raade no doubt that this was Davis's Land, or Easter Island. After leaving Easter Island, they steer ed north-west-by-north and north-north-west, with a fine easterly gale, intending to touch at the Marquesas. They continued to steer to the west till the 6th of April, at four in the afternoon, at which tirae, being in the latitude of 9 deg. 20 min. longitude 133 deg. 14 min. west, they, discovered an Island, bearing west by south, distant about nine leagues. Two hours after saw another, bearing south-west-by-south, which appeared more extensive than the former. By this time, they were well assured that these were the Marquesas, discovered by Mendana in 1595. The Marquesas are five in number, viz. La Magdalena, St. Pedro, La Dominica, Santa Christina, and Hood's Island," which is the northernmost, situated in latitude 9 deg. 26 min. south, and 13 deg. west^ five leagues and a half distant from the east point of La Dominica, which is the largest of all the isles, extending east and west six leagues'. Frora the Marquesas, Captain Cook once raore steered his course for Otaheite ; and reached his former place of anchorage, Matavai Bay, on the twenty-secon(f of April. During their resi dence here, on this occasion, the voyagers were entertained with various exhibitions. One of these was a grand naval review. The vessels of war consisted of a hundred and sixty large double canoes, well equipped, manned and armed. They were decorated with flags and streamers ; and the chiefs, together with all those CAPTAIN COOK. 121 who were on the fighting stages, were dressed in their war habits. The whole fleet made a noble appearance; such as our voyagers had never seen before. Besides the vessels of war. there vvere a lyindred and seventy smaller double canoes, which seemed to be designed for transports and victuallers. Tjpon each of these was a small house; and they were each rigged with a mast and sail, which was not the case with the war canoes. Captain Cook conjectured that there were no fewer than seven thousand seven hundred and sixty raen in the whole fleet. He was not able to obtain full information concerning the design of this armament. The refreshments that were obtained at Otaheite during this visit were of great importance to the ship's company, for nearly all the bread they had left was decayed and scarcely eatable; and even of this, bad as it was, the quantity was so small that they were reduce^to a very scanty allowance. After leaving Otaheite, the voyagers proceeded again to Huaheine. During Captain Cook's stay at Huaheine. bread fruit, cocoa-nuts, and other vegetable productions, were procured in abundance, but not a sufficiency of hogs to supply the daily consumption of the ship's company. At Ulieta, to which the captain next directed his course, the inhabitants expressed the deepest concern at his departure, and anxiously importuned him to return After passing several other islands, he arrived, on the twentieth of June, at an island which appeared to have a numerous popula tion. The captain, with the other gentlemen went ashore; but the natives were found to be fierce and untractable. All en deavors to bring them to a parley vvere to no purpose. They approached with the ferocity of wild beasts, and instantly threw their darts. Two or three muskets discharged in the air did not prevent one of them from advancing still further, and throwing another dart, which passed close over Captain Cook's shoulder. The courage of this man had nearly cost him his life. When he threw his dart, he was not five paces from the captain, who had resolved to shoot him for his own preservation. It happened, however, that his musket missed fire; a circumstance on which 'he afterwards reflected with pleasure. This island, from the disposition and behavior of the inhabi tants, was called oy our Commander Savage Island. It is about eleven leagues in circuit; is of a round form and good height; and has deep waters close to its shores. Among its other disad vantages, it is not furnished with a harbor. In pursuing his course toward the west-south-west, Captain Cook passed a number of small islands, and, on the twenty-sixth, anchored on the north side of Anaraooka, or Rotterdam. Here, as in many former cases, the captain was put to some trouble, on account of the thievish disposition of the people. It is one of a numerous group to which Captain Cook gave the name of the 11 122 CAPTAIN C Friendly Isles, in consequence ofthe firm alliance and friendship ' which seemed to subsist araong the inhabitants, and of their kind and hospitable behavior to strangers. Pursuino- their course westward, the navigators, onthe sixteenth of July, drscovered jand, which they believed to be the same that M. de Bougainville, the French navigator, had named the Great Cyclades. After having explored the coast of this island for some days, they came to an anchor, in a harbor of the island of Malli- colo The inhabitants of this island were in general the most ugly and ill-proportioned people that the voyagers had seen. They were dark-colored, somewhat diminutive in stature, and had long heads, flat faces, and countenances not much dissimilar to those of apes. Proceeding hence in a south-westerly direction the Resolution passed several small islands. The harbor in one of them called Tanna. in which the ship was anchored, was only a little creek about three quarters of a mile in length, but no place could ex ceed it in convenience for obtaining both wood and water. After Captain Cook had finished his survey of the whole Archipelago, and had gained a knowledge of it infinitely superior to what he had attained before, he bestowed upon it the appellation of the New Hebrides. Our voyagers sailed on the 1st of September, and on the 4th, land vvas discovered; in a harbor belonging to which the Resolu tion came to anchor the next day. As Captain Cook was unable to learn what the Island was called by the natives, he gave to it the name of New Caledonia. Excepting New Zealand, this is perhaps the largest island in the South Pacific Ocean. The in habitants were strong, robust, active, and well made; and in their dispositions were courteous and obliging. They did not appear in the least addicted to pilfering. On the 13th.. the Resolution weighed anchor, and land was discovered, which was named Norfolk Isle. From this place oiir commander steered for New Zealand, in Queen Charlotte's Sound, where he shortly afterwards arrived. Several days elapsed before any ofthe natives made their appearance; but when they did so, and recognised Captain Cook and his friends, joy succeed ed to fear. They hurried in numbers out of the woods, and em braced the English over and over again, leaping and skipping about like madmen. The whole intercourse with the New Zealanders. during this third visit, was peaceable and friendly In the prosecution of his voyage, our commander, on the 17th of December, reached the west coast of Terra del Fuego, and came to anchor in a place which he called Christmas Sound. Through the whole course of his various navigations, he had never seen so desolate a coast. But barren and dreary as the land was, it was not wholly destitute of accommodations. The country abounded with wild fowl, and particularly with geese; CAPTAIN COOK. .. 123 which afforded a refreshment to the whole ship's crew, that was the more acceptable on account ofthe approaching festival. Had they not thus been happily provided for, their Christmas cheer must have been salt beef and pork. Some Madeira wine, the only article of provision that was mended by keeping, was still left. This, in conjunction with the geese, which were cooked in every variety of method, enabled the navigators to celebrate Christmas as cheerfully as jierhaps was done by their friends in England. Our commander soon afterwards proceeded through the Strait of Le Maire to Staten Island. About the end of February he cross ed the line of the route he had taken when he left the Cape of Good Hope; having now made the circuit ofthe southern ocean in a high latitude, and traversed it in such a manner as to leave no room for the possibility of their being any continent in that part of the hemisphere, unless near the pole, and out of the reach of," navigation. By twice visiting the tropical sea, he had not only ascertained the situation of some old discoveries, but had made many new ones; and. indeed, even in that part, had left little more to be accomplished. The intention of the voyage had in every respect been answered, and the southern hemisphere suffi ciently explored. A complete termination was hereby put to the searching after a southern continent. The great purpose of the navigation of Captain Cook round the globe being thus completed, he at length directed his views towards England, and determined to steer for the Cape of Good Hope; and on Wednesday, the twenty-second of March, accor ding to his reckoning (who had sailed round the world), but on Tuesday, the twenty-first at the Cape, he anchored his ship in Table Bay. During the circumnavigation of the globe, from the period of our commander's leaving the Cape of Good Hope to his return to it again, he had sailed no less a distance than twenty thousand leagues. This was an extent of voyage nearly equal to three times the equatorial circumference of the earth, and such as had never been accomplished before, by any ship in the same compass of duration. On the remainder of the voyage it is not necessary to enlarge. The repairs ofthe ship having been completed, and the necessary stores carried on board, together with afresh supply of provisions and water. Captain Cook left the Cape of Good Hope on the 27th of April, and reached the island of St. Helena on the 15th of May. Here he remained till the 21st, when he sailed, and arrived in safety at Portsmouth, having been absent from Eng land three years and eighteen days; in which tirae, and under all changes of climate, he had lost but four men, and only one of these by sickness. 124 CAPTAIN COOK. CAPTAIN COOK'S THIRD VOYAGE. Although the Resolution and the Discovery were destined for the same service, they did not leave England at the same time. Captain Cook, in the former, sailed frora Plymouth on ' the twelfth of July; and Captain Gierke, in the latter, on the 1st of August, 1776. The two ships joined at the Cape of Good Hope, about the beginning of November. Here Captain Cook made an addition to his stock of animals, by the purchase of cattle, horses, sheep, goats, rabbits, and poultry. All these, as well as most of the animals then on board the vessels, were intended for Otaheite, New Zealand, and other islands. The ships sailed frora the Cape about the beginning of De cember; and the navigators, pursuing their course towards the south-east, the weather soon became so cold that several of the goats and some of the sheep died. On the 12th. two islands were seen, the larger-of which appeared to be about fifteen leagues in circuit. As no names had hitherto been assigned to these islands, our commander called them Prince Edward's Islands. Though it was now the middle of sumraer in this hemisphere, the weather was not less severe than what is generally experi enced in England in the very depth of winter. Instead, however, of being discouraged by this circumstance, the captain directed his course still further south, and on the 24th, reached the island called Kerguelen's Land; and the next day landed upon it. The weather vvas foggy during the whole time that the ships contin ued here. The island was so excessively barren, that perhaps no place, hitherto discovered, under the same parallel, of latitude, affords so scanty a field for a natural historian as this. If our comraander had not been unwilling to deprive M. de Kerguelen ofthe honor of this island bearing his name, he would have call ed it the island of Desolation. Captain Cook next directed his course towards New Zealand, that he might obtain a further sunply of water, take in wood, and make hay for his cattle. Nothi^siVery remarkable occurred to the voyagers till the 24th of January. 1777, when they discover ed the coast of Van Dieman's Land, and in two days after came to anchor. One day they were agreeably surprised by a visit from sorae of the natives. Every present which Captain Cook made them they received without the least appearance of satis faction. During tire few days that Captain Cook cor inued here, he neglected nothing that could promote the krawledge of science or navigation. He sailed from Van Dieman's land on the 30th of January, 1777. and about a fortnight afterwards, came to anchor at his CAPTAIN COOK. 125 old station of Queen Charlotte's Sound, in New Zealand. Ope rations for refitting the ships, and for obtaining provisions, were carried on with great vigor. So healthy were the crews, that at this time there were only two invalids upon the sick lists of both ships. Captain Cook, in this his last visit to New Zealand, gave to one chief two goats, a male and female, with a kid; and to another two pigs, a boar and a sow. It had heen his intention to have left other animals than these ; but he was unable to find a chief who was powerful enough to protect them, and he there fore gave up all thought of it. On the 24th of February Captain Cook proceeded on his voyage, in a north-easterly direction and, about five weeks after wards, arrived at an island situated in about twenty degrees of south latitude, and called by the natives Wateeoo. This island, which is about six leagues in circuit, is a very beautiful spot, having a surface composed of hills and plains, covered with a verdure rendered extremely pleasant by the diversity of its hues. Its inhabitants were very numerous, and many of them were ele gantly formed. Their whole behavior, whilst on board, showed that they were perfectly at ease, and that they felt no apprehen- '")n. either that they should be detained or ill used. It has been stated that it was a principal object of this voyage to examine the Pacific Ocean in the high northern latitudes. But, hitherto, the progress ofthe vessels had been so unavoidably retarded by unfavorable winds, and other adverse circumstances, that it was become impossible for the commander, this year, to think of proceeding towards those latitudes. The rainy season soon afterwards commenced; and the united heat and moisture of the vveather, in addition to the impossibility of keeping the ships dry. threatened to be very injurious to the health of his people. So great, and so judicious, however, were the attentions which he paid to their health, that there was not as yet one sick man on board either ship. On the 1st of May, the vessels arrived at Anamooka. A frierdly intercourse was iraraediately opened with the natives. The only interruption to the friendship which had been established, arose from the thievish disposition of the inhabitants of Anamooka. Numerous opportunities were here afforded, of remarking how expert these people were in the business of stealing. Even some ofthe chiefs did not think the profession unbecoming their dignity. One of them was detected in carrying a bolt out of the ship, con cealed under his clothes. For this offence Captain Cook sen tenced him to receive a dozen lashes, and Ijept him confined till he had paid a hog for his liberty; and afterwards the navigators were no longer troubled with thieves of rank. Their servants, or slaves, however, wore still employed ; and upon them a flogging seemed to make no greater impression, than it would have done upon the mainmast. At length, Captain Gierke invented a mode 11* 126 CAPTAIN COOK. of treatment, which was thought to be of good effect. He put the thieves into the hands of the barber, and completely shaved their heads. In consequence of this operation, they became objects of ridicule to their own countrymen; and our people, by immediately knowing them, and keeping thera at a disfance, were enabled to deprive them of future opportunities for a repetition of their rogueries. Captain Cook now proceeded to the Friendly Islands, and was received in the most friendly manner imaginable by the inhabitants. Besides the immediate benefits that were derived by the ships firom the friendly intercourse which had been established, so exten sive an addition was now made" to the geographical knowledge of this part of the Pacific Ocean, as may render no small service to future navigators. From the information which our commander received, this Archipelago is very extensive. More than one hundred and fifty islands were reckoned by the natives, who made use of bits of leaves of different size for designating their number, and their relative dimensions. On the 17th of July, our commander took his final leave of the Friendly Islands ; and in about three weeks, he reached Otaheite. Omai's first reception among his countrymen was not entirely of a flattering nature. Captain Cook found that since he vvas last at Otaheite, in 1774, two Spanish vessels had been there, and had left sorae hogs, dogs, goats, one bull, and a ram. . The officers and crews of these vessels had behaved so well, that the inhabi tants spoke of them in-the strongest expressions of esteem and veneration. On the present visit, the navigators had undeniable proof that the offering of human sacriflces formed a part of the religious institutions of Otaheite. One day while the navigators were in Matavia Bay, Captain Cook, and Captain Gierke, mounted on horseback, and rode into the country. The Otaheitans. who had never seen such animals before, were utterly astonished, and gazed upon the gentlemen with as much araazement, as if they had been Centaurs. Not all the novelties, put together, which European visiters had car ried amongst them, inspired them with so high an opinion of the greatness of distant nations as this. During this visit to Otaheite, so cordial a friendship and confi dence were established betwixt the yoyagers and the natives, that it vvas not once interrupted by any unpleasant incident. From Otaheite Captain Cook sailed on the 13th to the adjacent island of Eiraeo. At this island the transactions were, for the most part. unpleasant. On the llth of October the ships arrived im a harbor on the west side of the island of Huaheine. The grand business of Captain Cook at Huaheine was to settle Omai there, on the very spot from which he had been taken. Onthe 2nd of November 1777. Omai took his final leave of the English in a very affectionate manner, but at the same time with CAPTAIN COOK. 121 manly resolution; and the vessels sailed for Ulieta, where they arrived on the following day. The last of the Society Islands vvhich Captain Cook visited was Bolabola. Captain Cook con tinued to the last his zeal for furnishing the natives of the South Sea with useful animals. The navigators finally departed from the Society Islands on the 12th of December. Frequently as these islands had been visited, it might have been imagined that their religious, political, and domestic regulations, manners, and customs, must, by this time, have been thoroughly understood. A great accession of knowledge was undoubtedly gained in the present voyage ; and yet it was confessed by Captain Cook, that his account of these was, in various respects, still imperfect; and that he still continued a stranger to many of the most important institutions which prevailed there. In the night between the 22d and 23d of December, 1777, the ships crossed the equator, in the longitude of two hundred and three degrees fifteen minutes west. The navigators stiii proceed ed northward; and towards the end of January, 1778, they ap proached a cluster of islands, which Captain Cook afterwards named the Sandwich Islands. One of the officers was sent with the boat to search for water at an island called by the natives Atooi. On attempting to land here the inhabitants came down in such numbers, and were so violent in their endeavors to seize the oars, muskets, and, in short, every thing they could lay hold of, that he was compelled to fire upon them, and one man was killed. The rapacious disposition they at first displayed, was entirely corrected by their conviction that it could not be exercised with impunity. During the short stay of the vessels at this island, it was ascertained that the in habitants were eaters of human flesh. It was, however, under stood that their enemies slain in battle vvere the sole objects of so abominable a custom. This people, when Captain Cook became better acquainted with them, appeared, in general, to possess a frank and cheerful disposition, equally removed frora the fickle Isvity which distinguishes the natives of Otaheite. and the sedate tuaracter which is discernible among many of those of the other islands of the South Sea. Of the Archipelago, which was denominated by Captain Cook the Sandwich Islands, there vvere five only with which, at this time, he became acquainted. Their names, as given by the natives, were Woahoo, Atooi. Oneeheow, Oreehoua, and Ta- hoora. Had the Sandwich Islands been discovered by the Span iards at an early period, that people would undoubtedly have taken advantage of so excellent a situation, and have made use of them as refreshing places to their ships, which sail annually from Acapulco for Manilla. Happy too would it have been for Anson, if he had known that there existed a group of islands half way between America and Tinian, where all his wants could 128 CAPTAIN COOK. effectually have been supplied, and the different haidships to which he was exposed have been avoided. On the 2d of February, the navigators pursued their course northward; in doing which the incidents they met with were al most entirely of a nautical kind. The coast of New Albion was seen on the 7th of March, the ships being then in the latitude of 44 deg. B3 min. north, and in the longitude of 236 deg. 20 min. east. As the vessels ranged along the west side of America, Captain Cook gave names to several capes and headlands, which appeared in sight. At length, on the 29th, he came to anchor in a bay which was called by the natives Nootka, and was thence named by Captain Cook Ncotka Sound. Sorae of the natives came off to the ships in canoes, but they could not be prevailed with to venture on board. Shortly after this a regular trade was commenced. The articles which the inhabitants offered for sale were the skins of various animals, such as bears, wolves, foxes, deer, raccoons, pole-cats, martins; and, in particular, of the sea- otters. To these were added garments made of skins; another sort of clothing, formed from the bark of a tree; and various pieces of workmanship. The articles, which the natives took in exchange for their commodities, were knives, chisels, pieces of iron and tin, nails, looking-glasses, buttons, or any kind of metal. Though commerce, in general, was carried on with mu-^ t.ial honesty, there were some among these people, who were as much inclined to thievery as the islanders in the Southern Ocean In the present abstract the time will not allow of,an insertion of more than a short account of the inhabitants. Their persons are djscribed to have been generally under the coraraon stature soraewhat full or plurap, though' without being muscular. They were undoubtedly eaters of huraan flesh, yet they had no appear ance of inhumanity of character. To our navigators they seemed a docile, courteous, and well-disposed people. The chief employ ments of the men were fishing and killing land or sea animals, for the sustenance of their families; while the women were occupied in manufacturing flaxen or woollen garments, or in other domestie offices. On the 26th, the repairs of the ships having been completed. Captain Cook sailed from Nootka Sound. In the prosecution of his voyage northward, and back again to the Sandwich Islands, the facts that occurred were chiefly of a nautical kind. At an inlet where the ships came to anchor on the 12th of May, and to which' Captain Cook gave the appellation of Prince Wil liam's Sound, he had an opportunity not only of prosecuting his nautical and geographical discoveries, but of making considerable additions to his knowledge of the inhabitants of the American coast. The natives of this part of the coast had a near resem blance to the Esquimaux and Greenlanders. It is remarkable concerning this people, that there vvere found amongst them both CAPTAIN COOK. 129 beads and iron; which must have come from some civilized na tion, though there was reason to suppose that our navigators were the first Europeans with whom they had ever held a direct com munication. Some days after leaving this sound, the navigators came to an inlet, from which hopes were strongly entertained, that it would be found to communicate either with the sea to the north, or with Baffin's Bay to the east; and, accordingly, it iecanie the object of very accurate and serious exaraination. The Captain was soon persuaded that the expectations forraed from it were groundless. yet it was requisite that this should be perfectly ascertained. A complete investigation ofthe inlet consequently topk place, to the distance of seventy leagues from its entrance, and indubitable marks occurred of its being a river, but one of the most considera ble ones that are known. It was called Cook's River. The navigators cleared Cook's river on the 6th of June. In the prosecution of the voyage, on the 26th, there was so thick a fog, that the navigators could not see a hundred yards before them; notwithstanding which, as the weather was moderate, the Captain did not intermit his course. At length, however, being alarmed at the sound of breakers on one side of the ship, he im mediately brought her to. and carae to anchor; and the Discov ery, by his order, did the sarae. A few hours afterwards, the fog having in some degree cleared away, it appeared, that both the vessels had escaped a very imminent danger. Providence, in the dark, had conducted them between rocks which the com mander would not have ventured to -pass through even in a clear day, and had conveyed thera to an anchoring-place, as good as he could possibly" have fixed upon, had the choice been entirely at his option. On the 27th, the vessels reached an island called Oonalaska. the inhabitants of which behaved with a degree of politeness and courtesy very unusual with savage tribes. About the 10th of August Captain Cook came to anchor under a point of land, to which he gave the name of Cape Prince of Wales, and which is remarkable by being the most western extremity of America hitherto explored. This extremity is distant from the eastern Cape of Siberia only thirteen leagues: and thus our Commander had the glory of ascertaining the vicinity of the two continents, which before had only been conjectured from the reports of the neighboring Asiatic inhabitants, and the imperfect observations ofthe Russian navigators. Resuming his course he crossed over to the opposite Asiatic coast, and anchored in a bay which he named the Bay of St. Lawrence, belonging to the country ofthe Tschutski. After this, again approaching the shore of America, he proceeded towards the north, and on the 13th, he reached the latitude of 70 deg. -44 min. The ships were now close to the edge ofthe ice, aiid un- 130 CAPTAIN COOK. able to go any further. The ice, was as compact as a wall, and was judged to be ten or twelve feet in height. Farther to the north, it appeared much higher. Its surface was extreraely rugged, and in different places there were seen upon it pools of water. A prodigious number df sea-horses lay upon the ice; and some of them, on the 19th. were procured for food, there being at this time a want of fresh provisions. They were bad eating, but the voyagers lived upon them as long as they lasted; and most ofthe seamen preferred thera to salt meat. Captain Cook continued until the 29th, to traverse the ley Sea beyond Behring's Strait, in various directions, and through num berless obstructions and difficulties. Every day the ice increased, so as to preclude all hope of attaining, at least during the present year, the grand object of the voyage, the discovery of a passage northward into the Atlantic. Before Captain Cook proceeded far to the south, he employed a considerable time in examining the sea and coasts in the neighborhood of Behring's Strait, both on the side of Asia and America; and on the 3d of October he returned to the island of Oonalaska. The navigators had not been here many days, when Captain Cook and Captain Gierke each received a very singular present, of a rye loaf, or rather a pie in the form of a loaf, for it inclosed some salmon highly sea soned with pepper. And with each loaf was a note written in a language, which no one was able to read. It was imagined that the presents carae frora sorae Russians in the neighborhood, and therefore a few bottles of rura. wine, and porter, were sent to these unknown friends in return; it being rightly judged that such articles would be more acceptable than any thing besides, which it was in the power of the navigators to bestow. An intelligent man was sent with the bearer of the presents, for the purpose of obtaining further information. Two days afterwards this per son returned with three Russian seamen. They had been station ed here to collect furs; and had onthe island a dwelling-house, sorae store-houses, and a sloop of about thirty tons burden. One of them was the master or mate of the vessel, and they all ap peared to be sensible and well-behaved persons. From a very intelligent Russian, who landed at Oonalaska on the 14tli, Cap tain Cook obtained the sight of two manuscript charts of these seas, and vvas permitted to copy them. All things being ready for his departure, Captain Cook loft Oonalaska on the 26th. and sailed for the Sandwich Islands. On tho 30th of November, he arrived at Owhyee, one ofthe Sandwich It;ands; and one which appeared to him of greater extent and ir iportance than any of the islands that had yet been visited in t! Js Dart ofthe world. He occupied nearly seven weeks in sailing riund, and examining its coast. On the 16th of January, 1779, eanoes arrived in such numbers from all parts, that there were not ()wer than a thousand about the two ships, most of them crowded T^.VPTilN eooK 131 ivith people. Among such multitudes, as, at times, were on boara it will not be deemed surprising, that some should have betrayed a thievish disposition. One of them took out of the Resolution a boat's rudder; and made off with it so speedily, that it could not be recovered. Captain Cook directed two or three muskets, and as mary four pounders, to be fired over the canoe in which the rudder had been carried off. but. at the report of these, the sur rounding multitude of the natives appeared to be more surprised than terrified. The ships were anchored on the 17th. in a bay which was called by the inhabitants Karakakooa. In the whole course of his voy ages. Captain Cook had never seen so many people assembled in one place as he saw on this occasion; for. besides the multitudes that came off in canoes, all the shore ofthe bay was covered with spectators, and many hundreds were swimming round the ships like shoals of fish. In the progress of the intercourse which was maintained between the voyagers and the natives, the quiet and inoffensive behavior of the latter, took away every apprehension of danger; so that the English trusted themselves araong thera at all times, and in all situations. But the satisfaction that was derived from the generosity and hospitality of the inhabitants, vvas frequently interrupted by the propensity of many of them to stealing; and this circumstance was the more distressing, as it sometimes obliged the commander and the other officers to have recourse to acts of severity, which they would willingly have avoided, if the necessity ofthe case had not absolutely called for them. Early the next day, the ships sailed out of Karakakooa bay. It was the captain's design, before he visited the other Sandwich islands, to finish the survey of Owhyee. that he had begun. His object in this was, if possible, to find a harbor better sheltered frora the weather than the bay he had just left. Two days after wards a gale of wind sprung up, in which the Resolution had the misfortune of injuring her foremast in so dangerous a manner. that he was obliged to return to Karakakooa. On the return ofthe ships several canoes approached, in which were many ofthe for mer acquaintance ofthe navigators. The next day, February the 13th, the Resolution's foremast was landed, to be repaired, and tents were erected in their forraer situation on the shore. An Indian was this day detected in stealing the armorer's tongs from the forge, for which he receiv ed a severe flogging, and was sent out of the ship. Notwithstand ing the example made of this man, in the afternoon another had the audacity to snatch the tongs and a chisel from the same place, with which he jumped overboard, and swam for the shore. The master and a midshipman vvere instantly despatched after him, in the small cutter. The Indian seeing himself pursued, made for a canoe; his countrymen took him on board, and paddled as swiftly 132 CAPTAIN COOK. as they could towards the shore. Several muskets were fired at them, but without effect, for they soon got out of the reach of the shots. This was the commencement of a very fatal misunderstanding with the natives. In the night, one of the boats belonging to the Discovery was carried off; and many hostile indications on the part of the natives were remarked. These determined Captain Cook to secure, if possible, the person of the king as the most effectual step that could be taken for the recovery of the boat, and restoring amity betwixt the English and the inhabitants. Accompanied by the lieutenant of marines, a serjeant, corporal, and seven private men; having at the same time armed several men in the ship's launch and pinnace, he undauntedly proceeded to the residence ofthe king. At an interview with the king, the captain took him by the hand, in a friendly manner, and asked him to go on board the Resolution, to which he readily consented. A short time after this, several ofthe Indians were observed to be arming themselves with long spears, clubs, and daggers, and putting on thick mats which they used as armor. This hostile appearance increased, and became the more alarming, on the ar rival of two men, with news that a chief called Kareemoo had been killed by the men in one ofthe Discovery's boats. Captain Cook being at this time surrounded by a great crowd, thought his situation somewhat hazardous. He therefore ordered the lieu tenant of marines to march his small party to the water-side, where the boats lay, within a few yards ofthe shore: the Indians readily made a lane for them to pass, and did not offer to ijjterrupt them. The distance they had to go might be about fifty or sixty yards. Captain Cook followed, having hold ofthe king^,hand, who ac companied him very willingly: he was attended by his wife, two sons and several chiefs. His younger son went immediately into the pinnance, expecting his father to follow; but the latter had no sooner arrived at the water-side, than his wife threw her arms about his neck, and, with the assistance of two chiefs, forced him to sit down by the side of a double canoe. Captain Cook expostu lated with them, but to no purpose, they would not suffer the king to proceed, telling him that he would be put to death if he went on board the ship. While the king was in this situation, another of the chiefs was observed lurking near, with an iron dagger partly concealed under his cloak. His attention, apparently, was to stab either Captain Cook, or the heutenant of marines. The latter proposed to fire at him, but the captain would not permit it. The chief closed upon them, on which the officer struck him with his musket, and compelled hira to retire. Captain Cook seeing the tumult in crease, and that the Indians grew raore daring and resolute, found that it would be impossible to carry off the king by force, without sacrificing many of his people. He therefore paused a little, and CAPTAIN COOK. 133 was on the point of giving orders to reimbark, when a man threw a stone at him. This Captain Cook returned by a discharge of small shot. The man brandished his spear, and was about to dart it at the captain, when the latter knocked him down with his musket. He expostulated strongly with the most forward of the crowd upon their turbulent behavior; and now only sought to secure a safe embarkation for his small party, which was closely pressed by a body of several thousand people. One man was observed behind a double canoe, in the action of darting his spear at Captain Cook. He therefore was forced to fire at him in his own defence, but he happened to kill another close to hira, equally forward in the tumult. The serjeant observing that the captain had missed the raan he airaed at, received orders to fire at him, which he did, and killed him. By this time the impetuosity of the Indians was somewhat repressed. They fell back in a body, and seemed staggered; but being pushed on by those be hind, they returned to the charge, and poured a volley of stones among the marines, who without waiting for orders, returned it with a general discharge of musketry. This was instantly follow ed by a fire from the boats. Captain Cook waved his hand to the boats, and called to them to cease firitig, aud to come nearer in to receive the marines. The officer in the pinnace immediately brought that vessel as close to the shore as he could, notwith standing the showers of stones that fell among his people; but the lieutenant who commanded in the launch, instead of pulling in to the assistance of Captain Cook, withdrew his boat farther off, at the very moment that every thing seems to have depended upon the timely exertions of those in the boats. By his own ac count, he mistook the signal: but be that as it raay, this circum stance appears to have decided the fatal turn of the affair, and to have removed every chance which remained with Captain Cook of escaping with his life. The marines several tiraes fired upon the crowd, but to little purpose, for the Indians soon joshed araong thera, and forced them into the water where four of them were killed. Captain Cook was now the only Englishman re maining on shore. He was observed to be making towards the pinnace, holding his left hand against the back of his head, to guard it from the stones vvhich were thrown at him, and carrying his musliet under his other arm. An Indian was seen following him, but with caution and timidity; for he stopped once or twice, as if undetermined to proceed. At last he advanced upon him unawares, and with a large club, or common stake, gave him a blow on the back of the head, and then precipitately retreated. The stroke seemed to have stunned Captain Cook: he staggared a few paces, then fell on his hand and one knee, and dropped his musket. As he was rising, and before he could recover his feet, another Indian stabbed hira in the back of the neck with an iron dagger. He then fell into the water, in a place where it was 12 134 CAPTAIN COOK about knee deep; and others immediately crowded upon him, and endeavored to keep him under; but, struggling very stongly with them, he got his head up, and casting his look towards the pin- nance, seemed to solicit assistance. Though the boat was not above five or six yards distant from hira, yet frora the crowded and confused state of the crew, it seems it was not in their power to save him The Indians got him under eigain. but in deeper water. He was, however, able to get his head up once more; and, being almost spent in the struggle, he naturally turned to the rock, and was endeavoring to support himself by it, when a sav- sisre gave hira a blow with a club, and he was seen alive no more. "They hcuiled him up lifeless on the rocks, where they seemed to taJte a savage pleasure in using every possible barbarity to his dead body, snatching the daggers out of each other's hands, to have the f-orrid satisfaction of piercing the fallen victim of their barbarous Death of Captain Cook. rage; and after they had thus glutted their revenge, they carried it off in triumph. Captain Gierke, vvho succeeded to the com mand of the expedition, raade every effort to recover the reraains of Captain Cook; but his bones only could be obtained, and these were committed to the deep, amidst the heartfelt grief of all who had served with him. In his manners, Captain Cook was plain, simple, and manly. He was an excellent husband and father, a sincere and steady mend. The benevolence and humanity of his disposition were peculiar.y remarkable. They Avere apparent frora his treatment of his men, through all his voyages; and from his conduct towards CAPTAIN COOK. 13 the natives of all the countries which were discovered by him. The health, the convenience, and, as far as it could be admitted, the enjoyment of those under his command, were the constant objects of his attention: and he was invariably anxious to amelior ate the condifid^ of the inhabitants of the several islands and places which he visited. With regard to their thieveries, he can didly apologized for. and overlooked many offences which others would have punished; and when he felt impelled to proceed to any acts of severity, he never exerted them without reluctance and concern. With respect to his .talents, they were undeniably of the most useful kind. He had a capacious and penetrating mind; and all his designs were accordingly bold and extensive. When these vvere formed, he never expressed a doubt respecting their execu tion; for the same perspicuity and orderly arrangement of thought which enabled him to form the designs, also enabled him to devise the most simple and effectual modes of executing them. In the execution he was equally distinguished; no difficulty perplexed, no danger appalled him. The talents and knowledge which he possessed were always completely at his command, when they were most needed. And for great designs he was also qualified by the constitution of his body, which was inured to labor, and capable of supporting the greatest fatigue and hardships. In addition to a consummate acquaintance with navigation. Captain Cook possessed a knowledge of other sciences. In this respect, the ardor of his mind rose above the disadvantages of a very confined education. His progress in the different branches of mathematics, and particularly in astronomy, became so eminent, that, at length, he was able to take the lead in making the neces sary observations of this kind, in the course of his voyages. He attained, likewise, to such a degree of proficiency in general learning, and in the art of composition, as to be able to express himself with a manly clearness and propriety, and to become re spectable as the narrator, as well as the performer, of great ac tions. Another trait, which was peculiarly conspicuous in the character of Captain Cook, was the perseverance with which he pursued tl.e noble objects to which his life was devoted. In this he scarcely ever had an equal, and never a superior. Nothing could divert him from the points he airaed at ; and he persisted in the prosecution of them, through difficulties and obstructions, which would have deterred minds even of considerable strength and firmness. In stature he is described to have been somewhat above the common size; and, though a good looking man, he was plain both in address and appearance. His head was small: his hair, which was a dark brown, he wore tied behind. His face was full of expression; his nose exceedingly well shaped; his eyes, which were small, and of a brown cnst, were quick and piercing, and his eyebrows prominent; which gave to his counte- 136 CAPTAIN COOK. nance altogether an air of austerity. In the year 1762 he had married an amiable and deserving woman. He had by her six children, but of these three sons only survived hira. They were all brought up in the naval service. One of them was lost in a hurricane at sea, and the other two fell honorabb|in the cause of their country. On the widow a pension of two nundred pounds a year for her life, and on each of the sons a pension of twenty- five pounds a year was settled by the British government. NARRATIVE OF EVENTS WHICH OCCURRED SUBSE QUENTLY TO THE DEATH OF CAPTAIN COOK. After Captain Gierke, upon whom the command of the expedi tion devolved, had left the fatal island of Owhyhee, he considered it his duty to endeavor to execute the plans of fliscovery that had been laid down by his lamented predecessor. He consequently coasted several others of the Sandwich Islands; and finally left thera on the r5th of March. 1779. The ships now proceeded towards Kamtschatka; and, in their course, the Resolution sprung a leak so bad, that at one time the whole space between the decks was deluged with water. On the twenty-third the mountains of Kamtschatka, covered with snow, were within view. The weath er was now so severe, that the ship appeared like a complete mass of ice, and the rigging was so incrusted with it, that the different ropes were more than double their usual thickness. Two days after the discovery of Kamtschatka, when off the en trance of Awatska Bay, the Resolution lost siglit of the Discov ery. The Resolution entered the bay, and soon afterwards the town of Petropaulowski was within view. It consisted of a few miserable log-bouses, and some conical huts raised on poles, amounting in all to about thirty; yet here the voyagers were re ceived and treated with feelings of humanity, joined to a great ness of mind and elevation of sentiment which would have done honor to any naa^n. On the 1st of May the Discovery also entered the harboi On the 6th of July the navigators passed through Behring's Straits. They first sailed along the Asiatic coast, and then stretched over to that of America, with a view of exploring the sea between the latitudes of sixty-eight and sixty- nine degrees. But in this attempt they were disappointed; on the 7th their farther progress was stopped by a large and compact field of ice connected with the land. At one time, in attempting to penetrate towards the north-west, the Discovery was in a very dangerous situation. She became CAPTAIN COOK. 137 SO entangled by several large pieces of ice, that her way was stopped, and she suffered much injury. A change of wind, how ever taking place in the afternoon, the ice began to separate, and the navigators, setting all their sails, forced a passage through it. On the 31st they repassed Behring's Straits. Captain Gierke's health now rapidly declined. On the 17th of August, he was no longer able to rise from his bed ; and five days afterwards he died of a consumption, which had commenced before he left England, anc of which he had lingered during the whole voyage. The coraraand of the expedition now devolved upon Captain Gore, who reraoved into the Resolution, and appointed Mr. King to the command of the Discovery. The body of Captain Gierke was interred near the town of Petropaulowski, on Sunday, the 29th, with all the solemnity and honors which the voyagers could bestow. On the 12th of October they lost sight of Kamtschatka. In the forenoon of the 29th of November, the ships passed several Chinese fishing-boats; and the sea was covered with the wrecks of boats that had been lost, as it was conjectured, in the late boisterous weather. The navigators were now in latitude 22 deg. one min. south. On the following day, they ran along the Lema Islands, and took a Chinese pilot on 'board; and at 9 o'clock in the morning of the 1st of December they anchored at the distance of three leagues from Macao. Captain King was sent to Canton to obtain supplies of provisions and stores. On account of the war between England and America, and with France and Spain as her allies, of which the navigators re ceived intelligence at Canton, they put themselves in the best posture of defence that they were able ; in the Resolution they mounted sixteen guns, and in the Discovery ten. They had reason, however, to believe, from the generosity of their ene mies, that these precautions were superfluous; for they were informed that instructions had been found on board all the French ships of war captured in Europe, directing their com manders, in case of falling in with the ships that sailed under the command of Captain Cook, to suffer thera to proceed without molestation; and the same orders were also said to have been given by the American Congress in the vessels employed in their service. In return for these liberal concessions, Captain Gore resolved to refrain from availing himself of any opportuni ties of capture, and to preserve, throughout the remainder of the voyage, the strictest neutrality. On the 12th of January, 1780, the navigators got jinder sail from Macao; on the 19th, they saw Pulo Lapata, and on the 20th, descried Pulo Condore. and anchored in the harbor at the south-west end of the island. The navigators remained at Pulo Condore till the 28th of January, when they unmoored, and pro- 12* 138 SUFFERINGS OK EPHRAIM HOW. ceeded on their homeward passage; passing through the Stra.vts of Banca, and Sunda. without any occurrence worthy of particu lar remark. On the 18th of February they left the Straits of Sunda. In the night, between the 25th and 26th, they experi enced a violent storm, during which almost every sail they had bent was split to rags: and the next day they were obliged to bend their last set of sails, and to knot and splice the rigging, their cordage being all expended. On the 7th of April, they saw the land of Africa; on the eve ning of the 12th. they dropped anchor in False Bay, and' t tie next morning stood into Simon's Bay, at the Cape of Good Hope. They sailed out of the Bay on the 9th. and on the 12th of June, they passed the equator for the fourth time during the voyage. On the 12th of August they made the western coast of Ireland, and, after a fruitless attempt to put into Port Galway, they were obliged, by strong southerly winds, to steer northward; and on the 26th of August, both the ships came to anchor at Stromness in the Orkneys, whence Captain King was despatched by Captain Gore, to acquaint the Board of Admiralty of their arrival. On the 1st of October, the -ships arrived safe at the Nore. after an absence of four years, two months, and twenty- ti»'o days. SUFFERINGS OF EPHRAIM HOW. On the 25th of August, 1676. Mr. Ephraim How. of New Haven, in New England, with his two eldest sons; one Mr. Augur; Caleb Jones, son to Mr. William Jones, one oT the magistrates of New Haven; and a boy; six persons in all; set sail from New Haven for Boston, in a small ketch, of about seventeen tons. Having despatched his business there, he sailed for New Haven on the 10th of September, but was forced back to Boston by contrary winds. Here Mr. How was seized with a violent flux, which continued nearly a month; many being at that time sick, and some dying ofthe same. Being in some degree restored to health, he again sailed from Boston, October 10. They went with a fair wind as far as Cape Cod: but on a sudden the vveather became very tempestuous, so that they could not pass the Cape, but were driven off to sea, where they were in great danger, experiencing terrible storms, with outrageous winds and seas. His eldest son fell sick and died about the 21st; soon after his other son was taken ill and died also. This was a bitter cup to the poor father, for these youths were his only assistants in SUFFERINGS OP EPHRAIM HOW. 139 working the vessel. Soon after Caleb Jones died, so that half the company were now no more. Mr. How continued in a very sickly and weak state, yet was necessitated to stand at the helm twenty-four and thirty-six hours together. During this time the sea was so boisterous as fre quently to break over the vessel, that if he had not been lashed fast he must have been washed overboard. In this extremity, he was at a loss in his own thoughts, whether he should persist in endeavoring to make for the New England shore, or bear away for the Southern Islands. Upon his proposing the question to Mr. Augur, they determined, according to the custom of some in those times, to decide this difficult case by casting lots. They did so, and it fell upon New England. Nearly about the 7th of November they lost their rudder, so that now their only dependence was upon Providence. In this deplorable state they drove up and down for a fortnight longer. During the last six weeks, the poor infirm Mr. How was hardly fever dry. nor had he the benefit of warm food above thrice or thereabouts. At length, about the 21st of November, early in the morning, the vessel vvas driven on the tailings of a ledge of rocks, where the sea broke violently. Looking out. they saw a dismal rocky island to the leeward, upon which, if Providence had not by the breakers given them timely warning, they had been dashed to pieces. . They immediately let go an anchor, and got out the boat, and the sea became calra. The boat proving leaky, and they being in great terror, they took but little out of the ketch, but got on shore as they could. Here they could discover neither raan nor beast. It was a small, rocky, desolate island, near Cape Sable, the Southern extremity of Nova Scotia. They now appeared to be in great danger of being starved to death, but the storm returning, beat so violently upon the vessel, as it still lay at anchor, that it wis stove to pieces, and several things floated to the shore. The following articles were all they had towards their futu ."e support: — a cask of gunpowder, which received no damage from the water; a barrel of wine; half a barrel of molasses; several useful articles towards building a tent: all the above drifted from the wreck; besides which they hadgpfirearms and shot; a pot for boiling; and most probably other things not mentioned in the narrative. Their tent was soon erected, for the cold was now getting severe, but new and great distresses attended them, for though they had arms and ammunition, there vvere seldom any fowls to be seen, except crows, ravens, and seagulls. These were so few, that they could seldom shoot more than one at a time. Many times half a fowl, with the liquor it was boiled in, served for a meal for all three Once they lived five days without any 140 AN ESCAPE THROUGH THE CABIN-WINDOWS. sustenance, but did not feel themselves pinched with hui.ger as at other times: which they esteemed a special favor of Heaven unto them. When they had lived in this miserable condition twelve weeks, Mr. How's dear friend and companion, Mr. Augur, died, about the middle of February, 1677; so that he had none left to con verse with but the lad, who likewise departed on the 2d of April. Mr. How was now the sole inhabitant of this desolate spot during April. May. and June, and saw fishing vessels, every now and then, sailing by; sorae of which came even nearer to the island than that which at last took him off. He used all the means in his power to make them acquainted with his distress; but they either did not see him, or were afraid to approach close to the island, lest some- of those Indians should be quartered there, who were at that time in hostility against the English, viz the North-East Indians, who held out after tht death of the fa mous Philip, king of the Wompanoags. At length a vessel belonging to Salem, in New England, provi dentially passed by, and seeing this poor fellow, they sent their boat on shore, and took him away. He had been on the island more than seven raonths, and above a quarter of a year by hiraself. On the 18th of July he arrived at Salera, and at last returned to his faraily at New Haven. They for a twelvemonth had supposed him dead; by which it appears he did not get home till the end of August, or perhaps later. AN ESCAPE THROUGH THE CABIN-WINDOWS. In the year 18 — , said Capt. M , I was bound, in a fine stout ship of about four hundred tons burden, from the port of P to Liverpool. The ship had a valuable cargo on board and about ninety thousand dollars in specie. I had been prevented, by other urgent business, frora giving much of my attention to the vessel while loading and equipping for the voyage, but was-very particular in my directions to the chief mate, in whom I had great confidence, he havirig sailed with me some years, to avoid entering, if pG...5ible, any but native American seamen. When we were about to sail, he informed me that he had not been able to coraply with my directions entirely in this particular; but had shipped two foreigners as seamen, one a native of Guernsey, and the other a Frenchman from Brittany. I was pleased, however, with the appearance of the crew generally, and particularly with the foreigners. They were both stout and able-bodied men, and were particularly alert and .ittentive to orders. AN ESCAPE THROUGH THE CABIN-WINDOWS. 141 The passage commenced auspiciously, and promised to be a speedy one, as we took a fine steady westerly wind soon after we lost soundings. To my great sorrow and uneasiness, I soon dis covered in the foreigners a change of conduct for the worse. They became insolent to the mates and appeared to be frequently under the excitement of liquor, and had evidently acquired an un due influence with the rest ofthe men. Their intemperance soon became intolerable, and as it was evident that they had brought liquor on board with them, I determined upon searching the fore castle and depriving them of it. An order to this effect was given to the mates, and they were directed to go about its execution mildly and firmly, taking no arras with them as they seemed in clined to do, but to give every chest, birth and locker in the fore castle a thorough examination; and bring aft to the cabin any spirits they might find. It was not without much anxiety that I sent them forward upon this duty. I remained upon the quarter deck myself, ready to go to their aid, should it be necessary. In a few moments, a loud and angry dispute was succeeded by a sharp scuffle around the forecastle companion-way. The steward, at my call, handed my loaded pistols frora the cabin, and with them I hastened forward. The Frenchman had grappled the second raate, who was a mere lad. by the throat, thrown hira across the heel of the bowsprit, and was apparently determined to strangle hira to death. The chief mate was calling for assistance frora below, where he was struggling with the Guernsey raan. The rest ofthe crew were, in different spectators, but rather encouraging the foreigners than otherwise. I presented a pistol at the head of the Frenchman, and ordered him to release the second mate, which he instantly did. I then ordered hira into the foretop. and the others, who were near, into the maintop, none to come down under pain of death, until ordered. The steward had by this time brought another pair of pistols, with which I armed the second mate, di recting him to remain on deck; and went below into the forecastle myself I found that the chief mate had been slightly wounded in two places by the knife of his antagonist, who. however, ceased to resist as I made my appearance, and we immediately secured him in irons. The search was now made, and a quantity of liquor found and taken to the cabin. The rest of the men were then called down from the tops, and the Frenchman was raade the com panion of his coadjutor's confinement. I then expostulated, at some length, with the others upon their improper and insubordi nate conduct, and upon the readiness with which they had suf fered themselves to be drawn into such courses by two rascally foreigners, and expressed hopes .that I should have no reason for further complaint during the rest of the voyage. This remon strance I thought had effect, as they appeared contrite and 142 AN ESCAPE THROUGH THE' CABIN-WINDOWS. promised amendment. They were then dismissed, and order was restored. The next day the foreigners strongly solicited pardon, with the most solemn promises of future good conduct; and as the rest of the crew joined in their request. I ordered that their irons should be taken off. For several days the duties of the ship were per formed to my entire satisfaction; but I could discover in the countenances of the foreigners, expressions of deep and ran corous animosity to the chief raate, who was a prompt, energetic seaman, requiring from the sailors, at all times, ready and implicit obedience to his orders. A week perhaps had passed over in this way, when one night, in the mid watch, all hands were called to shorten sail. Ordinari ly upon occasions of this kind, the duty was conducted by the mate, but I now went upon deck myself and gave orders, sending him upon the forecastle. The night was dark and squally; but the sea was not high, and the ship was running off about nine knots, with the wind upon the starboard quarter. The weather being very unpromising, the second reef was taken in the fore and main topsails, the mizen handed and the fore and mizen top gal lant yards sent down. This done, one watch was permitted to go below, and I prepared to betake myself to my birth again, di recting the mate, to whom I wished to give some orders, should be sent to me. To ray utter astonishment and consternation, word was brought me, after a short tirae, that he was no where to be found. I hastened upon deck, ordered all hands up again, and questioned every man in the ship upon the subject; but they, with one accord, declared that they had not seen the mate for ward. Lanterns were then brought, and every accessible part of the vessel was unavailingly searched. I then, in the hearing of the whole crew, declared my belief that he must have fallen overboard by accident, again dismissed one watch below, and re paired to the cabin, in a state of mental agitation impossible to be described. For notwithstanding the opinion which I had ex pressed to the contrary. I could not but entertain strong suspi cion^that the unfortunate man had met a violent death. The second mate was a protegee of mine; and. as I have be fore observed, vvas a very young man of not much experience as a seaman. I therefore felt that, under critical circumstances, my main support had fallen from me. It is needless to add, that a deep sense pf forlornness and insecurity was the result of these reflections. My first step was to load and deposit in my state room all the fire arms on board, amounting to several muskets and four pairs of pistols. The steward was a faithful mulatto man, who had sailed with me several voyages. To him I communicated my suspicions, and directed him to be constantly on the alert: and AN ESCAPE THROUGH THE CABIN WINDOWS. 143 should any further difficulty with the crew occur, to repair imme diately to my state room and arm himself. His usual birth was in the steerage, but I further directed that he should, on the fol lowing mormng, clear out and occupy one in the cabin near my own. The second mate occupied a small state room opening into the passage which led from the steerage to the cabin. I called hira from the deck, gave him a pair of loaded pistols, with orders to keep them in his birth; and, during his night watches on deck, never to go forward of the main mast, but to continue as constant ly as possible near the cabin companion-way, and call me upon the slightest occasion. After this, I laid down in my bed, order ing that I should be called at four o'dbck, for the morning watch Only afew minutes had elapsed, when I heard three or four knocks under the counter ofthe ship, which is that part of the stern im mediately under the cabin windows. In a minute or two they were distinctly repeated. I arose — opened the cabin window and called. The mate answered! — I gave him the end of a rope to as sist him up. and never shall I forget the flood of gratitude which my delighted soul poured forth to that Being, who had restored tim to me uninjured. His story was soon told. He had gone forward upon being ordered by me, after the calling of all hands, and had barely reached the forecastle, when he was seized by the two foreigners, and before he could utter raore than one cry, which was drowned in the roaring of the winds and waves, was thrown over the bow. He was a powerful man and an excellent swimmer. The topsails of the ship were clewed down to reef, and her way, of course, considerably lessened — and in an instant, he found the end of a rope, which was accidentally towing overboard, within his grasp, by which he dragged in the dead water or eddy, that is always created under the stern of a vessel while sailing, particularly if she is full built and deeply laden, as was the case with this. By a desperate effort, he caught one of the rudder chains, which was very low, and drew hiraself by it upon th^ step or jog ofthe rudder, where he had sufficient presence of mind to remain without calling out, until the light had ceased to shine through the cabin windows, when he concluded that the search for him was over. He then made the signal to me. No being in the ship, but myself, was apprised of his safety. for the gale had increased and completely drowned the sounds of the knocking, opening the window, &c. before they could reach the quarterdeck; and there was no one in the cabin but our selves, the steward.having retired to his birth in the steerage. It was at once resolved that the second mate only should be inforra ed of his existence. He immediately betook himself to a large vacant state room, and, for the remainder of the passage, all his wants were attended to by me. Even the steward was allowed to enter the cabin as rarely as possible. Nothing of note occurred during the remainder of the voyage, 144 LAMENT FOR LONG TOM. which was prosperous. It seemed that the foreigners had only been actuated by revenge in the violence they had committed; for nothing further vvas attempted by them. In due season we took a pilot in the channel, and. in a day or two, entered the port of Liverpool. As soon as the proper arrangements were made, we commenced warping the ship into dock, and while engaged in this operation, the Mate appeared on deck, went fonsard, and attended to his duties as usual! A scene occurred which is beyond descrip tion: every feature of it is as vivid in my recollection as though it occurred but yesterday, and will be to my latest breath. The warp dropped from the p^alysed hands of the horror-stricken sailors, and had it not been taken up by some boatmen on board, I should have been compelled to anchor again and procure assist ance from the shore. Not a word was uttered; but the two guilty wretches staggered to the mainmast, where they remained petri fied with horror, until the officer, who had been sent for, approach ed to talje them into custody. They then seemed in a measure to be recalled to a sense of their appalling predicament, and uttered the raost piercing expressions of lamentation and despair. They were soon tried, and upon the testimony of the mate, capitally convicted and executed. LAMENT FOR LONG TOM. By j. Gr. C. Brainard. Thy cruise is over now "Thou art anchored by the shore, And never more shalt thou Hear tlie storm around thee roar ; Death has shaken out the sands of thy glaaa. Now around thee sports the whale And the porpoise snulFs the gale, And the night winds make their wiul. As they pass. The sea-grass round thy bier Shall bend beneath tlie tide. Nor tell the breakers near, 'Where thy manly limbs abide ; But the granite rock thy tomb shall be. Though the edges of thy grave Are the combings of the wave — Yet unheeded they shall rave Over thee. At the calling of all hands, When the judgment signals spread— THE FATAL REPAST. All conversation was now at an end. and no one uttered a word till Mrs. L returned from her sister's apartment. While we were inquiring how the latter was, the captain entered the cabin in a state of great agitation. " This is a dreadful business," said he. " The fact is — ^it is my duty to tell you — I fear we are all poisoned by the fish we have ate — One of the crew died a few minutes since, and five others are dangerously ill." "Poisoned! my God! Do you say so.' Must we all die?" exclaimed Mrs. L , dropping on her knees. " What is to be done?" cried the Major distractedly; " are there no means of counteracting it?" — " None that I know of, " returned the captain. "All remedies are vain. The poison is always fatal, except — but I begin to feel its effects — support me — can this be imagina tion?" He staggered to one side, and would have fallen upon the floor, had not I assisted him. Mrs. L , notwithstanding his apparent insensibility, clung to his arm. crying out, in a tone of despair. "Is there no help — no pity — no one to save us?" and then fainted away on her husband's bosom, who, turning to me, said, with quivering lips, " You are a happy man; you have nothing to imbitter your last moraents — Oh, Providence! was I perraitted to escape so many dangers, merely that I might suffer this misery?" Mrs, L soon regained her senses, and I endeavored to calm her agitation by remarking, that we might possibly escape the fatal influence of the poison, as some constitutions were not so easily affected by it as others. " Is there then a little hope?" she exclaimed. " Oh! God grant it may be so! How dreadful to die in the midst of the ocean, far from friends and home, and then to be thrown into the deep!" — " There is one thing," said the captain, faintly, " I was going to tell you, that — but this sen sation — I raean a reraedy." — "Speak on," cried the major, in breathless suspense. "It raay have a chance of saving you," continued the former; "you must iraraediately" — He gave a deep sigh, and dropped his head upon his shoulder, apparently unable to utter a word raore. "Oh. this is the worst of all!" cried Mrs. L in agony; "he was on the point of telling us how to counteract the effects of the poison — Was it heavenly mercy that deprived him of the power of speech? Can it be called mercy?" — " Hush, hush! you rave," returned her husband. " We have only to be resigned now — Let us at least die together," The crew had dined about an hour and a half before us, and eonsequently felt the effects of the poison much earlier than we did. Every one, however, now began to exhibit alarming symp,- toras. Mr. D becarae delirious; the major lay upon the cabin floor in a state of torpidity; and the captain had drowned al! sense and recoHection by drinking a large quantity of brandy Mrs. L watched her husband and her sister alternately, in / state of quiet despair. 148 THE FATAL REPAST. I was comparatively but little affected, and therefore employed myself in assisting others until they seemed to be past all relief, and then sat down, anticipating the horrid consequences which would result from the death ofthe whole ship's corapany. While thus occupied, I heard the steersraan call out, " Taken all aback here." A voice, which I knew to be the mate's, imme diately answered.." Well, and what 's that to us? Put her before the wind, and let her go where she pleases." I soon perceived, by the rushing of the water, that there was a great increase in the velocity ofthe ship's progress, and went upon deck to ascer tain the cause. I found the mate stretched upon the top ofthe companion, and addressed him. but he made no reply. The man at the helm was tying a rope round the tiller, and told me he had become so blind and dizzy, that he could neither steer, nor see ^le compass, and would therefore fix the rudder in such a manner, as would keep the ship's head as near the wind as possible. On going forward to the bows, I found the crew lying motionless in every direction. Theywere either insensible of the dangerous situa tion in which our vessel was, or totally indifferent to it; and all my representations on this head failed to draw forth an intelligi ble remark from any of them. Our ship carried a great press of canvass, the lower studding sails being set, for we had enjoyed a gentle breeze directly astern, before the wind headed us in the way already mentioned. About an hour after sunset, almost every person on board seemed to have become worse. I alone retained, my senses un impaired. The wind now blew very fresh, and we went through the water at the rate of ten knots an hour. The night looked dreary and turbulent. The sky was covered with large fleeces of broken clouds, and the stars flashed angrily through them, as they were wildly hurried along by the blast. The sea began to run high, and the masts showed, by their incessant creaking, that they carried more sail than they could well sustain. I stood alone abaft the binnacle. Nothing could be heard above or below deck, but the dashing of the surges, and the meanings of the wind. All the people on board were to rae the sarae as dead; and I was tossed about, in the vast expanse of waters, without a companion or fellow-sufferer. I knew not what might be my fate, or where I should be carried. The ves sel, as it careered along the raging deep, uncontrolled by human hands, seemed under the guidance of a relentless demon, to whose caprices its ill-fated crew had been mysteriously consigned by some superior power. I was filled with dread lest we should strike upon rocks, or run ashore, and often imagined that the clouds which bordered the horizon were the black cliffs of some desolate coast. At ift-st, 1 distinctly savv a Ught at sorae distance — I anticipated in- THE FATAL REPAST. 149 stant destruction — I grew irresolute whether to remain upon deck, and face death, or to wait for it below. I soon discovered a ship a little way ahead — I instinctively ran to the helm, and loosed the rope that tied the tiller, which at once bounded back, and knocked me over. A horrible crashing, and loud cries, now broke upon my ear, and I saw that we had got entangled with another vessel. Bu^ the velocity with which we swept along. rendered our extrication instantaneous; and, on looking back, I saw a ship, without a bowsprit, pitching irregularly among the waves, and heard the rattling of cordage, and a tumult of voices But, after a little time, nothing was distinguishable by the eye or by the ear. My situation appeared doubly horrible, when I reflected that I had just been within call of human creatures, who might have saved and assisted all on board, had not an evil destiny hurried us along, and made us the means of injuring those who alone were capable of affording us relief. About midnight, our fore top-mast gave way. and fell upon deck with a tremendous noise. The ship immediately swung round, and began to labor in a terrible manner, while several waves broke over her successively. I had just resolved to descend the gangway for shelter, when a white figure rushed past me with a wild shriek, and sprung overboard. I saw it struggling among the billows, and tossing about its arms distractedly, but had no means of affording it any assistance. I watched it for some time, and observed its con vulsive motions gradually grow raore feeble , but its forra soon lecame undistinguishable amidst the foam of the bursting waves. Ihe darkness prevented rae from discovering who had thus com mitted himself to the deep, in a moment of madness, and I ' felt a strong repugnance at attempting to ascertain it. and rather wished it might have been some spectre, or the offspring of my perturbed imagination, than. a human being. As the sea continued to break over the vessel, I went down to the cabin, after having closely shut the gangway doors and com panion. Total darkness prevailed below. I addressed the cap tain and all my fellow passengers by name, but received no reply from any of them, though I sometimes fancied I heard moans and quick breathing, when the tumult of waters without happen ed to subside a little. But I thought that it was perhaps imagi nation, and that they were probably all dead. I began to catch for breath, and felt as if I had been immured in a large coffin • along with a number of corpses, and was doomed to linger out life beside them. The sea beat against the vessel with a noise like that of artillery, and the crashing ofthe bulwarks, driven in by its violence, gave startling proof of the danger that threatened us. Having several times been dashed against the walls and transoms ofthe cabin by the vioknt pitching ofthe ship, I grop- 13* 150 THE FATAL REPAST. ed for my bed, and lay down in it, and, notwithstanding the horr rors that surrounded me. gradually dropped asleep. When I awaked, I perceived, by the sunbeams that shone through the skylight, that the morning was far advanced. The ship rolled violently at intervals, but the noise of wind and waves had altogether ceased. I got up hastily, and almost dreaded to look round, lest I should find ray worst anticipations concerning my companions too fatally realized. I immediately discovered the captain lying on one side of the cabin quite dead. Opposite him was Major L , stretched along the floor, and grasping firmly the handle of the door of his wife's apartment. He looked like a dying man, and Mrs. L , who sat beside hira, seeraed to be exhausted with grief and terror. She tried to speak several times, and at last suc ceeded in informing me that her sister was better. I could not discover Mr. D any where, and therefore concluded that he was the person who had leaped overboard the preceding night. On going upon deck, I found that every thing wore a new aspect. The sky was dazzling and cloudless, and not the faint est breath of wind could be felt. The sea had a beautiful bright green color, and was calm as a small lake, except when an oc casional swell rolled from that quarter in- which the wind had been the preceding night; and the water vvas so clear, that I saw to the bottom, and even distinguished little fishes sporting around the keel of our vessel. Four of the seamen were dead, but the mate and the remain ing three had so far recovered, as to be able to walk across the reck. The ship was almost in a disabled state. Part of the ' freck of the fore top-mast lay upon her bows, and the rigging ..md sails of the mainmast had suffered much injury. The mate told rae, that the soundings, and almost every thing else, proved we were on the Bahama banks, though he had not yet ascertain ed on what part of them we lay, and consequently could not say whether we had much chance of soon falling in with any vessel. The day passed gloomily. They regarded every cloud that rose upon the horizon as the forerunner of a breeze, which we above all things feared to encounter. Much of our time was employed in preparing for the painful but necessary duty of in terring the dead. The carpenter soon got ready a sufficient number of boards; to each of which we bound one ofthe corpses, and also weights enough to make it sink to the bottom. About ten at night, we began to commit the bodies to the deep. A dead calm had prevailed the whole day, and not a cloud obscured the sky. The sea reflected the stars so distinctly, that it seemed as if we were consigning our departed compan ions to a heaven as resplendent is that above us. There was an awful solemnity, alike in the scene and in our situation I read THE FATAL REPAST. 151 the funeral service, and then we dropped the corpses overboard, one after another. The sea sparkled around each, as its sullen plunge announced that the waters were closing over it, and they all slowly and successively descended to the bottom, enveloped in a ghastly glimmering brightness, which enabled us to trace their progress through the motionless deep. When these last offices of respect were performed, we retired in silence to differ ent parts ofthe ship. About midnight, the mate ordered the men to cast anchor, which, till then, they had not been able to accomplish. They likewise managed to furl most of the sails, and we went to bed, under the consoling idea, that though a breeze did spring up, oui moorings would enable us to weather it without any risk. I was roused early next morning by a confused noise upon deck. When I got there, I found the men gazing intently over the side ofthe ship, and inquired if our anchor held fast. — " Ay, ay," returned one of them, " rather faster than we want it." On approaching the bulwarks, and looking down, I perceived, to my horror and astonishment, all the corpses lying at the bottom of the sea, as if they had just been dropped into it. We vvere now exempted from the ravages and actual presence of death, but his form haunted us without intermission. We hardly dared to look over the ship's side, lest our eyes should encounter the ghastly features of some one who had formerly been a companion, and at whose funeral rights we had recently assisted. The seamen began to murmur among themselves, say ing that we would never be able to leave the spot where we then were, and that our vessel would remain there and rot. In the evening a strong breeze sprung up, and filled us with hopes that sorae vessel would soon corae in sight, and afford us relief. At sunset, when the mate was giving directions about the watch, one of the seamen cried out, " Thank Heaven, there they are." And the other ran up to him saying, "Where, where?" He pointed to a flock of Mother Carey's chickens that had just appeared astern, and began to count how many there were of thera. I inquired what was the matter, and the mate replied, " Why, only that we've seen the worst, that 's all, master. I've a notion we'll fall in with a sail before twenty hours are past." — " Have you any particular reason for think ing so?" said I. "To be sure I have," returned he, "Aren't them there birds an omen of returning good fortune." — " I have always understood," said I, "that these birds indicate bad weather, or some unfortunate event, and this appears to me to be true." — "Ay, ay," replied he, "they say experience teaches fools, and I have found it so; there was a time when I did not believe that these creatures were any thing but common birds, but now I know another story — Oh I've witnessed such strange things!" 152 THE FATAL REPAST. Next morning I was awakened by the joyful intelligence that a schooner was in sight, and that she had hoisted her flag in an swer to our signals. She bore down upon us with a good wind, and in about an hour hove to, and spoke us. When we had in forraed them of our unhappy situation, the captain ordered the boat to be lowered,- and came on board of our vessel, with three of his crew. He was a thick, short, dark-complexioned man, and his lanauage and accent discovered him to be a native of the southern states of America. The mate iraraediately proceeded to detail minutely all that happened to us, but our visiter paid very little attention to the narrative, and soon interrupted it, by asking of what our cargo consisted. Having been satisfied on this point, he said, " Seeing as how things stand, I conclude you'll be keen for getting into some port." — " Yes, that of course is our earnest wish," replied the mate, " and we hope to be able by your assist ance to accomplish it." — "Ay, we must all assist one another," returned the captain — " Well, I was just calculating, that your plan would be to run into New Providence — I'm bound for St. Thomas's, and you can't expect that I should turn about, and go right back with you — neither that I should let you have any of my seamen, for I'll not be able to make a good trade unless I get slick into port. Now I have three nigger slaves on board of me, — curse them, they don't know much about sea-matters, and are as lazy as h — 1. but keep flogging them, mister, — keep flogging them I say. — by which means, you will make them serve your ends. Well, as I was saying, I will let you have them blacks to help you, if you '11 buy them of me at a fair price, and pay it down in hard cash." — " This proposal," said the mate, " sounds strange enough to a British seaman; — and how much do you ask for your slaves?" " I can't let them go under three hundred dollars each," replied the captain, " I guess they would fetch more in St. Thomas's, for they 're prime, blow me." — "Why. there is'nt that sum of money on board this vessel, that I know of." answered the mate; " and though I could pay it myself, I 'm sure the own ers never would agree to indemnify me. I thought you would have afforded us every assistance without asking any thing in return. — a true sailor would have done so at least." — "Well, I vow you are a strange man," said the captain. " Is' nt it fair that I should get something for my niggers, and for the chance I' 11 run of spoiling my trade at St. Thomas's, by making myself short of men? But we shan't split about a small matter, and I '11 lessen the price by twenty dollars a head." — "It is out of the question, sir," cried the mate. " I ha- lo money," — " Oh there's no harm done," returned the captai", "we can't trade, that's all. Get ready the boat, boys — I guess your men will soon get smart again, and then, if the weather holds moderate, you '11 reach port with the greatest ease." — " You surely do not mean to leave us in this barbarous way?" cried I ; "the owners of thia CAPTAINS PORTLOCK AND DIXON. 153 vessel would, I am confident, pay any sum rather than that we should perish through your inhumanity." — " Well, mister, I 've got owners too," replied he, " and my business is to make a good voyage for them. Markets are pretty changeable just now, and it won't do to spend time talking about humanity — money 's the word with me." Having said this, he leaped into the boat, and ordered his men to row towards his own vessel. As soon as they got on board. they squared their topsail, and bore away, and were soon out of the reach of our voices. We looked at one another for a little time with an expression of quiet despair, and then the seamen began to pour forth a torrent of invectives, and abuse, against the heartless and avaricious shipmaster who had inhumanly deserted us. Major L and his wife, being in the cabin below, heard all that passed. When the captain first came on board, they were filled with rapture, thinking that we vvould certainly be delivered from the perils and difficulties that environed us ; but as the con versation proceeded, their hopes gradually diminished, and the conclusion of it made Mrs. L-- — give way to a flood of tears, in which I found her indulging when I went below. The mate now endeavored to encourage the seamen to exertion. They cleared away the wreck of the fore-top-mast which had hitherto encumbered the deck, and hoisted a sort of jury-mast in its stead, on which they rigged two sails. When these things were accomplished, we weighed anchor, and laid our course for New Providence. The mate had fortunately been upon the Ba hama seas before, and was aware ofthe difficulties he would have to encounter in navigating them. The weather continued mode rate, and after two days of agitating suspense, we made Exuma Island, and cdst anchor near its shore. CAPTAINS PORTLOCK -\ND DIXON. This voyage was undertaken for the purposes of commerce; principally, indeed, for the fur-trade, on the north-west coast of America, which had been strongly recomraended by Captains Cook and King in their last voyage. Two vessels were fitted out for this purpose, the King George and Queen Charlotte, by a society of raerchants and others, the former commanded by Na thaniel Portlock, the latter by George Dixon, both of whom had been with Captain Cook; the King George having sixty men, tiie Q;ieen Charlotte thirty. September 20th they quitted St. Helens, and, proceeding tc 154 CAPTAINS PORTLOCK AND DIXON. Guernsey, left it on the 25th. October 16th saw the Canary Islands, and 24th the Cape de Verde group, anchoring for a short tirae in Port Praya Bay, in St. Jago. Proceeding south, they anchored in Port Egmont, Falkland's Islands, January 5th. 1786, where, taking in water, they made sail for States Bay, in Terra del Fuego. Having made a good offing from Cape Horn, they had tolerable weather; and continuing their route without touch ing at any place, or meeting with any thing worthy of notice, dropped anchor 26th May in Karakooa Bay, in Owhyhee, Sand wich Islands. The natives crowded them very much, bartering a variety of articles; but were nevertheless extremely troublesome. It was the general opinion, that it would be irapossible to water the ves sels without a strong guard, which they could not well spare; while the people were probably jealous that these vessels were corae to revenge the death of Captain Cook. Next day, they stood out ofthe bay, lying-to three leagues off, to carry on trade for hogs, plantains, taro, &c. &c. which proved so serviceable that the sick, of whom there were several, began rapidly to recover. June 1st anchored in a bay in Woahoo. another of the islands, and were received very civilly by the inhabitants. They now stood for another ofthe islands, named Oneehow; and, on the 8th, anchored in yam Bay, where supplies of fruit, vegetables, and pigs, were willingly afforded by the principal chief Abbenooe, who seemed strongly their friend, from recollecting Captain Port- lock along with Cook. They took leave of him, with regret, on the 13th. standing for the coast of America. July 19th made the entrance of Cook's River; and, while look ing for good anchorage, were astonished by the report of a great gun; when, soon afterwards, a party of Russians came on-board, attended by some Indians; but none understanding the language of either, no satisfactory information could be gained from them. Most ofthe natives had fled from their huts, alarmed perhaps by the Russians; several bears were seen, buLnone near enough to fire at. Two veins of kennel-coal were found, which burned very well, and the place was, therefore, called Coal Harbor. An el derly chief paying Captain Dixon a visit, informed 4iira that they h battle with the Russians, in which the latter were worsted, and added, that, from the difference of dress, he knew they were of a different nation. Quitting this place, they tried for some time to get into Prince WiUiam's Sound; but, by a series of unfavorable winds, failed in this pursuit. September 23rd, they stood away for the Sandwich Islands to pass the winter, and return in the spring. November 14th saw the summit ofthe high mountain in Owhyhee covered with snow, and employed two or three following days in coasting it, the natives bringing off a variety of articles to barter for iron and trinlsets The first mate of the King George reporting, that a bay CAPTAINS PORTLOCK AND DIXON. 155 they intended to anchor in did not admit of good anchorage,, thia design was dropped. During the time they lay tp, hogs, fowls, wild-geese, bread-fruit, plantains, and several other things were procured in considerable quantities; the natives dealing pretty fairly, but committing a variety of thefts, even before their faces, with a dexterity almost inimitable. For several days they con tinued lying to off the islands of Mowee and Morotoi, procuring refreshments and receiving visits till the 30th, when both ships bore away for King George's Bay. in Whoaboo, where they an chored in safety, after experiencing a variety of winds from all points of the compass. Here they found every thing tabooed, or forbidden, so that "t became necessary to court the king's favor; for which purpose a present was sent to him, and another to a priest, their acquain tance on the forraer occasion, who paid thera a visit, handing up a fig and plantain, which in these islands are signs of friendship. This was soon followed by a visit from Taheeterre, the king, fol lowed by all the chiefs, who took off the taboo. The priest was remarkable for drinking large quantities ofthe ava, or yava-juice, for which he had two men in constant attendance chewing the root, which, with their spittle, forms this singular and (to us) nauseous beverage. The yava is a root resembling liquorice in shape and color. None but the chiefs and priests have permission to use it. and these are never at the trouble of chewing it thera selves; but, as above observed, employ servants ; these begin with chewing a sufficient quantity, and when well masticated, it is put into a wooden bowl kept for the purpose, fo which a sraall quantity of water is added; the whole is then strained through a cloth, and, like wine in Europe, it thus forms not merely the drink, but the delight of all parties, feasts, rejoicings, and, in short, every public assemblage ofthe leading people. Its effects, however, are very pernicious; it is partly intoxicating or rather stupifying; and, by its coistant use, the old priest vvas exceedingly debilitated, and his body covered by a white scurf, resembling the leprosy, which is a common symptom throughout the South Sea islands of its fre quent use. The taboo was again put on without any explanation being given, though several canoes nevertheless came off, but without any women, as had been formerly the case. Afterwards it was understood that one of them had been detected in the King George eating Pork, which being a heinous offence, she was taken as soon as she came on shore, and offered a sacrifice to the gods: human sacrifices, it appears, are here, as in most parts of the South Sea islands, frequently presented, and it is unquestionably the most inhuman and barbarous custom among them. December 19th weighed, and two days afterwards anchored between Attoui and Wymea, where, after paying and receiving some visits, their former friend Abbenooe carae on board with 166 CAPTAINS PORTLOCK AND DIXON. two canoes loaded with provisions, and remained for two or threa days, seemingly very well pleased with his new abode. The king also made his appearance; he was stout and well-made, about forty-five years of age, and possessed of more understand ing and good-nature than any of his subjects. January Sth caught a shark in the King George, thirteen and a half feet long, eight and a half broad, and six feet in the liver; forty-eight young ones vvere in her, about eight inches each in length; two whole turtles of sixty pounds each ; several small pigs, and a quantity of bones ; so that the numbers and the voracity of this fish may be conceived. Frora this time to the 10th they were employed in purchasing wood, water, provisions, curiosities, and every thing else they wanted; and now, quitting the anchorage, proceeded to yam Bay, in Oneehow, where, after making a few excursions, they departed once more for Wymoa Bay, Attoui. On the 3d March weighed, and made sail for the coast of America, and on the 24th April saw Montager Island, coming to anchor in the harbor, where there is sufficient shelter from the prevailing winds. The weather continued very variable, several unsuccessful attempts being made to get into Prince Williams Sound, and only a single straggling inhabitant being seen now and then, so that there was no opportunity to trade. Captain Dixon now made an excursion ^n his boats up the Sound, and receiving some hints from the natives of a vessel be ing there, continued his search for several days, and at length got on board a vessel called the Nootka. from Bengal, commanded by Mr. Meares, which had wintered in Snug-corner Cove. The scurvy had made dreadful havoc among them, nearly all the officers and many ofthe crew having died of this frightful disorder, so that at length the Captain was the only person on board able to walk the deck. Along with his first mate he soon afterwards visited the ships, met with a hearty reception, and received such assistance as he wanted and as the others could afford. From him they learned that few or no furs could be procured here ; that several vessels from India had been already on this coast for the purposes of trade; and that two or three were expected next month in the same pursuit, which immediately determined our voyagers to separate and push for different parts ofthe coast, in order to be before their expected rivals; the Queen Charlotte to proceed to King George's Sound, and Messrs. Hayward and Hill to Cook's River in the King George's long-boat, the latter o remain where she was for the present. On the 13th May several canoes visited them, in one of which was a chief of great consequence, named Sheenaawa, whose party, like raost others, were determined thieves, exerting their ingenuity and tricks for this purpose in an extraordinary degree. They danced, sung, laughed, and diverted the attention of the seamen in every possible way, while slyly their hands were seizing every CAPTAINS PORTLOCK AND DIXON. IP'' thing on the decks, so that literally they were smiling in their faces and robbing them at the same time. In the meantime the Queen Charlotte and the long-boat sailed, while the King George shifted to Hinchinbroke Cove. Some of the boats were sent out to trade, which were tolerably successful; but they also suffered from continual thefts, which were sometimes accompanied by menaces, if they attempted to resist the plunderers. June 9th the Nootka left her former anchorage, where she had been frozen in, and came close to the King George, when the crew of the latter were partly employed in rendering her assist ance. Two days afterwards the long-boat returned from Cook's River with a very good cargo, and was again sent off with orde s ¦to return by the 20th of July. On the 19th the Nootka sailed. Next day the surgeon took the invalids on shore for an excursion, who, by the use of spruce-beer, which they now brewed in abun dance, were rapidly recovering. In the evening observed two In dian boats and several canoes, in which were about twenty-five natives, who came alongside next morning. Their chief, named Taatucktellingnake, was paralytic on one side, had a long beard, and seeraed about sixty years of age ; his country was called Cheeneecock, situated towards the south-west part of the Sound. July llth hauled the seine frequently, when not less than two thousand salmon were caught at each haul; and so great were their numbers, that ships prepared for the purpose might have obteined any quantity they wished. The long-boat returned on the 21st, though without so much success as formerly. On the 26th sailed from this place. The natives in general are short in stat ure, with flat faces and noses, ill-formed legs, but good teeth and eyes; they wear their hair, vvhich is black and straight, very long. but cut it short on the death of a relation, this seeming their only method of mourning. They are attentive, to their women, but jealous of them. Their thieving habits seem fixed, the most dex terous being most in esteem, and receiving the greatest applause for the exertion of his talents; he is also distinguished by a fan tastical dress, which, while it excites the notice ofthe spectators, gives the owner additional opportunities of exerting his fingers at their expense. By the 3d of August had made little progress, from the shift ing ofthe wind. On the 8th, two large boats visited thera, with twenty-five men, women, and children on board, who, very dif ferent from their other visiters, seeraed very honest, and who were invited to dinner in the cabin, when they relished the English cookery so well, that the dishes were quickly obliged to be re plenished. These departed inthe evening well pleased with their entertainment, promising to return with the means of trading with their new friends. On the llth a new tribe visited them from the eastward, with about the same number of persons as the last; lour days after", the 14 168 CAPTAINS PORTLOCK AND DIXON. long-boat returned, having had pretty good success, notwithstand ing some acts of hostility which they had been compelled to re taliate upon the Indians. Another party, from the north-west, were extremely addicted to thieving, nothing could escape them; and, when detected, were very impudent, and often threatened those they robbed. The men were of the size of Europeans, of a fierce and savage aspect, using daggers and 'ong spears, easily provoked and ready to indulge their anger. August 22d weighed and made sail frora this coast, having done as rauch as it seemed likely they could do inthe way of trade. Septeraber 28th made Owhyhee, the principal of the Sandwich group, when s-^veral canoes came off, with whom a brisk trade for hogs and other refreshments was carried on. At Attoui they found the Nootka and Queen Charlotte had been there and left letters for the King George. After procuring what necessaries they wanted, Captain Portlock directed his course for China with his cargo of furs; on the 4th November saw Saypan and Tinian, two of the Ladrone Islands; and on the 21st anchored in Macao Roads, where Captain Dixon was found, whose transac tions shall now be noticed. After separating, the Queen Charlotte coasted it for some time, till, seeing an appearance of an inlet, a boat was despatched which found an excellent harbor, where she soon after anchored. Sev eral canoes came off, from whom some skins were procured, but by no means so many as they had at first reason to expect. The number of inhabitants vvas about seventy; the harbor, which is good, vvas named Port Mulgrave, and is situated in 59 deg. 32 min. north latitude; 140 deg. west longitude. The language of these people is quite different frora that of Prince William's Sound, or Cook's River, being extremely uncouth and difficult to pro nounce. The raode in which they dispose of their dead is re markable; the head is separated from the body, and both are wrapped in furs, the former being put into a box. the latter into an oblong chest which are afterwards preserved and disposed of in a fanciful way. June 4th quitted this place, and kept beating to the southward; a harbor was perceived rt a distance, which, upon examination by the boats, was found to extend to a considerable distance, with a number of coves here and there, very well calculated for an chorage; it was naraed Norfolk Sound. The people were at first civil and well-behaved; but sooii becarae troublesome and thiev ish, like almost all their brethren on this coast. Trade here was not very brisk. July 1st saw an island, and were soon sur rounded by Indians, who, after gratifying their curiosity in exam ining the vessel, began to trade, and soon parted with all their skins. Several fresh tribes visited them almost daily, who, delight ed with European articles of barter, were content to leave their furs behind in exchange. The residence of one was strongly fortified. CAPTAINS PORTLOCK AND DIXON. 159 resembling a nippah or fortified place, in New Zealand; and, from some circumstances which transpired, Dixon was tempted also to believe they were also like the New Zealanders, cannibals. Proceeding to the eastward, eleven canoes came alongside on the 24th with one hundred and eighty persons; but curiosity was the prevailing motive, as they had nothing to sell; and, five days after, no less than two hundred men. women, and children, in eighteen canoes, came off to indulge their curiosity; a num ber that, on this coast, is rarely found in one comraunity. Their chief had the raost savage aspect of any yet seen, his whole ap pearance sufficiently marking hira as the leader of a tribe of can nibals. His stature was above the common size, his body spare and thin, and, though seemingly lank and emaciated, his step was bold and firm, his limbs strong and muscular; his eyes, which vvere large and goggling, seemed ready to start from their sockets ; his forehead deeply wrinkled, as well by age as an habitual frown, which, joined to a long visage, hollow cheeks, high cheek-bones, and natural ferocity of temper, rendered him a most formidable figure. August 8th, raade sail for the Sandwich Islands. Septeraber 2d made Owhyhee, and, after procuring refreshments, stood on for Whahoo, being visited the next day by Abbenooe and the king by whose commands they received abundant supplies of wood, water, and provisions, of which they were in extreme want, several of the crew being nearly dead with the scurvy. Attoui was their next destination, where the chiefs inquired particularly after their friend Po-pote (Captain Portlocke,) and were desirous of contri buting all in their power to the assistance ofthe ship, every one supplying the Captain with a liberality as unbounded as it was un expected, but which did not go unrewarded; saws, hatchets, nails, and other iron instruments being given to the raen, and buttons, beads, and a variety of ornaments to the women. September 18th made sail for China, and anchored in Macao Roads the 9th November, where being joined as already noticed, by the King George, their meeting was extremely agreeable. Captain Portlock was very rauch surprised in Canton with his old friend Tiaana. frora the Sandwhich Islands, who was no less pleas ed at seeing hira. erabracing the Captain in the most cordial and affectionate manner. During his stay, Tiaana was introduced to every place worthy of notice; he was usually dressed in a cloak and fine feather cap, and, to show that he was a person of consequence, carried a spear in his hand. Afterwards, at the persuasion of Mr. Ross, he wore a light satin waistcoat and a pair of trousers. He frequently at tended places of public worship, behaving with the greatest de corum, and joining the congregation inthe ceremonies of kneel ing or standing, as if he had been all his life regularly accustomed to them. Some of the customs of the Chinese displeased him ex- 160 CtTRIOSITT BAFFLED. ceedingly, and, during the voyage, was nearly throwing the pilot overboard for sorae real or iraaginary offence; h^ was, however, of a kind disposition, displaying frequent instances of humanity as well as generosity. Being once at an entertainment, given by one of the Captains at Macao, his compassion was strongly excited after dinner by seeing a number of poor people, in Sam pans, crowding round the vessel and asking alms; he solicited his host's permission to give them some food, remarking it was a great shame to let poor people want victuals, and that in his country there were no beggars. In compliance with his importunities, the broken meat was collected under his care, and he distributed it in the most equal and impartial manner. Tiaana was six feet two inches high, exceedingly well-made, but inclined to corpulen cy; he had a pleasing animated countenance, fine eyes, and other wise expressive as well as agreeable features. He was universally liked, and. previous to his departure for Attoui. the gentlemen at Canton furnished him with bulls, cows, sheep, goats, rabbits, turkeys, &c. &c. besides all kinds of seeds which could be useful in his island, with directions how to rear and propagate them. The best skins of their cargoes were disposed of to the East India Corapany for fifty thousand dollars, while the inferior ones were sold to the Chinese, both vessels receiving in return cargoes of tea. February, 6th, 1788, weighed and made sail down the river, quitting Macao finally a day or two afterwards. On the 20th saw the island of Pulo Sapata. four leagues distant; "and, 25th, the islands of Aramba; three days afterwards Mr. Lander, surgeon of the Queen Charlotte, died, having, been ill for some time, and attended by his brother surgeon, Mr. Hoggan, of the King George. On the 30th of March the ships agreed to sepa rate, and make the best of their way to St. Helena, where the King George arrived the 13th June, and the Queen Charlotte on thc-lSth. The former at length reached England, without any occurrence worthy of remark, on the 22d August; and the latter the 17th September. Nor was the voyage unfortunate; for though no great gain was made, yet nothing was lost, which, in a new commercial speculation, is not an uncommon occurrence. CURIOSITY BAFFLED. Brook Watson was bom of humble parentage, in the provincb of Maine, and in that part of it more appropriately known as Sagadahoc. History has not conveyed to us the incidents of his childhood. As he met with extraordinary success in life, we Dresume he was pretty soundly drubbed by the schoolmaster and CURIOSITY BAFFLED. 161 the older boys. He probably ran about bare-footed in summer, and in winter, wore old woollen stockings, with the feet cut off, under the name of leggins, to keep out snow-water. We imag ine he got on the rafts of the lumber-men, and learned to swim, by being knocked off, as a mischief-maker, into the river. We fhink it likely he occasionally set up, of a moonshiny night, to watch the bears, as they came down, to reconnoitre the pig-styo; and we have little doubt that, before he was eleven years old, he had gone cabin-boy to Jamaica, with a cargo of pine boards and timber. But of all this we know nothing. It is enough for our story, that, at the age of twenty. Brook Watson was a stout athletic young raan, sailing out of the port of New York to the West Indies. The Yankees knew the way to the West Indies a good while ago; they -knew more ways than one. Their coasting vessels knew the way, without quadrant or Practical Navigator. Their skippers kept their reckoning with chalk, on a shingle, .which they stowed away in the binacle; and, by way of observation, they held up a hand to the sun. When they got him over four fingers, they knew they were straight for the Hole-in-the-wall; three fingers gave them their course to the Double-headed-shot Keys, and two carried them down to Barbadoes. This was one wa^'; and when the Monsieurs and the Dons at Martinico and the Havana heard the old New England drums, thumping away under the very teeth of their batteries, they understood to their cost, that the Yankees had another way of working their passage. But Brook Watson went to the Havana in the way of trade. He went as second mate of the Royal Consort, a fine topsail schooner of one hundred and fifteen tons; and whether he had any personal venture in the mules, butter, cheese, codfish, and shooks, which she took out, is raore than history has recorded. Captain Basil Hall says the Americans are too apt to talk about the weather. But in the tropics, in the month of July, aboard a small ship, without a breath stirring, captain, it is hot ; — you have been a sailor yourself, and you ought to know it. It was very hot on board the Royal Consort, about four o'clock in the afternoon of the 14th of July, 1755. There was not the slightest movement in the air; the rays ofthe sun seemed to burn -^own into the water. Silence teok hold ofthe animated creation. it was too hot to talk, whistle, or sing; to bark, to crow, or to bray. Every thing crept under cover, but Sambo and Cuffee, two fine looking blacks, who sat sunning themselves onthe quay, and thoughr" him berry pleasant weather," and glistened like a new Bristol bottle. Brook Watson was fond ofthe water; he was not web-footed, nor was he branchioustegous; (there's for you, see Noah Web ster;) but were he asked whether he felt most at home on land or in the water, he would have found it hard to tell. He had 14* 162 CURIOSITY BAFFLED. probably swum the Kennebec, where it is as wide and deep as the Hellespont between Sestos and Abydos, at least once a day, for five months in the year, ever since he was eleven j'ears old, without Lord Byron's precaution of a boat in company, to pick him up. in case of need. As his Lordship seemed desirous of imitating Leander, honesty ought, we think, to have suggested to him. to go without the boat. At all events, that was Brook Watson's way; and we have no doubt, had he been in a boat, with a head wind, he would have sprung into the river, in order to get across the sooner. With this taste for the water, and with the vveather so oppressive as we have described it on the present occasion, it is not to be wondered at, that Brook Watson should have turned his thoughts for refreshment, to a change of element ; in other words, that he should have resolved to bathe himself in the sea. Such was the fact. About six o'clock in the afternoon, and vvhen every other being on board the vessel had crept away into the cabin or the forecastle, to enjoy a siesta. Brook, who had been sweltering, and panting, and tliinking of the banks of the Kennebec, till his stout gay heart felt like a great ball of lead within him. tripped up on deck, dropped his loose clothing, and in an instant was over the side ofthe vessel. This was Brook's first voyage to the West Indies, since he had grown up; and the first day after his arrival. He was one of that class of mankind not bred up to books; and. consequently, in the way of learning wis dom only by experience. What you learn by experience, you learn pretty thoroughly, but at the sarae time, occasionally, much to your cost. Thus by chopping off a couple of fingers with a broad axe, you learn, by experience, not to play with edge-tools. Brook Watson's experience in bathing had hitherto been confined to the Kennebec; a noble, broad, civil stream, harboring nothing within its gentle waters more terrible than a porpoise. The sea- serpent had not yet appeared. Brook Watson had certainly heard of sharks, but at the raoraent of forming the resolution to bathe, it had entirely escaped his mind, if it had ever entered it, that the West India seas were full of them; and so over he went, with a fearless plunge Sambo and Cuffee as we have said, vvere sitting on the quay, enjoying the pleasant sunshine, and making their evening repast of hanana, when they heard the plunge into the water by the side ofthe Royal Consort, and presently saw Brook Watson emerging frdm the deep, his hands to his eyes, to free thera from the brine, balancing up and down, sputtering the water from his mouth, and then throwing hiraself forward, hand over hand, as if at length he really felt hiraself in his element. " Oh, Massa Bacra," roared out Sambo, as soon as he could recover his astonishment enough to speak, " O Senor; he white man neber go to swim; O, de tiburon; he berry bad bite, come CURIOSITY BAFFLED. 163 Uamar — de shark; he hab berry big mouth; he eatee a Senor all up down!" Such was the exclamation of Sambo, in the best English he had been able to pick up, in a few years service, in unlading the American vessels, that came to the Havana. It vvas intended to apprise the bold but inexperienced stranger, that the waters were filled with sharks, and that it was dangerous to swira in thera. The words were scarcely uttered, and. even if they were heard, had not time to produce their effect, when Cuffee responded to the-exclamation of his sable colleague, with — " O, Madre de Dios, see, see. de tiburon, de shark; — ah San Salvador; ahpobre joven! matar, todo comer, he eat him alldown, berry soon!" This second cry had been drawn from the kind-hearted negro, by seeing, at a distance, in the water, a smooth shooting streak, which an inexperienced eye would not have noticed; but which Sambo and Cuffee knew full well. It was the wake of a shark. At a distance of a mile or two. the shark had perceived his prey; and with the rapidity of sound he had shot across the inter vening space, scarcely disturbing the surface with a ripple. Cuffee's practised eye alone had seen a flash of his tail, at the distance of a mile and a half; and raising his voice to the utmost of his strength, he had endeavored to apprise the incautious swim mer of his danger. Brook heard the shout, and turned his eye in the direction, in which the negro pointed; and well skilled in all the appearances of the water, under which he could.^see almost as well as in the open air, he perceived the sharp forehead ofthe fearful animal rushing towards him. head on. with a rapidity which bade defiance to flight. Had he heen armed with a knife, or even a stick, he would not have feared the encounter; but would have coolly waited his chance, like the negroes of the West Indies and the Spanish Main, and plunged his weapon into the opening maw of the ravenous animal. But he was wholly naked and de fenceless. Every one on board the Royal Consort was asleep; and it was in vain to look for aid from that quarter. He cast a glance, in his extremity, to Sambo and Cuffee; and saw thera, with prompt bei.evolence, throw themselves into a boat, to rescue him; but meantime the hungry enemy was rushing on. Brook thought ofthe Kennebec; he thought of its green banks, and its pleasant islands. He thought of the tall trunks of the pine trees, scathed with fire, which stood the grim sentinels of the forest, over the roof where he was born. He thought of the log school-house. He thought of his little brothers and sisters, and of his mother; and there was another image that pasged through his mind, and alraost melted into cowardice his manly throbbing heart. He thought of Mary Atwood, and — but he had to think of himself. For though these tumultuous emotions and a thousand others rusheu through his mind in a moment, crowding that one 164 CURIOSITY BAFFLED. moment with a long duration of suffering; yet in the same fleet raoraent, the dreadfiil monster had shct across the entire space that separated him from Brook; and had stopped, as if its vitality had been instantly arrested, at the distance of about twelve feet from our swimmer. Brook had drawn himself up in the most pugnacious attitude possible; and was treading water with great activity. The shark, probably unused to any sigrts of making battle, remained, for one moment, quiet; and then, like a flash of lightning, shot sideling off. and came round in the rear. Brook, however, was as wide awake as his enemy. If he had not dealt with sharks before, he knew something of the ways of bears and catamounts; and contriving himself ,^to get round, about, as soon as the shark, he still presented a bold front to the foe. But a huraan creature, after all, is out of his eleraent n the water; and he fights with a shark, to about the same disadvantage as the shark himself, when dragged up on deck, fights with a man. He flounces and flings round, and makes formidable battle with tail and maw; but he is soon obliged to yield. The near approach to a fine plump healthy Yankee was too much for the impatience of our shark. The plashing ofthe oars of Sambo and Cuffee, warned the sagacious monster of gathering foes. Whirl ing himself over on his back, and turning up his long white belly. and oppuiiig his terrific jaws, set round with a double row of broad serrali'd teeth, the whole roof of his mouth paved with horrent fangs, all standing erect, sharp, and rigid, just permitting the blood-bright red to be seen between their roots, he darted toward Brook Brook's self-possession stood by him in this trying mo ment. He knew very well if the animal reached him in a vita) part, that instant death was his fate; and with a rapid movement either of instinct or calculation, he threw himself backward, kicking, at the same raoraent, at the shark. In consequence of this movement, his foot and leg passed into the horrid maw ofthe dreadful monster, and were severed in a raoraent. — muscles, sin ews, and bone. In the next moment, Sambo and Cuffee were at his side; and lifted him into the boat, convulsed with pain, and fainting with loss of blood. The Royal Consort was near, and the alarm was speedily given. Brook was taken on board; the vessel's company were roused; bandages and styptics were ap plied; surgical advice was obtained from the shore, and in due seasoi the hearty and sound-constitutioned youth recovered. The place of his lost limb was supplied by a wooden one; and industry, temperance, probity, and zeal, supplied the place of a regiment of legs, when employed to prop up a lazy and dissipated frame. The manly virtues of our hero found their reward; his sufferings were crowned with a rich indemnity. He rose from one step to another of prosperity. Increased means opened a wider sphere of activity and usefulness. He was extensively engaged in public contracts, which he fulfilled to the advantage of the gov- CURIOSITY BAFFLED. ttJCT ernment, as well as his own; — a thing rare enough among con tracting bipeds. From a contractor, he became a commissary, and from commissary, Lord Mayor of London. Behold our hero now, at the head of the magistracy of the me tropolis of the British empire, displaying, in this exalted station, the virtues, which had raised him to it from humble life ; and combating the monsters of vice and corruption, which infest the metropolis, as boldly as he withstood the monster of the deep, and with greater success. All classes of his majesty's subjects, who had occasion to approach hira. enjoyed the benefit of his civic qualities ; and his fame spread far and wide through Great Britain Nor was it confined, as may well be supposed, to the British isles. The North American colonies were proud of their fellow citizen, who. from poverty and obscurity, had reached the Lord Mayor's chair. The ambitious mother quoted him to her emulous offspring. The thrifty merchant at Boston, would send a quintal of the best Isle-of-Shoals, as a present to his worship; and once, onthe an nual election-day, the reverend gentleman, who officiated on the occasion, in commenting on the happy auspices of the day, (it was just after the receipt of a large sum of money from England, on account of the expenses of the colony in the old war,) includ ed among thera. that a son of New England had been entrusted with the high and responsible duties of the Chief Magistracy of the metropolis of his majesty's dominions. It may well be supposed, that the Americans, who went home (as it was called, even in the case of those, who were born and bred in the colonies) were very fond of seeking the acquaintance of Sir Brook Watson, for knighthood had followed in the train of his other honors. Greatly to the credit of his worship, he uniformly received thera with kindness and cordiality, and instead of shunning whatever recalled his humble origin, he paid partic ular attention to every one. that carae from Sagadahoc. There was but a single point in his history and condition, on which he evinced the least sensitiveness, and this was the painful occur rence, whicn had deprived him of his limb. Regret at this severe loss; a vivid recollection of the agony, which had accompanied it; and probably no little annoyance at the incessant interrogatories to which it had exposed him through life, and the constant repeti tion, to which it had driven hira of all the details of this event, had unitedly raade it a very sore subject with hira. He at length ceased himself to allude to it, and his friends perceived, by the brevity of his answers, that it was a topic on which he wished to be spared. Among the Americans who obtained an introduction to his worship in London, were Asahel Ferret and Richard Teasewell, shrewd Yankees, who had found their way over to England, with a machine for dressing flax. They had obtained a letter of re commendation from a merchant in Boston to Sir Brook. They 166 CURIOSITY BAFFLED. had no reason to murmur at their reception. They were invited to dine with his lordship and treated with hearty hospitality and friendship. The dinner passed rather silently away, but with no neglect of the main end of the dinner. Our Yankee visiters did full justice to his worship's bountiful fare They found his mutton fine; his turbot fine; his strong beer genuine (as they called it); and his wine most extraordinary good; and as the bottle circulat ed, the slight repression of spirits, under which they commenced, passed of They became proportionally inquisitive, and opened upon their countryman a full battery of questions. They began with the articles, that forraed the dessert; and asked whether his lordship's peaches were raised in his lordship's fcwn garden. When told they were not, they made so bold as to inquire, whether they were a present to his lordship or boughten The mayor having answered that they came from the market, — " might they presume to ask how rauch they had cost?" Theywere curious to be informed whether the silver gilt spoons were solid metal; — how many little ones his worship had ; what meeting he went to, and whether his lordship had ever heard Mr. Whitefield preach; and if he did not think him a fine speaker. They were anxious to know, whether his lordship went to see ' his Majesty sociably now, as you would run in and out at a neighbor's; whether her majesty was a comely personable woman, and whether it was true, that the prince vvas left-handed, and the princess pock-marked. They inquired what his lordship was worth; how much he used to get, as commissary; how much he got as lord mayor; and whether her ladyship had not something handsome of her own. They were anxious to know, what his worship would turn his hand to, when he had done being lord mayor; how old he was; whether he did not raean to go back and live in America; and whether it was not very pleasant to his lordship, to meet a countryman from New England. To all these questions and a great many more, equally searching and to the point, his lordship answered good- huraoredly; sometimes with a direct reply, soraetiraes evasively, but never irapatiently. He perceived, however, that the appetite of their curiosity grew, from what it fed on; and that it would be as wise in him to hope for respite on their being satisfied, as it was in the rustic to wait for the river to run out. These sturdy questioners had received a hint, that his lordship was rather sensitive, on the subject of his limb, and not fond of havhig it alluded to. This, of course, served no other purpose, than that of imparting to them an intense desire to know every thing about it. They had never heard by what accident his lord ship had met this misfortune; as indeed the delicacy, which had for years been observed on the subject, in the circle of his friends,. had prevented the singular circumstances, which in early youth deprived him of his leg, from being generally known. It was surmised by some, that he had broken it by a fall on the ice, in CURIOSITY BAFFLED. 167 crossing the Kennebec in the winter. Others affirmed, of their certain knowledge, that he vvas crushed in a raft of timber; and a third had heard a brother-in-law declare, that he stood by him, when it was shot off. before Quebec. In fact, many persons, not altogether as curious as our visitants, really wished they knew how his lordship lost his leg. This prevailing mystery, the good humor with which his wor ship had answered their other questions, and the keen sting of curiosity wrought upon the visiters, till they were alraost in a frenzy. The volubility, with which they put their other ques tions, arose, in part, frora the flutter of desire to probe this hidden matter. They looked at his worship's wooden leg; at each other; at the carpet; at the ceiling; and finally, one of them, by way of a feeler, asked his lordship, if he had seen the new model of a cork leg, contrived by Mr. Rivetshin and highly commended in the papers. His lordship had not heard of it. Baffled in this, they asked his lordship, whether he supposed it was very painful to lose a limb, by a cannon ball or a grape shot. His worship really could not judge, he had never had that misfortune. They then inquired whether casualties did not frequently happen to lumberers on the Kennebec river. The mayor replied that the poor fellows did soraetiraes slip off a rolling log, and get drowned "Were there not bad accidents in crossing the river on the ice?" His lordship had heard of a wagon of produce, that had been blown down upon the slippery surface of the ice, horses and all, as far as Merry Meeting Bay, when it was brought up by a shot frora fort Charles, which struck the wagon between perch and axle-tree and knocked it over; but his lordship pleasantly added, he believed it was an exaggeration. Finding no possibility of getting t4ie desired inforraationby any indirect means, they began to draw their breath hard; to throw quick glances at each other and at his lordship's limb; and in a few raoraents one of thera, with a previous jerk of his head and corapression of his lips, as rauch as to say, " I will know it or die," ventured to take the liberty to inquire, if he might presume so far, as to ask his lordship, by what accident he had been deprived of the valuable limb, which appeared to be wanting to his lord ship's otherwise fine person. His lordship was amused at the air and manner with which the question was put; like those of a raw lad. who shuts his eye, when taking aim with a gun. The displeasure he would other wise have felt was turned into merriment; and he determined to sport with their unconscionable curiosity. " Why. my friends, said he, what good would it do you to be informed? How many questions I have already answered you this morning! You now ask me how I lost my leg; if I answer vou on that point, you will wish to know the when, and the 168 CURIOSITY BAFFLED. wherefore; and instead of satisfying I shall only excite youi curiosity." " Oh no," they replied, " if his lordship would but condescend to answer thera this one question, they would agree never to ask him another." His lordship paused a moment, musing; and then added, with a smile, " But will you pledge yourselves to me to that effect?" Oh, they were willing to lay themselves under any obligation; they would enter into bond not to trouble his lordship with any farther question; they would forfeit a thou^nd pounds, if they did not keep their word. " Done, gentleraen," said his lordship, " I accept the condition — I will answer your question, and take your bond never to put me another." The affected mystery, the delay, and the near prospect of satis fying their own curiosity, rendered our visiters perfectly indiffer ent to the conditions, on which they were to obtain the object of their desire. His lordship rang for a clerk, to whora he briefly explained the case, directing him to draw up a bond, for the signature of his inquisitive countrymen. The instrument was soon produced, and ran in the following terms. " Know all men by these presents, That we, Asahel Ferret and Richard Teasewell. of the town of Gossipbridge and county of Tolland, in his raajesty's colony of Connecticut, in New England, do hereby jointly and severally acknowledge ourselves firmly holden and bound to his worship, Sir Brook Watson, the present Lord Mayor of London, to his heirs, and assigns, in the sum of one thousand pounds sterling; and we do hereby, for ourselves, our heirs, and assigns, covenant and agree, to pay to his said worship, the present Lord Mayor of London, to his heirs and assigns, the aforesaid sum of one thou sand pounds sterling, when the same shall become due, according to the tenor of this obligation; — And the condition of this obligation is such, that, whereas the aforesaid Ferret and Teasewell, of the town and county, &c. and colony, &.C. have signified to his aforesaid worship their strong desire, to be informed, apprised, instructed, told, made acquaint ed, satisfied, put at rest, and enlightened, how and in what man ner his aforesaid worship became deprived, mutilated, maimed, curtailed, retrenched, damnified, abated, abscinded, amputated, or abridged in the article of his worship's right leg; and whereas his aforesaid worship, willing to gratify the laudable curiosity of the said Ferret and Teasewell; but desirous also to put some period, term, end, close, estoppel, and finish, to the numerous questions, queries, interrogatories, inquiries, demands, and exam inations of the said Ferret and Teasewell, whereby his aforesaid CURIOSITY BAFFLED 169 worship hath been sorely teased, worried, wherreted, perplexed, annoyed, tormented, afflicted, soured, and discouraged; therefore, to the end aforesaid, and in consideration of the premises afore said, his worship aforesaid, hath covenanted, consented, agreed, promised, contracted, stipulated, bargained, and doth, &c. with the said Ferret and Teasewell, 8cc. &c. to answer such question, as they, the said Ferret and Teasewell, shall put and propound to his said worship, in the premises, touching the manner, &c. &c. truly, and without guile, covin, fraud, or falsehood ; and the said Ferret and Teasewell, also, do on their part, covenant, consent, agree, promise, stipulate, and bargain with his aforesaid worship, and have, &c. that they will never propound, or put any farther or different question to his aforesaid worship, during the term of their natural lives; — And if the said Ferret and Teasewell, or either of thera, contrary to the obligation of this bond, shall at any tirae hereafter, put or propound any farther, or other, or dif ferent question to his said worship, they shall jointly and severally, forfeit and pay to his said worship, the sum aforesaid, of one thousand pounds, sterling money; and if, during the term of their natural lives, they shall utterly forbear, abstain, renounce, aban don, abjure, withhold, neglect, and omit, to propound any such, other, or farther, or different question, to his aforesaid worship, then this b-ond .shall be utterly null, void, and of no effect; — but otherwise in full force and validity. Witness our hand and seal, this tenth day of October, in the year of our Lord, one thousand seven hundred and sixty-nine. Asahel Ferret. (Seal.) m Richard Teasewell. (Seal.) Signed; sealed, and delivered, in presence of *Francis Fairservice. Samuel Slyplay. Middlesex, ss. 10th October, A. D. 1769. Then personally appeared before rae, the said Asahel Ferret and Richard Tease well, and acknowledged the aforesaid obligation to be their free act and deed. Attest. Thomas Trueman, Justice ofthe Peace. Stamp, 3s." The instrument was executed, handed to his worship, and de posited in his scrutoire. " Now gentlemen," said he. " I am ready for your question." They paused a moment, from excess of excitement and antici pation. Their feelings were like those of Columbus, when he beheld a light from the American shores; Hke Dr. Franklin's, when he took the electric spark from the string of his kite. 15 170 THE RETURN OF THE ADMIRAL. " Your lordship then will please to inform us, how your lord ship's limb was taken off." " It was BITTEN off!" They started, as if they had taken a shock from an electric battery; the blood shot up to their temples; they stepped each a pace nearer to his lordship, and with staring eyes, gaping mouth, and with uplifted hands, were about to pour out a volley of ques tions. " by whom, by what bitten; how, why, when!" But his lordship smilingly put his forefinger to his lip, and then pointed to the scrutoire. where their bond was deposited. They saw. for the first time in their lives, that they were taken in ; and departed rather embarrassed and highly dissatisfied, with having passed an afternoon, in finding out that .his lordship's leg was bitten off. This mode of losing a limb being one of very rare occurrence, their curiosity was rather increased than allayed by the information; and as they went down stairs, they vvere heard by the servants, muttering to each other, " Who, do you 'spose, bit off his leg?" — JV. England Magazine. THE RETURN OF THE ADMIRAL. Br Barry Cornwall. How gallantly, how merrily, We ride along the sea ! The morning is all sunshine. The wind is blowing free ; The billows are all sparkling, And bounding in the light Like creatures in whose sunny veins The blood is running bright All nature knows our triumph : Strange birds about us sweep ; Strange things come up to look at us, The masters of the deep ; In our wake, like any servant, Follows even the bold shark — Oh, proud must be our Admiral Of such a bonny barque ! Proud, proud must be our Admiral (Though he is pale to-day,) Of twice five hundred iron men, Who all his nod obey ; Who've fought for him, and conquered— Who've won with sweat and gore, Nobility ! which he shall have Whene'er he touch the shore. Oh ! would 1 were our Admiral, To order, with a word — To lose a dozen drops of blood, And straight rise up a lord ! SHIPWRECKED MARINERS. 171 J. 'd shout e'en to yon shark, there. Who follows in our lee, " Some day I '11 make thee carry me, Like lightning through the sea ! " — The Admiral grew paler. And paler as we flew ; Still talked he to his officers. And smiled upon liis crew ; And he looked up at the heavens, And he looked down on the sea, And at last he spied the creature That kept following in our lee. He shook — 't was but an instant — For speedily the pride Ran crimson to his heart, TiU all chances he defied ; It threw boldness on his forehead ; Gave firmness to his breath ; And he stood like some grim warrior Mew risen up from death. That night, a horrid whisper FeU on us where we lay. And we knew our old fine Admiral Was changing into clay ; And we heard the wash of waters, Though notliing could we see. And a whistle and a plunge Among the billows in our lee ! 'Till dawn we watched the body In its dead and ghastly sleep, Aud next evening at sunset, It was slung into tl'e deep ! And never, from that moment. Save one shudder through the sea Saw we (or heard) the shark That had foUowed in our lee ! , SHIPWRECKED MARINERS SATED THROUGH A DREAM. In June. 1695. the ship Mary, commanded by Captain Jones^ with a crew of twenty-two men, sailed from Spithead for the West Indies ; and contrary to the remonstrances of one Adams on board, the master steered a course which brought the vessel on the Caskets, a large body of rocks, two or three leagues south east of Guernsey. It was about three o'clock in the morning, when the ship struck against the high rock, and all the bows were stove in; the water entered most rapidly, and in less than half an hour, she sunk. Those of the crew who vyer^. in the fore part of 17'i SHIPWRECKED MARINERS. the ship, got upon the rock; but the rest, to the number of eight who were in the hind part, sunk directly, and were seen no more. Adams and thirteen more, vvho were on the rock, had not tine to save any thing out of the ship for their subsistence ; and the place afforded them none, nor even any shelter from the heat of the sun. The first day they went down the rock, and gathered limpets, but finding that they increased their thirst, they eat no more of them. The third day they killed the dog which had swam to the rock, and eat him, or rather chewed his flesh, to allay their thirst, which was excessive. They passed nine days without any other food., and without any prospect of relief; their flesh wasted, their sinews shrunk, and their mouths parched with thirst; on the tenth day, they agreed to cast lots, that two ofthe company should die, in order to preserve the rest a little longer. When the two raen were marked out, they were willing and ready to stab them selves, as had been agreed on with horrible ingenuity, in order that those who were living might put a tobacco pipe into the inci sion, and each in his turn suck so raany gulphs of blood to quench his thirst! But although the necessity was so pressing, they were yet unwilling to resort to this dreadful extremity, and resolved to stay one day raore in hopes of seeing a ship. The next day, no relief appearing, the two wretched victiras on whora the lots had fallen, stabbed themselves, the rest sucked their blood, and were thus revived for a short time. They still continued to make signals of distress, and having hoisted a piece of a shirt on a stick, it was at length seen by a ship's crew of Guernsey, one Taskard, master, bound from that island to Southampton. They were all taken on board, when each had a glass of cider and water to drink, which refreshed them considerably; but two of thera eager ly seizing a bottle, drank to excess, which caused the death of both in less than two hours. The raost reraarkable circumstance connected with this ship wreck, is yet to be mentioned. It was with great reluctance that Taskard brought his ship near the Caskets, which vvere out of his course; but he was very rauch importuned by his son, who had twice dreamed, that there were men in distress upon these rocks. The father refused to notice the first dream, and vvas angry with his son; nor would he have yielded on the second, if there had been a favorable wind to go on his own course A POLITE SEA-ROBBER. 173 A POLITE SEA-ROBBER. We often read of extreraely polite and gentleraanly highwaymen, who rob with such marvellous courtesy that a man can hardly feel it in his heart to withhold his watch, his purse, or aught of goods and chattels that he may chance to have about him. — But it is quite otherwise with your sea robbers, alias pirates, who are rep resented as a most brutal and unfeeling set, who have not the least dash of politeness about thera, to redeera their characters from unmitigated odium. Such being their general reputation, it is with no slight feeling of relief that we read the account of so pol ished and courteous a villain as the one described below. It is extracted from the "Adventures of a Wanderer." He had ship ped at New Orleans, on board the Governor Griswold, bound to Havana and Liverpool, as steward: — We got (says he) under way, and proceeded down the river until we carae to a place called the English Turn, when a boat, vnned by twelve or fourteen men, carae off from shore, and when they had arrived within hail they palled to us and asked if we wanted a pilot. The Captain answered, "No;" whereupon the man in the stern of the boat ordered one of the men to throw hira a rope. The rope vvas handed him, and it being made fast to the boat, he carae alongside. He ascended the ladder, and came on board with all his men, excepting four who remained in the boat. The captain of these desperadoes was a tall man, dark coraplexioned, and terrible in aspect. Hig eye was black and piercing, his nose slightly Roman, and he wore a huge pair of sable mustachios. His men were a ferocious looking band, har dy and sun burnt. He saluted the Ctiptain in a courteous manner, and was profiise in compliraents. His men, who wore long red Indian stockings, red caps, and were armed with pistols and knives, sauntered carelessly about the deck. The pirate captain asked our captain where he was bound;* he answered correctly. " To Liverpool via Havana." Our captain then cut short the interrogation of the pirate, by Baying, " I know your business." The pirate then turned to our crew, and asked them what sort of usage they had received since they left Europe. " Tolerable," they*eplied. " but very little grog." The pirate then called for the steward. I made my appearance. " Have you plenty of grog on board?" inquired he. I replied in the affirmative. "Fill iip that bucket," said he, " and carry it down the forecastle for the men to drink." I took ¦jp the bucket at which he pointed, carried it into the cabin, and 15* 174 A POLITE SEA-ROBBER filled it with liquor. I then took it forward to the forecastle, where the men received it and conveyed it below. As soon as the crew had got below, and were assembled around the bucket, the pirate placed tw~b of his men upon the scuttle to prevent any of the crew from coming on deck, while he with two of his gang stuck close to the captain and mate. — "Now, stew ard," said the pirate, " go down and invite all your passengers to come on deck." I did as I was ordered. Our passengers were a lady and two small children, and a gentleman who had been en gaged in teaching a school in New Orleans, but having rece'ved a letter purporting that the death of a near relation had left him heir to a large fortune, had' embarked for his home, which wat London. These persons carae on deck. The lady was rauch frightened, but the pirate told her to be under no apprehension, and soothed her "vith language which would not have disgraced the court of Great Britain. The pirate now gave orders to bring up the gen tleraan's trunk. The trunk was laid at his feet. — "Now" said he, "bring up all the captain and mate's property." They also were produced. He then proceeded to overhaul the captain's trunk, which con tained " no great shakes." 'Captain, you have a. very poor kit!' said he, with a scornful smile. The pirate then examined the passenger's trunk. It contained about four hundred and forty dollars in specie. In rummaging the trunk, the pirate fell in with the letter containing the information in respect to the fortune which had ¦been left the passenger. This letter the pirate r^ad, and giving a significant glance at the fortunate man whose direction it bore, folded it up carefully and laid it down. He then turned to the captain, and asked him if the man had paid his passage. ' No,' answered the captain. ' How rauch does his passage cost ?' inquired the pirate. ' Two hundred and twenty dollars,' replied the captain. 'That you must lose,' said the pirate. , Then turning to the passenger — ' You,' said he, ' I will treat fairly! You will want.' continued the pirate, 'when you arrive at Liverpool, two dollars to pay the porter for carrying your trunk;' \ie laid down the money; 'ypur passage to London will cost you f2 10s,' he counted it out and placed it with the two dollars; I'our dinner will come to five shillings, and you raay want jE2 more fo treat some of your friends,' he laid dovv% the money with the rest, ' and for fear that will not be sufficient, here are twenty-fiVe dollars more.' He presented the amount of these several items to the passenger, gave th6 remainder to one of his gang, and told him to pass it into the boat. He then very courteously asked the time of day. The captain pulled out a fine watch, and answered A POLITE SEA-ROBBER. 175 that it was half past three. ' Your watch takes my fancy mightily,' said the pirate, and taking it frora the captain, he put it into his fob with great nonchalance, and walked away to the forecastle. ' Come up here two of you who are sober.' said he. Two of them stum bled up, and the rest came reeling after. '¦ Go down into the cabin, and bring me up all the small arniB you can find," said the pirate. The two first sailors went down, and soon returned with an old fowling piece and a pair of pistols. " Now," said he, turning to the sailors. " if any of you, boys, wish to change your situation for better pay and a shorter passage. I will give you a chance; for rent I am after and rent I'll have' "But stop!" cried he, " this lady I had almost forgotten; come here. madam, and let me hear a little of your worldly concerns." She immediately coraraenced an eloquent harangue, accompa nied with tears. She had gone on for some tirae in this manner, when the pirate immediately cried, 'Avast! avast! there, that's enough, I'd sooner face the battery of a ninety-eight, than stem the torrent of female eloquence!" He then ordered some brandy for himself and his men. The liquor was brought; I poured out a glassful for him, when he said, " Stop! captain just be so good as to drink this off your self! afleryou is manners. I don't know what some of you Yan kee inventors raay have put into this liquor. You may have thrown an onyx in the cup. The captain drank it off readily The pirate eyed the captain closely for a few raoraents, and then said to his followers, " Come, my boys, we may venture," and the decanter was soon drained of its contents. The pirate then point ed to the maintop, and requested the captain to take a walk up that way. " And you, Mr. Mate, " said he, " begin to travel up the forerigging. But mind!" said he, " stop when I tell yo.;!" The captain and raate had proceeded half way up the lower rigging, when he summoned them to halt. The captain was about stepping upon the next rattling, when the pirate again hailed hira — " If you stir an inch backward or forward." said he, "you will comedown faster than you vyent up." The captain looked down and saw several pistols levelled at him, ready to be discharged on the in stant. He then remained stationary. Then the pirate taking off his cap, addressed the passengers. He told them he was once poor himself, and therefore knew how to sympathize with persons in distress. He hoped they would be grateful for the lenity which he had shown thera, and then wish ing them a pleasant voyage, he stepped over the side into his boat, and was soon lost to our view beneath the foliage of the thick underwood which lined the shore and hung over the green wave. 174 A POLITE SEA-ROBBER filled it with liquor. I then took it forward to the forecastle, where the men received it and conveyed it below. As soon as the crew had got below, and were assembled around the bucket, the pirate placed two of his men upon the scuttle to prevent any of the crew from coming on deck, while he with two of his gang stuck close to the captain and mate. — "Now. stew ard." said the pirate, " go down and invite all your passengers to come on deck." I did as I was ordered. Our passengers were a lady and two small children, and a gentleman who had been en gaged in teaching a school in New Orleans, but having rece'ved a letter purporting that the death of a near relation had left him heir to a large fortune, had embarked for his home, which was, London. These persons came on deck. The lady was much frightened, but the pirate told her to be under no apprehension, and soothed her with language which would not have disgraced the court of Great Britain. The pirate now gave orders to bring up the gen tleraan's trunk. The trunk was laid at his feet. — "Now" said he, "bring up all the captain and mate's property." They also were produced. He then proceeded to overhaul the captain's trunk, which con tained " no great shakes." ' Captain, you have a, very poor kit!' said he, with a scornful smile. The pirate then examined the passenger's trunk. It contained about four hundred and forty dollars in specie. In rumraaging the trunk, the pirate fell in with the letter containing the information in respect to the fortune which had been left the passenger. This letter the pirate r^ad, and giving a significant glance at the fortunate man whose direction it bore, folded it up carefully and laid it down. He then turned to the captain, and asked hira if the man had paid his passage. ' No,' answered the captain. ' How much does his passage cost ?' inquired the pirate. ' Two hundred and twenty dollars,' replied the captain. 'That you must lose,' said the pirate. , Then turning to the passenger — ' You.' said he, ' I will treat fairly! You will want.' continued the pirate, 'when you arrive at Liverpool, two dollars to pay the porter for carrying your trunk;' he laid down the money; 'your passage to London will cost you £2 10s,' he counted it out and placed it with the two dollars; (four dinner will come to five shillings, and you may want £1 more (o treat some of your friends,' he laid dovvfi the money with the rest, ' and for fear that will not be sufficient, here are twenty-fiVe dollars more.' He presented the amount of these several items to the passenger, gave th6 remainder to one of his gang, and told him to pass it into the boat. He then very courteously asked the time of day. The captain pulled out a fine watch, and answered A POLITE SEA-KOBBER. 175 that it was half past three. ' Your watch takes my fancy mightily, ' said the pirate, and taking it frora the captain, he put it into his fob with great nonchalance, and walked away to the forecastle. ' Come up here two of you who are sober.' said he. Two of them stum bled up, and the rest came reeling after. ¦' Go down into the cabin, and bring me up all the sraall arms you can find," said the pirate. The two first sailors went down, and soon returned with an old fowling piece and a pair of pistols. " Now," saidhe, turning to the sailors, " ifany ofyou, boys, wish to change your situation for better pay and a shorter passage. I will give you a chance; for rent I am after and rent I'll have' *But stop!" cried he. " this lady I had almost forgotten; come here, madam, and let rae hear a little of your worldly concerns." She immediately commenced an eloquent harangue, accompa nied with tears. She had gone on for some tirae in this manner, when the pirate immediately criei, 'Avast! avast! there, that's enough. I'd sooner face the battery of a ninety-eight, than stem the torrent of female eloquence!" He then ordered some brandy for hiraself and his men. The liquor was brought; I poured out a glassful for him. when he said. " Stop! captain just be so good as to drink this off your self ! after you is manners. I don't know what some of you Yan kee inventors may have put into this liquor. You may have thrown an onyx in the cup. The captain drank it off readily The pirate eyed the captain closely for a few moments, and then said to his foflowers, " Come, ray boys, we may venture," and the decanter was soon drained of its contents. The pirate then point ed to the maintop, and requested the captain to take a walk up that way. " And you, Mr. Mate," said he, " begin to travel up the forerigging. But mind!" said he, " stop when I tell yoj!" The captain and raate had proceeded half way up the lower rigging, when he suramoned thera to halt. The captain was about stepping upon the next rattling, when the pirate again hailed hira — " If you stir an inch backward or forward," said he, " you will corae down faster than you vyent up." The captain looked down and saw several pistols levelled at hira. ready to be discharged on the in stant. He then reraained stationary. Then the pirate taking off his cap. addressed the passengers. He told them he was once poor himself, and therefore knew how to sympathize with persons in distress. He hoped they would be grateful for the lenity which he had shown them, and then wish ing them a pleasant voyage, he stepped over the side into his boat, and vvas soon lost to our view beneath the foliage of the thick underwood which lined the shore and hung over the green wave. 176 FEELINGS EXCITED BY A LONO ¦VOriO* THE SEA-BIRD'S SONG.— by j. o. bka'Jc - On the deep is the mariner's danger, On the deep is the mariner's death ;. Who to fear of the tempest a stranger, Sees the last bubble burst of his breath ? 'T is the sea-bird, sea-bird, sea-biid, Lone looker on despair, The sea-bird, sea-bird, sea-bird. The only witness there. Who watches their course who so mildly, Career to the kiss of the breeze .' Who lists to their shrieks, who eo wildly Are clasped in the arms of the seas ! "T is the sea-bird, sea-bird, sea-bird, 4tc. Who hovers on high o'er the lover. And her who has clung to his neck ? Whose wing is the wing that can cover, With its shadows the foundering wreck ? 'T is the sea-bird, sea-bird, sea-bird. &c. My eye is the light of the billow. My wing on the wake of the wave — I shall take to my breast — for a pillow — The shroud of the fair and the brave — I'm the sea-bird, sea-bird, sea-bird, &6, My foot on tlie ice-berg has lighted When hoarse the w3d winds veer about, My eye when the bark is benjghted Sees the lamp of the light-house go out. I'm the sea-bird, sea-birJ, sea-bird. Lone looker on despair, The sea-bird, sea-bird, sea-bird. The only witness there. FEELINGS EXCITED BY A LONG VOYAGE. VISIT TO A NEW CONTINENT.— By Washingtoh Ihvihg. To an American visiting Europe, the long voyage he has to make is an excellent preparative. From the moment you lose sight of the land you have left, all is vacancy until you step upon the opposite shore, and are launched at once into the bustle and novelties of another world. FEELINGS EXCITED BY A LONG VOYAGE. 177 I have said that at sea all is vacancy. I should correct the expression. To one given up to day-dreaming, and fondof losing himself in reveries, a sea voyage is full of subjects for meditation; but then they are the wonders of the deep, and of the air, and rather tend to abstract the mind from worldly themes. I delight ed to loll over the quarter railing, or to climb to the main top on a calm day, and to muse for hours together on the tranquil bosom of a sumraer's sea; or to gaze upon the piles of golden clouds just peering above the horizon, fancy thera some fairy realms, and people them with a creation of my own, or to watch the gen tle undulating billows rolling their silver volumes, as if to die away on those happy shores. There was a delicious sensation of mingled security and awe, with which I looked down from my giddy height on the monsters of the deep at their uncouth gambols. Shoals of porpoises tum bling about the bow of the ship; the grampus slowly heaving his huge form above the surface, or the ravenous shark, darting like a spectre through the blue waters. My imagination would con jure up all that I had heard or read of the watery world beneath me, of the finny herds that roam its fathomless valleys; of the shapeless monsters that lurk among the very foundations of the earth; and those wild phantasms which swell the tales of fish ermen and sailors. Sometimes a distant sail gliding along the edge of the ocean would be another theme for idle speculation. How interesting this fragment of a world hastening to rejoin the great mass of existence! What a glorious monument of human invention, that has thus triumphed over the wind and wave; has brought the ends of the earth to communion, has established an interchange of blessings, pouring into the steril regions of the north all the luxuries of the south; diffused the light of knowledge and the charities of cultivated life; and has thus bound together those scattered portions of the human race, between which nature seemed to have thrown an insurmountable barrier! We one day descried sorae shapeless object drifting at a dis tance. At sea every thing that breaks the raonotony of the surrounding expanse attracts the attention. It proved to be the mast of a ship that must have been corapletely wrecked ; for there were the remains of handkerchiefs by which some ofthe crew had fastened theraselves to this spar to prevent their being washed off by the waves. There vvas no trace by which the name of the ship could be ascertained. The wreck had evidently drifted about many months; clusters of shell-fish had fastened about it. and long sea weeds flaunted at its sides. But where, thought I, is the crew? Their struggle has long been over; — they have gone down amidst the roar of the tempest; — their bones lie whitening in the caverns of the deep. Silence — oblivion,, like the waves have closed over them, and no one can tell the story '/ ti'jeii cud 178 FEELINGS EXCITED BY A LONG VOYAGE. What sighs have been wafted after that ship! what prayers of fered up at the deserted fireside of home! How often has the mistress, the wife, and the mother, pored over the daily news, to catch some casual intelligence of this rover of the deep! How has expectation darkened into anxiety — anxiety into dread — and dread into despair! Alas! not one memento shall ever return for love to cherish. All that shall ever be known is that she sailed from her port " and was never heard of more." The sight ofthe wreck as usual gave rise to many dismal an ecdotes. This was particularly the case in the evening when the weather which had hitherto been fair began to look wild and threatening, and gave indications of one of those sudden storms that will sometimes break in upon the serenity of a sumraer voy age. As we sat around the dull light of a lamp, in the cabin, that made the gloom more ghastly, every one had his tale of ship wreck and disaster. I was particularly struck with a short one related by the captain. ^ " As 1 was once sailing," said he, " in a fine stout ship, across the banks of Newfoundland, one of the heavy fogs that prevail in those parts rendered it impossible for me to see far ahead even in the daytime; but at night the weather was so thick that we could not distinguish any object at twice the length of our ship. I kept lights at l,he mast head and a constant watch forward to look out for fishing-smacks, which are accustomed to lie at an chor on the banks. The wind was blowing a smacking breeze, and we were going at a great rate through the water. Suddenly the watch gave the alarm of " a sail ahead!" but it was scarcely uttered till we were upon her. She was a small schooner at anchor with her broad side towards us. The crew were all asleep, and had neglected to hoist a light. We struck her just amid-ships. The force, the size, and weight of our vessel, bore her down below the waves; we passed over her and were hurried on our course. "As the crashing wreck was sinking beneath us, I had a glirapse of two or three half nake^ wretches, rushing from her cabin; they had just started from their cabins to be swallowed shrieking by the waves. I heard their drowning cry mingled with the wind. The blast that bore it to our ears swept us out of all far ther hearing. I shall never forget that cry! It was some time before we could put the ship about, she was under such headway. We returned as nearly as we could guess to the place where the ship was anchored. We cruised about for several hours in the dense fog. We fired several guns, and listened if we might hear the hallo of any survivors; but all was silent — we never heard nor saw any thing of them raore!" It was a fine sunny morning when the thrilling cry of land! was given from the mast-head. I question whether Columbus, when he discovered the new world, felt a more delicious throng FEELINGS EXCITED BY A LONG VOYAGE. 179 of sensations than rush into an American's bosom when he first comes in sight of Europe. There is a volume of associations in the very name. It is that land of promise, teeming with every thing of which his childhood has heard, or on which his studious years have pondered. From that time until the period of our arrival it was all feverish excitement. The ships of war that prowled like guardian giants round the coast; the headlands o'f Ireland stretching out into the channel; the Welsh mountains towering into the clouds; all were objects of intense interest. As we sailed up the Mersey, I recon noitred the shores with a telescope. My eye dwelt with delight on neat cottages, with their trim shrubberies and green grass plots. I saw the mouldering ruins of an abbey overrun with ivy, and the taper spire of a village church rising from the brow of a neighboring hill — all were characteristic of England. The tide and wind were so favorable, that the ship was enabled to corae at once at the pier. It was thronged with people ; some idle lookers-on, others eager expectants of some friends or rela tives. I could distinguish the merchant to whom the ship be longed. I knew him by his calculating brow and restless air. His hands were thrust into his pockets ; he was whistling thought fully, and walking to and fro, a small space having been accord ed to him by the crowds in deference to his temporary importance. There were repeated cheerings and salutations interchanged be tween the shore and the ship, as friends happened to recognise each other. But I particularly noted one young woman of humble dress, but interesting demeanor. She was leaning forward from among the crowd, her eye hurried o'er the ship, as it neared the shore, to catch some wished for countenance. She seeraed disappoint ed and agitated whenT heard a faint voice call her name. It was from a poor sailor, who had been ill all the voyage, and had excited the sympathy of every one on board. When the weath er was fine, his messraates had spread a mattrass for him on deck in the shade, but of late his illness had so increased that he had taken to his hammock, and had only breathed a wish that he might see his wife before he died. He had been helped on deck as we came up the river, and was now leaning against the shrouds, with a countenar.ice so wasted, so pale and so ghastly, that it is no wonder the eye of affection did not recognise him. But at the sound of his voice her eye darted on his features, it read at once the whole volume of sorrow; she clasped her hands, uttered a faint shriek, and stood wringing them in silent agony. All was now hurry and bustle. The meeting of acquaintances —the greetings of friends — the consultations of men of business. I alone was solitary and idle. I had no friend to meet, no cheer- in" to receive. 1 stepped upon the land of my forefathers — but felt that I was a stranger in the land. 180 FORTY-FIVE DAYS SUFFERINGS. FORTY-FIVE DAYS' SUFFERINGS. Captain David Harrison, who commanded a sloop of New YorK, called the Peggy, has left a melancholy narrative of the sufferings of himself and his crew, during a voyage from Fayal, one of the Azores, in 1769. A storm which had continued for some days, successively blew away the sails and shrouds; and on the 1st of December, one shroud on a side and the main sail alone remained. In this situation they could make very little way, and all their provisions were exhausted, except bread, of which but a small quantity was left; they came at last to an al lowance of a quarter of a pound a day, with a quart of water and a pint of wine, for each man. The ship was now become very leaky; the waves were swelled into mountains by the storm, and the thunder rolled incessantly over their heads in one dreadful almost unintermitting peal In this frightful dilerama, either of sinking with the wreck, or float ing in her and perishing with hunger, two vessels came in sight; but such was the tempest that neither could aoproach, and they saw with sensations more bitter than death itself, the vessels that would wiUingly have relieved them disappear. The allowance of bread and water, though still farther contracted, soon exhaust ed their stores, every morsel of food was finished, and only about two gallons of water remained in the bottom of the cask. The poor fellows who, while they had any sustenance, continued obe dient to the captain, were now driven by desperation to excess; they seized upon the cargo, and because wine and brandy were all they had left, they drank of both till the frenzy of hunger was increased by drunkenness, and curses and blasphemy were blend ed with exclamations of distress. The dregs of the water cask were abandoned to the captain, who. abstaining as much as pos sible from wine, husbanded them with the greatest economy. In th< midst of these horrors, this complication of want and excess, ¦)f distraction and despair, they espied another sail. Every eye was instantly turned towards it; the signal of distress was hung out, and they had the unspeakable satisfaction of being near enough to the ship to communicate their situation. Relief was promised by the captain; but this, alas! was but " the mock- cry of wo;" ami instead of sending the relief he had promised, the unfeeling wretch crowded all sail, and left the distressed crew to all the agony of despair which misery and disappointment could occasion. The crew once raore deserted, and cut off from their last hope, vere still prompted by an intuitive love of life to preserve it as l)ng as possible. The onlv living creatures on board the vessel. FORTY-FIVE DAYs' SUFFERINGS. 181 besides themselves, vvere two pigeons and a cat. The pigeons were killed iraraediately, and divided among them for their Christ mas dinner; the next day they killed the cat; and as there were nine persons to partake of the repast, they divided her into nine parts, which they disposed of by lot. The head fell to the share of Captain Harrison, and he declared that he never eat any thing that he thought so delicious in his life. The next day the crew begaivto scrape the ship's bottom for barnacles; but the waves had beaten off those above water, and the men were too weak to hang long over the ship's side. During all this time, the poor wretches sought only to forget tlieir misery in intoxication; and while they were continually heating wine in the steerage, the captain subsisted upon the dirty water at the bottora ef the cask, half a pint of which, with a few drops of Tur lington's Balsara, was his whole sustenance for twenty-fourliours. To add to their calamity, they had neither candle nor oil; and they were in conseqiience compelled to pass sixteen hours out of the twenty-four in total darkness, except the glimmering light of the fire. Still however, by the help of their only sail, they raade a little way; but on the 28th of Deceraber, another storra over took thera, which blew their only sail to rags. The vessel now lay like a wreck on the water, and was wholly at the mercy of the winds and waves. How they subsisted from this time to the 13th of January, six teen days, does not appear, as their biscuit had been long ex hausted, and the last bit of animal food which they tasted, vvas the cat on the 26th of December; yet on the 13th of January they were all alive, and the crew, with the mate at their head, came to the captain in the cabin, half drunk indeed, but with sufficient sensibility to express the horror of their purpose in their counte nances. They said they could hold out no longer, their tobacco was exhau.sted; they had eaten up all the leather belonging to the pump, and even the buttons from their jackets; and that now they had no means of preventing their perishing together, but by casting lots which of thera should be sacrificed for the sustenance ofthe rest. The Captain endeavored to divert them from their purpose until the next day. but in vain; they became outrageous, and with execrations of peculiar horror, swore that what was to be done, must be done iraraediately; that it was indifferent to them whether he acquiesced or dissented; and that though they had paid hira the corapliment of acquainting him with their reso lution, yet they would compel hira to take his chance with the rest, for general raisfbrtune put an end to personal distinction. The Captain resisted, but in vain; the men retired to decide on the fate of some victim, and in a few minutes returned, and said the lot had fallen on the negro, who was part of the cargo. The poor fellow knowing what had been determined against hira, and seeing one of the crew loading a pistol to despatch hira, im- 16 182 FORTY-FlVE days' SUFFERINGS. plored the Captain to save his life . but he was instantly dragged to the steerage, and shot through the head. Having made a large fire, they began to cut the negro up almost as soon as he was dead, intending to fry his entrails for supper; but James Campbell one of the foremast men, being ravenously impatient for food, tore the liver out of the body, and devoured it raw; the remainder ofthe crew, however, dressed the meat, and continued their dreadftj,^ banquet until two o'clock in the morning. The next day the crew pickled the remainder of the negro's body, except the head and fingers, which, by common consent, they threw overboard. The Captain refused to taste any part of it, and continued to subsist on the dirty water. On the third day after the death of the negro, Campbell, who had devoured the liver raw, died raving raad. and his body was thrown over board, the crew dreading the consequences of eating it. The negro's body was husbanded with rigid economy, and lasted the crew, now consisting of six persons, frora the 13th to the 26th of January, when they were again reduced to total abstinence, ex cept their wine. This they endured until the 29th, when the mate again carae to the Captain at the head ofthe men, and told him it was now becorae necessary that they should cast lots a second time. The captain endeavored again to reason them from their purpose, but without success; and therefore consider ing that if they managed the lot without him, he might not have fair play, consented to see it decided. The lot now fell upon David Flat, a foremast man. The shock of the decision was so great, that the whole company remained motionless and silent for some time; when the poor victim, who appeared perfectly resigned, broke silence, and said, " My dear friends, messraates. and fellow sufferers, all I have to beg of you is, to despatch me as soon as you did the negro, and to put me to as little torture as possible." Then turning to one Doud. the man who shot the negro, he said, "It is my desire that you should shoot rae." Doud reluctantly consented. The victira begged a short tirae to prepare himself for death, to which his companions most rPadily agreed. Flat was much respected by the whole ship's tympany, and during this awful interval, they seemed incli ned to save his life; yet finding no alternative but to perish with him, and having in some measure lulled their sense of horror at the approaching scene by a few draughts of wine, they prepared; for the execution, and a fire was kindled in the steerage to dress their first meal as soon as their companion should becorae their food. ' As the dreadful moment approached, their compunction increas ed, and friendship and huraanity at length triumphed over hunger and death. They dctcriiiiued that Flat should live at least until eleven o' clock the next morning, hoping, as they said that the FORTY-FIVE days' SUFFERINGS. 183 Divine Goodness would in the meantime open some other source of relief At the same time they begged the captain to read prayers; a task which, with the utmost effort of his collected. strength, he was scarcely able to perforin. As soon as prayers were over, the company went to their unfortunate friend. Flat, and with great earnestness and affection expressed their liopes that God vvould interpose for his preservation; and assuring him. that though they never yet could catch or even see a fish, yet they would put out all their hooks again to try if any relief could bo procured. Poor Flat, however, could derive little comfort from the concern they expressed ; and it is not improbable, that their friendship and affection increased the agitation of his mind; such, however, it was. that he could not sustain it, for before midnight, he grev* al most totally deaf, and by four o'clock in the morning was raving mad. His messmates, who discovered the alteration, debated whether it ^ould be an act of humanity to despatch him immedi ately; but the first resolution, of sparing him till eleven o'clock, prevailed. About eight in the morning, as the captain vvas ruminating in his cabin on the fate of this unhappy wretch, who had but three hours to live, two of his people carae hastily down, with uncom mon ardor in their looks, and seizing both his hands, fixed their eyes upon him without saying a word. A sail had been discov ered, and the sight had so far overcome them, that they were for some time unable to speak. The account of a vessel being in sight of signals, struck the captain with such excessive and tumult uous joy, that he was very near expiring under it. As soon as he could speak, he directed every possible signal of distress. His orders were obeyed with the utmost alacrity; and as he lay in his cabin, he had the inexpressible happiness of hearing them jumping upon deck, and crying out, "She nighs us, she nighs us! she is standing this way." ^ The approach of the ship being more and more manifest every moment, their hopes naturally increased, and they proposed a can to be taken iraraediately for joy. The captain dissuaded thera all from it, except the mate, who retired, and drank it to himself After continuing to observe the progress ofthe vessel for some hours, with all the turault and agitation of raind that such a sus pense could not fail to produce, they had the mortification to find the gale totally die away, so that the vessel was becalmed at only two miles distance. They did not. however, suffer long from this circumstance, for in a few minutes they saw a boat put out from the ship's stern, and row towards thera fully manned, and with vioorous despatch. As they had been twice before confident of deliverance, and disappointed, and as they still considered them selves tottering on the brink of eternity, the conflict between their hopes and fears, during the approach of the boat, vvas dreadful 1.84 THE GRECIAN MARINER's SONG. At length, however, she came alongside; but the appearance of the crew was so ghastly, that the men rested upon their oars, and with looks of inconceivable, astonishment asked what they were? Being at length satisfied, they came on board, and begged the people to use the utmost expedition in quitting the wreck, lest they should be overtaken by a gale of wind, that would prevent their getting back to the ship. The captain being unable to stir. was lifted out of his cabin, and lowered into the boat with ropes; his people followed him. with poor Flat still raving ; and they were just putting off, when one of them observed, that the mate was still wanting. He was immediately called to, and the can of joy had just left hira power to crawl to the gunnel, with a look of idiotic astonishraent, having to all appearance forgot every thing that had happened. The poor drunken creature vvas with difficul ty got into the boat, and in about an hour they all reached the ship in safety, which was the Susannah of London, coramanded by Cap tain Thomas Evers. He received them with the greaftst tender ness and huraanity, and promised to lay by the wreck until the next morning, that he might, if possible, save some of Captain Harrison's property; but the wind blowing very hard before night, he was obliged to quit her, and she probably, with her cargo, went to the bottora before morning. The crew had been without provisions forty-five days. The mate, James Doud, who shot the negro, and one Warner, a sea man, died on the passage. The remainder, including Flat, who continued mad during the voyage, arrived safe in the Susannah, in the Downs, in the beginning of March; whence Captain Harrison proceeded on shore, and made the proper attestation on oath of ';he facts related in this melancholy narrative. THE GRECIAN MARINER'S SONG. BY THOMAS MOORE, ES^. Our home is on the sea, boy. Our home is on the sea — When nature gave The ocean wave. She marked it for the free. Whatever storms befall, boy. Whatever storms befall. The island bark. Is freedom's ark. And floats her safe through all Behold yon sea of isles, boy, Behold yon sea of isles, MONSIEUR DE LA PEROUSE. 185 • Where every shore, Is sparkling o'er, With beauty's richest smiles. For us hath freedom clgimed, boy, For us hath freedom claimed Those ocean nests Where valor rests His eagle wing untamed. And shall the Moslem dare, boy, And shall tlie Mo''slem dare. While Grecian hand Can wield a brand. To plant his crescent there ! No ! — by our fathers, no, boy, No ! by the cross we snow — From Maina's rills To Thracia's hills, All Greece reechoes " No !' MONSIEUR DE LA PEROUSE. France becoming jealous of the renown acquired by the Eng lish circumnavigators, determined to send out an expedition, which, in its scientific equipments, should vie with them in every respect. Two ships were appointed to thi«! service, ths Boussole and Astrolabe, the former commanded by La Perouse, the latter by M. de Langle, both captains in the navy, and men of consid erable attainments, besides being assisted by men of science and artists. The voyage is interesting as far as it goes; but, unfor tunately, the ships, after quitting Botany Bay, in 1788, have never since been heard of, to the regret of all lovers of science and humanity, on account not only of the acquirements but the amiable character ofthe commander. On the 1st of August, 1785, they quitted Brest, and, on the 13th, reached Madeira; they saw Teneriffe on the 19th, and on the 16th of October the island of Trinidada, barren, rocky, and with a violent surf breaking on the shores, where refreshments not being obtainable, the commander steered for St. Catharine's on the Brazil coast. This island is extremely fertile, producing all sorts of fruit, vegetables, and corn, almost spontaneously. It is covered with trees of everlasting green, but they are so curiously interwoven with plants and briars, that it is impossible to pass through the forests without opening a path with a hatchet: to add to the dif ficulty, danger is also to be apprehended from snakes whose bite is mortal. The habitations are bordering onthe se^. The woods are delightfully fragrant, occasioned by the orange-trees, and other odoriferous plants and shrubs, which form a part of them 16* 186 MONSIEUR DE LA PEROUSE. On the 14th of January the navigators struck ground on the eoast of Patagonia. On the 25th, La Peroust took bearings a league to the southward of Cape San Diego forming the west point ofthe straits of Lemaire. On the 9th of February, he was abreast of the Straits of Magellan. Examining the quantity c^^ provisions he had on board, La Perouse discovered he had very little flour and bread left in store; having been obliged to leave a hundred barrels at Brest. The worms had also taken possession ofthe biscuits, and consumed or rendered useless a fifth part of them. Under these circumstances, La Perouse preferred Con ception to the island of Juan Fernandez. The Bay of Concep tion in Chili is a most excellent harbor; the water is smoot*^, and almost without any current, though the tide rises six feet three inches. At daybreak, on the 16th of March, La Perouse made the .signal to prepare to sail. Onthe 17th, about noon, a light breeze sprung up, with which he Jot under way. On the Sth of April, about noon they saw Easter Island. The Indians were alarmed, except a few who had a kind of slight wooden club. Some of them assumed an apparent superiority over the others which in duced La Perouse to consider the former as chiefs, but he soon discovered that these selected persons were the most notorious offenders. Having but a few hours to remain upon the island, and wishing to employ his time to the best advantage, La Perouse left the care ofthe tent, and other particulars, to his -first lieuten ant M. D'Escures. A division was then made ofthe persons en gaged in the adventure; one part, under the command of M. De Langle. was to penetrate into the interior of the island to en courage and promote vegetation, by disseminating seed, &c. in a proper soil ; and the other division undertook to visit the monu ments, plantations, and habitations, within the corapass of a league ofthe establishment. The largest of the rude busts upon one of the terraces is fourteen feet six inches in height, and the breadth and other particulars appeared to be proportionate. Returning about noon to tho tent. La Perouse found almost every man without either hat or handkerchief; so much had for bearance encouraged the audacity ofthe thieves, that he also ex perienced a similar depredation. An Indian, who had assisted him in descending frora a terrace, rewarded himself for his trouble by taking away his hat. Some of them had dived under water, cut the sraall cable of the Astrolabe's boat, and taken away her grapnel. A sort of chief, to whom M. De Langle made a present of a male and female goat, received the animals with one hand, and robbed him of his handkerchief with the other. On the 28th of May, they saw the mountains of Owhyuee, covered with snow, and afterwards those of Mowee, which are less elevated. About one hundred and fifty canoes were seen putting off from the shore, laden with fruit and hogs, which the MONSIEUR DE LA PEROUSE. 18' Indians proposed to exchange for pieces of iron of the French navigators. Most of them came on board of one or the ether of the vessels, but they proceeded so fast through the water that they filled along-side. The Indians were obliged to quit the ropes thrown them, and leaping into the sea swam after their hogs, when taking them in their arms, they emptied their canoes ofthe water, and resumed their seats. After having visited a village, M. de Langle gave orders that six soldiers, with a sergeant, should accompany him: the others were left upon the beach, under the command of M. de Pierrevert, the lieutenant; to them was committed the protection ofthe ship's boats, from which not a single sailor had landed. The party re- erabaiked at eleven o'clock in very good order, and arrived on board about noon, where M. de Clonard had received a visit from a chief, of whom he had purchased a cloak, and a helmet adorned with red feathers; he had also purchased a hundred hogs, a quan tity of potatoes and bananas, plenty of stuffs, mats, and various other articles. On their arrival on board, the two frigates dragged their anchors; it' blew fresh frora the south-east, and they were driving down upon the island of Morokinne, which was however at a sufficient distance to give thera time to hoist in their boats. La Perouse made the signal for weighing, but before they could purchase the anchor, he was obliged to make sail, and drag it till he had passed Morokinne, to hinder him from driving past the channel. A fair wind accompanied the navigators on their departure from the Sandwich Islands. Whales and wild-geese convinced them that they were approaching land. Early in the morning ofthe 23d they descried it; a sudden dispersion of the fog opened to them the view of a long chain of mountains covered with snow. They dis tinguished Behring's Mount St. Elias, on the north-wes.t coast of America Having taken in as much wood and water as was re quired, the navigators esteemed themselves the most fortunate of men, in having arrived at such a distance from Europe withDut having a sick person among thera, or any one afflicted with the scurvy; but a laraentable raisfortune now awaited thera. At .he entrance of this harbor perished twenty brave seamen, in two boats, by the surf On the 30th of July, at four in the afternoon. La Perouse got under way. This bay or harbor, to which he gave the name of Port des Francais. is situated in 58 deg. 37 rain, north- latitude, and 139 deg. 60 rain, west longitude. In different ex cursions, he says, he found the high-water mark to be fifteen feet above the surface of the sea. The climate of this coast is infinitely milder tlfkn that of Hudson's Bay, in the same degree of latitude. Pines were seen of six feet in diameter, and one hundred and forty feet in height. Vegetation is vigorous during three or four months ofthe year. The raen wear different small or naments, pendant from the ears and nose, scarify their arms and 188 MONSIEUR DE LA PEROUSE. breasts, and file their teeth close to their gums, using, for tho last operation, a sand-stone, forraed into a particular shape. They. paint the face and body with soot, ochre, and plumbago mixed with train-oil, making themselves most horrid figures. When completely dressed, their flowing hair is powdered, and plaited with the down of sea-birds; but, perhaps, only the chiefs of certain distinguished families are thus decorated. Their should ers are covered with a skin, and on the head, is generally worn a little straw-hat, plaited with great taste and ingenuity. Some times, indeed, the head is decorated with two horned bonnets qf eagles' feathers. Their head-dresses are extremely various, the grand object in view being only to render themselves terrible, that they may keep their enemies in awe. Some Indians have skirts of otters' skins. A great chief wore a shirt composed of a tanned skin of the elk, bordered by a fringe of beaks of birds, w^hich, when dancing, imitated the noise of a bell; a common dress araong the savages of Canada, and other nations in the eastern parts of Araerica. The passion of these Indians for gaming is astonishing, and they pursue it with great avidity. The sort of play to which they are most devoted, is a certain game of chance; out of thirty pieces of wood, each distinctly marked like the French Uice, they hide seven: each plays in succession and he who guesses nearest to the whole number marked upon the seven is the winner ofthe stake, which is usually a hatchet or a piece of iron. At length, after a very long run, on the llth of September, at three in the afternoon, the navigators got sight of Fort Monterey, and two three-masted vessels which lay in the road. The com mander of these two ships having been informed, by the Viceroy of Mexico, of the probable arrival of the two French frigates, sent them .pilots inthe course ofthe night. Loretto, th.e only presidency of Old California, is situated on the east coast of this peninsula and has a garrison of fifty-four troopers, who furnish detachments to fifteen missions; the duties of which are per formed by Dominican friars. About four thousand Indians, con verted and residing in these fifteen parishes, are the sole produce of the long labors ofthe different religious orders which have succeeded each other. A small navy was established by the Spanish Government in this port, under the orders ofthe Viceroy of Mexico, consisting of four corvettes of twelve guns, and one goletta. They are destined to supply with necessaries the pres idencies of North California; and they are sometimes despatched as packets-boats to Manilla, when ¦the orders ofthe court requir» the utmost expedition. The corapany were received with all possible politeness and re spect: the president of the missions, in his sacerdotal vestment, with the holy water in his hand, waited to receive them at tho entrance of the church,- which was splendidly illuminated as oi> MONSIEUR BE LA PEROUSE. 189 iheir highest festivals: he then conducted them to the foot of the high altar, where Te Dewn vvas sung in thanksgivings for their arrival. Before they entered the church they passed a range of Indians : the parish-church, though covered with straw, is neat, and decorated with paintings, copied from Italian originals. The Indians, as well as the missionaries, rise with the sun, and devote an hour to" prayers and mass, during which time a species of boiled food is prepared for them: it consists of barley meal, the grain of which has been roasted previous to its being boiled. It is cooked in the centre ofthe square, in three large kettles. This repast is called atole by the Indians, who consider it as delicious; it is destitute of salt and butter, and must consequently be insipid. The women have little more to attend to than their housewifery, their children, and the roasting and grinding of several grains, the latter operation is long and laborious, as they employ no other means than that of crushing it in pieces with a cylinder upon a stone. The Indians of the rancheries, or independent villages, are ac customed to paint their bodies red and black, when they are in mourning; but the missionaries have prohibited the former, though they tolerate the latter, these people being singulady attached to their friends. The ties of family are less regarded among them than those of friendship: the children show no filial respect to the father, having been obliged to quit his cabin as soon as they were able to procure their own subsistence. A Spanish commissary at Monterey, named M. Vincent Vassa- dre y Vega, brought orders to the governor to collect all the otter-skins of his missions and presidencies, government having reserved to itself the exclusive commerce of them; and M. Fages assured La Perouse that he could annually furnish twenty thousand of them. The Spaniards were ignorant ofthe importance of this valuable peltry till the publication of the voyages of Captain Cook ; that excellent man has navigated for the general benefit of every nation; his own enjoys only the glory of the enterprise, and that of having given hira birth. New California, though extremely fertile, cannot boast of having a single settler; a few soldiers, married to Indian WDraen, who dwell in the forts, or who are dispersed among the different missions, constituting the whole Spanish nation in this district of America. The Franciscan missionaries are principally Europe ans; they have a convent in Mexico. On the evening ofthe 22d every thing was on board, and leave had been taken of the Governor and missionaries. On the morning of the 24th they sailed. On the 3d of November the frigates were surrounded with noddies, terns, and man-of-war birds; and on the 4th they raade an island whic'n bore west. This sraall island is little raore than a rock of about five hundred toises in length. La Perouse named it Isle Necker. About 190 MONSIEUR DE LA PEROlfSE. an hour past one in the morning La Perouse saw breakers at two cables' length ahead of the ship; the sea being so smooth, the sound of them was hardly heard; the Astrolabe perceived them at the same tirae, though at a greater distance than the Boussole; both frigates instantly hauled, with their heads to the south-east La Perouse gave orders for sounding; they had nine fathoms, rocky bottora; soon after ten and twelve fathoms, and in a quarter of an hour got no ground with sixty fathoms. They just escaped the raost iraniinent danger to vvhich navigators can be exposed. The Island of Assuraption, to which the Jesuits have attributed six leagues of circumference, frora the angles now taken, was re duced to half, and the highest point is about two hundred toises above the level of the sea. A more horrid place cannot be con ceived. It was a perfect cone, as black as a coal, and very mortifying to behold, after having enjoyed, in imagination, the cocoa-nuts and turtles expected to be found in some one of the Marianne Islands. Having determined the position, he continued his course towards China; and on the 1st of January, 1787, found bottom in sixty fathoms; a number of fishing-boats surrounded him the next day. On the 2d of January our navigators made the White Rock. In the everiing they anchored to the north ward of Ling-sing Island, and the following day in Macao Road. Macao, situate at the mouth ofthe Tigris, is capable of receiving a sixty-four gun-ship into its road, at the entrance of the Typa; and in its port, below the city, ships of seven hundred tons half laden. The climate of tho, road of Typa is. at this season of the year, precarious; most of the crews were afflicted with colds, accom panied with a fever; which yielded to the salutary temperature of the island of Luconia, when they approached it on the 15th of FeUruary. Wanting wood, which he knew was dear at Manilla, La Perouse carae to a resolution of reraaining twenty-four hours at Marivella to procure some, and early the next morning aU the carpenters of the two frigates were sent on shore with the long boats; the rest of the ship's company, with the yawl, were re- ser.ed for a fishing-party; but they were unsuccessful, as they found nothing but rocks and very shallow water. On the 28th the navigators carae to an anchor in the port of Cavite, in three fathoms, at two cables' length from the town. Cavite, situate three leagues to the south-west of Manilla, was formerly a place of importance. Manilla is erected on the Bay which a\so bears its name, and lies at the mouth of a river, being one ofthe finest situations in the world; all the necessaries of life may be procured there in abundance, and on reasonable terms; but the cloths, and other manufactures of Europe are extravagant ly dear. La Perouse- confidently asserts, that a great nation, without any other colony than the Philippines, which would estab lish a proper gbvernment there, might view all the European MONSIEUR DE LA PEROUSE. 191 settlements in Africa and America without envy or regret. These islands contain about 3,000,000 of inhabitants, and that of Luco nia consists of about a third of them. These people seem not inferior to Europeans; they cultivate the land with skill, and among them have ingenious goldsmiths, carpenters, joiners, masons, blacksmiths, &c. La Perouse says he has visited them at their villages, and found them affable, hospitable, and honest. On the 9th of April, according to the French reckoning, and the 10th as the Manillese reckon, our navigators sailed and got to the northward of the island of Luconia. On the 21st they made the island of Formosa; and experienced, in the channel which divides it from that of Luconia, some very violent currents. On the 22d they set Lamy Island, at the south-west point of Formosa^ about three leagues distant. The tack they then stood on conveyed them upon the coast of Formosa, near the entrance ofthe bay of Old Fort Zealand, where the city of Taywan, the capital of that island is seated. The whole of the next day a dead calm occurred, in mid-channel, between the Bashee Islands, and those of Botol Tabacoxima. It is probable that vessels might provide themselves in this island with provision, wood, and water. La Perouse preserved the name of Kumi Island, which Father Gambil gives it iii his chart. In the night ofthe 25th our navigators passed the strait of Corea, sounding very frequently, and as this coast appeared more eligible "to follow than that of Japan, they approached within two leagues of it, and shaped a course parallel to its direction. On the 27th they made the signal to bear up, and steer east, and soon perceiv ed, in the north-north-east, an Island not laid down upon any chart, at the distance of about twenty leagues from the coast of Corea. He naraed it Isle Dagelet, from the name ofthe astrono mer who first discovered it. The circumference is about three leagues. On the 30th of May, La Perouse shaped his course east towards Japan, and on the 2d of June saw two .lapanese vessels, one of which passed within hail of him. It had a crew of twenty raen, all habited in blue cassocks resembling those worn by French priests. This vessel vvas about one hundred tons burden, and had a single high mast stepped in the middle. ' The Astrolabe Jiailed her as she passed, but neither the question nor the answer was comprehended. At different times of the day seven Chinese vessels of a smaller construction, were seen, which were better calculated to encounter bad weather. During the seventy-five days, since our navigators sailed from Manilla, they had run along the coasts of Quelpert Island, Corea, and Japan; but as these countries were inhabited by people in hospitable to strangers, they did not attempt to visit thera. They were extreraely impatient to reconnoitre this land, and it was the only part of the globe which had escaped the activity of Captain 192 MONSIEUR DE LA PEROUSE. Cook. The geographers who had drawn the strait of Tessoy, erroneously determined the limits of Jesso, ofthe Company's land. and of Staten Island ; it, therefore, became necessary to termi nate the ancient discussions by indisputable facts. The latitude of Baie de Ternai was the same as that of Port Acqueis, though the description of it js very different. The plants which France produces, carpeted the whole of this soil. Roses, lilies, and all European meadow-flowers were beheld at every step. Pine- trees embellished the tops of the mountains; and oaks, gradual ly diminishing in strength and size towards the sea, adorned the less elevated parts. Traces of raen were frequently perceived by the havoc they had raade. By these, and many other corrobora ting circumstances, the navigators were clearly of opinion, that the Tartars approach the borders of the sea. when invited thither by the season for fishing and hunting ; that they assemble for these purposes along the rivers, and that the mass of people reside in the interior of the country, to attend to the multiplication of theii flocks and herds. M. de Langle. with several other officers who had a passion for hunting, endeavored to pursue their sport, but without success, yet they imagined that by silence, perseverance. and posting themselves in ambush in the passes ofthe stags.and bears, they might be able to procure some of them. This plan was determined on for the next day, but, with all their address and management it proved abortive. It was therefore generally acknowledged that fishing presented the greatest prospect of suc cess. Each ofthe five creeks in the Baie de Ternai afl!>rded. a proper place for hauling the seine, and was rendered more con venient by a rivulet, near which they established their kitchen. They caught plenty of trout, salmon, cod-fish, harp-fish, plaice, and herrings. At eight in the morning of the 7th, he raade an island which seemed of great extent; he supposed, at first, that this was Sega- lien Island, the south part of which some geographers had placed two degrees too far to the northward. The aspect of this land was extremely different from that of Tartary; nothing was to be seen but barren rocks, the cavities of which retained the snow. To the highest of the mountains La Perouse gave the appellation of Peak Lamanon. M. de Langle, who had come to anchor, came instantly on board his ship, having already hoisted out his long boat and sraall boats. He subraitted to La Perouse whether it would not be proper to land before night, in order to reconnoitre the country, and gather some necessary information from the inhabitants. By the assistance of their glasses, they perceived some cabins, and two of the islanders hastening towards the woods. Our navigators vvere successful in making the natives compre hend that they requested a description of their country, and that of the Mantchous; one of the old sages rose up, and, with great MONSIEUR DE LA PEROUSE. 193 perspicuity pointqd out the most essential and interesting particu lars with the end of his staff. His sagacity in guessing the mean ing of the questions proposed to him was astonishing, though, in this particular, he was surpassed by another islander of about thirty years of age. The last-mentioned native informed our navi gators that they had a comraercial intercourse with the people who inhabit the banks of Segalien river, and he distinctly marked, by strokes of a pencil, the number of days it required for a canoe to sail up the river to the respective places of their general traffic. The bay in which they lay at anchor was named Baie de Langle, as Captain de Langle was the first who discovered it, and first landed on its shore. They spent the remainder of the day in visiting the country and its inhabitants. They were sur prised to find among a people composed of hunters and fishermen, who were strangers to the cultivation of the earth, and without flocks or herds, such gentle raanners, and such a superiority of 'ntellect. The attention ofthe inhabitants ofthe Baie de Langle was attracted by the arts and raanufactures of the French, they judiciously exarained thera, and debated araong theraselves the manner of fabricating the several articles. They were not un acquainted vvith the weaver's shuttle. A loom of their construction was carried to France, by which it appeared that their methods of making linens was similar to that of the Europeans; but the thread of it is formed of the bark of the willow-tree. Though they do not cultivate the soil, they convert the spontaneous pro duce of it to the raost useful and necessary purposes. At'daybreak, on the 4th of July, La Perouse made the signal for getting under way; early on the 19th, he saw the land of an island from north-east-by-north, as far as east-south-east, but so thick a fog prevailed that none of the points could be particularly discovered. The bay, which is the best In which he had an chored since his departure frora Manilla, he naraed Baie'd 'Ssta- ing. M. de Langle, who first landed in the island, found the islanders assembled round three or four canoes, laden with smoked fish: he was there informed that the men who compose'd the crews ofthe canoes vvere Mantchous. and had quitted the banks of the Segalien river to become purchasers of these fish. In the corner of the island, within' a kind of circus planted with stakes, each surmounted with the head of a bear, the bones of animals lay scat tered. As these people use no firearras, but engage the bears in close corabat, iheir arrows being only capable of wounding thera, this circus raight probably be intended to perpetuate the memory of certain great exploits. Having entertained conjectures relative to the proximity ofthe Coast of Tartary, La Perouse at length discovered that his conjectures were well-founded; for when the horizon became a little more extensive, he saw it per fectly. In the eveping of the 22d he came to anchor in thirty- seven fathoms, about a league from the land. He was then abreast 17 l94 MONSIEUR DE LA PEROUSE. of a small river, to the northward of which he saw a remarkable peak; its base is on the shore, and its summit on all sides preserves a regular forra. La Perouse bestowed on it the title of Pealt la Martiniere. On the. 28th, in the evening, our navigators were at the opening of a bay which presented a safe and convenient anchor age. M. de Langle reported to La Perouse that there was ex cellent shelter behind four islands; he had landed at a village of Tartars, where he was kindly received, and where he discov ered a watering place abounding with the raost limpid element From M. de Langle's report. La Perouse gave orders to prepare for anchoring in the bottom of the bay, which was named Baie de Castris. In this bay the French navigators first discovered the use of the circle of lead or bone, which these people, and the inhabitants of Segalien Island, wear on the thumb like a ring; it greatly assists them in cutting and stripping the salmon with a knife, which h always hanging to their girdle Their village was built upon lov* marshy land, which must doubtless be uninhabitable during the winter; but on the opposite side of the gulf, another village appeared on a raore elevated situation. It was seated at the en trance of a wood, and contained eight cabins, larger and better constructed than the first. Not far frora these cabins, they visited three yourts, or subterranean houses. They were suffi ciently capacious to accommodate the inhabitants of- the whole eight cabins during the severity of the inclement season. On the borders of this village several tombs presented theraselves, which were larger and raore ingeniously fabricated than the houses; each of them contained three, four, or five biers, deco rated vvith Chinese stuffs, some pieces of which were brocade. Bows, arrows, and the other most esteemed articles of these people, were suspended in the interior of these monuments, the wooden door of which^ was closed by a bar, supported at each end by a prop. The women are wrapped in a large robe of nankeen, or sal mon's skin, curiously tanned, descending as low as the ankle- bone, soraetiraes erabellished with a border of fringe manufactured of copper, and producing sounds like those of little bells. Those salmon which furnish a covering for the fair, weigh thirty or forty pounds, and are never caught in summer; those which were taken by the French visiters did not exceed three or four pounds in weight; but that disadvantage was fully compensated by the extraordinary number, and the extreme delicacy of their flavor. On the 2d of August. La Perouse sailed with a light breeze. On the 19tli Cape Troun was perceived to the southward, and Cape Uries to the south-east-by-east; its proper direction, ac cording to the Dutch chart: their situation could not possibly have been determined with more precision hy modern navigators, MONSIEUR DE LA PEROUSE. 1^0 In the evening of the 6th, they made the entrance of Avatcha Bay, or Saint Peter and Saint Paul. The light-house, erected by the Russians on the east point ofthe entrance, was not kindled during the night; as an excuse for which the governor declared the ne.xt day, that all their efforts to keep it burn had been in effectual; the wind had constantly extinguished the flame, which was only sheltered by four planks of wood very indifferently cemented. The government of Kamtschatka had been materially changet since the departure of the English, and vvas now only a dependency of that of Ochotsk. These particulars were coraraunicated to our navigators by lieutenant Kaborof, governor of the harbor of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, having a sergeant and forty soldiers under his command. M. de Lessops, who acted as interpreter, and who perfectly understood the Russian language, wrote a letter, in La Perouse's name, to the governor of Ochotsk, to whom La Perouse also wrote in French himself. He told him that the narrative of Cook's last voyage had spread abroad the fame of the hospitality of the Kamtschadale government ; and he flattered himself that he should be as favorably received as the English navigators, as his voyage, like theirs, was intended for the general benefit of all maritime nations. The Kamtschadales are of an iraitative genius, and fond of adopting the customs of their conquerors. They have already abandoned the yourts, in which they were formerly accustomed to burrow like badgers, breathing foul air during the whole of the winter. The most opulent among them now build isbas, or wooden houses, like those of the Russians: they are divided into three small rooms, and are conveniently warraed by a brick-stove. The inferior people pass their winters and suramers in balagans, resembling wooden pigeon-houses, covered with thatch, and placed upon the tops of posts twelve or thirteen feet high, to which the women, as well as men, find a ladder necessary for their ascen sion. But these latter buildings will probably soon disappear: for the Kamtschadales imitate the manners and dresses of the Russians. It is curious to see in their little cottages, a quantity of cash in circulation; and it may be considered as a still greater curiosity, because the practice exists among so sraall a nuraber of inhabitants. Their consumption of the commodities of Russia and China are so few, that the balance of trade is entirely in their favor, in consequence of which it is necessary to pay them the difference in roubles. The Kamtschadales, says La Perouse, appeared to me to be the sarae people as those ofthe Bay of C ss- tries, on the coast of Tartary; they are equally remarkable for their mildness and their probity, and their persons are not v 3ry dissimilar. The approach of winter now warned our navigators to depirt; the ground, which, on their arrival qn the 7^1^ qf Septeniber. vas 196 MONSIEUR DE LA PEROUSE. adorned with the raost beautiful verdure, was as yellow and parched -jp on the 25th of the sarae month, as in the envjrons of Paris at the conclusion of Deceraber. La Perouse therefore gave prepar atory orders for their departure, and. onthe 29th, got under way. M. Kasloff carae to take a final leave of hira. and dined on boart^. He accompanied him on shore, with M. de Langle. and several officers, and was liberally entertained with a good supper, and a ball. Induced by a western gale. La Perouse attempted to reach the parallel of Bougainville's Navigator's Islands, a discovery due to the French, where fresh provision might probably be procured. On the 6th of Deceraber, at three in the afternoon, he saw the most easterly island of that Archipelago, and stood on and off dur ing the rest of the evening and night. Meaning to anchor if he met with a proper place, La Perouse passed through the channel between the great and the litfl'e islands that Bougainville left to the south; though hardly a league wide, it appeared perfectly free frora danger. He saw no canoes till he was in the channel, yet he beheld several habitations on the windward side of the island, and a group of Indians sitting under the shade of cocoa-nut trees, vvho seemed delighted with the prospect afforded by the frigates. At break of day they were surprised not to see land to leeward; nor was it to be discovered till six o'clock next morning. Charm ed with the beautiful dawn ofthe following morning, La Perouse resolved to reconnoitre the country, take a view of the inhabitants at their own homes, fill water, and immediately get underway; prudence warning him against passing a second night at that anchorage, which M- de Langle also thought too dangerous for a longer stay. It was therefore agreed on to sail in the afternoon, after appropriating the morning in exchanging baubles for hogs and fruit. At the dawn of day the islanders had surrounded the two frigates, with two hundred different canoes laden with provi sion, which they vvould only exchange for beads, axes, and cloth; other articles of traffic, were treated by them with contempt. While a part ofthe crew was occupied in keeping them in order, and dealing, the rest were despatching empty casks on shore to be replenished with water. Two boats of the Boussole, armed, and comraanded by Messrs de Clonard and Colinet. and those of the Astrolabe, coraraanded by Messrs. de Monti and Bellegarde, set off with that view at five in the morning, for ;. bay at the dis tance of about a league. La Perouse followed close after Messrs Clonard and Monti, in his pinnace, and landed when they did. It unfortunately happened that M. de Langle had formed a resolu tion to make an excursion in his jolly-boat to another creek, at the distance of about a league from their watering-place; from this excursion a dire raisfortune ensued. The creek, towards which the long-boats steered, was large and commodious: these, and MONSIEUR DE LA PEROUSE. 191 the other boats, remained afloat at low water, within half a pistol- shot ofthe beach, and excellent water was easily procured. Great order vvas observed by Messrs. de Clonard and de Monti. A line of soldiers vvas posted between the beach and the natives, vvho amounted to about two hundred, including many women and children. They were prevailed on to sit down under cocoa-trees, at a little distance from the boats; each of them had fowls, hogs, pigeons, or fruit, and all of them were anxious to dispose of their articles without delay, which created some confusion. While matters were thus passing with perfect tranquillity, and the , casks expeditiously filling with water, La Perouse ventured to visit a charming village, situated in the midst of a neighboring wood, the trees of which were loaded vvith delicious fruit. The houses formed a circle of about one hundred and fifty toises in diameter, leaving an interior open space, beautifully verdant, and. shaded with trees, which rendered the air delightfully cool and refreshing. Women, children, and aged raen attended hira, and earnestly iraportuned hira to enter their houses; they even spread their finest raats upon the floor, decorated with chosen pebbles, and raised a convenient distance from the ground, to prevent offensive humidity. La Perouse condescended to enter one of the handsomest of these huts, which was probably inhabited by a chief, and was astonished to behold a large cabinet of lattice-work, ¦n which as much taste and elegance were displayed as if it had been produced in the environs of Paris. This enchanting coun try, blessed with a fruitful soil without culture, and enjoying a climate which renders clothing unnecessary, holds out to these fortunate people an abundance of the raost estiraable food. The trees invite the natives to partake of the bread-fruit, the banana, the cocoa-nut. and the orange; while the swine, fowls, and dogs, which partake of the surplus of these fruits, afford them a rich variety of viands. The inhabitants of this enviable spot were so rich, and entirely free from wants, that they looked with disdain on the cloth and iron tendered by the French visiters, and only deigned to become customers for beads. Abounding in real bless ings, they languished only for superfluities. The boats of the Boussole now arrived loaded with water, and La Perouse made every preparation to get under way. M. de Langle at the same instant returned from his excursion, and mentioned his having landed in a noble harbor for boats, at the foot of a delightful village, and near a cascade of transparent water. He spoke of this watering-place as infinitely more com- raodious than any other, and begget. La Perouse to perrait him to take the lead ofthe first party, assuring hira that in three hours he would return on board with all the boats full of water. Though La Perouse, frora the. appearance of things at this time, had no great apprehensions of danger, he was averse to sending boats on sbte without the greatest necessity, especially among an immense 17* 198 MONSIEUR DE LA PEROUSE. number of people, unsupported and unperceived by the ships The boats put off from the Astrolabe at half past twelve, and ar rived at the watering-place soon after one ; when, to their great astonishraent, M. de Langle. and his officers, instead of finding a ferge coramodious bay. savv only a creek full of coral, through which there vvas no other passage than a winding channel of about twenty-five feet wide. When within, they had no raore than five feet water; the long-boats grounded, and the barges must have been in the same situation had they not been hauled to the en trance ofthe channel at a great distance from the beach. M. de Langle was now convinced that he had examined the bay at high- water only, not supposing that the tide at those islands rose five or six feet. Struck with amazement, he instantly resolved to quit the creek, and repair to that where they had before filled water; but the air of tranquillity and apparent good humor of the crowd of Indians, bringing with thera an immense quantity of fruit and hogs, chased his first prudent idea from his recollection He landed the- casks on shore from the four boats without in terruption, while his soldiers preserved excellent order on the beach, forming theraselves in two lines, the raore effectually to answer their purpose. Instead of about two hundred natives, in cluding women and children, which M. de Langle found there at about half after one, they were, at three o'clock, increased to the alarming nuraber of one thousand and two hundred. M. de Lan gle's situation becarae every instant raore embarrassing; he found means, however, to ship his water, but the bay was almost dry, and he had not any hopes of getting off the long-boats till four in the afternoon. He and his detachment, however, stepped into them, and took post in the bow with his musket and musketeers, forbidding any one to fire without his command; which he knew would speedily be found necessary. Stones were now violently thrown by the Indians, who were up to their knees in water, and surrounded the long-boats, at the distance of about six feet; the soldiers, who were emharked, making feeble efforts to keep them off. M. de Langle, still hoping to check hostilities, without effusion of blood, gave no orders, all this time, for firing a volley of mus ketry and swivels; but shortly after, a shower of stones, thrown with incredible force, struck almost every one in the long-boat. M. de Langle had only fired two shot, when he was knocked overboard, and massacred with clubs and stones by about two hundred Indians. The long-boat ofthe Boussole, commanded by M. de Boutin, was aground near the Astrolabe, leaving between thera a channel unoccupied by the Indians. Many saved them selves by swiraraing, who fortunately got on board the barges, which keeping afloat, forty-nine persons were saved out of the sixty-one, of which' the party consisted. M. Boutin was knocked down by a stone, but fortunately fell between the two long-boats, MONSIEUR DE LA PEROUSE. 199 on board of which not a man remained in the space of about five minutes. Those who preserved their lives by swimming to tho two barges, received several wounds; but those who unhappily fell on the other side were instantly despatched by the clubs of the remorseless Indians. The crews ofthe barges, who had killed many of the islanders wir.h their muskets, n9w began to make more room by throwing their water-casks overboard. They had also nearly exhausted their ammunition, and their retreat was rendered difficult, a number of wounded persons lying stretched out upon the thwarts, and impeding the working of the oars. To the prudence of M. Vaujaus, and the discipline kept up by M. Mouton. who comman ded the Boussole's barge, the public are indebted for the preser vation of the forty-nine persons of both crews who escaped. M. Boutin had received five wounds in the head, and one in the breast, and was kept above water by the cockswain of the long boat, who had himself received a severe wound. M. Colinet was discovered in a state of insensibility upon the grapnel-rope of the barge, with two wounds on the head, an arm fractured, and a finger broken. M. Lavaux, surgeon of the Astrolabe, was obli ged to suffer the operation of the trepan. M. de Lamanon, and M. de Langle, were cruelly massacred with Talio, master at arms of the Boussole, and nine other persons belonging to the two crews. M. le Gobien, who commanded the Astrolabe's long-boat, did not desert his post till he was left alone; when, having exhaust ed his ammunition, he leaped into the channel, and, notwithstand ing his wounds, preserved himself on board one of the barges. A little ammunition was afterwords found, and completely ex hausted on the infuriated crowd ; and the boats at length extricated themselves from their lamentable situation. At five o'clock the officers and crew of the Boussole were informed of this disastrous event ; they were at that moment sur rounded with about one hundred canoes, in which the natives were disposing of their provisions with security, and perfectly innocent ofthe catastrophe which had happened. But they were .he countrymen, the brothers, the children of the infernal assas sins, the thoughts of which so transported La Perouse with rage" that he could with difficulty confine himself to the limits of mode ration, or hinder the crew from punishing them with death. On the 14th of December, La Perouse stood for the Island of Oyoliva, which had been observed before they had arrived at the anchorage which proved so fatal. This island is separated from that of Maouna, or of the Massacre, by a wide channel, and vies with Otaheite in beauty, extent, fertility, and population. At the distance of about three leagues from the north-east point, he was surrounded by canoes, laden with bread-fruit, bananas, cocoa- nuts, sugar-canes, pigeons, and a few hogs. The inhabitants of this island resemble those ofthe island of Maouna, whose treachery 200 MONSIEUR DE LA PEROUSE. had been so fatally experienced. Some exchanges were conduct" ed with these islanders with more tranquillity and honesty than at the island of Maouna. as the smaSest act of injustice received immediate chastisement. On the 17th they approached the island of Pola, but not a single canoe came off; perhaps the natives had been intimidated by hearing ofthe event which had taken place at Maouna. Pola is a smaller island than that of Oyolava, but equally beautiful, and is only separated from it by a channel four leagues across. The natives of Maouna informed our visiters, that the Navigator's Islands are ten in number, viz. Opoun, the most easterly, Leone. Fanfoue, Maouna, Oyolava, Calinasse; Pola Skika, Ossamo, and Ouera. These islands form one ofthe finest archipelagoes ofthe South Sea, and are as interesting with respect to arts, productions^ and population, as the Society and Friendly Islands, which the English navigators have so satisfactorily described. In favor of their moral characters, little remains to be noticed ; gratitude can not find a residence in their ferocious minds; nothing but fear can restrain them frora outrageous and inhuman actions. The huts of these islanders are elegantly formed: though they disdain the fabrications of iron, they finish their work with wonderful neatness, with tools formed of a species of basaltes in the form of an adze. For a few glass-beads, they bartered large three-legged dishes of wood, so well-polished as to have the appearance of being nighly varnished. They keep up a wretched kind of police; a few. who had the appearance of chiefs, chastised the refractory f/ith their sticks, but their assumed power seemed generally dis- .'.•egarded; any regulations which they attempted to enforce and to establish, were transgressed alraost as soon as they were proraul- gated. Never were sovereigns so negligently obeyed, never were orders enforced with such feeble shadows of authority. Imagination cannot figure to itself more agreeable situations than those of their villages. All the houses are built under fruit- trees, whi:;h render them delightfully cool; they are seated on the borders of streams, leading down from the mountains. Though the principal object in their architecture is to protect thepi from offensive heat, the islanders never abandon the idea of elegance. Their houses are sufficiently spacious to accommodate several families; and they are furnished with blinds, which are drawn up to the windward to prevent the intrusion ofthe potent rays of the sun. The natives repose upon fine comfortable mats, which are cautiously preserved from all humidity. Nothing can be said, by our travellers, of the religious rites of these natives, as no moral was perceived belonging to them. The islands are fertile, and their population is supposed to be considerable. Opun, Leone, and Fanfoue, are sraall; but Maoune. Oyolava, and Pola, may be classed among the largest and most beautiful in the South Sea. Cocoa island is lofty, and formed like a sugar-loaf; it is nearly a MONSIEUR DE LA PEROUSE. 201 mile in diameter, covered with trees, and is separated frora Trait ors' Island by a channel about a league wide. At eight in the morning La Perouse brought too. to the west-south-west, at twu miles from a sandy bay in the western part ofthe Great Island of Traitors, where he expected to find an anchorage sheltered from easterly winds. About twenty canoes instantly quitted the shore and approached the frigates in order to iiiak« exchanges; several of thera vvere loaded with excellent cocoa-nuts, with a few yams and bananas; one of them brought a hog. and three or four fowls. It evidently appeared that these Indians had before some know ledge of Europeans, as they came near without fear, traded with honesty, and never refused to part with their fruit before they were paid for it. They spoke, however, the same language, and the sarae ferocity appeared in their countenances; their manner of tattooing, and the forra of their canoes were the sarae, but they had not, like them, two joints cut off from the little finger of the left hand; two individuals had. however, suffered that operation. On the 27th of December, Vavao vvas perceived, an island which Captain Cook had never visited, but vvas no stranger to its existence, as one ofthe archipelago ofthe Friendly Islands; it is nearly equal in extent to that of Tongataboo, and is particularly fortunate in having no deficiency of fresh water. The two sraall islands of Hoongatonga are no more than two large uninhabitable rocks, which are high enough to be seen at the distance of fifteen leagues. Their position is ten leagues north of Tongataboo; but that island being low, it can hardly be seen at half that distance. On the 31st of December, at six in the morning, an appearance like the tops of trees, vvhich seemed to grow in the water, proved the harbinger of Van Dieman's point. The wind being northerly. La Perouse steered for the south coast of the island, which may, without danger, be approached within three musket-shots. Not the semblance of a hill is to be seen; a calra sea cannot present a raore level surface to the eye. The huts of the natives were scattered irregularly over the fields, and not socially collected into a conversable neighborhood. Seven or eight canoes were launched from these habitations, and directi-.d their course towards the vessels; but these islanders were awkvard seamen, and did not venture to corae near, though the water was smooth, and no obstacle impeded- their passage. At the distance of .about eight or ten feet, they leaped overboard and swam near the frigates, holding in each hand a quantity of cocoa-nuts, which they were glad to exchange for pieces of iron, nails, and hatchets; from tl»3 honesty of their dealings a friendly intercourse ensued between the islanders and the navigators, and they ventured to come on board Norfolk Island, off the coast of New South W^les, which they =aw on the 13th of January, is very steep, but does not exceed eii^hty toises above the level ofthe sea. It is coveied with pines, 202 MONSIEUR DE LA PEROUSE. which appear to be ofthe same species as those of New Ca.edo- nia, or New Zealand. Captain Cook having declared that he saw many cabbage-trees in this island, heightened the desire oftlje nav igators to land on it. Perhaps the palm which produce*' these cabbages, is very sraall, for not a single tree of that species could be discovered. On the 26th. at nine in the morning. La Perouse let go the anchor at a mile from the north coast of Botany Bay, in seven fathoms water. An English lieutenant, and a midshipman, were sent on board his ship by Captain Hunter, commander of the Sirius. They offered him, in Captain Hunter's name, all the services in his power; but circumstances vvould not permit him to supply thera with provision, araraunition, or sails. An officer was despatched from the French to the English Captain, returning thanks, and adding, that his wants extended only to wood and water, of which he should find pleniy in the bay. The journal of La Perouse proceeds no further. La Perouse, according to his last letters from Botany Bay, was to return to the Isle of France in 1788. They left Botany bay in March, and, in a letter which the • commodore wrote February 7, he stated his intention to continue his researches till December, when he expected, after visiting the Friendly islands, to arrive at the Isle of France. This was the latest intelligence received of the fate of the expedition; and M. d' Entrecasteaux. who was despatched by the French government, in 1791. in search of La Perouse. was unable to trace the course he had taken, or gain any clew to the catastrophe which had be fallen him and his corapanions. In 1825, the attention ofthe public was excited towards this mysterious affair, by a notice published by the French minister of the marine, purporting that an Araerian captain had declared that he had seen, in the hands of one of the natives of an island in the tract between Louisiade and New Caledonia, a cross ofthe order'of St. Louis, and sorae raedals, which appeared to have been procured frora the shipwreck of La Perouse. In consequence of this information, the commander of a vessel which sailed from Toulon, in April, 1826, on a voyage of discovery, received orders to make researches iu the quarter specified, in order to restore to their country any of the shipwrecked crew who raight yet re- raain in existence. Other intelligence, relative to the wreck of two large vessels, on two different islands of the New Hebrides, was obtained by captain Dillon, the commander of an English vessel atTucopia, in his passage from Valparaiso to Pondicherry, in May, i8:26, in consequence of which he was sent back to as certain the truth of the matter. The facts discovered by him on this mission, w',re, that the two ships struck on a reef at Mallicolo, 1° 4' S. lati'ade. 169° 20' E. longitude; one of themirare.ediately went down and all on board perished ; some of the crew of the other esc'/^ed. part of whom were murdered by the savages; the midshipman's franks. 203 remainder built a sraall vessel, and set sail from Mallicolo; but what became of them is not known. It is not, indeed, certain that these were the vessels of La Perouse. MIDSHIPMAN'S PRANKS. BY CAPTAIN HALL. During the long winters of our slothful discontent at Bermuda, caused by the peace of Amiens, the grand resource, both of the idle and the busy, amongst all classes of the Leander's officers, was shooting — ^that never-ending, still-beginning amuseirent, which Englishraen carry to the reraotest corner of the habitable globe — popping away in all countries, thinking only of game, and often but too reckless ofthe prejudices, or fear ofthe natives. This propensity is indulged even in those uninhabited regions of the earth which are visited only once in an age ; and if Captain Parry had reached th*pole, he would unquestionably have had a shot at the axis ofthe earth! In the meantime, the officers and young gentlemen of the flag ship at Bermuda in the beginning of 1803. I suppose to keep their hands in for the war which they saw brewing, and prayed hourly for, were constantly blazing-away amongst the cedar groves and orange plantations of those fairy islands, which appeared to be more and more beautiful after every such excursion. The mid shipmen were generally obliged to content themselves with knock ing down the blue and red birds vvith the ship's pistols, charged witii His Majesty's gunpowder, and, for want of sraall shot, with slugs formed by cutting up His Majesty's musket-bullets. The officers aimed at higher game, and were, of course, better provid ed with guns and ammunition' Several of these gentlemen had brought from England sorae fine dogs — high bred pointers, while the raiddies, also, not to be outdone, must needs have a dog of their own: they recked very little of what breed; but some sort of animal they said they must have. I forget how we procured the strange-looking animal whose services we contrived to engage; but having once obtained him, we were not slow in giving him our best affections. It is true he was as ugly as anything could possibly be. His color was a dirty reddish yellow; and while a part of his hair twisted itself up in curls, a part hung down quite straight, alraost to the ground. He was utterly useless for all the purposes of real sport, but quite good enough to furnish the raids with plenty of fun when they went on shore — in chasing pigs, barking at old white headed negresses. 204 midshipman's franks. and other amusements suited to the exalted taste and habits of thj rising generation of officers. People will differ as to the merits of dogs; but we had no doubts as to the great superiority of ours over all others on board, though the name we gave him certainly implied no such confidence on our part. After a full deliberation, it was decided to call him Shakings. Now it must be explained that shakings is a name given to small fragraents of rope yarns, odds and ends of cordage, bits of oakum, old lanyards, — in short to any kind of refuse arising •ut ofthe wear and tear of the ropes. This odd name was per haps bestowed on our beautiful favorite in consequence of his color not being very dissimilar to that of well tarred Russia hemp; while the resemblance was increased by many a uab of pitch, which his rough coat inbibed from the seams between the planks ofthe deck. in hot weather. If old Shakings was of no great beauty, he was at least, the most companionable of dogs; and though he dearly loved the midshipmen and was dearly beloved by them in return, he had enough of the animal in his composition to take a higher pleas ure in the society of his own kind. So that when the high bred, showy pointers belonging to the officers came on board, after a shooting excursion, Mr. Shakings lost no time in alpplying to them for news. The pointers who liked this sort of familiarity very well gave poor Shakings all possible encouragement. Not so with their masters; they could not bear to see an abominable cur. as they called our favorite, at once so cursedly dirty and so utterly useless, mixing with their sleek and well-fed animals. At first their dislike was confined to such insulting expressions as these; then it came to an occasional kick or knock on the nose with the but-end of a fowling-piece; and lastly, to a sound cut with the hunting whip. Shakings, who instinctively knew his place, took all this, like a sensible fellow, in good part; while the' mids, when out of hearing of the higher powers, uttered curses both loud and deep against the tyranny and oppression exercised against an animal which, in their fond fancy was declared to be worth all the dogs in the ward room put together. They vvere little prepared, however, for the stroke which soon fell upon them, perhaps in consequence of these murmurs. To their great horror and indignation, one of the Lieutenants, provoked at some liberty which Master Shaltings had taken with his new polished boots, called out one morning, — " Man the jolly-boat, and laud that infernal, dirty, ugly, beast of a dog, belonging to the young gentleraen!" " Where shall I take hira to, sir?" asked the strokesraan ofthe boat. "Oh, any where; pull to the nearest part of the shore, and pitch him on the rocks. He '11 shift for himself, I have no doubt." So off went poor dear Shakings' midshipman's pranks. 205 If a stranger had come into the midshipmen's birth at that mo ment, he might have thought His Majesty's naval service was about to be broken up. All allegiance, discipline, or subordi nation, seemed utterly cancelled by this horrible act. Many vvere the execrations hurled upwards at the offending " knobs," who, we thought were combining to make our lives miserable. Some of our party voted for writing a letter of remonstrance to'the Ad miral against this unheard of outrage; and one youth swore deeply that he would leave the service unless justice was obtained. But as he had been known to swear the sarae thing half a dozen tiraes every day since he had joined the ship, no great noti».e was taken of his 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 general agreement, it was decided that we should not do a bit of duty, or even stir frora our seats, till we obtained redress for our grievances. However, while we were in the act of vowing rautiny and disobedience, the hands were turned up to " furl sails!" upon which the whole party, totally forgetting their magnanimous resolution, scudded up the ladders, and jumped into their stations with more than usual alacrity, wisely thinking, that the raoraent of actual revolt had not yet arrived. A better scheme than throwing up the service, or writing to the Admiral,-or turning Mussulraen, was afterwards concocted. The midshipmen who went on shore in the next boat easily got hold of poor Shakings who was howling on the steps ofthe watering place. In order to conceal hira, he was stuffed, neck and crop, into the captain's clothes-bag, brought safely on board, and restored once more to the bosom of his fri«nds. 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 congratulations ofthe other dogs. There he was soon detect ed by the higher powers, and very shortly afterwards trundled over the gangway and again tossed on the beach. Upon this occasion he was honored with the presence of one of his own masters, a middy, 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 dreaming no evil, before the door ofthe very officer's cabin whose beautiful polished boots he had brushed so rudely in the morning. — an offence which had led to his banishment. This second return of our dog was too much. The whole posse of us were sent for onthe quarter-deck, and in very distinct terms ordered not to bring Shakings on board again. These injunc tions having been given, this wretched victim, as we termed him, of oppression, was once more landed amongst the cedar groves. This time he remained full a week on shore: but how or when he 13 S06 midshipman's pranks. ever found his way off again, no one ever knew; at least no one chose to divulge. Never vvas 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 trousers of the disgusted officers, who heartily wished him at the bottom of the anchorage! Thus the poor beast unwittingly contributed to accelerate his hapless fate, by this rll-timed show of confidence in those who were then plotting his ruin. If he had kept his paws to hiraself, and staid quietly in the dark recesses of the cock-pit, wings, cable-tiers and other wild regions, the secrets of which were known only to the inhabitants of our sub-raarine world, all might yet have been well. We had a grand jollification on the night of Shakings resto ration; and his health was in the very act of being drunk, with three tiraes three, when the officer ofthe watch, hearing an uproar telow. the sounds of which were distinctly conveyed up the wind- sail, sent down to put our lights out. and we vvere forced to march off growling to our hammocks. Next day to our surprise and horror, old Shakings was nowhere to be seen or heard of. We searched every where, interrogated the cockswains of all the boats, and crbssquestioned the marines, who had been sentries during the night on the forecastle gangways and poop, but all in vain! — no tr^aces of Shakings could be found. At length the opinion began to gain ground amongst us, that the poor beast had been put to death by some diabolical means, and our ire mounted accordingly. This suspicion seemed the more natural, as the officers said not a word about the matter, nor even asked us what we had done vvith our dog. While we were in this state of excitement and distraction for our loss, one oi'.he midshipmen, who had some drollery in his composition, gave a new turn for the expression of our thoughts. This gentleraan, who was more than twice as old as most of us, say about thirty, had won the affections of all our class, by the gentleness of his raanners, and the generous part he always took on our side. He bore araong us the pet narae of Daddy; and certainly he ^as like a'father to those araongst us who, like my self, were quite adrift in the ship without any one to look after them. He was a man of talents and classical education, but he had entered the navy far too late in life ever to take to it cordially. His habits, indeed, had becorae so rigid, that they could never be raade to bend to the raortifying kind of discipline, which it ap pears every officer should run through, but which only the young and light-hearted can brook. Our worthy friend, accordirigly. vvith all his abilities, tastes, and acquirements, never seemed at home on board. the ship, and unless a man can reach this point of liking for the sea, he is better on the shore. At all events old Daddy cared more about his books than about blocks, and delight- midshipman's pranks. 207 ed more in giving us assistance incur literary pursuits, and trying to teach us to be useful, than in rendering himself a proficient in those professional mysteries, which he never hoped to practise ir earnest himself. What this very interesting person's early history was, we could never find out; nor why he entered the navy; nor how it came, that a man of his powers and accoraplishraents should have been kept back so long. Indeed the youngsters never inquired into these matters, being quite contented to have the advantage of his protection against the oppression ofthe oldsters, who occasionally bullied them. Upon all occasions of difficulty, we were in the habit of clustering around him. to tell our grievances, great and small, with the certainty of always finding in hira that great desi- deratura in calamity — a patient and friendly listener. It will easily be supposed, that our kind Daddy took more than usual interest in the affair of Shakings, and that he was apphed to by us at every stage of the transaction. He was sadly perplex ed, of course, when the dog was finally missing ; and for some days, he could give us no comfort, nor suggest any mode of revenge which was not too dangerous for his young friends to put into practice. He prudently observed, that as we had no certainty to go upon, it would be foolish to get ourselves into any serious scrape for nothing at all. " There can be no harm, however," he continued in his dry and slightly sarcastic way, which all who knew him will recollect, as well as if they savv hira now, drawing his hand slowly across his chin, " There can be no harramy boys, in putting the other dogs in raourning for their departed friend Shakings; for whatever is become of hira, he is lost to them, as well as to us, and his memory ought to be duly respected." This hint was no sooner given than a cry was raised for crape, and every chest and bag ransacked, to procure badges of mourn ing. The pointers were speedily rigged up with a bunch of crape tied in a handsorae bow. upon the left leg just above the knee. The joke took immediately. The officers could not help laugh ing; for, though -we considered them little better than fiends, at "that moment of excitement, they were in fact, except in this in stance, the best natured and most indulgent men I remember to have sailed vvith. They of course ordered the crape to be instant ly taken off from the dogs' legs: and one of the officers remarked to us seriously, that as we had now had our piece of fun out, there vvere to be no more such tricks. Off we scampered to consult old Daddy what was to be done next, as we had been positively ordered not to meddle any more with the dogs. " Put the pigs in mourning," he said. All our crape was expended by this time, but this want was soon supplied by men whose trade it was to discover resources 208 midshipman's pranks. in difficulty. With a generous spirit of devotion to the cause of public spirit one of these juvenile mutineers pulled off his black ne«^k-handkerchief, and, tearing it in pieces, gave a portion to each of ';he circle and away we 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 wisely abolished of late years, since nothing can be more out of character with any ship than such nuisances. As these raatters of taste and cleanliness were nothing to us, we did not intermit our noisy labor till every one of the grunters had his arm let of such crape as we had been able to muster. We then watch ed 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 officers were standing on the fore part of the quarter deck. Of course the liberated pigs delighted with their freedom, passed in review under the very noses of our superiors, each with his raourn ing knot displayed, grunting or squealing along, as if it was their express object io .attract attention to their domestic sorrow for the loss of Shakings. The officers were excessively provoked, as they could not help seeing all this was affording entertainment, at their expense, to the whole crew; for though the men took no part in this piece of insubordination, they were ready enough, in those times ofthe weary, weary peace, to catch at any species of distraction or devilry, no matter what, to compensate for the loss 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 vvere ranged in a line, each vvith his toes at the edge of a plank accord ing to the orthodox fashion of these gregarious" scoldings, techni cally called ' toe-the-line matches.' We were given to under stand that our proceedings 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 offi cial lecture, for while it was going on, the sailors were endeav oring by the direction of the officers, to remove the bits of silk from the legs of the pigs. If however it be difficult — as raost difficult we found it — to put a hog in raourning, it is a job ten times more troublesome to take him out again. Such at least is the fair infei ence -from these two experiraents; the only ones, perhaps, on record, — for it cost half the raorning to undo what we had done in less than an hour; to say nothing of the unceasing and oot- rageous uproar which took place along the decks, especially un der the guns, and even under the coppers forward in the galley, where two or three ofthe youngest pigs had wedged themselves, apparently resolved to die rather than submit to the degradation of being deprived of their mourning. AU this v/.is very creditable to the memory of poor Shakings midshipman's pranks. 209 but„ m the course of the day the real secret of this extraordinary difficulty of taking a pig gut of mourning was discovered. Two of the raids were detected in the very act of tying a bit of black bun- tin to the leg of a sow, from which the seamen declared they had already cut off crape and silk enough to have made her a complete suit of black. As soon as these new offences were reported, the whole party of us were ordered to the mast-head as a punishment. Some were sgnt to sit on topmast cross-trees, and some on the top-gallant yard- arms, and one small gentleraan being perched at the jib-boora end, was very properly balanced abaft by another little culprit at the extreraity of the gaff. In this predicaraent we were hung out to dry for five or six hours, as old Daddy remarked to us with a grin, when we were called down as the night fell. Our persevering friend, being rather provoked at the punish ment of his young flock, now set to work to discover the real fate of Shakings. It soon occurred to him, that if the dog had really been made away with, as he shrewdly suspected, the butcher, in all probability must have had a hand in the murdei:; accordingly, he sent for him in the evening, when the following dialogue took place: — " Well, butcher, will you have a glass of grog to-night? " " Thank you. sir. thank you. Here 's your honor's health! " said the other, after smoothing down his hair, and pulling an im mense quid of tobacco out of his mouth. Old Daddy observed the peculiar relish with which the butcher took his glass, and mixing another, a good deal more potent, placed it before the fellow, and continued the conversation in these words: " I tell you what it is Mr. Butcher — ^you are as humane as any man in the ship, I dare say; but, if required, you know well, tha* you must do your duty, whether it is on sheep or hogs?" " Surely sir." " Or upon dogs either?" suddenly inquired the inquisitor. " I don't know about that." stammered the butcher, quite taken by surprise and thrown all aback. " Well, well," said Daddy, "here's another glass for you — a stiff north-wester. Come! tell us all about it now. Hovv did you get rid ofthe dog? — of Shakings, I mean? " " Why, sir," said the peaching rogue, " I put him in a bag — a bread bag, sir." "Well!— what then?" " I tied up the mouth, and put him overboard — out of the mid ship lower-deck port, sir." ' " Yes — but he would not sink?" said Daddy. " Oh, sir," cried the butcher, now entering into the merciless spirit of his trade. " I put a four and twenty pound shot into tho bag along with Shakings." 18* 'SlO midshipman's pranks. " Did you? — Then, Master Butcher, all I can say is, you are as precious a rascal as ever went about unhanged. There — drink your grog, and be off with you!" Next morning when the officers were assembled at breakfast in the ward room, the door ofthe captain of marines' cabin was sud denly opened and that officer half shaved, and laughing, through a collar of soap suds, stalked out, with a paper in his hands. " Here." he exclaimed. " is a copy of verses which I found in my basin this morning. 1 can't tell how they got there or what they are about; — but you shall judge." So he read the two following stanzas of doggerel: — ** 'VP'Iien the Northern Confederacy threatened our shores, And roused Albion's Lion, reclining to sleep. Preservation was taken of all the kings stores, Nor so much as a rope^am was launched in the deep. ** But now it is peace.-other hopes are in view, And all active service as light as a fc-ither. The Stores may be d — d, and humanity too, For Shakings and Shot are thrown overboard together !" 1 need hardly say in what quarter ofthe 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 midnight, an urchin — who shall be nameless — was thrust out of one of the after ports of the lower deck, from which he clambered up to the marine officer's port, and the sash happening to have been lowered down on the gun. the epigram, copied by another of the youngsters was pitched into the soldier's basin. The wisest thing would have been for the officer's to have said nothing about the matter, and let it blow by. But angry people are seldom judicious^so they made a formal complaint to the cap tain, who, to do him justice, was not a little puzzled hovv to settle the affair. The reputed author was called up, and the captain said to him — " Pray, sir, are you the writer of these lines?" " I am sir." he replied, after a little consideration. " Then all I can say is," remarked the captain, "they are clever enough, in their way — but take my advice, and write no more such verses." So the affair ended. The satirist took the captaiii's hint in good part, and confined his pen to matters below the surface of the water. As in the course of a few months the war broke out. there was no longer tirae for such nonsense, and our generous protector, old Daddy, some time after the affair of Shakings took place, was sent off to Halifax, in charge of a prize. His orders were if possi ble to join his own ship, the Leander, then lying at the entrance of New York harbor, just within Sandy Hook light-house. Our good old friend, accordingly, having corapleted his mission and delivered his prize to the authorities of Halifax, took his pas- THE SOUND OF THE SEA 21 I sage in the British packet sailing from thence to the port in which we lay. As this ship sailed past us, on her vvay to New York, we ascertained, to our great joy, that our excellent Daddy was actu ally on board of her. Some hours afterwards the pilot boat was seen coming to us, and though it was in the middle of the night, all the young mids came hastily on deck to welcom* their worthy messmate back again to his ship. It was late in October, and the wind blew fresh from the north westward, so that the ship, riding to the ebb. had her head direct ed towards the Narrows, between Staten island and Long island; consequently the pilot-boat. — one of those beautiful vessels so well known to every visiter of the American coast, — came flying down upon us, with the wind nearly right aft. Our joyous party were all assembled on the quarter-deck, looking anxiously at the boat as she swept past us. She then luffed round, in order to sheer alongside, at which raoraent the mainsail jibed, as was to be ex pected. It was obvious, however, that something more had taken place than the pilot had looked for, since the boat, instead of rang ing up to us, was brought right round on her heel, and went off again upon a wind on the other tack. The tide carried her out of sight for a few minutes, but she was soon alongside, when we learned, to our inexpressible grief and consternation, that, on the main-boom of the pilot-boat swinging over, it had accidentally struck our poor friend and pitched hira headlong overboard. Being encumbered with a great coat, the pockets of which, as we afterwards learned, were loaded with his young companions' let ters, brought from England by this packet, he in vain struggled to reach the boat and then sunk to rise no more. THE SOUND OF THE SEA. BT MRS. HEMANS. Thoa art sounding on, thou mighty sea, For ever and the same ! The ancient rocks yet ring to thee. Whose thunders naught can tame. Oh ! many a glorious voice is gone. From the rich bowers of earth. And hushed is many a lovely tone Of mouinfnlness or mirth. The Dorian flute that sighed of yore Along thy wave, is still ; The harp of Judah peals no more On Zion's awful lull. 212 THE LOSS OF THE PHCENIX. And Memnon's lyre hath lost the chord That breathed llie mystic tone. And the songs, at Rome's high triumphs poureO Are with her eagles flown. And mute the Moorish horn, that rang ^'er stream and mountain free. Ana the hymn the leagued Criisaders sang, Hath died in Galilee. But thou art swelling on, thou deep. Through many an olden clime, Thy billowy anthem, ne'er to sleep Until the close of time. Thou liftest up thy solemn voice To every wind and sky, And all our earth's greqn shores rejoice In that one harmony. It fills the noontide's caim profound. The sunset's heaven of gold ; And the still midnight hears the sound, Ev'n as when first it rolled. Let there be silence deep and strange. Where sceptered cities rose ! Ttiou speak 'st of one who doth not change- So may our liearts repose. ACCOUNT OF THE LOSS OF HIS MAJESTY'S SHIf PH(ENIX, Off Cuba, in the Year 1780. By Lieutenant .Srcher. The Phoenix of 44 guns. Captain Sir Hyde Parker, was l©st in a hurricane, off Cuba, in the West Indies, in the year 1780 The same hurricane destroyed the Thunderer, 74; Stirling Cas tle, 64; La Blanche, 42; Laurel, 28; Andromeda, 28; Deas Castle. 24; Scarborough, 20; Beaver's Prize, 16; Barbadoes, 14; Cameleon, 14; Endeavour, 14; and Victor, 10 guns. Lieuterant Archer was first-lieutenant of the Phoenix at the tirae she was lost. His narrative in a letter to his mother, contains a most correct and animated account of one of the raost awful events in the service. It is so simple and natural as to raake the reader feel himself as on board the Phoenix. Every circumstance is detailed with feeling, and powerful appeals are continually made to the heart. It must likewise afford considerable pleasure to THE LOSS OF THE PHCENIX. 213 observe the devout spirit of a seaman frequently bui sting forth, and imparting sublimity to the relation. .At Sea, June 30, 1781. My dear Mother, 1 am now going to give you an account of our last cruise in the Phoenix; and must premise, that should any one see it besides yourself, they must put this construction on it — that it was origi nally intended for the eyes of a mother, and a mother only — as, upon that supposition, ray feelings raay be tolerated. You will also meet with a nuraber of sea terms, which, if you don't under stand, why, I cannot help you, as I am unable to give 4 sea description in any other words. To begin then: — On the 2d of August, 1780, we weighed <-nd sailed for Port Royal, bound for Pensacola, having two store-ships under convoy, and to see safe in; then cruise off the Havanna, and in the gulf of Mexico, for six weeks. In a few days we made the two sandy islands, that look as if they had just risen out ofthe sea, or fallen frora the sky; inhabited, nevertheless, by upwards of three hundred English, who get their bread by catching turtle and parrots, and raising vegetables, which they exchange with ships that pass, for clothing and a few of the luxuries of life, as rum. &c. About the 12th we arrived at Pensacola, without any thing remarkable happening, except our catching avast quantity of fish. sharks, dolphins, and bonettos. On the 13th sailed singly, and on the 14th had a very heavy gale of wind at north, right off the land, so that we soon left the sweet place, Pensacola, a distance astern. We then looked into the Havanna, saw a number of ships there, and knowing that some of them were bound round the bay, we cruised inthe track: a fortnight, however, passed. and not a single ship hove in sight to cheer our spirits. We then took a turn or two round the gulf, but not near enough to be seen from the shore. Vera Cruz we expected would have made us happy, but the same luck still continued; day followed day, and no sail. The dollar bag began to grow a little bulky, for every one had lost two or three tiraes. and no one had won: this was a sraall gambling party entered into by Sir Hyde and ourselves; every one put a dollar into a bag, and fixed on a day when we should see a sail, but no two persons were to name the same day, and whoever guessed right first vvas to have the bag. Being now tired of our situation, and glad the cruise was almost out. for we found the navigation very dangerous, owing to unaccountable currents; we shaped our course for Cape Antonio. The next day the man at the mast head, at about one o'clock in the afternoon, called out: "A sail upon the weather bow! Ha! Ha! Mr. Spaniard, I think we have you at last. Turn out all 214 THE LOSS OF THE PHCENIX. hands! make sail! All hands give chase!" There vvas scarcely any occasion for this order, for the sound of a sail being in sight flew like wild fire through the ship, and every sail was set in an instant, almost before the orders were,given. A lieutenant at the masthead, with a spy glass, "What is she?" "A large ship studding athwart right before the wind. P-o-r-t! Keep her away! set the studding sails ready!" Up comes the little doctor, rubbing his hands; " Ha! ha! I have won the bag." " The devil take you and the bag; look, what's ahead will fill all our bags." Ma.stjhead again: " Two more sail on the larboard beam!" " -Archer, go up, and see what you can make of them." " Upon deck there; I see a whole fleet of twenty sail coming right before the wind." "Confound the luck of it, this is some , convoy or other, but we must try if we can pick some of them out." "Haul down the studding-sails! Luff! bring her to the wind' Let us see what we can make of them." About five we got pretty near thera, and found them to be twen ty-six sail of Spanish merchantmen, under convoy of three line of battle ships, one of which chased us; but when she found we were playing with her (for the old Phoenix had heels) she left chase, and joined the convoy; which they drew up into a lump, and placed themselves at the outside; but we still kept smelling about till after dark. O, for the Hector, the Albion, and a frigate, and we should take the whole fleet and convoy, worth some mil lions! About eight o'clock perceived three sail at some distance from" the fleet; dashed in between them, and gave chase, and were happy to find they steered from the fleet. About twelve came up with a large ship of twenty-six guns. "Archer, every man to his quarters! run the lower deck guns out. and light the ship up: show this fellow our force; it may prevent his firing into us and killing a raan or two." No sooner said than done. " Hoa, the ship ahoy, lower all your sails down, and bring to instantly, or I'll sink you." Clatter, clatter, went the blocks, an& away flew aU their sails in proper confusion. " What ship is that?" " The Polly." " Whence came you?" " From Jamai ca." "Where are you bound?" " To .New York." "What ship is that?" "The Phoenix." Huzza, three times by the whole ship's company. An old grum fellow of a sailor standing close by me: " 0, d — m your three cheers, we took you to be soraething else." Upon examination we found it to be as he re ported, and that they had fallen in with the Spanish fleet that morning, and were chased the whole day, and that nothing saved them but our stepping in between; for the Spaniards, took us for three consorts, and the Polly took the Phcfenix for a Spanish frigate, till we hailed them. The other vessel in company was likewise bound to New York. Thus was I, from being worth thousands in idea, reduced to the old 4s. 6d. a day again: for the little doctor made the most prize money of us all that day, by THE LOSS OF THE PHCENIX. 215 winning the bag. which contained between thirty and forty dollars; but this is notlnng to what we sailors sometimes undergo. After parting company, we steered south-south-east, to go round Antonio, and so to Jaraaica, (our cruise being out) with our fingers in our mouths, and all of us as green as you please. It happened to be my middle watch, and about three o'clock, when a 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 hearing me put the ship about, jumped upon deck. "Archer what 's the matter ? you are putting the ship about without my orders!" " Sir, 'tis time to go about; the ship is almost ashore, there 's 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 's all aback — forward now?" " Well," says he, " work the ship, I will not speak a single word." The ship stayed very well. " Tlien, heave the lead! see what water we have!" "Three fathom." "Keep the ship away, west-north-west." — " Bj' the mark three." "This won't do. Archer." " No, sir, we had bet ter haul more to the northward; we came south-south-east, and had better steer north-north-west." "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, corae, we shall get clear by and by." " Mark under water five." " What 's that?" " Only five fath- ora. Sir." " Turn all hands up, bring the ship to an anchor. boy!" "Are the anchors clear!" " In a moraent, Sir," "All clear!" " What water have you in the chains now!" "Eight, half nine." "Keep fast the anchors till I call you." "Ay, ay. Sir, all fast!" "I have no ground with this line." "How many fathoms have you out? pass along the deep-sea line!" " Ay, ay. Sir." " Corae are you all ready ?" " All ready, Sir." " Heave away, watch! watch! bear away, veer away, no ground. Sir, with a hundred fathom." "That's clever, come. Madam Phoenix, there is another squeak in you yet — all down but the watch; secure the anchors again; heave tlie main-top-sail to the mast; luff, and bring her to the wind!" I told you. Madam, you should have a little sea-jargon: if you can understand half of what is already said, I wonder at it. though it is nothing to what is to come yet, when the old hurricane begins. As soon as the ship was a little to rights, and all quiet again. Sir Hyde came to me in the most friendly manner, the tears almost starting frora his eyes — "Archer, we ought all, to be much obliged to you for the safety of the ship, and perhaps of ourselves. I am particularly so ; nothing but that instantane ous presence of mind and calmness saved her: another ship's length and we should have been fast on shore; had you been the 216 THE LOSS OF THE PHffiNlX. least difllident, or made the least confusion, so as to make the ship baulk in her stays, she must have been inevitably lost." " Sir. you are very good, but I have done nothing that I suppose any body else would not have done, in the same situation. 1 did not turn all the hands up, knowing the watch able to work the ship ; besides, had it spread immediately about the ship, that she was almost ashore, it might have created a confusion that was better avoided." " Well." says he, " 'tis well indeed." At daylight we found that the current had set us between the Collarado rocks and Cape Antonio, and that we could not have got out any other way than we did; there was a chance, but Providence is the best pilot. We had sunset that day twenty leagues to the south-east of our reckoning by the current. After getting clear of this scrape, we thought ourselves fortu nate, and made sail for Jamaica, but misfortune seemed to follow misfortune. The next night, my watch upon deck too, we were overtaken by a squall, like a hurricane while it lasted; for though I saw it coming, and prepared for it. yet. when it took the ship, it roared, and laid her down so, that 1 thought she would never get up again. However, by keeping her away, and clewing up every thing, she righted. The remainder of the night we had very heavy squalls, and inthe morning found the mainraast sprung half the way through: one hundred and twenty-three leagues to the leeward of Jamaica, the hurricane raonths coming on, the head ofthe mainmast almost off. and at short allowance; well, we must raake the best of it. The mainraast was well fished, but we were obliged to be very tender of carrying sail. Nothing reraarkable happened for ten days afterwards, when we chased a Yankee raan of war for six hours, but could not get near enough to her before it was dark, to keep sight of her; so that we lost her because unable to carry any sail on the raainmast. In about twelve days more made the island of Jaraaica, having weathered all the squalls, and put into Montego Bay for water; so that we had a strong party for kicking up a dust on shore, having found three raen of war lying there. Dancing, &c. &c. till two o'clock every raorning; little thinking what was to happen in four days' time: for out ofthe four men of war that were there, not one was in being at the end of that time, and not a soul alive but those left of our crew. Many of the houses, where we had been so merry, were so completely destroyed, that scarcely a vestige remained to mark where they stood. Thy works are wonderful, O God ! praised be thy holy Name ! September the 30th weighed; bound for Port Royal, round the eastward ofthe island; the Barbadoes and Victor had sailed the day before, and the Scarborough was to sail the next. Moderate weather until October the 2d. Spoke to the Barbadoes off Port Antonio in the evening. At eleven at night it began to snuffle, with a monstrous heavy appearance from the eastward. Close THE LOSS OF THE PHCENIX. 217 reefed the top-sails. Sir Hyde sent for me: "What sort of weather have we. Archer!" " It blows a little, and has a very ugly look: if in any other quarter but this, I should say we were going 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 top sails till it clears a little, there is no trusting any country." At twelve I was relieved; fhe weather had the sarae rough look: however, tljey 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 east-north-east with close-reefed top-sails upon the ship, and heavy squalls at times. Sir Hyde came upon deck: " Well, Archer, what do you think of it?" " O, Sir. 't is only a touch of the times, we shall have an observation at twelve o'clock; the clouds are beginning to break; it will clear up at noon, or else — blow very hard afterwards." "I wish it would clear up, but I doubt it much. I was once in a hurricane in the East Indies, and the beginning of it had much the same appearance as this. So take in the top-sails, we have plenty of sea-room." At twelve, the gale still increasing, wore ship, to keep as near mid-channel, between Jamaica and Cuba, as possible; at one the gale increasing still; at two harder yet: it still blows harder! Reefed the courses, and furled them; brought to under a foul mizen stay-sail, head to the northward. In the evening no sign of the weather taking off. but every appearance of the storra in creasing, prepared for a proper gale of wind; secured all the sails with spare gaskets; good rolling tackles upon the yards; squared the booras; saw the boats all raade fast; new lashed the guns; double breeched the lower deckers; saw that the carpenters had the tarpawlings and battens all ready for hatchways ; got the top gallant-mast down upon the deck; jib-boom and sprit-sail-yard fore and aft; in fact every thing we could think of to make a snug ship. The poor devils of birds now began to find the uproar in the elements, for numbers, both of sea and land kinds, came on board of us. I took notice of sorae. which happening to be to leeward, turned to windward, like a ship, tack and tack; for they could not fly against it. When they came over the ship they dashed them selves down upon the deck, without attempting to stir till picked up, and when let go again, they would not leave the ship, but en deavored to hide themselves frora the wind. At eight o'clock a hurricane; the sea roaring, but the wind still steady to a point; did not ship a spoonful of water. How ever, got the hatchways all secured, expecting what would be the consequence, should the wind shift; 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 axe may not be found. Went to supper: bread, cheese, and porter. "^'he purser frightened out of his wits about his bread bags; the 19 218 THE LOSS OF THE PHCENIX. two marine officers as white as sheets, not understanding the ship's working so much, and the noise of the lower deck guns; which, by this tirae. made a pretty screeching to 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 hararaock. At ten o'clock I thought to get a little sleep; carae to look into ray cot; it was full of water; for every seam, 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 midshipraan carae to me: " Mr. Archer, we are just going to wear ship, Sir!" " O, very well, I'll be up directly, what sort of weather have, you got?" " It blows a hurricane." Went upon deck, found Sir Hyde there. " It blows damned hard. Archer." " It does indeed. Sir." "I don't know that I ever remeraber 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 south-east, and we were drawing right upon Cuba; so do you go forward, and have some hands standby; loose the lee yard-arm of the fore-sail, and when she is right before the wind, whip the clue-garnet close up, and roll up the sail." "Sir! there is no canvass can stand against this a moraent; if we attempt to loose him he will fly into ribands in an instant, and we may lose three or four of our people; she'll wear by manning the fore shrouds." " No, I don't think she will." " I'll answer for it. Sir; I have seen it tried several tiraes on the coast of America with success." " Well, try it; if she does not wear, we can only loose the fore sail afterwards. " This was a great condescension from such a man as Sir Hyde. However, by sending about two hundred pec-. pie into the fore-rigging, after 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 lashed 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 mizen-stay-sail 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 decks, as there was a good deal of noise. As soon as I was be low, one of the Marine officers calls out: " Good God! Mr. Archer, we are sinking, the water is up to the bottom of my cot." " Pooh, pooh! as long as it is not over your mouth, you are well off; what the devil do you make this noise for?" I found there was some water between decks, but nothing to be "larmed at THE LOSS OF THE PHffiNlX. Utrt scuttled the deck, and let it run 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 feet of water in the well; but expected to be 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. " Corae, purap away, ray boys. Carpenters, get the weather chain-pump rigged." " All ready. Sir." " Then man it, and keep both puirips going." At two o'clock the chedn-pump was choked ; set the carpenters at work to clear it; the two head pumps at work upon deck: the ship gained upon us while. our chain-pumps were idle; in a quar ter of an hour they were at work again, and we began to gain upon her. While I was standing at the pumps, cheering the peo ple, the carpenter's mate came running to me with a face as long as my arm: " O, Sir! the ship has sprung a leak in the gunner's room." " Go, then, and tell the carpenter to come to me, but don't speak a word to any one else." " Mr. Goodinoh, I am told there is a leak in the gunner's roora; go and see what is the mat ter, but don't alarm any body, and come and raake your report privately to me." In a short time he returned: "Sir, there's nothing there, 'tis only the water washing up between the tim bers that this booby has taken for a leak." " O, very well; go upon deck and see if you can keep any of the water from wash ing down below." " Sir, I have had four people constantly keep ing the hatchways secure, but there is such a weight of water upon the deck that nobody can stand it when the ship rolls." The gunner soon afterwards came to me: " Mr. Archer, I should be glad if you would step this way into the magazine for a moment:" I thought some damned thing was the matter, and ran directly: "Well, what is the matter here?" "The ground-tier of 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 DC better stowed. Now, Sir, what am I to do? if you don't speak to Sir Hyde, he will be angry with rae." I could not forbear smiling to see how easy he took the danger of the ship, and said to hira: " Let us shake off this gale of wind first, and talk of the damaged powder afterwards." 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 the 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 as it were in Alps, or Peaks of Teneriffe; (mountains are too common an idea); the wind roaring louder than thunder, (abso lutely no flight of imagination), the whole raade raore terrible, if possible, by a very uncomraon kind of blue lightning; the poor ship very much pressed, yet doing what she could, shaking her sides, and groaning at every stroke. Sir Hyde upon deck lashed 220 THE LOSS OF THE PHCENIX. to windward! 1 soon lashed myself alongside of him, and /old him the situation of things below, saying the ship did not make more water than might be expected in such weather, and that I vvas only afraid of a gun breaking loose. " I 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 work, which always gives way first, is pretty well tried. Hold fast! that was an ugly sea; we must lower the yards, I believe, Archer; the ship is much pressed." "If we attempt it, Sir, we shall lose them, for a man aloft can do nothing; besides their being down would ease the ship very little ; the mainmast is a sprung mast ; I wish it was overboard without carrying any thing else along with it; but that can soon be done, the, gale cannot last for ever; 'twill soon be daylight now." Found by the master's watch that it was five o'clock, though but a little after four by ours; glad it was so near daylight, and looked for it with much anxiety. Cuba, thou art rauch in our way! Another ugly sea: sent a raidshipman to bring news frora the pumps: the 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. " She still gains! a heavy lee!" Back-water from leeward, half-way up the quarter-deck; filled one of the cutters upon the booms, and tore her all to pieces; the ship lying almost on her beam ends, and not attempt ing to right again. Word from 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 no time. Sir, to think of saving the masts, shall we cut the mainmast away?" "Ay! as fast as yon can." I accordingly went into the weather chains with a pole- ax. to cut aw.ay the lanyards; the boatswain went to leeward, and the carpenters stood by the mast. We were all ready, when a very violent sea broke right on board of us, carried every thing upon deck away, filled the ship with water, the main and mizen- masts went, the ship righted, but was in the last struggle of sink ing under us. As soon as we could shake our heads above water, Sir Hyde exclairaed: "We are gone, at last. Archer! foundered at sea!" " Yes, Sir, farewell, and the Lord have mercy upon us!" I then turned about to look forward at the ship; and thought she was struggling to get rid of sorae ofthe water; but all in vain, she was alraost full below. " Alraighty God! I thank thee, that now I am leaving this world, which I have always considered as only a pas sage to a better, I die with a full hope of thy mercies, through the merits of Jesus Christ, thy son, our Saviour!" I then 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 not, and it is impossible to divest ourselves of a wish to preserve life 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!' THE LOSS OF THE PHOENIX. '^\ •'What do you say?" "The ship is ashore, and we may save ourselves yet!" By this time the quarter-deck was full of men who had come up from below; and 'the Lord have mercy upon us,' flying about from all quarters. The ship now raade every body sensible that she vvas ashore, for every stroke threatened a total dissolution of her whole frarae; found she vvas stern ashore, and the bow broke the sea a good deal, though it vvas washing clean over at every stroke. Sir Hyde cried out: " Keep to the quarter deck, my lads, when she goes to pieces 'tis your best chance!" Providentially got the foremast cut away, that she might not pay round broad-side. Lost five men cutting away the fore-mast, by the breaking of a sea on board just as the mast went. That was nothing; every one expected it would be his own fate next; looked for daybreak with the greatest impatience. At last it came; but what a scene did it show us! The 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 at every stroke between them; going away by piece-meal. However, to show the unaccountable workings of Providence, that which often ap pears to be the greatest evil, proves to be the greatest good! That unmerciful sea lifted and beat us up so high among the rocks, that at last the ship scarcely moved. She was very strong, and did not go to pieces at the first thumping, though her decks tum bled in. We found afterwards that she had beat over a ledge of rocks, almost a quarter of a mile in extent beyond us, where, if she had struck, every soul of us must have perished. I now began to think of getting on shore, so stripped off my coat and shoes for a swim, and looked for a line to carry the end with me. Luckily could not find one, which gave rae time for recollection: " This wont do for me, to be the first man out of the ship, and first lieutenant ; we may get to England again, and people may think I paid a great deal of attention to myself and did not care for any body else. No, that wont do ; instead of being the first, I'll see every man, sick and well, out of her be fore me." I now thought there was no probability ofthe ship's soon going to pieces, therefore had not a thought of instant death: took a look round with a kind of philosophic eye, to see how the sarae situa tion affected ray companions, and was surprised to find the most swaggering, swearing bullies in fine weather, now the most pitiful wretches on earth, when 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 many ventured and arrived safe. There were sorae sick and wounded on board, who could not avail themselves of this method; we, therefore, got a spare top-sail-yard from the chains and placed one end ashore and the other on the cabin window, so that most ofthe sick go; ashore this way. 19* 222 THE LOSS OP THE PHCENIX. -\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 to me, and taking me by the hand was so affected that he was scarcely able to speak. "Archer, I am happy be yond expression, to see you on shore, but look at our poor Phce- nix!" I turned about, but could not say a single word, being too full: my mind had been too intensely occupied before; but every thing now rushed upon me at once, so that I could not contain myself, and I indulged for a full quarter of an hour in tears. By twelve it was pretty moderate ; got some nails on shore and made tents; found great quantities offish driven up by the sea into holes of the rocks; knocked up afire, and had a most com fortable dinner. In the afternoon made a stage 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 per ished of hunger and thirst ; for we were upon a desolate part of the coast, and under a rocky raountain, that could not supply us with a single drop of water. Slept comfortably this night and the next day, the idea of death vanishing by degrees, the prospect of being prisoners, during the war, at the Havanna, and walking three hundred miles to it through the woods, was rather unpleasant. However, to save life for the present, we employed this day in getting more provisions and water on sliore, whicli was not an easy matter, on account of decks, guns, and rubbish, and ten feet water that lay over them. In the evening I proposed to Sir Hyde to repair the remains of the only boat left, and to venture in her to Jamaica myself; and in case I arrived safe, to bring vessels to take them all off; a pro posal worthy of consideration. It was. next day, agreed to; therefore 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 pro vision, hoisted English colors as we put off from the shore, and received three cheers frora the lads left behind, which we returned, and set sail with a light heart; having not the least doubt, that, with God's assistance, we should come and bring them all off. Had a very squally night, and a very leaky boat, so as to keep two buckets constantly baling. Steered her myself the whole night by the stars, and in the morning saw the coast of Jamaica distant twelve leagues. At eight ia the evening arrived at Mon tego Bay. I must now begin to leave off, particularly as I have but half an hour to conclude ; else ray pretty little short letter will lose its passage, which I should not like, after being ten days, at differ ent times, writing it, beating up with the convoy to the northward. which is a reason that this epistle will never read well; for I never eat down with a proper disposition to go on with it; but as I knew something of the kind would please you. I was resolved to finish MUTINY OF THE BOUNTY. 223 it: yet it will not bear an overhaul; so don't expose your son's nonsense. But to proceed — I instantly sent off an express to the admiral, another 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 gone to Moco. Got three sraall 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 rae up on their shoulders and carried rae to the tent where Sir Hyde was. I must omit many little occurrences that happened on shore, for want of time; but I shall have a number of stories to tell when I get alongside of you ; and the next time I visit you I shall not be in such a hurry to quit you as I was the last, for then I hoped my nest would have been pretty well feathered: — But ray tale is forgotten. I found the Porcupine had arrived that day, and the lads had built a boat alraost jeady for launching, that would hold fifty of thera, which was intended for another trial, in case I had founder ed. Next day erabarked all our people that were left, araounting to two hundred and fifty ; for sorae had died of their wounds they received in getting on shore ; others of drinking rum, and others had straggled into the country. All our vessels were so full of people, that we could not take away the few clothes that were saved from the wreck; but that was a trifle since we had preserv ed our lives and liberty. To make short of my story, we all arrived safe at Montego Bay, and shortly after at Port Royal, in the Janus, which was sent on purpose for us, and were all hon orably acquitted for the loss of the ship. I was made admiral's aid de camp, and a little tirae afterwards sent down to St. Juan's as captain of the Resource, to bring what were left of the poor devils to Blue Fields, on the Musquito shore, and then to Jaraaica. where they arrived after three raonths absence, and without a prize, though I looked out hard off Porto Bello and Carthagena. Found in my absence that I had been appointed captain of the Tobago, where I remain his Majesty's most true and faithful servant, and my dear mother's most dutiful son, ARCHER. MUTINY OF THE BOUNTY. The merchants and planters of the West India islands, having represented to his majesty that an essential benefit raight be de rived by introducing the bread-fruit as an article of food for the 224 MUTINY OP THE BOUNTY. inhabitants of those islands: his majesty was graciously pleased to direct the board of Admiralty to equip a ship for this purpose. Accordingly one proper for such a voyage was purchased, and fitted up in a most coramodious manner to receive the plants. She was named the Bounty, her burden about two hundred and fifteen tons, and the command conferred on Lieutenant W. Bligh, who had sailed as master with Captain James Cook, on his voyage of discoveries. The whole crew consisted of forty -six. On the 4th of November, 1787. the Bounty arrived at Spithead, and on the 24th of the same month, Mr. Bligh received his final orders from the Admiralty, which were to proceed round Cape Horn to the Society islands, there to take on board as many of the bread-fruit trees and plants as may be thought necessary, from thence to proceed through Endeavour Straights, to Prince's Island in the Straights of Sunda, or if it should be more con venient, to pass on the eastern side of Java, to some port on the north side of that island, where any bread-fruit trees which may have been injured, or have died, may be replaced by mangosteens, duriens, and other fruit trees of that quarter, as well as the rice plant w^hich grows upon dry land. From Prince's Island, or the island of Java, to return by the Cape of Good Hope to the Wes' Indies, and deposite one half ofthe trees and plants at his Majes ty's Botanical garden at St. Vincent, for the benefit ofthe Wind ward Islands; then to go onto Jaraaica, and having delivered the remainder to Mr. East, or such person or persons as may be authorised by the governor and council to receive them, to refresh the people and return to England. As the season raight be too far advanced for effecting a passage round Cape Horn, the Adrairalty gave Mr. Bligh discretional orders in this case, to go round the Cape of Good Hope. On the 23d of December, the Bounty sailed frora Spithead. On the 6th of January, 1788 she anchored in Santa Cruz road, on the island of Teneriff. On the 10th, having taken on board wine and other refreshments, Mr. Bligh proceeded on his voyage. On the 20th of March the coast of Terra del Fuego vvas discov ered ; from this time they began to experience very tempestuous weather, the winds in general blowing with great violenc* from the westward, attended with frequent snow and hail-storms. Mr. Bligh struggled with great perseverance against these troubles. for thirty days ; and then came to the resolution of bearing away for the Cape of Good Hope, where he arrived on the 23d of May. While at the Cape Mr. Bligh procured such plants and seeds as he thought would be valuable at Otaheite, or any other place at which he might stop. On the 1st of July he sailed from the Cape, and shaped hiis course for New Holland ; the southern promontory ef which he raade on the 19th of August. The next day he an chored in Adventure Bay: here the ship was refitted; the only fresh water to be procured was what had lodged in deep pits and MUTINV OF THE BOUNTY. 225 gulhes after fti. niny season: it was found perfectly sweet and good. This part ofthe coast of New Holland abounds in large forest- trees, sorae running to the height of one hundred and fifty feet; one in particular which was seen by the Bounty's people, meas ured thirty-two feet in girth. The wood of these trees is in gen eral firra, but of two heavy and solid a nature for raasts, though it might answer extremely well for ship-building. On the trunk of a decayed tree was observed to have been cut with a knife, the letters, " A. D. 177.3," vvhich is supposed to have been done by some of Captain Furneau.x's people vvho were at this place in the March of that year. The natives vvho were seen, were perfectly naked, extremely wild, but inoffensive. Mr. Bligh held out every friendly encour agement to have an intercourse with thera, but without effect. Previous to their leaving Adventure Bay, Mr. Nelson, the botanist, planted some apple and other fruit trees, and sowed various kinds of seeds. On the 4th of September they sailed from hence, and steering to the S. E. arrived on the 26th of October in Matavai Bay. in the island of Otaheite. Mr. Bligh immediately set about executing the object of his voyage; for which purpose the botanists vvere sent on shore, in search of, and to collect the bread-fruit plants, in vvhich they found no difficulty, receiving every assistance frora the natives, with whora the greatest friendship and intimacy subsisted during their continuance at this island. On the 31st of March. 1789. having collected as many of the trees and plants as could be conveniently stowed, they were taken on board to the nuraber of one thousand and fifteen, contained in seven hundred and seventy-four pots, thirty-nine tubs, and twenty- six boxes; besides several other plants of various descriptions. The Bounty being now ready for sea, Mr. Bligh made the fare well presents to his friends, many of vvhom expressed a great desire to accompany him to England, and shewed evident signs of regret at their departure. On the 4th of April, they took a last and affectionate leave of their hospitable Otaheiten friends, and put to sea; pursuing nearly the sarae tract to the Friendly Islands with forraer navigators; on the morning of the 10th, an island and several small keys near it were discovered; the island had a most beautiful appearance, it was covered with cocoa nut and other trees, interspersed with beautiful lawns. The next day a canoe came off with some of tho natives, vvho were extremely familiar, and spoke a similar language to those of Otaheite. They said the island was called Wytootac- kee. Its circumference is about ten railes; latitude 18° 50, south, longitude 200° 19 east. Leaving this island, they proceeded for the Friendly Islands, ai.d on the 23d anchored at Annamooka; at this place Mr. Bligh 226 MUTINY OF THE BOUNTY. saw an old man, who he reraerabered when he was here with Captain Cook, in the year 1777, from whom he learnt that several of the cattle which had been then left were still alive and had bred. Mr. Bligh had also the satisfaction to see that most ofthe seeds which had been sown at that time had succeeded, especially the pines, of which fruit the natives were very fond. Onthe 27th, having corapleted taking on board wood and water, and procured sorae bread-fruit plants to replace those which were dead or sickly, they sailed frora Annaraooka. A scene as unexpected as deplorable was now about to present itself, which rendered the object of the voyage, after all Mr. Bligh's exertions, ineffectual. This individual's bearing towards his officers and crew as it was afterwards proved, had never been of the most gentle or conciliating kind; indeed, he had frequently indulged in the coarsest and most brutal language towards them, and his acts were often oppressive in the extreme. In the afternoon of the 27th. Lieutenant Bligh came upon deck, and missing some ofthe cocoa nuts which had been piled up between the guns, said they had been stolen, and could not have been taken away without the knowledge of the ofiicers, all of whom were sent for and questioned on the subject. On their declaring that they had not seen any of the people touch them, he exclaimed, " Then you must have taken thera yourselves;" and proceeded to inquire of them separately how many they had purchased. On coming to Mr. Christian, tha» gentleraan answered, "I do not know, sir;' . but I hope ynr do not think me so raean as to be guilty of steal- ¦ ing you'-'' ' Mr. Bligh answered, " yes. you d d hound, J' do^ you must have stolen them frora rae, or you would be able to give a better account of them;" then turning to the other officers, he said, " God d — n you, you scoundrels, you are all thieves alike and combine with the men to rob rae: I suppose you will steal my yams next; but I'll sweat you for it, you rascals^I'll make half of you jurap overboard before you get through Endeav our Straits." This threat was followed by an order to the clerk "to stop the villains' grog, and give thera but half a pound of yams to-morrow; if they steal thera, I'll reduce them to a quarter." On the morning of the 28th of April, just before sun-rise, Mr. Christian, one of the mates, (who had for some time been intrus ted with the charge of the third watch), accompanied by the master at arms, gunner's mate, and Thomas Burkett, a seaman. entered Mr. Bligh's cabin while he vvas asleep, and seizing him, bound his hands behind his back, at the same time threatening instant death if he resisted or made the least noise. Not intimi dated by their threats, Mr. Bligh resolutely called for assistance, but the mutineers had taken care, previously to secure all those who were not concerned in their diabolical scheme. They ther MUTINY or THE BOUNTY. 227 pulled him from his bed, and forced him upon deck, with nothing on him but his shirt, where a guard was placed over him. The boatswain vvas ordered to hoist the launch out, which being done, Mr. Hayward and Mr. Hallet, midshipmen. Mr. Samuel, the clerk, with some others, were directed to go into her. Mr. Bligh frequently remonstiated with his people on the impropriety and violence of their proceedings, and endeavored to persuade them to return to their duty; but all his efforts proved ineffectual: the only reply he could obtain was. " hold your tongue sir or you are dead this instant." The officers who were confined below, were next called upon deck and forced into the boat. The mutineers were some time undecided whether they should detain the carpenter or his mate; at length, after rauch altercation, it was deterrained that the car penter should go into the boat ; and it- was not without mifch opposition that they permitted him to take his tool-chest with him. Upon vvhich some of them swore, that " he (meaning Mr. Bligh) would find his way home if he gets any thing with him, and that he would have a vessel built in less than a month." While others turned their miserable situation into ridicule, little expect ing from the boat being so deep and crowded, that she could long keep the sea. All those now being in the boat who were intended to accompany their unfortunate commander, Christian addressed him. saying. — " Come. Captain Bligh. your officers and men are now in the boat, and you must go with thera; if you attempt to make the least resistance you will instantly be put to death." He was then forced over the side, and his hands unbound. When they were putting him out of the ship, Mr. Bligh looked steadfastly at Christian, and asked him, ifhis treatment was a proper return for the many instances he had received of his friendship? At this question he seemed confused, and answered with much emotion. — " That. Captain Bligh. that is the thing; 1 am in hell — I am in hell."* The boat was veered astern, and soon after cast adrift, amidst the ridicule and scoffs of these deluded and unthinking men. whose general shout was, " huzza for Otaheite." The armorer and carpenter's mates called on Mr. Bligh, and begged him to remember that they had no hand in the transaction, and some others seemed to express by their manner a contrition for having joined in the rautiny. As no complaints had been made, or dissatisfaction shown, Mr. Bligh was at a loss how to account for this sudden and un expected change in the disposition of his people; unless it rose from the temptations held out to them by the chiefs of Otaheite, who were much attached to the English, and allured thera by promises of large possessions if they would remain behind; this, in addition to the connexion which they had forraed with the women, whom Mr. Bligh describes as handsome, mild and cheer 228 MUTINY OF THE BOUNTY. ful in their manners and conversation; possessed of great sensi- sibility, and having sufficient delicacy to make them admired and beloved. Although these were perhaps among the inducements which led to the mutiny, there is no doubt but that Bligh's intemperate language and insulting demeanor were the chief causes of the unhappy deed. It is pretty evident, that the mutiny was not, as Bligh in his narrative stated it to have been, the result of a con spiracy. It appears from the minutes ofthe court-martial, which was afterwards instituted, that the whole affair was planned and executed between the hours of four and eight o'clock on the morning of the 28th April, when Christian had the watch upon deck; that Christian, unable longer to bear the abusive language, had meditated his own escape from the ship the day before, choos ing "to trust hiraself to fate rather than subrait to the constant up braiding to which he had been subject; but the unfortunate busi ness ofthe cocoa nuts drove hira to the comraission of the rash and felonious act which ended, as such crirainal acts usually do, in his own destruction and that of a great nuraber of others, many of whom were wholly innocent. The following persons were those turned adrift with Mr. Bligh in the boat. John Fryer, master. T. Hayward, ) Tho. Ledwood. acting surgeon; J. Hallet, ) he was never heard of after John Norton, quarter-master, Mr. Bligh left Batavia. killed by the natives at Tosoa. D. Nelson, botanist; died at P. Linkletter, quarter-master; Batavia. died at Batavia. Wm. Peckover, gunner. L. Lebogue, sail-maker. Wm. Cole, boatswain. John Smith, cook. Wm. Purcill, carpenter. Tho. Hall, ditto; died at Bata- Wm. Elphilstone, master's via. mate ; died at Batavia. Robert Tinkler, boy. There remained in the Bounty, Fletcher Christian, master's Tho. MTntosh, of carpenter's mate. crew. P. Heywood, "i C. Churchill, master at arms. E. Young > midshipmen. Joseph Coleman, armorer. G. Stewart, ) Wm. Brown, gardiner; and 14 J. -Vlills, gunner's mate. able seamen. Before the boat was cast off, Mr. Bligh begged that some arms m' ght be handed into her; but these unfeeling wretches laughed at hi n, and said " he was well acquainted with the people among wliom he was going, and therefore did not want them." Tney, h( wever, threw four cutlasses into the boat MUTINV OF THE BOUNTY. 229 Their whole stock of provisions consisted of oi.e hundred and fifty pound of bread, sixteen pieces of pork, six quarts of rura, with twenty-eight gallons of water; there were also four empty barrecoes in the boat. The boatswain had been allowed to col lect a small quantity of twine, some canvas, lines, and cordage. Mr. Samuel, the clerk, had been also permitted to take a quadrant and compass; but he was forbidden on pain of death to touch either chart, ephemeris, book of astronomical observations, se.x- stant, time-keeper, or any ofthe surveys or drawings which Mr. Bligh had been collecting for fifteen years. Mr. 'Samuel had the good fortune to secure Mr. Bligh's journal and commission, with some other material ship papers. At the time the boat left the ship they were about ten leagues from Tosoa. Mr. Bligh's first determination was to steer for this place, to seek a supply of bread-fruit and water, frora thence to proceed to Tongataboo. and there to solicit the king to suffer him to equip the boat, and grant them such a supply of water and pro visions, as might enable them to reach the East Indies. Arriving at Tosoa, they found the natives unfriendly and hostile; anil availing themselves of the defenceless state ofthe English, at tacked them violently with stones, so that the supply they got here was very scanty. It was indeed vvith sorae difficulty they escaped being entirely cut off by the natives; which raost probably would have been the case, had not one ofthe crew (John Norton) resolutely juraped on shore and cast off the stern-fast ofthe boat; this brave fellow fell a sacrifice to preserve the lives of his com panions; he vvas surrounded and inhumanly murdered by these savages. The reception they met at Tosoa, gave them Httle encourage ment to touch at Tongataboo; as it was evident that the former good behavior of these people proceeded more from the dread of fire arms, than a natural disposition to be friendly. It now seemed the general wish of all in the boat, that Mr. Bligh should conduct them towards home. He pointed out to them that no hopes of relief remained, excepting what raight be found at New Holland, or the island of Tiraor, vvhich was at the distance of full one thousand and two hundred leagues; and that it would require the greatest economy to be observed, with regard to the scanty allowance which they had to live upon for so long a voyage. It was therefore agreed by the whole crew, that only an ounce of bread, and a quarter of a pint of water should be issued to each person per day. After Mr. Bligh had recommended to them in the most solemn manner not to depart from the promise they had made; he on the 2d of May bore away, and shaped his course for New Holland, across a sea little explored', in a boat only twenty-three feet in length, six feet nine inches in breadth, and two feet nine inches deep, with eighteen persons on board, and heavy ladfm. The next day they encountered a violent 20 230' MUTINY OF THE BOUNTY. storm, the boat shipped such a quantity of water, that It was by great e.xertions and with the utmost difficulty she could be kept afloat. The day following it moderated. Onthe Sth, they saw and passed a cluster of islands, continuing their course to the north-west. Hitherto they had not been able to keep any other account than by guess; but had now succeeded in getting a log- line marked, and by a little practice, some could count the sec onds vvith a tolerable degree of exactness. The miserable and confined state in which they were, induced Mr. Bligh to put his ctew to watch and watch, so that one half might be on the look out, while the others lay down in the boat's bottom, or upon a chest; even this gave but a trifling alleviation to their sufferings; being exposed to constant wet and cold, and not having room to stretch their limbs, they became ofterrso dreadfully cramped, as to be incapable of moving them. On the 7th, another group of islands was seen, from whence they observed two large canoes in pursuit of them, one of which at four o'clock in the afternoon, had arrived within two miles of the boat, when she gave over the chase and returned in shore. Mr. Bligh imagined from their direction and vicinity to the Friendly Islands these must have been the Fegee Islands. On the Sth, the weather was moderate and fair, which gave them an opportunity to dry their clothes, and clean out the boat. Mr. Bligh also amused the people, by relating to thera a descrip tion of New Guinea and New Holland, with every inforraation in his power, that in case any accident happened to him, the survi vors might be able to pursue their course to Timor; which place they before knew nothing of except by name. On the 10th, the weather again began to be extremely boisterous, with constant rain and frequent thunder and lightning; the sea was so rough, as often to break over the boat; so that- they vvere forever baling, and often in imminent danger of perishing; iu ad dition to their misfortunes, the bread was damaged by the salt water; their clothes never being dry. they derived no refreshment from the little rest they sometimes got; and many were so be numbed and cramped by the cold, that they were afflicted with violent shiverings and pains in the bowels. As the weather still continued tempestuous, Mr. Bligh, as an expedient, recommend ed it to every one to strip, and wring their clothes in the salt water, which had a good effect, and produced a warmth, that while wet with the rain they could not have. On the 14th they saw a number of islands, which appeared to be a new discovery, but as they lie so near the New Hebrides, they raay be considered as a part of that group. Their latitude frora 13 de^ 16 rain, to 14 deg. south, longitude 110 deg. 67 min. 17 min. to 168 deg. 34 min. east from Greenwich; to these they gave the name of Bligh's Islands. On the 24t\ it vvas thought necessary to reduce their already MUTINY OF THE BOUNTY. 23\ miserable pittance; it was accordingly agreed that each person should receive one 25th part of a pound of bread for breakfast, and the same quantity ^r dinner; so that by omitting the allow ance for supper, they would have forty-three days provisions. The next day they saw several noddies ancl other sea fowl, some of which they vvere so fortunate as to catch, and served them out as a part ofthe allowance. The sight of these birds in dicated their being in the neighborhood of land. The weather was now more serene; but even this becarae distressing to them; the heat ofthe sun was so intense, that many of the people were seized with a langor and faintness,>ivhich made life indifferent At one in the morning on the 29th, breakers were discovered about a quarter of a mile distant under their lee; they immediate ly hauled off and were soon out of danger. At daylight, they again stood in and discovered the reef, over which the sea broke furiously. Steering along the edge of it, an opening was soon observed, through which the boat passed; a small island which lay within the reef of a moderate height, Mr. Bligh named Island of Direction, as it serves to show the entrance of the channel; its latitude is 12 deg. 51 min. south. As they advanced within the reef, the coast of New Holland began to show itself distinctly. They landed in a fine sandy bay on an island near the main: here they found plenty of oysters, water, and berries, which to raen in their deplorable condition, were looked upon as luxuries. After a more comfortable repose than they had experienced for many nights, they were preparing the next day-to depart, vvhen about twenty natives made their appearance on the opposite shore, run ning and hallooing, at the same time making signs to land. Each was armed with a spear or lance; several others were seen peep ing over the tops of the adjacent hills. Mr. Bligh finding that he was discovered, judged it raost prudent to make the best of his way to sea. He named the island on which they landed Restora tion Island; as it was not only applicable to their own situation but the anniversary of King Charles's Restoration vvhen it was disco's jred; its observed latitude 12 deg. 39 min. south. As the boat sailed along the shore, many other parties of the natives came down, waving green boughs as a token of friendship ; but Mr. Bligh, suspicious of their intentions, would not venture to land. These people were naked, with black and woolly hair. On the 31st they landed on a small island, in order to get a distinct view of the coast; frora thence, after raaking a hearty meal on oysters, they again put to sea, steering along the shore, often touching at the different islands and keys to refresh them selves, and get such supplies as they afforded. Onthe evening of the 3d of June, they had passed through Endeavour Straits, and were once more launched into the open ocean, shaping their course for the island of Timor, which they vvere encouraged to expect they might reach in eight or ten days. A ccmtinuance of 232 MUTINY OF THE BOUNTY. wet and tempestuous vveather, affected even the stoutest among them to such a degree, from incessant fatigue, that many showed evident signs of approaching dissolu'tion. ^Mr. Bligh used every effort to revive their drooping spirits, and comforted them with a hope that they would soon arrive at a port where their distresses would be relieved. At three o'clock in the raorning on the 12th of June, to their inexpressible joy, the island of Tiraor was discovered; and on the 14th they arrived at the Dutch settlement of Coupang. Nothing could exceed the friendly and hospitable reception they met with from fhe governor, Mr. Van Este, who was lying Jmost at the point of death; he regretted that his infirmity should prevent him frora officiating as a friend himself, but assured Mr. Bligh that he would give such orders, as should procure him and his fellow suf^ ferers every assistance in his power; he accordingly committed thera to the care of Mr. Wanjen, his son-in-law, who, with the other principal persons of Coupang, rendered their situation com fortable during the tirae they staid among them. Mr; Bligh presented the governor a formal account of the loss of the Bounty; and a requisition in his Majesty's name, that in structions might be sent to all the Dutch settlements, to stop the ship if she should touch at any of them; with a list and description of the mutineers. A short time after their arrival at Coupang, by the humane and kind attention ofthe Dutch inhabitants, they had so much recovered their health, and strength, that Mr. Bligh purchased a schooner for one thousand rix dollars, to convey them to Batavia before the October fleet should sail for Europe. This vessel was named the Resource; and by the assistance and friendship of Mr. Wanjen, (to whose liberal and hospitable treatment they were all rauch in debted), Mr. Bligh was able to procure four brass swivels, four teen stand of arms, and some araraunition. which was necessary to protect them against the pirates who infest the coast of Java. On the 20th of July. Mr. David Nelson, the botanist died of an inflammatory fever; he vvas a man much respected, and of great scientific knowledge. This was his second voyage to the South Seas in the capacity of botanist. The schooner being ready for sea, on the 30th of August Mr. Bligh and his crew took an affectionate leave of their benefactors, and sailed from Coupang, with the launch that had preserved their lives, in tow. On the 1st of October they arrived in Batavia road. The next day Mr. Bligh was taken so extremely ill. that he was obliged to be moved into the country. Shortly after the Dutch suigeon- general represented to hira that his complaint was of such a nature, that unless he quitted the air of Batavia, it might prove fatal. In consequence of this, Mr. Bligh applied to the governor- general for permission to return to Europe by the fleet which MUTINY OF THE BOUNTY. 233 Was on the point of sailing; which being granted, he took his pass&.ge on board a Dutch packet, and sailed from Batavia on the 16th of October, 1789; the governor promising him that the re mainder of his crew should be sent home by the earliest opportu nity. On the 14th of March. 1790. he arrived in England. Out of the nineteen who were in the boat when she left the ship, only twelve lived to return to their native country. The tide of public applause set as strongly in favor of Bligh, on account of his sufferings and the successful issue of his daring enterprise, as its indignation was launched against Christian and his associates, for the audacious and criminal deed they had com- raitted. Bligh was proraoted by the Admiralty to the rank of commander, and speedily sent out a second time to transport the bread-fruit to the West Indies, which he without the least obstruc tion, successfully accomplisheil; and his raajesty's governraent vvas no sooner raade acquainted with the atrocious act of piracy and mutiny, than it determined to adopt every possible means to ap prehend and bring to condign punishment the perpetrators of so foul a deed. For this purpose, the Pandora frigate of twenty- four guns, and one hundred and sixty raen, was despatched, under the coramand of Captain Edward Edwards, with orders to proceed in the first instance to Otaheite. and. not finding the mutineers there, to visit the different groups of the Society and Friendly Islands, and others in the neighboring parts of the Pacific, using his best endeavors to seize and bring home in confinement the whole or such part of the delinquents as he might be able to discover. This voyage was in the sequel almost as disastrous as that of the Bounty, but from a different cause. The waste of human life was much greater, occasioned by the wreck ofthe ship, in return ing ; and the distress experienced by the crew was not much less, owing to the famine and thirst they had to suffer in a navigation of eleven hundred miles in open boats; but the captain succeeded in fulfilling a part of his instructions, by taking fourteen of the mutineers, of whora ten were brought safe to England, the other four being drowned when the ship was wrecked. Soon after their arrival, a court-martial assembled to try the prisoners, on board his majesty's ship Duke, on the 12th Septeraber, 1792. Against seven of the ten the charges of mutiny were proved, and they were adjudged worthy of death; two of them, however, Peter Hey wood and Jaraes Morrison were earnestly recoraraended by the court to his majesty's mercy.' and they were pardoned according ly. Heywood, who at the time of the mutiny was but sixteen years of age. vvas very honorably and fully acquitted in public opinion of any participation in the deed, and he afterwards rose to distinction, without any invidious suspicion being attached to him. He died in the year 1831, leaving behind him a high and unblemished character in that service of which he was a most 20* 234 MUTINY OF THE BOUNTY. honorable^ mtelligent, and distinguished member. The remaining five of the convicts were hung pursuant to sentence. Twenty years had passed away, and the Bounty, and Fletcher Christian, and the piratical crew that he had carried^off with him in that ship, had long ceased to occupy a thought in the public mind. It happened however, that an accidental discovery, as in teresting as it was wholly unexpected, was brought to hght in con sequence of an American trading vessel having, by mere chance, approached one of those numerous islands in the Pacific, against vvhose steep and iron-bound shore the surf almost everlastingly rolls with such tremendous violence as to bid defiance to any at tempts of boats to land, except at particular times and in very few places. Captain Folger, of the American brig Topaz, of Boston, in September, 18()8, landed on Pitcairn's Island in latitude^" 2' south, longitude 130° west, where he found an Englishman, of the narae of Alexander Smith, the only person remaining of nine that had escaped in the Bounty. Smith related that, after put ting Captain Bligh in the boat, Christian took command of the ship and went to Otaheite, where many of the crew left her, ex cept Christian, Smith, and seven others, who each took wives, and six Otaheitan men-servants, and shortly after arrived at Pit cairn's Island, where they ran the ship ashore and broke her up; this event took place in the year 1790. About four years after their arrival (a great jealousy existing), the Otaheitans secretly revolted, and killed every Englishman except Smith, whom they severely wounded in the neck vvith a pistol ball. The same night, the widows of the deceased Eng lishmen arose and put to death the whole of the Otaheitans, leaving Smith the only man alive upon the island, with eight or nine women and several smaU children. On his recovery, he ap plied hiraself to tilling the ground, so that it now produced plenty of yams, cocoa-nuts, bananas and plantains; hogs and poultry in abundance. There were some grown-up men and women, chil dren ofthe mutineers, on the island, the whole population amount ing to about thirty-five, who acknowledged Smith as father and comraander of them all ; they all spoke English, and had been educated by him in a moral and religious way. It was asserted by the second mate of the Topaz, that Chris tian, the ringleader became insane shortly after taking up his abode on the island, and threw himself off the rocks into the sea. It IS clear enough that this misguided and ill-fated young man was never happy after the rash and criminal step he had taken. He was always sullen and morose, and committed so many acts of wanton oppression as very soon incurred the hatred of his companions. According to the account of Smith, or as he was usually called, John Adams, the cause of Christian's death was THE SHETLAND ISLES. 235 his having foicibly seized on the wife of one ofthe Otaheite men, which so exasperated the rest that they not only sought the life ofthe offender, but of others also who might, as they thought, be disposed to pursue the same course. The manner of Christian's death still reraains uncertain; certain it is, that however far he might escape from the reach of justice there was no escaping from " Those roJs of scorpians and those whips of steel Which conscience shaltes." Pitcairn's Island vvas visited in 1814 by his majesty's frigates, the Briton and the Tagus, by which the account of Captain Fol ger was confirmed. From the time of this visit nothing more was heard of Adams and his family for nearly twelve years, when, in 1825, Captain Beechey, in fhe Blossom, bound on a voyage of discovery, touched at Pitcairn's Island. He found the descend ants of the mutineers increased to sixty-six; the females were modest, haVidsorne and pleasing, and the males added a wonderful degree of strength and agility to a beautiful symmetry of form. Adams had introduced into his little society, the raost salutary laws and regulations, which he had drawn from the bible, and seemed desirous to atone for his past misconduct by training up the rising generation in piety and virtue. The death of this old patriarch took place in March, 1829, and he was sincerely lamented by the infant colony. It has recently been stated in the newspapers, that owing to a deficiency of water at Pitcairn's Island, the descendants of the mutineers had all emigrated to Otaheite: but there being disgusted with the dissolute and ira- moral behavior of the islanders, they had returned to the place of their birth 1 3 escape the contamination of vice and intempe rance. THE SHETLAND ISLES, These islands lie about fifteen leagues north-east of the Ork neys, between the fifty-ninth and sixty-first degrees of north lati tude. They are about eighty-six in nuraber, of which forty are inhabited, and the others are small holms or rocky islets, used only for pasturage. The small islands of Foula and Fair Isle lie in the strait between the clusters of Orkney and Shetland. The cliraate of these islands cannot be said to be agreeable. The weather is wet and variable, though not injurious to the health of those who have been accustomed to it. Great numbers of horses are bred in Shetland, though they are of very small size, the ordinary height being fi-om nine to ten bands, whilst the largest do nijt exceed eleven hands. The inhab- 236 THE SHETLAND ISLES itants are a hardy, robust and laborious race, and hospitable to strangers. They have few manufactures, but export great quanti ties of stockings wrought upon wires, manufactured from the wool of their own sheep. , The isles afford abundance of sea-fowl, which serve the inhab itants for part of their food, while the down and feathers are a source of considerable profit to them. The several tribes of fowl here build and hatch apart. Some ofthe lesser isles are so crowd ed with variety of sea-fowl, that they darken the air when they fly, in great numbers. The people inhabiting the lesser isles have plenty of eggs, and fowl, which contribute to maintain their fami lies during the summer. The common people are generally very dexterous in climbing the rocks in quest of the eggs and fowl; but this exercise is attended with great danger, and sometimes proves fatal to those who venture too far. The most remarkable experiment of this sort is at the isle called the Noss of Brassah and is as follows : Bird Catching. The Noss being about sixteen fathom distant from the side of the opposite main; the higher and lower rocks have two stakes fastened in each of them, and to these there are ropes tied: upon the ropes is hung an engine which they call a cradle; and in this a man makes his way over from the greater to the lesser rock, where he takes a considerable quantity of eggs and fowl; but his return being by an ascent, makes it more dangerous, though those on the great rock have a rope tied to the cradle, by which they draw it and the man safe over for the most part. , . j There are some rocks here computed to be about three hundred A SEA BALLAD. 23T fathoms high ; and the way of climbing them is, to tie a rope about a man's middle and let him down with a basket, in which he brings up his eggs and fowl. The isle of Foula is the most dangerous and fatal to the climbers, for many of them perish in the attempt. A SEA-BALLAD. A jolly comrade in the port, a fearless mate at sea ; When 1 forget thee, to my hand false may the cutlass be ! And may my gallant battle-flag be stricken down in shame, If, when the social can goes rounj. I fail to pledge thy name ! Up, up. my lads ! his memory ! we'll give it with a cheer Ned Bolton, the commander of the Black Snake privateer ! Poor Ned ! he had a heart of steel, with neither flaw nor speck : Firm as a rock, in strife or storm, he stood the quarter-deck ; He was, I trow, a welcome man to many an Indian dame. And Spanish planters crossed themselves at whisper of his name. But now, Jamaica girls may weep — rich Dons securely smile — His bark will take no prize again, nor e'er touch Indian isle ! S blood ! 'twas a sorry fate he met on his own mother wave — The foe far off, the storm asleep, and yet to iind a grave ! With store ofthe Peruvian gold, and spirit ofthe cane, No need would he have had to cruise in tropic climes again : But some are born to sink at sea, and some to hang on shore, And Fortune cried, God speed ! at last, and welcomed Ned no more. 'Twas off the coast of JVIexico — the tale is bitter brief — The Black Snake, under press of sail, stuck fast upon a reef — Upon a cutting coral-reef, scarce a good league from land, But hundreds, both of horse and foot, were ranged upon the strand; His boats were lost before Cape Horn, and, vvitli an old canoe. Even had he numbered ten for one, what could Ned Bolton do .' Six days and nights the vessel lay upon the coral-reef, Nor favoring gale, nor friendly flag brought prospect of relief ; For a land breeze, the wild one prayed, who never prayed before, And when it came not at his call, he bit his Up and swore. The Spaniards shouted from the beach, but did not venture near Too well they knew the mettle ofthe daring privateer! A calm ! a calm ! a hopeless calm ! the red sun burning high, Glared blisteringly and wearily in a transparent sky ; The grog went round the gasping crew, and loudly rose the song. The only pastime at an hour when rest seemed far too long. So boisterously they took their rouse upon the crowded deck — They looked like men who had escaped, not feared, a sudden wreck. Up sprung the breeze the seventh day — away ! away ! to sea Drifted the bark, with riven planks, over the waters free ; Their battle-flag these rovers bold then hoisted topmast high, And to the sw^thy foe sent back a fierce defying cry. 238 DANGERS OF A NOVA SCOTIA FOO. " One last broadside !" Ned Bolton cried — deep boomed the cannon's roar And echo's hollow growl returned an answer from the shore. The thunderinff gun, the broken song, the mad, tumultuous cheer Ceased not, so long as ocean spared the shattered privateer. 1 saw her. — I — she shot by me, like lightning, in the gale, We strove to save, we tacked, and fast we slackened all our sail— I knew the wave of Ned's right hand — farewell ! you strive in vain ! And he, nor one of his ship's crew, e'er entered port again ! DANGERS OF A NOVA SCOTIA FOG. BY CAPTAIN HALL. There are few things more provoking than the fogs off Halifax, for, as they happen to be corapanions of that very wind, the south- rast, which is the best for running in, the navigator is plagued with the tormenting conciousness, that if he could be allowed but a couple of hours of clear weather, his port would be gained, and his troubles over. The clearing up, therefore, of these odious clouds or veils is about the most delightful thing I know; and the instantaneous effect which a clear sight ofthe land, or even ofthe sharp horizon, when far at sea, has on the mind of every person on board, is quite remarkable. All things look bright, fresh, and more beautiful than ever. The stir over the whole ship at these moments is so great that even persons sitting below can tell at once that the fog has cleared away. The rapid clatter of the men's feet, springing up the hatchways at the lively sound of the boatswains call to "make sail!" soon follows. Then comes the cheerful voice of the officer, hailing the topmen to shake out the reefs, trice up the stay sails, and rig out the booras. That pecu liar aud well known kind of echo, also, by which the sound ofthe voice is thrown back from the wet sails, contributes in like man ner., tT produce a joyous elasticity of spirits, greater. I think than is excited by most ofthe ordinary occurrences of a sea life. A year or two after the tirae I ara speaking of, it was re solved to place a heavy gun upon the rock on which Sarabro light house is built ; and, aher agood deal of trouble, a long twenty-four pounder was hoisted up tathe highest ridge of this prominent sta tion. It was then arranged that, if. on the arrival of any ship off the harbor, in a period of fog. she chose to fire guns, these were to be answered frora the light-house, and in this way a kind of audible though invisible telegraph might be set to work. If it happened that the officers of the ship were sufficiently famihar with the ground, and possessed nerves stout enough for such a grop ing kind of navagation, perilous at best, it vvas possible to run DANGEI13 OF A NOVA SCOTIA FOG. 239 fairly into the harbor, notwithstanding the obscurity, by watching the sound of these guns, and attending closely to the depth of water. I never was in any ship vvhich ventured upon this feat, but I perfectly recollect a curious circumstance, which occured, I think, to his majesty's ship Cambrian. She had run in from sea towards the coast, enveloped in one of these dense fogs. Of course they took for granted that the light-house and the adjacent land Hal- afax included were likewise covered with an impenetrable cloud or mist. But it so chanced, by what freak of Dame Nature, I know not, that the fog, on that day, was confined to the deep water, so that we who vvere in the port, could see it at the distance of several miles from the coast lying on the ocean like a huge stratum of snow, with an abrupt face fronting the shore. The Cambrian, lost in the midst of this fog bank, supposing herself to be near the land, fired a gun. To this the light-house replied; and so the ship and the light went on pelting away, gun for gun, during half the day without ever seeing one another. The people at the light-house had no means of communicating to the frigate that, if she could only stand on a little further, she would disen tangle herself from the cloud, in which, like Jupiter Olympus of old she was wasting her thunder. At last the captain, hopeless of its clearing up. gave orders to pipe to dinner; but as the weather, in all respects except this abom- f'nable haze, was quite fine, and the ship was still in deep water. le directed her to be steered towards the shore, and the lead kept [constantly going. As one o'clock approached, he began to feel uneasy, from the water shoaling, and the light-house guns sound ing closer and closer; but, being unwilling to disturb the men at dinner, he resolved to stand on for the remaining ten minutes of the hour. Lo and behold! however, they had not sailed half a mile further before the flying-jib-boom end emerged from the wall of mist — then the bowsprit shot into day light — and, lastly the ship herself, glided out of the cloud into the full blaze of a bright and " sunshine holy day." All hands were instantly turned up to make sail; and the men, as they flew on deck, could scarcely believe their senses, when they saw behind thera the fog bank, and right ahead the harbor's mouth, tviththe bold cliffs of Cape Sam bro on the left, and, farther still, the ships at their moorings, with their ensign and pendants blowing out, light and dry in the breeze. A far different fate, alas! attended his Majesty's ship Atalante, Captain Frederic Hickey. On the morning of the 10th of No vember, 1813. this ship stood in for Halifax harbor in very thick weather, carefully feeling her way fl^ith the lead, and having look-out men at the jib-boom-end, fore-yard-arms, and every where else from which a glimpse of land was likely to be obtained. Af- er breakfast a fog signal gun was fired, in expectation of its being 240 DANGERS OP A NOVA SCOTIA FOG. answered by the fight-house on Cape Sambro, near which it was known they must be. Within a few minutes, accordingly, a gun was heard in the north-north-west quarter, exactly where the light vvas supposed to lie. As the soundings agreed with the estimated position of the ship, and as the guns from the Atalante, fired at intervals of fifteen minutes, were regularly answered in the direc tion of the harbor's mouth, it was determined to stand on so as to enter the port under the guidance of these sounds alone. By a fatal coincidence of circumstances, however, these answering guns v/ere fired not by Cape Sambro, but by his Majesty's ship Bar- rossa, which was likewise entangled by the fog. She. too, suppos ed that she was comraunicating with the light-house, whereas it was the guns of the unfortunate Atalante that she heard all the tirae. There was certainly no inconsiderable risk incurred by running in for the harbor's mouth under such circumstances. But it will often happen that it becomes the officer's duty to put his ship as well as his life in hazard; and this appears to have been exactly one of those cases. Captain Hickey was charged with urgent despatches relative to the enemy's fleet, which it was ofthe great est importance should be delivered without an hour's delay. But there was every appearance of this fog lasting a week; and as he and his officers had passed over the ground a hundred times before, and were as intimately acquainted with the spot as any pilot could be, it was resolved fo try the bold experiment; and the ship was forthwith steered in the supposed direction of Halifax. They had not, however, stood on far, before one ofthe lookout men exclaimed, "breakers ahead! Hard a-starboard!" Butitwas too late, for, before the helm could be put over, the ship was araongst those formidable reefs known by the name ofthe sisters' rocks, or eastern ledge of Sambro Island. The rudder and half ofthe sternpost, together with the greater part of the false keel, were driven off by the first blow and floated up along side. There is some reason to beheve, indeed, that a portion of the bottom of the ship, loaded with one hundred and twenty tons of iron ballast, were torn from the upper works by this fearful blow, and that the ship, which instantly filled with jvater, was afterwards buoyed up merely by the empty casks, till the decks and sides burst through or were riven asunder by the waves. The captain vvho, throughout the whole scene, continued as com posed as if nothing remarkable had occurred, now ordered the guns to be thrown overboard, but before one of them could be cast loose, or a breaching cut, the ship fell over so much that the men could not stand. It was, therefore, with great difficulty that a few guns were fired as signals of distress. In the same breath that this order was given. Captain Hickey desire.d the yard tackles to be hooked, in order that the pinnace might be hoisted out- but as the raasts, deprived of their foundation, were tottering from DANGERS OF A NOVA SCOTIA FOG. 241 Side to side, the people were called down again. The quarter boats were then lowered into the water with some difficulty, but the jolly boat, which happened to be on the poop undergoing re pairs, in being launched overboard, struck against one ofthe stern davits, bilged, and went down. The ship was now falling fast over on her beam ends, and directions were given to cut away her fore and mainmast. Fortunately, they fell without injuring the large boat on the booras — their grand hope. At the instant of this crash, the ship parted in two between the main and mizen-masts; and, within a few seconds afterwards, she again broke right across, be tween the fore and main-masts : so that the poor Atalante now form ed a mere wreck, divided into three pieces, crumbling into smaller fragments at every send of the swell. By this tirae a considerable crowd of men had got into the pin nace on the booms in hopes that she raight float off as the ship sunk; but Captain Hickey, seeing that the boat was so loaded that she could never swira, desired sorae twenty raen to quit her; and, what is particularly worthy of remark, his orders, which were given with perfect coolness, were as promptly obeyed as ever. Throughout the whole of these trying raoraents, indeed, the disci pline ofthe ship appears to have been maintained not only without the smallest trace of insubordination but with a degree of cheer fulness vvhich is described as truly wonderful. Even when the masts fell, the sound of the crashing spars were drowned in the animating huzzars ofthe undaunted crew, though they were then clinging to the weather gunwale, with the sea, from time to time. making a clean breacltover them, and when they were expecting every instant to be carried to the bottom! As soon as the pinnace was relieved from the pressure ofthe crowd, she floated off the booms or rather was knocked off by a sea, which turned her boy;6m upwards, and whelmed her into the surf amidst the fragments of the wreclc. The people however. imitating the gallant bearing of their captain, and keeping their eyes fixed upon him, never for one instant lost their self possession. By dint of great exertions, they succeeded not only in righting the boat, but disentangled her from the confused heap of spars, and the dash ofthe breakers, so as to place her at a little distance from the wreck where they waited for further orders from the captain, who with about forty men. still clung to the poor remains ofthe gay Atalante once so much admired! An attempt was next made to construct a raft, as it was feared the three boats could not possibly carry all hands; but the violence of the waves prevented this, and it was resolved to trust to the boats alone, though they were already to all appearance quite full. It was now, however absolutely necessary to take to them, as the wreck was disappearing rapidly; and in order to pack close, most ofthe men were removed to the pinnace, wherci they laid flat in the bottom, like herrings in a barrel, while the small 21 342 DANGERS OP A NOVA SCOTIA FOG. boats returned to pick off the rest. This was no easy matter in any case, while it was impossible in others; so that many raen had to swim for it; others were dragged through the waves by ropes, and some were forked off by oars and other small spars. Araongst the Crew there was one famous merry fellow, a black fiddler, who was discovered at this critical juncture clinging to the main chains with his beloved Cremona squeezed tightly but deli cately under his arm — a ludicrous picture of distress, aud a subject of sorae joking araongst the raen even at this raoraent. It soon be carae absolutely necessary that he should lose one ofthe two things his fiddle or his life. So, at last, after a painful struggle, the pro fessor and his violin were obliged to part company! The pinnace now contained seventy-nine men and one i^oman, the cutter forty-two and the gig eighteen, with which cargoes they barely floated. Captain Hickey was, of course, the last man who left the wreck ; though such was the respect and affection felt for him by his crew, that those who stood along with him on this last vestage of the ship, evinced the greatest reluctance at leaving their commander in such a perilous predicament. So speedy indeed was the work of destruction, that by the time the Captain vvas fairly in the boat, the wreck had almost entirely ' melted into the yest of waves. ' The crew, however, gave her three hearty cheers as she went down, and then finally abandoned the scattered frag ments, of what had been their house and home for nearly seven years. The fog still continued as thick as ever; the binacles had both been washed overboard, and no comp'ass could be procured. As the wind was still light, there was great difficulty in steering in a straight line. Had there been a breeze, it vvould perhaps have been easier to have shaped a course. In this dilemma a re source was hit upon, which for a time answered pretty well to guide them. It being known loosely, before leaving the wreck, in what direction the land vvas situated, the three boats were placed in a row pointing that way. The sternmost boat then quitted her station in the rear, and pulled ahead till she came in a line with the other two boats, but took care not to go so far as to be lost in the fog; the boat which was now astern then rowed ahead, as the first had done, and so on doubling along one after the other. This •tardy method of proceeding however answered only for a time; at length they were completely at loss which way to steer. Precise ly at this moment of greatest need, an old quarter-master, Samuel Shanks by name, recollected that at the end of his watch chain there hung a small compass seal. This precious discovery was announced to the other boats by a joyous shout from the pinnace. The compass being speedily handed into the gig, to the captain, was placed on top ofthe chronometer, which had been nobly saved by the clerk; and as this instrjiment worked on jimbles, the little THE EDDYSTONE LIGHT-HOUSE. 243 needle remained upon it sufficiently steady for steering the boats within a few points. This vvas enough to insure hitting land, from which they had been steering quite wide. Before reaching the shore, they fell in with an old fisherman, who piloted them to a light, called Portu guese Cove, where they all landed in safety, at a distance of twenty miles from Halifax. THE EDDYSTONE LIGHT-HOUSE. This most celebrated light-house is built on the Eddystone rocks These are situate nearly south-south-west from the mid dle of Plymouth sound, England, according to the true meridian The distance from the port of Plymouth is nearly fourteen railes; and from the promontory called Rarahead, about ten miles. They are almost in the line, but somewhat within it. which joins the Start and the Lizard points; and as they lie nearly in the direction of vessels coasting up and down the channel, they were necessari ly, before the establishment of light-houses, very dangerous, and often fatal to ships under such circumstances. Their situation, likewise, with regard to the Bay of Biscay, and the Atlantic Ocean, is such, that they lie open to the swells ofthe bay and ocean from all south-western points of the-compass, which swells are'generally allowed by mariners to be very great and heavy in those seas, and particularly in the Bay of Biscay. It is to be observed that the soundings of the seafrorti the south-westward, toward the Eddy stone, are from eighty fathoms to forty, and every where till you come near the Eddystone, the sea is full thirty fathoms in depth; so that all the heavy seas from the south-west come uncontrolled upon the Eddystone rocks, and break on them with the utmost fury. The force and height of these seas is increliseel by the circum stance of the rocks stretching across the channel, in a north and south direction, to the length of above one hundred fathoms, and by their lying in a sloping manner toward the south-west quarter. This striving of the rocks, as it is technically called, does not cease at low water, but still goes on progressively; so that; at fifty fathoms westward, there are twelve fathoms water, nor do they terminate altogether at the distance of a mile. From this con figuration it happens, that the seas are swelled to such a degree in storms, and hard gales of wind, as to break on the rocks with the utmost violence. The effect of this slope is likewise sensibly felt in moderatp, and even in calm weather, for the liberation of the water, cs'jsc-^ 214 THE EDDYSTONE LIGHT-HOUSE. in the Bay of Biscay inhard gales, at south-west, continues in those deep waters for raany days, though succeeded by a calm; inso much, that when the sea is to all appearance smooth and even and its surface unruffled by the slightest breeze, yet those librations still continuing, which are called the ground swell, and meeting the slope of the rocks, the sea breaks upon them in a frightful manner, so as not only to obstruct any work being done upon the rock, but even the landing upon it, when, figuratively speaking you might go to sea in a walnut-shell. A circumstance which still farther increases the difficulty of working on the rocks is there being a sudden drop of the surface ofthe rock, formin