Our foremast being found rotten a few feet below the top, it was deemed necessary to take it out for repairs, which required the daily employment of the carpenter and others for some time.--On the 27th, the captain received a letter, giving intelligence that the ship London had been driven ash.o.r.e at an Island not far distant from Woahoo.--As the Dolphin"s foremast was out, the captain was under the necessity of pressing the brig Convoy, of Boston, and putting on board of her about 90 of his own men, taking with him 2 of his lieutenants and some under officers, he sailed to the a.s.sistance of the ship London.
Feb, 3d, the brig Convoy returned laden with a part of the cargo of the London, and the specie which was in her at the time of her going ash.o.r.e, under the command of our 2d lieutenant, leaving the remainder of her cargo in another vessel, under the command of Capt. Percival.
Feb. 5th. The captain returned with the residue of the London"s cargo, and the officers and crew of that ship. After the cargo of the London had been secured, we were employed in finishing the repairs on our foremast, which were completed on the 21st; and we commenced rigging.
Feb. 26th. On the morning of this day, permission was granted to a number of our crew, to go on sh.o.r.e. In the afternoon, Hussey and myself went and took a walk. About 4 or 5 o"clock, I observed a great collection of natives, and on inquiring the reason, learned that several of the Dolphin"s crew, joined by some from other ships lying in port, had made an a.s.sault upon Mr. Bingham, the missionary, in consequence of ill will towards that gentleman, strongly felt by some of the sailors, but for what particular reason, I did not distinctly ascertain. They carried their revenge so far, that they not only inflicted blows upon Mr. Bingham, but attacked the house of a chief.
The natives, some with cutla.s.ses, and others with guns, repelled the unjustifiable attack; and during the affray, several of our men were slightly injured, and one badly wounded, whose life was despaired of for some time. The offenders were arrested, sent on board, and put in irons.
On the next day, 27th, Mr. Bingham came on board with the captain and witnesses against the men engaged the preceding day, in the a.s.sault on sh.o.r.e. After a fair examination of evidence in the case, the aggressors were properly punished, and ordered to their duty.--The whale ships now began to arrive for the purpose of recruiting, and for some particular reasons, several of the captains of those ships requested captain Percival to remain at the Island as a protection to them, till they could obtain the necessary supplies, and resume their cruises. From the present date, nothing of importance occurred that would be interesting to readers, till April 3d, when great preparations were made on board the Dolphin, to give a splendid entertainment to the young king. The gig and second cutter were employed in the morning, to borrow signals from the different ships in the harbour, in order to dress out the schooner in a fanciful style.
About 11 o"clock, the gig and second cutter were sent ash.o.r.e for the king and several chiefs and natives of distinction, who were soon conveyed on board. The yards were manned, and a general salute fired.
After partaking of as good a dinner as our resources and the means within our reach would afford, the king and his attendants were disembarked under the honour of another salute.--During the remainder of this month, the events which transpired, were princ.i.p.ally of an ordinary cast, and not thought worthy of record.
May 3d. This day we were employed in bending sails; and from this date to the 11th, the necessary preparations were made to commence our homeward voyage. This day (11th,) the pilot came on board, and for the last time we weighed our anchors in the harbour of Woahoo. While retiring from the sh.o.r.e we were saluted with 21 guns from the fort. We hove about, returned the salute, and then resumed our destined course, and bid a last adieu to Woahoo, after a tedious and protracted stay of about four months.
From the time of our departure, on the 11th of May, from Woahoo, nothing of importance transpired till the 12th of June. On the morning of this day we discovered the Island Toobowy; and at 9 o"clock saw a sail, which proved to be a whale ship. At half past 2 came to anchor at a convenient place near the Island, and sent a boat ash.o.r.e, which returned at night with two natives, who gave us a description of the harbour, and directions how to enter it; and as our mainmast was injured, we entered it to make the necessary repairs. On the 13th, we beat up the harbour, and at 3 o"clock anch.o.r.ed, where we continued repairing our mast, and procuring wood and water, till the 22d; when we weighed anchor and made sail for Valparaiso, favoured with fine weather and good winds. July 18th, made the Island of Ma.s.safuero, and pa.s.sed it about midnight. On the 19th, in the forenoon, made the Island of Juanfernandez; and at 11 P. M. on the following day, discovered the land at the south of Valparaiso. On the 22d, beat up the harbour, and at 2 o"clock on the morning of the 23d, came to anchor.--At Valparaiso, we learned that the frigate United States was at Callao; and after getting a supply of provisions, we sailed for Callao on the 9th of August, and arrived on the 24th. Here we found the United States, lying under the Island of Lorenzo, with several English ships of war.
On the 26th, the Dolphin in company with the United States, pa.s.sed over to Callao; and Sept. 1st, I and the crew of the Dolphin were transferred to the United States.
Sept. 10th. All the men that had been transferred from the Dolphin to the United States, had liberty to go to Lima; at 12 o"clock we went on sh.o.r.e, and at 4 P. M. entered the gates of the city. I employed my time while on sh.o.r.e, in roving about the city, and viewing the various objects it presents; and on the 13th returned on board the United States. We were detained here till the 16th of December, when we sailed for Valparaiso, and having a pleasant pa.s.sage, arrived on the 6th of January, where we were happy to find, for our relief, the Brandywine. From the 8th to the 24th, all hands were engaged in preparing the ship for her homeward voyage; when at 9 o"clock we weighed our larboard anchor, and at 1 P. M. were under sail, pa.s.sing out of the harbour, when the Cambridge, (an English 74,) then lying in the harbour, gave us 3 cheers, which we returned with 3 times 3; she then saluted us with 13 guns, which we returned with the same number, and then proceeded to sea.
Being favoured with fine weather and good winds, we had a prosperous voyage to Cape Horn, and arrived off the pitch on the 7th of Feb. and pa.s.sed round with a pleasant breeze. In prosecuting our voyage home, off the mouth of the river Rio de la Plata, and along the coast of Brazil, we had rough weather and thick fogs. On the 6th we made the land and harbour of St. Salvador, and about 9 o"clock came to anchor.--On the 7th we fired a salute for the fort, which was returned.
We were now employed in watering our ship, and making other preparations for continuing our voyage homeward; and on the 15th got under weigh, with a fine breeze.
April 1st. At 10 o"clock, made the Island of Barbadoes, and at 1 P. M.
came to anchor, where we lay till 5 P. M. on the 3d, when we got under weigh, and sailed down the Island to St. Thomas, where we sent a boat ash.o.r.e, and after transacting the business for which we stopped, made sail on the 9th for the port of New-York. On the 21st, made the highland of Neversink; at 2 P. M. took a pilot on board, but owing to fogs and calms, did not arrive to the port of destination till 1 P. M.
next day, when we anch.o.r.ed opposite the West Battery, with a thankful heart that I was once more within the United States.
CHAPTER VII.
I will now proceed to give the reader some account of the Islands I visited, and of the manners and customs of the natives, and shall endeavour to be as candid and correct as possible.
The Mulgrave Islands are situated between 5 and 6 degrees north lat.i.tude, and between 170 and 174 degrees of east longitude. They are about 50 miles in length, and lie in the form of a semi-circle, forming a kind of inland sea or lake; the distance across it being about 20 miles. The land is narrow, and the widest place is probably not more than half a mile. On the north side of the group are several inlets or pa.s.sages, of sufficient depth to admit the free navigation of the largest ships; and if explored, excellent harbours would in all probability be found. In the inland sea are numerous beds of coral, which appear to be constantly forming and increasing. These coral beds are seen at low water, but are all overflowed at high tide. The whole group is entirely dest.i.tute of mountains, and even hills, the highest land not being more than six feet above the level of the sea at high water. By the accounts given me from the natives, it appears that some parts have been overflowed by the sea. Their being so low, makes the navigation near them very dangerous in the night, both because they would not be easily seen, and because the water is very deep quite to the sh.o.r.es; and a place for anchoring can scarcely be found on the outside of the Island.
The air of these Islands is pure, and the climate hot; but the heat is rendered less oppressive by the trade winds, which blow constantly, and keep the atmosphere healthful and salubrious for so low a lat.i.tude.
The soil, in general, is productive of little besides trees and shrubs, and most of it is covered with rough coral stones.
The productions are breadfruit in its proper season, and cocoanuts, which they have throughout the year; and a kind of fruit different from any that grows in America, which the natives call Bup--all growing spontaneously. Of the leaves of the trees the women manufacture very elegant mats, which they wear as blankets and clothing; of the bark of a vine they make men"s clothing; and of the husks of the cocoa they make ropes and rigging for their canoes, and for almost every other purpose. The waters round the Islands abound with fish, and the natives are very expert in catching them.
There are no animals on the Islands, excepting _rats_; and by these little quadrupeds they are literally overrun.
The number of all the inhabitants, men, women, and children, is probably between five and six hundred.
The following may be given as prominent characteristics of the natives.--They are in general, well made and handsome--very indolent and superst.i.tious. They are morose, treacherous, ferociously pa.s.sionate, and unfriendly to all other natives. When they are not fishing, or otherwise employed, they are generally travelling about, and visiting each other. They have no salutations when they meet, but sit down without exchanging a word of civility for some minutes; but after a silent pause, the head of the family, if there is any thing in the house to eat, presents it to his guests, who, when they have eaten sufficiently, if there are any _fragments_ left, are very careful to secure them and carry them off when they return home; and the host would regard it as an imposition, if his visitors were to neglect this important trait of politeness, and fashionable item in etiquette.
They accustom themselves to frequent bathing; and commence with their children on the day of their birth, and continue the practice twice a day, regularly, till they are two years old. They do this to invigorate the system, and render the skin of their children thick and tough by exposure. Their living consists simply of breadfruit, cocoanuts, and bup; but cocoanuts are all they can depend on the year round--the two other articles being common only a part of the year.
Their diversions consist in singing, dancing, and beating time with their arms, in a manner similar to the amus.e.m.e.nts of the natives at the Sandwich Islands; in which they appear to take great delight.
They wear their hair long, and tie it up in a kind of bow on the top of the head, and this is all the covering they have for their heads.
The men have long beards. One part of their dress makes a singular and ludicrous appearance, which resembles two _horse tails_ suspended from the waist, one before and the other behind. The women"s dress consists of two mats, about the size of a small pocket-handkerchief, which they tie round them like an ap.r.o.n.
I never saw any form of marriage among them, but when a couple are desirous of being united, their parents have a talk together on the subject, and if the parties all agree to the union, the couple commence living together as man and wife; and I never knew of an instance of separation between them after they had any family. In a few instances polygamy prevailed.
The following will give a pretty correct idea of their funeral rites and solemnities:
When a person dies, the inhabitants of the village a.s.semble together, and commence drumming and singing, halloing and yelling; and continue their boisterous lamentations for about 48 hours, day and night, relieving each other as they require. This they do, because they imagine it is diverting to the person deceased. They bury the body at a particular place back of their houses, and use mats for a coffin.
After the ceremony of interment is performed, they plant two cocoanut trees, one at the head and the other at the feet of the buried person.
But if the trees ever bear fruit, the women are prohibited from eating thereof, for fear of displeasing the bad spirit, _Anit_. And here it may not be inappropriate to remind the reader that Eve ate of the forbidden fruit, notwithstanding she knew it would displease the GOOD SPIRIT.
In their personal appearance, the natives are about the middle size, with broad faces, flat noses, black hair and eyes, and large mouths.
In relation to literature, they are as ignorant as it is possible for people to be, having not the most distant idea of letters.
Concerning the religion of the untaught natives of the Mulgraves, the following remarks will give all the knowledge I am in possession of:
They believe there is an invisible spirit that rules and governs all events, and that he is the cause of all their sickness and distress;--consequently they consider him to be a very bad being.--But they have no belief in a good spirit, nor have they any modes of worship.--It is a prevalent opinion among them, when any are sick, that the bad spirit rests upon them; and they believe that particular manoeuvres and a form of words, performed round and said over the sick, will induce _Anit_, the bad spirit, to cease from afflicting, and leave the unfortunate sufferers. With regard to a future state of existence, they believe that the _shadow_, or what survives the body, is, after death, entirely happy; that it roves about at pleasure, and takes much delight in beholding everything that is transacted in this world;--and as they consider the world as an extensive plain, they suppose the disembodied spirits travel quite to the edge of the skies, where they think white people live, and then back again to their native Isles; and at times they fancy they can hear the spirits of departed friends whistling round their houses, and noticing all the transactions of the living. Singular as some of these notions and opinions may appear, there is much to be met with in Christendom equally at variance with reason; and I have heard from the pulpit, in New-England, the following language: "I have no doubt in my own mind that the blessed in Heaven look down on all the friends and scenes they left behind, and are fully sensible of all things that take place on earth!"
CHAPTER VIII.
This chapter, and the concluding remarks of the narrative, will be collated from a Journal kept by Cyrus M. Hussey; and if there appear occasionally some incidents similar to those recorded in the preceding account, it is believed the value and interest of this history will not be diminished by them.--Hussey commences thus:
About the last of April, myself and Lay were separated, destined to different Islands, not knowing whether we should ever see each other again. At night we arrived at an Island, and hauled up our canoe. We found but few natives, but among the number was the mother of the chief with whom I lived. She was very inquisitive respecting me, and talked so incessantly through the night that I could not sleep. The next morning we were employed in gathering breadfruit, for the purpose of curing it for the winter. This employment continued about three months, during which time I was very uneasy about my situation. At intervals of leisure, when the old chief had no particular engagements to engross his attention, he would launch his canoe and go and search for fish; but my shoes having been taken from me, whenever I was employed round the rough sh.o.r.es of the Island, my feet were so wounded that I could hardly walk. The natives now commenced the destruction of my clothing, and not being able to converse with them, I found it very difficult to preserve my apparel. They often requested me to divest myself of my clothing, and dress as they did, or rather not dress at all. I made signs that the sun would burn me, if I should expose myself to its scorching rays. When they found that persuasion would not induce me to divest myself of clothing, they began to destroy my clothes, by tearing them in pieces. It was some time before I could understand their language, so as to inform them that the sun would burn my back; and being robbed of my clothes, the powerful influence of the sun soon scorched me to such a degree that I could scarcely lie down or take any rest.
About the latter part of July, William Lay and others came to the Island in a canoe, to see me, being the first interview we had enjoyed since our separation, which was about three months previous. Lay informed me that the natives had taken his bible from him and torn it up, and threatened his life. He informed me that it seemed to him as though he was robbed of that comfort which none in a christian land are deprived of. We were soon parted; he in a canoe was taken to an Island by the natives called _Dilabu_, and I went to my employment, repairing a canoe which was on the stocks. After I had finished the canoe, the natives prepared a quant.i.ty of bread fruit and fish for the chiefs, and on the following morning we set sail for an Island called _Milly_, one of the largest in the group, at which resides the princ.i.p.al chief. We arrived just at night and were cordially received by the natives, who had a.s.sembled on the beach in great numbers, for the purpose of getting some fish which the old chief had brought with him. He then hauled his canoe on sh.o.r.e; and I had again the pleasure of seeing my fellow sufferer, William Lay, after a month"s separation.
Since our first meeting we were not allowed to converse much together.
The old chief tarried at this Island but a short time, and Lay and myself were once more separated. The old chief, his family, and myself, returned to the Island which we had left two or three days before, called, in the language of the natives, _Tabarawort_; and he and his family commenced gathering bread fruit. As the old man with whom I lived had charge of several small Islands, we found it difficult to gather the fruit as fast as it ripened, so that a considerable part fell to the ground and perished. In the mean time, while we were employed in gathering in the fruits of the earth, news came to the Island, to inform the chief with whom I lived, that it was the intention of the highest chiefs to destroy us both, (that is myself and Lay,) because a severe sickness prevailed among them, and they being superst.i.tious, supposed we were the occasion of it. I informed them that _we_ could not have been the cause of the sickness, as no such sickness prevailed in our country, and that I never before had seen a similar disease. But still they talked very hard about us; and the highest chief sent to the chief I lived with, to have me brought to the Island of Milly, where Lay lived, in order that we might be killed together. Preparations having been made, the old chief, whom I called father, with his family and myself, set sail the next morning for Milly, where we arrived about sun set. He immediately went to see the chief of Milly, to inquire the circ.u.mstances relating to the necessity of taking our lives, leaving me and the rest of the family in the canoe. I shortly perceived William Lay and his master coming towards the canoe, which produced sensations hard to be described. Affectionate and sympathizing reader, what must have been our feelings and conversation at that moment, when nothing seemingly was presented to our view but _death_? We were allowed an interview of only a few minutes, when we were again separated.
My master soon returned to the canoe, and entered into very earnest conversation with his family, which, at the time, I did not fully understand; but found afterwards it was a relation to his family of his interview with the natives on the subject of taking our lives; and that if they killed me, they would first have to kill him, (my master,) which they were unwilling to do. My kind old master told them he had preserved me, and always should. Night now coming on, I lay down to sleep, but fear had taken such possession of my mind, that the night was spent in wakeful anxiety.
The next morning I asked leave of my master to visit Lay, which he readily gave. I set out for the hut in company with my master"s son; but on approaching it, Lay called out to me, to inform me that I must not come--that the natives did not like to have us together. On my turning to go back, Lay"s master called to me to come. I went and sat down, and entered into conversation with Lay, to ascertain what the intention of the natives towards us were. He told me it was the design of the high chief to kill us. I observed to him, that we were in the hands of the natives; still there was a higher and more powerful Hand that could protect us, if it were the Divine pleasure so to do. I then bade him farewell, and returned to the canoe, never expecting to see each other again till we should meet on the tranquil ocean of eternity.
My master being now ready to return to his Island, the canoe was launched, and we set sail, and arrived the same night, having been absent two days.--The natives expressed much joy on seeing me return, and asked many questions respecting the chief of Milly; but as I was unable to speak their language intelligibly, I could give them but little information. We then went on with our work as usual, which was fishing, &c. &c.
After having been at this Island some time, my master"s wife manifested an inclination to go and visit her friends, who lived at an Island called in their language _Luguonewort_. After a successful excursion in fishing, we cooked a part, and took some breadfruit, and embarked, agreeably to the wishes of my master"s wife, and arrived at Luguonewort in two days. The natives of that Island gave us a cordial reception. We hauled up our canoe and remained some time among them.
After our agreeable visit was ended, we returned to the other Island, found the natives well, and that good care had been taken by the chief"s mother, an old woman to whom the superintendence of things had been left.
About six months after the ma.s.sacre of my shipmates, the brother of the native in whose possession I was, came to the Island, and informed us that a ship had been seen to pa.s.s a day or two before, and that it caused great disturbance among the chiefs--that they thought it was the ship that left the Islands, (the Globe,) and that she was in search of us. My old master immediately prepared his canoe to visit the chiefs, and he wanted also to inquire of me what I thought respecting the ship. We loaded our canoe and made sail for Milly, where the chiefs were. We arrived at night, and found a great number of natives collected on the beach, to see if we had any fish. We hauled up our canoe for the night, and the natives began to question me about the ship.--I told them I did not know, concluding it would be good policy to say but little on the subject. The natives crowded round me in great numbers; and I did not see Lay till he came to me. I inquired of him what he had seen, and he informed me that there had been a ship in sight about half an hour before sun set, and that she was near enough for him to see them take in their fore and mizen top gallant sails, but could give no definite account of her, as she was soon out of sight. We were not allowed to be together long; and I went to rest as usual, but could not sleep.--"Hope springs eternal in the human breast"--and hope that the ship which had been seen had come to deliver us from savages and transport us to our native country and dear friends, had an influence on my feelings more powerful than sleep, and imagination was busy through the night in picturing scenes of future happiness.
But the prospect of our being released from our unpleasant situation was not very flattering. Early next morning I asked and obtained permission from my master, to pay a visit to Lay, before pa.s.sing round to the opposite side of the Island. Accompanied by my master"s son and several others, I went to the hut where Lay lived, and we had the pleasure of another interview; but it was of short duration, for we were not allowed to be together more than a quarter of an hour. I returned to my master"s canoe, and there continued till the middle of the day; we then launched and set sail for _Tabanawort_, where we arrived the fore part of the night.--Early next morning we prepared for a fishing cruise, had pretty good success, and returned just before night, made a fire, cooked some fish, and ate a delicious supper.