The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1871-11-11
From the Friend Supplement-, Nov. 81
The Cruise and Shipwreck of the
Japan"
riend Supplement, Nov. 81

The bark Japan being the first whaler ever fit
ted out through Victorian Agency, no vessel ever
left port with greater expectations or well wishes
for prosperous voyage than she, when, on the
5til Of March with her lofty canvas spread to a
favorable breeze, she soon left Melbourne and Its
happy "reminiscences far in the distance.
After a prosperous cruise, during which We
visited several of the picturesque islands which
beautify the South Pacific, we called at New lea
land, there to reft for a voyage to the Arctic
ocean, and for that purpose lay in the Bay OF
Islands, where, transhipping our oil. We remained
till the 9th of March, on which day we weighed
anchor, and after passing through the tropics
without any incident worthy OF remark, arrived
in the colder ATTITUDES Of the north. We sighted
the first ice on the 18th of April, and after capt
uring ten whales we squared our yards for the
south. On the morning of the 9Th OF October, a
strong gale of wind sprung up from the N. H.,
during which all our boats were swept from the
cranes. The gale increasing in fury during the
night, and a heavy fog setting ID next morning,
the CAPTAIN was unable to obtain any observa-
tions, but sighting the ship Massachusetts run
ming before the wind, and imagining the Captain
of her must have a good idea of his whereabouts,
determined to follow his example. The Japan
being the faster vessel, soon left the other astern,
when all of a sudden to our CONSERVATION, we
observed land right under our bows, too close
however, to allow of our clearing it. She struck
soon after with terrific force, the sea at the sam
time sweeping her decks fore and aft and carry
ing away everything offering resistance to its re-
lentless force.
The greater number of the crew jumped over
board and endeavored to reach the shore "a dis
lance of about two furlongs) eight of whom per-
ished in the attempt. Two more unfortunate
men, refusing to leave the ship miserably persisted
there. Two men having reached the beach in
safety, took a run, endeayoring to restore circu-
lation to their almost frozen blood, and when
doing so were greatly surprised at beholding the
foot marks of a dog on the snow, which they
tracted for a considerable distance, and to their
great delight, (the fog clearing off espied an Es-
quimaux village. Immediately on doing so they
returned to their almost despair comrades, who
j%oyfully accompanied them to the village in which
one more of our number had to suceumb to the
fearful cold.
1t may be necessary here to state, that the
coast on which we found ourselves so suddenly
placed, was that of the extreme north of Siberia,
about &c > north latitude.
On arriving at the village, the inhabitants of
which though much surprised at our sudden ap-
pearance treated us with great kindness, giving
us skin clothing in exchange for our ice covered
garments, which they esteemed as a great prize,
Every few Of them ever having seen a white man
before) at the same time placing before us some
raw walrus in a state Of semi-putrefaction, which
in that state, being considered a great luxury
among them, created no small surprise at our
rejecting it. The gale decreasing, it fell a
calm, consequently the whole ocean was
IrOZen over, LnuS covering HI I0dG IeLDdIueu
of our i'll fated ship, at the same time
shutting off all hopes of saving any provision.
And to make matters worse, wood being unob-
tainable in this desolate spot, we were denied the
luxury of a FIRE during the winter, either for Gull
mary purposes or for warmth, which comforts are
quite unknown to this benighted race.
1t was a long time before we could partake of
any of their food, which is served up under such
revolving circumstances chat decency iOrbids u
minute description but as the proverb says,
8 hunger is the best sauce - we had to overcome
our scruples and after a few weeks could eat our
share with any of them.
Having come to the conclusion that exercise
was the only means of preserving health, We used
to provide the houses with fresh water ice (for
which we had to take long journeys), which being
pounded up with oil is eaten with great gusto by
the natives. We also performed long journeys to
the adjacent villages. During which one more of
our number had to succumb to the fearful cold)
at all of which places we were received by the
inhabitants with great hospitality, and we looked
upon as little short of deities. | having the fort
une upon one occasion to stop an effusion of blood
from a child's nose in a house l was visiting, by
simply placing a piece of ice on its back, / was
looked upon as something supernatural.
The monotony of our winter life was only re-
lieved by sleigh racing. In the spring, however,
we performed long excursions with the natives
after polar bears, seals, &C.; when We frequently
met with the natives of the American or eastern
shore. They speak an entirely different dialect
from those on the Asiatic side, and seem a much
more savage race of people.
In such pursuits We managed to pass the time
until the month of March, on the 18th day of
which the ice opening a little. a great number of
whales were to be seen vending their way to the
northward. A few days later, schools of walrus
made their appearance, followed by large focks
of ducks which proved a great addition to our
larder. The ice now breaking up, we lived in
anticipation of seeing some adventursome
whaler forcing its way through an obstacle
which the suns rays were daily lessening. We
we're doomed to repeated disappointment, until
the 10th of June, when to our immeasureable de-
light, we sighted the bark John Wells of New
Bedford. But Immediately on doing SO it set in
a dense fog, lasting for three days, at the end of
which time We managed to get a canoe, which we
hauled a great distance over the ice and at last
launched it in the open water, when after pad
ding all day we arrived on board at 8 p. M,
where we were received with great kindness by
the Captain, who provided us with clothing. We
were finally distributed among the numerous
whalers then rapidly aocking through the straits,
and on board of which we remained until that
unfortunate feet, numbering over 33 vessels, was
blocked in by the ice at Point Franklin. The
feet was deserted on the 18th of September, and
after travelling a considerable distance in the
boats we were fortunate enough to meet with seven
vessels, which not venturing so far in the ice
were enabled to take us on board, and in one of
them, (the bark Chance of Sydney, we arrived
at Honolulu after a pleasant passage.
MANNERS AND CUSTOMS OF THE EsoUIMAUx.
The coast of North Siberia presents a very
barren and rugged aspect, being utterly devoid of
all vegetation with the exception of a few hardy
herbs and MOSES, which grow with rapidity
during the summer months. The interior is,
however, very fat, and only diversified by large
rivers, winding through this desolate waste of
which it is composed, which in summer are well
stocked with fish and water fowl, numbers of
which migrate to these barren regions during
this season.
The natives of the Asiatic side of the Arctic
ocean, on which we were wrecked, are a mixed
race, supposed to originate from a mingling of
the Russian and Tartar tribes. They are of a
medium height, and uncommonly stout in pro-
portion to their stature. Some are of a dark
copper color, while others approach nearer the
European features and complexion. Though the
features Of the men are exempted from the savage
ouatou of foftooin0 thosa af tho IN, - Mt