Middletown transcript., 1868-11-28
WN NEW CASTLE SATURDAY MORNING 1865

water, and then LETT us for the night. We
had little appetite for eating, as may read
lily be believed and our feverisb sleep, on
the moist, bare ground, was filled with the
most horrid dreams.
The storm abated about midnight, and
the morning broke fair. At daylight, six
savages came into our prison with ropes,
and proceeded to bind oNr arms behind
our backs. They then led us out to sort
of common in the centre of the village,
wheue most of the inhabitants were collec-
ted-nearly every Indian, male and fe-
male, being attended by a Chinese slave
of the same sex. Tn the middle of the
area was circular wall of masonry, about
five feet high and sixty In circumference
and around the inner side of this wall was
a row of faggots. The largest Of my COM
panions was now separated from us, and
bound back to back with a Chinaman of
near his own size and then, amid cries of
terror from the two victims. and shouts of
delight from the savage spectators, they
were lifted over into the arena, and the
faggots set on fire. The spectacle which
followed was horrid beyond description;
and the shrieks, means, and groans of the
poor fellows, as the flames encompassed
and blistered theiF flesh, and then literally
roasted them alive, are ringing in my ears
yet. Being lashed back to back, each
one, as he retreated from the circular fire,
pushed the other nearer to it; and their
struggles in this way made fendish sport
for their tormentors, who almost drowned
their screams of agony with yells of laugh
ter. When at last they fell down exhaus-
ted, they were left upon the ground to
bake till the fire burned out: after which
their dead and roasted bodies were remov-
ed and eaten, each one cutting off slice
to his or her liking, and devouring it
greedily. When all was over, my COM
panion and myself were taken back to our
prison more dead than alive-in fact, wish
ing ourselves dead.
We were kept shut up there for a week.
and then he was taken out and roasted in
the same manner, and was left alone,
the last survivor of the crew. 1 starved
myself as much as l could, for fear
should get into good condition for their
horrid purpose and after keeping me
week longer, my captors signifed that
might take one of the squaws to wife and
have liberty. The female selected for nv
partner was old and ugly; but the hope Of
escape made me seem pleased with the re-
voting alternative, and thus | became
member of the internal tribe.
For month 1 was closely watched and
guarded; but affected to be SO well con-
tented with my new life, that by the end
OF that time their vigilance began to relax;
and then felt almost certain of being able
to effect my escape to the other side of the
island, and there finding refuge among
another race. Meanwhile | had to be
witness to several other human roastings.
Of the cannibals of Formosa, l have lit
tie knowledge beyond those of the village
in which | Was for three months prison
er; but from what saw, am inclined to
believe the whole race are complete sava-
ges. without industry or art. and not
whit removed from the barbarism of their
ancestors. 1t is true their houses and
lands have look of civilization but these
they owe TO the skill and labor of their
captives, whom they employ and destroy
as suits their pleasure and caprice. Like
the North American Indians, they are
i9nd OF athletic sports, and spend much of
their time in hunting, fishing, fighting, |
and marauding. They have war-songs
and war-dances, and believe in some sort
of religion, which principally consists in
propitiatipg the evil spirits by the most
diabolical human sacrifices. Some of the
women are rather ccmely in appearance,
but their natures are fierce and intractav
bic. and their moral qualities of the lowest
order. The three months was compell-
ed to remain with these sayages was an
age of horror, and did more to break down
my constitution than previous years of
hardships, exposures, and privations.
AT last | managed to escape in the
night and after concealing myself two
days In holloy tree, pursued my way,
with perllous adventure, and reached
large Chinese settlement in an exhausted
condition. Here, at least, l was kindly
treated and cared for and at length sue
ceeded in getting passage to Canton, and
thence to my native land. But since my
return l find am not the same man was
before, and the recollection Of the horrid
scenes / Witnessed often makes me shpdder
in my waking moments, and shrek out
with terror in my sleep.