Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1853-08-03
MISCELLANY.
Six Years among Cannibals.

am physician to a hospital in large sea-
port town. My curiosity was aroused lately by
the face of man, which as it lay upon the pill
low ofa hospital bed, looked singularly savage.
It was marked by broad blue line extending
from the lower level Of his nose to an inch below
the lips, and from the back of one whisker to the
back Of the other. Evidently such tattoo-mark
was not one with which any white man would have
been willingly dishgured. On the patients re-
covery put some questions to him, and obtained
the substance of the following account. For sew
eral reasons believe the tale to be true one.
It was not volunteered; the man appeared to be
ashamed of his own story, and required steady
cross-examination before he would yield up half
what he had to say. The questioning pro-
duced no inconsistent Statements; no published
account contradcts anything that he states; and
he mentions many facts known in this country
through books which it is not likely that he ever
read
Daniel or David Dash, native of the State of
Virginia, embarked on board a whaling ship as
common seaman, at the age of nineteen. His
ship sailed round Cape Horn, and had been crus-
ing about perhaps for nineteen months when she
was overtaken by a storm near the Marquesas;
there she was driven ashore in spite of all exer
tions, and soon went to pieces. The crew consist
ed of thirty persons. The captain and twenty
four men took to the boats, and he believes
escaped. He and four others swan TO land AS
soon as they arrived on shore they were surround
ed by the natives, made prisoners, and carried a
few miles into the interior. Being then placed
in.a log hut, the prince or chief came to them in
a line. Without any delay his choice was offer
ed to them-whether they would be tatooed or
killed. The chief easily made his meaning un-
derstood; he produced first his usual tattooing
implements, pointed to the marks on his own
person, and then to the bodies of his prisoners.
Presenting next knife, he made feint of cutting
of their heads.
After this dumb show, the chief offered to each
man in succession dagger or bowl, that is to
say, knife or tatooing apparatus. Would they be
dead men or savages! Dash's four companions
being his seniors, polled first at this election, and
they chose the knife. He was, however, young
to die, and willing to do anything to save his
life. He chose to be tatooed. AS soon as the
decision of the FIVE men had been ascertained
the four who had disdained to be made comrades
by the cannibals were killed. They lost their
heads. Without the least delay, their bodies
were cut up, preparations made for feast. The
large bones were cut out to make fish-hooks
spear-heads, tattoo instruments; particular parts
were cut of to be given as offerings to the gods
and the rest of the flesh was cooked. Holes
were dug in the earth, and filed with dry wood
some EFge stones being placed here and ther
amoAg 1he wood, to be heated when the pile wa
fred. After ignition, fresh wood was heaped on
md the fke was kept up until the ground ha,
been mat thoroughly hot The ashes bein,
then s4ked out, the fieshput into the holes, an
covered with the stones and embers. It was S,
left for abouthalf an hour, and at the end Of tha
time taken out, and eaten by perhaps two hun
dred men. Before the feast was ready, the mel
had begun to drink an intoxicating liquor, whicl
resembled soap suds in appearance, and 500
took effect. This was the Cava cup, of whic