The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1873-09-11


but little ceremony 10 tossing me over
the side into one of the war prahus.
To what fate | was reserved. l knew
not, as lay helpless bound in the cot
tom of the boat, beneath the feet of even
the slaves who tugged at the oars.
| doubted not but that we we're bound
for one of their piratical haunts; and
long before daylight the ship was moor
ed in liver, and I was conveyed to
hut OF. the shore, where | was obliged to
lie and listen all night to the Internal
yelling hooting they kept up, as all
hands Joined in a dance of triumph
around a large fire.
The next day my bonds were loosed,
aud | was forced to join the gang of
slaves who were busy in stripping my
poor old shin.
In vain | looked around for some trace
OF fellow-countrymaH.
| never again saw one of my ship
mates. | alone was all that remained to
| tell the sad story; and how [ was to es-
cape from my perilous position was
problem | could not then solve.
The pirate village was built on
grassy slope, situated betueen two noun
tains. 1t was surrounded by a strong
stockade of posts driven firmly into the
ground, surrounded by platform made
of bamboo, on which the warriors
could stand and defend the place against
any attack made by an enemy of another
tribe.
Time passed on, and became some
what more reconciled to my imprison-
ment. I no longer feared for my life,
and felt as safe as though in the cabin
of my own ship, as far as that was con-
cerned.
| could not perceive that | was the
slave or property of any particular one,
/ but under the direction of driver, per-
formed any task which was pointed out
to me. OF course | could not understand
a word of their gibberish, but the slave
driver by means of signs, and with the
aid of a whip, made me understand what
he wished me to do.
I was taught how to weave mats and
manufacture grass cloth, to make huts of
bamboo, cut wood and bring water, with
a thousand other little matters devoid of
interest.
Two years rolled slowly on, and was
still captive with not the slightest
prospect of escaping from the island.
During that time l had seen strange
sights and met with many strange ad-
ventures. My clothes had long since
been reduced to rags, and from the rags
to the primeyal state, which was the uni
versal costume adopted by the Dyaks.
My skin had become brown and rough
from exposure. and my beard swept in
tangled masses down my breast.
Early one morning was awakened by
hearing a great commotion in the vii
lage, and as I was about to sally out to
see what was going on. [ was seized by
two of the natives and hurried out of the
village. up the steep side of the noun
tain, and away toward the interior of the
island, which had never seen before.
As 1 was hurried along, I trrned for
an instant, and nearly tainted with sur
prise and emotion when | beheld at an
chor in the bay four large merchantmen,
under the protection of an English man.
/ Of war.
They had come here to trade for coffee
spices, gums and grass-cloth, and [ had
been hurried out of the way, probably by
order OF the chief, who did not care to
have me discovered by strangers.
How [ longed for a weapon with
which to strike blow for freedom
freedom which was all but in my grasp,
and every instant slipping from my
clutch.
A.. a rapid pace we pressed on till [
was turned over to an oYerseer, who had
under his charge gang of slaves en-
ployed in cutting sapan-wood, together
with ebony and mahogany.
had picked up enough of che lingo to
understand a portion of what was said
between the men who had hurried me
from the village and the overseer.
They told him to keep careful eye on
me, as English ships were in the harbor,
and might try to escape.
Let him try it, was the response of
the dark, villainous-lo looking wretch, as he
laid his hand ON the jewelled hilt of his
creese, and he will curse the day he
ever came under the care of Pulong -
In common with the rest of the
wretched gang L was set to work and
il was nothing but work from morning
till night.
One day when the sun had reached
the highest point in the heavens, and the
vertical rays we're pouring down on my
bare uncovered head, with terrible and
intense heat, the driver sounded the
gong for dinner; and dropping the ak
hdu pCCu l. houNClOA oh
in the cool depths of the forest, by the
side of the cool running brook, to eat
of the miserable food given to US by Pu-
long.
l had finished and was sitting with my
feet idly dipping in the refreshing water,
when some bright shining objects attract
ca my attention.
They lying in the bottom of the
stream; and wading in l stopped to pick
them up.
They were three in number, and proved
to be large, clear, magnificent pearls, such
as [ had never seen before.
At little distance farther on, / saw
large brilliant yellow diamond, flashing
with innumerable rays Of light as it lay
in my hand.
What other treasurers | might have
found in the stream know not, for sud
denly I felt large heavy grasp on my
shoulder, and turning quickly round, |
beheld the savage eyes and face of Pu
Iono Gazing ca perlv at the gems his