Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-09-23
SATURDAY. SEPTEMBER as, 1872
From the Salem Iii. and Cam. Gazette.

Narrative of the ship wreck of the English whale ship
Rambler, Capt. Graves, on the South West Coast OF
Madagascar, in the month of August, 1873, and Oh
the Massacre ofthe Cap tain & several or the crew by
the natives,
Isailed from London, early in April, 1925,
in the whale ship Rambler, belonging 10 the
Messrs. Enderby's of that city, under the com
:nand of Capt. A. B.. Graves. a native, believe
of Boston, U. States. We were very fortunate
In the first part of our voyage, and killed sever
al large whales, and had cruised in the Mozam-
bioue channel, till the 18th - Of August, when we
were wrecked off Cape St. Felix. The ship
thumped two or three times on the rocks, but
at last was raised by the heavy well of the SEA,
and driven over into deep water. We let go
our anchors and lowered our boats, and bad sue
seeded in taking on board Of them a little wa
ter, and about four bags Of bread, when our
ship filed and sunk. Our crew being distribu-
ted among the FIVE boats, the captain ordered
us to steer for the Island of Majumba. Soon
after we left the wreck, one OF our boats, which
contained a great part of our water and nearly
all our bread, filled and sunk. That night we
went ashore Oh a small. Island, near the main, *
drew up our Boats. After some consultation
among the officers, il was thought best 10 at
tempt reaching Majumba, as il was a place
where American and English vessels most com
monty traded. We reokoncd the distance to
be about six hundred and Fifty miles. The cap
tain ordered an equal division TO be made OF all
our bread and water, and we shared 4 pint OF
water and three biscuits apiece. The next
morning we got underway about ten O'Clock, &
coasted along, ill towards night, when we went
ashore on another small Island, which appear
ed not TO be inhabited though we SAW several
tracks of human feet on the sand.
About noon, The nexu day, while sailing along
the coast, we saw several natives ashore. We
rowed in towards them, and made Signs 10 them
that we needed some water, but they were a
Harmed and ran away. We landed and found
on the shore a few pieces OF raw turtle, and a
small quantity of water, which the natives had
left. We greedily devoured them, and search
ed+heir huts for more, but without success
We took to our boats again, and alter sailing a
few minutes, came TO 4 river, which was not
laid down in our chart. Sailed up this river a
short distance, in the hopeofhLding some fresh
water, but being disappointed, we returned and
continued coasiing along Shore I'LL night, when
we again came TO anchor. The next day, we
saw more huts on shore, and landed, The ma
tives had run away on our approach.-Ihlnk-
ing it not prudent to go far into the country,
we searched all theirhuts, and fortunately found
some fruit, a little brackish water, and a lew
wild beans. We roasted the beans, but they
made us all sick. Here we spent our fourth
night.
The next day we passed another village, and
made signs TO the natives, that we wantcd some
water. They went away and soon after return
ed with some, which they broughttot shore,
and made signs 10 us that we might have 1t, 1t
we would give them something forit. The cap
tain gave them bis neck cloth, and we handed
to them one Of our boat bu ckets, which they re-
turned to us full Of water, and some OF US gave
them a Jacket, Others their trousers, for the
weather was so Intentionally hot, that we had
no occasion for cur clothes. We gave them the
bucket a second time, and they brought IT back
full OF water, but they refused 10 give 1t 10 Us,
unless we gave them the remainder oil our
clothes. On cur refusing they emptied the
bucket, and threw it aside, and drove Us away.
We continued sailing along the coast for three
days longer, occasionally landing, for the pur-
pose of searching the sands for Shell fish, but
generally without success. We at last saw a
great number Of huts on shore Some of the
natives launched a canoe from the shore, and
came out a little distance towards us. The cap
tain spoke 10 them, and one of them answered
in broken English, that there was plenty ofbui-
lock meat and water ashore and that we could
have 1t if we would go ashore. Capt. G. order
ed US to land, and to keep our boats at anchor
few rods from the shore, that we might retreat
to them in case we met with any difficulty. We
went ashore, leaving the cook in one boat, and
two little boys in the others-our fourth boat
with the first mate and Two Of her crew, having
separated from Us two days before. On our
landing, the man who hailed us, told us, that
the natives had gone into the country for the
5ullocks. He carried US to a fine spring of wa
ter. where we drank as much as we wanted.
We then went back to the hp,s, and found
some boiled corn and dried bananas. In about
two hours they returned with four bullocks and
made signs to us, that we must get a rope for
catching the bullocks. One OF us brought a
boat rope and we went TO work, to kill one of
the bullocks. We had a great deal of trouble
about it, he was so wild and furious, While we
were engaged in killing him, the natives sud-
denly left us, but we were SO intent upon our bu-
siness, that we did not mind it. Capt G. sus-
peeted something and ran towards the shore
an a few moments he was observed to make
signs to US, to leave our work and follow him.
we immediately ran towards him, and, to our
as'onisnmens, saw nearly two hundred natives.