The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1831-09-07
From the &eic York Courier.
INTERESTING NARRATIVE.

INTERESTING NARRATIVE.
On Saturday last was announced the arrival at
this port of the schooner Antarctic, under the
command OF Capt. Morrell, after an absence of
two years, with statement that while trading
in the South Pacific, he had lost nineteen of
ms crew, in an encounter with the natives Of Il
newly discovered island.
The circumstances attending the voyage OF
this vessel are of too remarkable a character
20 be dismissed without passing notise. I
Tho Antarctic sailed from New York in Sep
TENDER, 1879, on voyage to tho South Seas,
for the purpose of collecting a cargo of fur Seal
Skins. In October following she touched at
The Caps de Verd Islands, and obtained the salt
necessary, for the preservation Of the skins ex-
pected to be taken from thence she shaped her
course for New Zealand, but being disappointed
IN procuring skins there, the captain determined
on altering his voyage, and sailed for Manila
Whilst proceeding thiihar, he fell in with
group Of islands, he named Nesterfeld'S group.
They are small and a reef Of rocks runs from
one island TO the other. On the day following
lie discovered land again, and found it to
sist or another group ofslands, extending about
seventy seven miles north and south; these be-
ing neither mentioned on any chart, he called
them Bergh group. Here he had some inter
course with the natives, but it was impossible
tor him to obtain any information from them
to the inducements 10 trade which their Islands
AnOEubu, anu ne therefore continued MS course.
On the 18th, he again saw land, long low Is.
land, which appeared TO be loaded with cocoa
nuts, without, however, the least traceof inhab-
itants; this lslsnd, he called Livingston Island
On the 9th of March, he arrived at Manila, and
there made up his mind 10 fit out the vessel for
voyage 10 the Foges Island, in search of
cargo of Beach lie slar, Tortoise sholl, &c &c.
In the prosecution of this voyage he sailed
from Manila. on the 18th April Passing Ives
island and WalIaon's ieiarA bo tbo
May, made six low islands called Los Maticas,
where the natives came off to trade with him,
but finding they possessed nothing worthy OF
his notice, his stay with them was short. They
indicated to him shat further north he would
md large quantity Of the article Of which he
was in search-Beach lie Mar. In shaping his
course in that direction he passed a group of
islands called by the natives Tana Tam, anoth-
err group denominatcd on the chart, Young
Williams group, and the Islands Of Mondever-
desant.
Tie intercourse with the natives of these places,
merely enough to obtain from them cocoa nuts
and bread fruit, and ascertain that they posses
Red nothing more. He describes the men as
being remarkably robust and tall sometimes by
their conduct leading him to apprehend that
they had hostile intentions at others perfectly
feaceabie and having no war weapons about
them.
On the 22d May an accident occurred to
which We should have attached no importance.
but which has been carefully noted down
amongst the remarkable events of the voyage
" little bird, as black as INK" came on board
the schooner, and could not be induced to ieage
her. Some of the men, with the creduIity COM
mon to seamen, thinking it was a bird of i'll
omen, wanted to kill it, but the captain, pleas
ed with its perfect tameness, determined on
preserving its life. On the following day the
islands TO which the name of Massacre Islands
was afterwards given, were discovered, and the
little bird Immediately few TO the land M.
merous, no doubt, have since been the regrets
on board, that the bird was allowed to escape ;
Tor to 1t have many of their subsequent mislor-
tunes been strangely enough attributed.
On the 23d May, then, the schooner was in
sight of six islands, all small with a reef of
rocks rnnning from one to the other, tbrouob
winch there was here and there a small chan.
mel about 100 yards in width. The islands an
Peared fruitful. and several large canoes were
seen inside the reef, the boat was sent TO the
rect and plenty of Beach lie Mar, of excellent
qnality being found there, the captain deternin.
ed on endeavortng TO procure cargo Of that
commodity at this place. AFTER anchornp and
MAKING other necessary preparations, part Of
tho crew were sent on shore ON the 26lh for
the purpose of clearing away the trees and
bushes and building house whore the Beach
10 Mar, when taken, might be cured and rem.
dered fit for transportation.
1t is perhaps necessary that we should state
here, that Beach 10 Mar is fish, of which
<he Chinese are particularly fond, and for
which they pay high price.
The natives had come off to the schooner in
several large canoes bringing with them Cocoa
nuts and Shells. They were negroes of large
stature and some of them appeared 10 possess
considerable accueness. No white man had
ever been seen By them before; they thought
:he crew of the Antarctic were painted white.
and endeavored by rubbing to bring their skins
10 the complexion of their own. Their ideas
were all confined to the little group of islands
On which, they lived /; they had however some
imperfect notions of another group at some dis
lance from them, and from those :hey presumed
the schooner now came.
We abstain from noticing tho surprise thew
exhibited on seeing their visitors; the conduct
of savagcs, in similar circumstances is proba.
bly, always alike, and there are few of us who
have not, at some time or other, dwelt with
deep interest on The details of the first meetings
between civilized and uncivilized man.
. The boat's crew had COTTON the forge ashore I
and set 1t up; the natives stole some of the |
tools, which induced the captain TO |
send another boat with crew well armed I
hey comPelleda restoration Of the things stol- J
n but the natives now appeared hostle-.they
rev their bows. and stood ready to discharge
heir arrows. The crew then determined on
eizlng tho person Of the head chief, which
hey effected, and carried him on board with
many Of The natives; he in the evening,
however, jumped overheard and swan ashore,
'no - the course of the night the others fol.
owed his example. I;
un The following morning the people went
. s.s 20 work, as usual At s o'clock they {
g,aa 20 me schooner TO breakfast, leaving
'''' "'e'' 'n shoFo TO watch their tools; mir. b