The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1869-12-11

thankful or not for our escape. OF one
thing Twas glad, heartily so, my knowledge
of the Maori language, by which 1 could
make myself understood. Both Taylor and
myself recovered in a few days in great
measure our strength, and the natives did
not seem in any way inclined to hurt or
modest lis.
do not wish nor intend to weary my
readers with our life's history on that out
of the way place. Month after month
passed drearily away, our only hope of es-
cape being some passing whaler, which
rarely touched at that inhospitable coast,
unless fairly forced by dearth of water
We lived there long enough to see canni-
baiism in it's most horrid form, and existed
on fish, oysters, vegetables and fruit.
Taylor buried his box deep down in the
sand in quiet, retired place, marked by
two large cocoa-nut trees which grew near
the spot. 1t had begun to excite the curl
osity of the natives. / helped him to bury
it, each Of us using a unacceptable to dig
out the sand. Had we possessed spade
we should have chosen 4 stronger soil, for
the sand kept filling in and made our task
difficult, but we thought it would be dryer
there and less likely to suffer from damp.
After we had been four months on the
island Taylor fell sick, and in great fear Of
losing him, asked an old chief, Tohunga
or native doctor, if he knew of aught, any
plant OF shrub, good as medicine. He
said he did, and the next day brought me
species of fern. These he stepped in hot
water in a large shell, and told me to give
the liquor to Taylor.
l feared to do so, but as it tasted bitter,
like tonic, and he had some sort of fever,
| gave it to him and it killed him. Ihave
no doubt it poisoned him. He told ME be-
fore he died that if ever got off, to dig up
the box and keep it, and mentioning vii
lage where he was born, asked me to place
slab to his memory in the church-yard.
| buried him beneath the shade of a
large tree. How lonely felt when he was
gone can hardly say, nor yet my regret,
when, few days afterward, an American
whaler came to the island for water-the
Elizabeth, from New Bedford. My Joy at
its arrival was sadly damped by poor Tay-
lors untimely fate. She was nearly full
ship, and had been out nearly five years,
and was then homeward bound, intending
to cruise, however, a month or two longer
among the islands before starting. A gale
she had met with three days before had
carried away three casks of water, and
fearing lest she should run short, the cap
tain had ordered the cooper to frame some
more tubs, and then, fortunately for me,
he ran down to the nearest land to fill
them. My worst adventure was yet to
come-how little do we know what single
day may bring.
l asked permission of the Chief Wairua
for him to water here, and in consideration
of an old musket, some powder, and few
yards of cotton, he gave it, and promised
they should aot be disturbed.
AS the captain did not intend to sail I'M
til next day, determined, after first Dor
rowing spade, to go and dig up the hid
den treasure. We had concealed it some
distance from the kainga or village, in a
place where few natives went, as the spot
was tabooed, a burying- ground being near.
did not want the sailors to know about
it, and so went alone.
I arrived at the place and commenced
digging. 1t was at the foot of sand bank,
on which the trees grew, and marked by
stone. I dug large hole, and when had
got down about five feet, l struck on the
box with my spade, and stopped to take it
up.
just then the sand caved in. I had hold
of the box, and my hands were Immediately
fastened there. | was buried up to my
chin, my head only out of the hole and level
with the ground. At first 1 did not COM
prchend the danger and difficulty of my
position. thought I could easily work
my way out. | soon discovered my mis-
take. l tried to force my hands and arms,
when found was utterly powerless, pin
toned, imprisoned fast and sure. The
very movement of my head round a little
brought down a fresh heap of sand and
threatened to bury me completely. Idared
not move, and then all the horrors of my
situation occurred to me.
I was buried alive. What horrible
feeling thrilled through me as | tried to
realize it. Surely, surely though, relief
would come to me ere Lonesome one
would find me before a lingering death of
hunger seized me as its prey, so hope
whispered. Ay, but the long distance
from any hut, more than two miles, the
unfrequented spot, which | had never seen
or known any one to come near during my
stay, and above all, the captain sailing next
day, spoke out my despair. l shouted and
screamed to no purpose; no answer came.
The sun beat unpityingly on my bare head,
for my hat was knocked off and buried
with me, and the flies came and lighted on
me in swarms, driving me wild-so utterly
powerless, so entirely at their mercy.
A raging thirst came on, aggravated by
my fears, and tantalized by the sight of a
clear, limpid spring, burying itself in the
sand few feet from my eyes. l prayed,
| wept, and again ventured to struggle,
and again brought down shower of the
fine sand, which now buried part of my
chin. Another fear assaulted me-what if
the wind should spring up and bring on
me the drifting death? The thought was
dreadful. -.-..-...- ...-.
''Oh, my Godr' l cried in my agony,
" am fated to perish thus, just when a
hope of my removal from the island has
been given to me? Surely the captain will
send out men to look for me when he finds
do not return" tried to feel thankful
there were no wild beasts near, none but
wild hogs; and yet l feared even them,
should they come down to drink or feed on
the shell-tish, as | had sometimes seen
them do SO, and find me thus defenseless.
And all the time the flies and mosquitoes
nearly drove me wild. A very little and l
feared l should really 60 mad, mad with
fear and utter helplessness. And yet what
small insignificant accident it seemed af-