Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-05-24

nu'acture. ne fruSSlan Sdio lha', e"e' "
ing become sufficient master OF the language
he enQuired whence these articles came, as 'he
Hunter was the first European vessel ,they mao
ever seen. They replied that at group o.
islands called Malico!o, distant about two DAYS
voyage OF their canoes, where they MADE ire
quent voyages, they procured these arli0ieS
from the inhabitants, who had great quantities
! Of them in their possession On examining
the sword hilt more infinitely, it vas found 10
have the initials Of La Perouse upon It. his
excited the curiosity of Capt. Dillon still iur-
Their. and with the assistance OF Buchert and the
| Lascar, he questioned the islanders more par
,icularly respecting the manner OF obtaining
these articles. They answered that they had
learned from the inhabitants OF Malicolo, that
many years ago, two large vessels arrived IN
their islands. That one Of them anchored near
! the island of Wahnoo, and the other by the ISL
and Paiow, which is at little distance from
the first Soon after they came TO anchor, and
! before they had any communication with the
natives, violent storm arose, and the two YES
sells were driven on shore That which was at
| AVahnoo, struck upon the rocks. The natives
repaired in crowds 10 the banks, armed with
clubs, lanoes, bows and arrows. They threw
some Of their arrow al the vessel, the crew re-
| turned it by discharges OF cannon and musket-
ry, and several OF the islanders were killed.
rhe vessel continued to be beaten upon the
rocks, and was finally dashed 10 pieces. Some
OF the crew embarked in boats, but they were
thrown on shore, where the enraged natives
massacred them to the last Others jumped
into the sea, and if they reached the shore, ii
was to share the fate Of their unfortunate com.
panons; thus no, an individual Of this vessel
escaped the disaster.
The vessel which was wrecked at Paiow,
strut k on sand bank The natives came up 70
ii, and also fired their arrows The crew, how
ever, had sufficient prudence not to seek to re-
venge this attack They showed the natives
hatchets, beads, and other trinkets, which they
offered them in token Of peace. The assailanls
ceased their hostilities, and when the storm was
over an aged chief went in canoe to the ship;
he was kindly received, presents were offered 10,
aud accepted by him. He returned TO the shore,
pacifed his coun,rymen, and assured them that
the men in the ship were good and kind Several
of the natives went on board, TO whom thev also
made iriflng presents. The inhabitants furnish
ed the ship with provisions, hogs, birds, bana-
mas, cocoa nuts, sc, and confidence was soon
established between them. The crew being
forced to leave the vessel, landed, saving every
thing they could take out. They staid there for
some time and built small vessel with the re.
n,ains Of the large one. As soon as this was
finished, as many men as il would hold embark |
ed in il, and it was abundantly furnished with |
fresh provisions by the Islanders. Several of |
the crew were left in the island, and their com.
mander promised to return soon with presents
for the natives, and take away the remainder
Of his people, whom he was now obliged to
leave behind him on the island. He left them
several guns and powder, by means of which
nv nv TrIiends Who were al war with the neigh
boring islands. The inhabitants Of Tucopia
affirmed that great number Of articles belong
ing to the two vessels are very well preserved,
and still remain in the island OF Mallcolo. A.
bout seven months before my arrival al Iuco-
MIA. canoe from Wanoo had brought two large
c hahn bolts, and an iron bolt OF about four tee,
long. Capt. Dillon conversed with some OF the
men who made the last voyage in the canoe 10
Malicolo. They told him that there still re-
NAMED in that island many articles OF iron be-
longing to the shipwrecked vessel. Those
which Martin Buchrr, had seen were very much
eaten BY rust. One silver spoon only was bro'i
20 Tucopia, and Buchert had made rings and
other ornaments Of il Tor the wives of the isl
anders. Captain Dillon, on his arrival at Car
cutta, retained in his possession the sword Hit,
one of the rings made out OF the spoon, and
some of the beads, all Of which belonged TO the
wreck
The Prussian had never dared to make avoy
age to Maiicolo with the inhabitants Of Tuco-
pia; but the Lascar had been there once or
twice. lie affirmed positively lhat he had seen
the Europeans at the island OF Palow: lha; they
speak the language Of the country, and that he
had conversed with them. These men we're
old They told him that many years since they
were in one of the vessels OF which they showed
him the remains They informed him also
that no vessel bad been 10 these islands since
they were wrecked there--that most Of their
companions were dead, but that they had been
so dispersed over the different islands, that IL
was impossible for them 20 say precisely now
many Of them were still alive. Capt Dillon re-
collected several other particulars of the con-
versation he had with the Lascar and the ISL
anders, who confirmed strongly their FIRST as
sertionS.
Having collected so many details, all tending
to confirm the hope that he had formed, on see
| ing the silver sword hilt with the cipher, he re-
solved TO go as quick as possible 10 Malicolo,
and examine himself the remains OF the wreck,
and take away with him, if possible the two
| a.. T \ Il Il h.