Chapter I: Preface

The islands now known by geographers under the general name of _Polynesia_, have for some time past attracted the attention of the scientific and commercial world. Few opportunities, however, occur of obtaining information respecting any of them except those which are resorted to for commercial purposes. With a view, therefore, to the collecting of all the necessary materials for the history of their soil, climate, productions, and other particulars, especially of such of them as have not already been visited by the civilized people of Europe and America, it is desirable to preserve all authentic accounts of them, even of those which are of inferior importance.

The following unpretending Narrative contains such an account of one of them, commonly called _Lord North's Island_, but sometimes known by the name of _Nevil's Island_ and _Johnston's Island_. It is situated in about lat. 3 deg. 2-3/4' N., and, according to the most correct calculations, about long. 131 deg. 4-1/4' E.

This island has been stated, in geographical works of authority, to be uninhabited; but Horsburg's India Directory (vol. ii. p. 497, edit. of 1827) correctly says it is inhabited, and that the natives "will sometimes come off to ships passing near." And it will accordingly be found, by the present Narrative, that it has a population of between three and four hundred inhabitants, as nearly as could be estimated by the American seamen, whose captivity and sufferings are the subject of this work; the island itself being, according to their judgment also, about three quarters of a mile long and half a mile in breadth.

The materials of this Narrative were furnished by Horace Holden, one of the seamen above mentioned, who, with his companion, Benjamin Nute, was detained as a captive by the islanders for two years; during which time he and his companion acquired the language so far as to converse in it with ease. This afforded them the means of knowing and observing many things which would escape the mere passing voyager; and whatever statements are here made, the editor has every reason to believe may be entirely relied upon.

In order to complete the little collection of facts in relation to this people--who may justly be called a new people, as no white man has ever before been upon their territory--a specimen of their language is added to the Narrative. This has been made under many disadvantages; but no small labor has been bestowed upon it, in order to render it of use, so far as was practicable, in elucidating the affinity of these islanders to others in that quarter of the world. It is now universally agreed among the learned, that language affords the surest test of the affinities of nations; and it is greatly to be desired that more attention should be bestowed upon this subject by the intelligent navigators of the United States, and especially by the scientific young men of our navy, who, under the permission of the government, would have the most ample means of augmenting the stores of general science, while at the same time they would confer honor upon their country.

The editor forbears to add any thing further in relation to the contents of this little volume. But he cannot dismiss the work without again expressing the high sense of gratitude felt by the two seamen in question, to the benevolent individuals of their own country, and others, who have relieved their sufferings; and this he subjoins in an extract from a note on that subject by H. Holden:--

"In addition to the gentlemen mentioned in the Narrative, we are
under great obligations to Mr. Stephen Oliphant and his son, and
their clerk, of New York, who were residents at Canton when we
arrived there. Mr. Oliphant kindly furnished us with a room, food,
and other necessaries, and gave us our passage from Canton to New
York in his ship called the Morrison, commanded by captain
Lavender, from whom also we experienced every attention.

"The respected American missionary at Canton, Mr. Edwin Stevens,
rendered us many friendly services; and from the English physician,
who was formerly in the East India Company's service there, but
whose name I do not recollect, we received every attention and
medical aid that could have been bestowed on his nearest friends.

"We are also much indebted to Mr. Bradford and Mr. Robert E.
Apthorp, both of Boston, for their many acts of kindness. To the
latter gentleman, then a resident at Canton, I cannot sufficiently
express my obligations; he interested himself much in obtaining
money, clothing, and other necessaries for us, to make our
situation comfortable during our stay in Canton and on our passage
home.

"To the many friends whom we have found since our return to our own
country we can never be sufficiently grateful. Among these I cannot
omit to mention Mr. J. N. Reynolds, author of the interesting
Account of the Voyage of the Potomac, who has taken the most lively
interest in our case, and Mr. Joseph P. Bradley, of Boston, to
whose untiring zeal and benevolence I feel myself to be indebted
more than I am able to express.

HORACE HOLDEN"

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

Equipment and departure of the ship Mentor from the port of New Bedford, Massachusetts.--The ship's company.--Arrival at Fayal.--Passage down the Cape de Verd islands, and round the cape of Good Hope, to the Indian ocean.--Cruising among the islands, and arrival at the port of Coupang, in Timor.--A violent storm.--The ship strikes on a coral reef off the Pelew islands.--Alarm and distressing situation of the ship's company, and sudden loss of eleven of their number.--The survivors preserved upon a dry part of the reef 13

CHAPTER II.

The situation of the survivors of the ship's company upon the reef during the night.--A canoe filled with savage natives approaches the reef; intercourse with them; and description of their persons and terrific appearance.--Their pilfering of the articles saved, and plundering of the ship.--Several canoes arrive.--Mr. Nute's resolute conduct towards the natives.--The ship's company pursue their course, in their boat, towards an island, on which they land after severe suffering 29

CHAPTER III.

A canoe, with two natives, approaches the island.--Communication opened with them.--A great number of canoes, filled with armed natives, suddenly arrive; rough treatment of the captain by one of the chiefs.--They all arrive at the harbor of the island, which proved to be one of the Pelew islands.--Description of the island and its inhabitants.--Consultation of the chiefs respecting the ship's company.--Result of the consultation 41

CHAPTER IV.

An extraordinary and unexpected meeting with a person not a native.--Happy result of the meeting.--Acquisition of the Pelew language.--Dissensions between two portions of the natives.--Three of the ship's company separated and carried to a place remote from the rest.--Attempt to construct a boat, in order to leave the island.--The natives agree to release them all for a compensation.--Solemnities observed by the natives on the occasion.--Tools used in making the boat; transportation of timber, &c.--The plan abandoned, and a canoe substituted for the boat.--Another festival 55

CHAPTER V.

The natives become anxious to aid the ship's company in leaving the island.--Terms on which they agreed to release them.--Departure from the Pelew islands.--Necessity of returning the same night.--Detention a month longer; and final departure 68

CHAPTER VI.

Regret at having undertaken the voyage in boats.--Storm, and damage in consequence of it.--Loss of the canoe and the provisions on board.--Danger of perishing from famine.--On the fifteenth day, when nearly exhausted with fatigue and hunger, they discover a small island.--Approach of eighteen canoes filled with natives, who make prisoners of them all.--Cruelty of the natives; and return with their prisoners to the island.--Reception there.--The prisoners distributed among the captors 74

CHAPTER VII.

The island, to which they were carried, proves to be Lord North's island, called by the natives _To'bee_.--Account of the island and its inhabitants.--Their manners and customs 81

CHAPTER VIII.

A ship discovered at a small distance from the island.--The natives prepare to go on board of her.--Captain Barnard and Bartlet Rollins, after being severely beaten, are allowed to go with the natives in their canoes, and thus effect their escape; the rest of the Mentor's people are still forcibly detained on the island.--Their hopes of being taken on board of the same ship are suddenly blasted.--Their despondency on that disappointment.--Return of the natives from the ship; their rage, and quarrels about the division of the articles procured on board of her.--They threaten to wreak their vengeance on the Mentor's people that remained with them.--Their cruel treatment of them.--A storm destroys the cocoa-nut trees and causes a scarcity of food 95

CHAPTER IX.

The natives compel the Mentor's people to be tattooed.--Description of that painful operation.--They also oblige them to pluck their beards, &c.--Another vessel passes by the island; and, afterwards, a third comes in sight and remains for three days; the Mentor's people are closely guarded at these times.--The melancholy fate of William Sedon; and the barbarous murder of Peter Andrews.--Attack on H. Holden, who is protected by one of the natives, and escapes.--B. Nute and others are protected by the female natives from the fury of the men.--Death of one of the Pelew chiefs.--Another of the Pelew people is detected in stealing, and is punished in their manner.--Death of Milton Hewlet and Charles C. Bouket; leaving now only B. Nute, H. Holden, and the other Pelew chief, named _Kobak_, who all remained in a feeble and helpless condition.--Filthy practices of the natives.--Friendship of the surviving Pelew chief 101