Star.
London, England, 1826-11-14 00:00:00

PLYMOUTH, OCT. 11.

Amongst the shows, as they are termed, which have
been exhibiting during the present fair, in oar Market-
place, was one which contained, it was said, by the
owner, (who states his name to be James Sanger, of
Tisbury, Wilts,) two native Esquimau x. Several officers
were dispatched on Tuesday morning with orders to
bring the keeper, Sanger, and his two Indians, to the
Guildhall. Accordingly, about twelve o'clock, the
officers arrived with their charge, and, on examination,
it turned out that these said Esquimau: were nothing
more than two children, a boy and a girl, aged, appa-
rently, the boy about ten years, and the girl 12. They
were dressed in skins, and had caps on their beads
formed of shells. On being questioned, Sanger said that
he received them from a master of a vessel at Liverpool,
about two months since, and that he was to return them
next Spring. Dressed meat was offered them, but they
refused to partake of it, turning their heads from it in
disgust. After some time they were ordered to be taken
to the workhouse, where, by permission of the Governor,
they were clothed in the attire of the house, and the man
in whose possession they had been was permitted to
depart. On the following day we visited the workhouse,
where the little strangers were objects of much curiosity,
a great number of the most respectable persons in the
town being present. They were then neatly clothed,
and had been carefully washed. Dressed meat, fruit,
and sweetmeats, were offered them, but they refused it
all ; but when several pieces of raw beef were held out
to them, they seized them with great avidity, and de-
voured them in a short time. On the following day,
after a- little difficulty, they partook of rice milk,
sweetened with sugar, though on the first evening they
1 refused rice until the nurse had mixed oil with it—food
which Sanger said they would eat. On Thursday they
partook of milk and bread, and ate it with a spoon;
and the nurse says that she has no doubt but that in a
day or two their aversion to dressed meat will be got
over. The most singular part is, that neither of them
yet has been heard to utter sounds, or to make the least
attempt to speak in any language: they have been left
alone, and watched, but still they were silent. It is con-
jectured that they are foreign children, but from what
part is at present Unknown, though it is certain they are
not E quimaux.. They are rather of dark complexion,
black coarse hair, with full lips; the boy possesses the
mo t pleasant. features; they still remain objects of cu.
riosity.. Several pounds have been presented by persons
visiting them, for- the purpose of providing clothes,
&c. They would, while with Sanger, take a rabbit
or fowl, separate it while alive, and devour it imme-
diately, almost while life was in the animal. The
poor children must have been brought to the custom
of devouring raw meat for the purpose of deception.
Thursday evening, while the nurse was endeavouring
to compose them in bid, the girl spoke for the first
time in good English, and appeared all at once to be
very communicative. The account she gives of the
circumstances is as follows : Her father was a half black
(a mulatto), her mother an English woman ; they were
placed under the care of their aunt, who resided in the
parish of Whitechapel, in London, where they were
born. This aunt had sold them to Sanger for 85,.
about Christmas last, since which they had not seen
either of their unnatural parents or aunt. Sanger had
used them with cruelty, often beating them over the
neck with a stick ; they had not been in bed since they
were in the man's possession, being kept in an upright
posture night and day. They were kept from every
kind of food except raw meat, and taught to snap at and
devour what was offered to them with avidity. The
man had told them that if they uttered a word they
should be murdered; and if any one touched them they
were to bite, and appear angry. She said her name was
Eliza Thompson, and her brother was called Edward ;
that she was ten years old, her brother seven.—The
child gave vs these particulars, and appeared very intel-
ligent for her years. The man has decamped, but
officers are sent in search of him, and his caravan has
been detained.