Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1875-08-06
SEVENTEEN YEARS WITH SAVAGES


SIDNEY, N. s. w., June S, lS75.-The
following sketch of the history of Narcisse Pei
letter, who was rescued after seventeen years
from his statements by Lieut.. Oltley, K. E., q
passenger on board the steamer Brisbane, and
published in the Sidney papers
Narcisse Fierre Pelletier Tor Peltier, the son
of shoemaker of st. Giles, near Bordeaux
occupied 10 1858. the post Of cabin boy 10 the
ship St. Paul, of Bordeaux, during voyage
from China to Australia, whittier she was con-
veying some $50 Chinese immigrants. One
moouless night the ship struck on reef in the
Lou:siade group of fislands. and soon became
total wreck. The captain, crew and immigrants,
however, reached an island in safety. some 10
boats aGd others along the reef. One of the
three boats was damaged on the rocks, and the
remaining two being quite inadequate to oon-
vey all hands to any other land, il became evi.
dent that the crew, if they wished to save them
selves, must leave the Chinese to SHIFT tor them
selves.
Accordingly the Europeans made for the
neighbOring island, where, however, they were
attacked by the blacks and forced to retire,
leaving behind them. 10 the hands of the saw
ages. three men-the second officer, sailor
and an apprentice. During this attack Narcisse
received violent blow on the head With stone,
but managed to reach the boat. Much as the
crew dreaded the Chinese, they dreaded the
saVages more, and accordingly returned to the
island which had first afforded them. refuge.
Once more IN comparative security, their form
er fears returned, and they held consultation
as to what should be done, it being finally de-
cided to embark in silence at dead of night
when all the Chinese should be asleep.
Narclsse, oVerhearing what was said, follow.
ed the sailors down 10 the boat, and embarked
With them 10 their new venture. It would
seem the captain told the men that he should
make tor country where they would either
fall 10 with Eoslish settlements or Eoglish YES
sells. The duration OF the voyage is uncertain,
tance traversed cannot have been less than 600
miles. 1t seems clear. however, that the crew
endured great hardships, for, having no fire,
they lived on -four aud such uncooked birds as
they could catch or knock down; and further,
that for some three or four days before sight
ing the Australian coast their supply Of fresh
water ran out.
The point where they landed is known as
rst Red Rockey Point" south of Cape Di-
rection: Raging with thirst, the crew, consist
Ing OF the captain, some seven men and Mar
clsse, drew the boat up on to the beach and
searched for water. AtleDgth their search was
rewarded by finding small waterhole, but the
supply proved insufficient for all, and was con.
sumed by the men, leaving none for the Door
little cabin boy, already half dead from burger,
thirst and exposure and with feet cut to pieces
by the shary coral Of the reef
Their thirst assuaged, the captain and bis
men (leavlng the little boy to his fate) retraced
their way to their boat, and, it is believed ulti
mately reached New Caledonia. The conduct
OF these men scarcely seems to require com.
ment; still 1t must be remembered that the boy
was, as he himself says, ''half dead" and quite
unable to walk further, while probably the men
were themselves too weak to carry him; and we
may, moreover, imagine that recolleciiog their
treatment by the Louisiade Islanders, they were
ouly too anxious to get under way again; so that
perhaps our indignation should be largely tenn
pered with pity. Itm may not be out of place here
TO remark that it is reported that the copuibals
OF the Loulsiade Islands appear to have eaten
most OF the Chinese, two by two, 10 the most
methodlca manner, some sixteen or seventeen
only having atlength been rescued by q passing
vessel. .............
10 return, however, to Narcisse PelIetier, it
appears that the blacks on the mainlapd, hap
pening to cross the track of the boats crew,
followed 1t up to the water-hole, and found the
little, dying boy. They treated him with the
away to their camp. With this tribe. koovo
10 their own tongue as the "Macadamas," he
remained tor seventeen years, uotil he was dis.
covered and taken away on the llth of April
last by the crew of the John Bell, pearl
schooner, then lying at the Night Island.
hen discovered, Narcsse was stark naked.
like the rest of the tribe, bis BODY burned bv
the sun to rich, red color, and having slaz.
ed appearance; his breasts we're adorned with
two raised lines Of flesh of the thickness of .
pencil. while the lobe of his right ear was or.
namented With piece of wood about half an
inoh in diameter and four inches long.
The cats on bis breast, of which he is very
proud, were made with pieces of broken glass
bottles. the lips of the outs being raised By a
system OF constant punching during the healing
process. The sailors who brought him off are
un9er the impression that he came willingly,
being ransomed with trade. Nsrcisse. hovever
states that the sailors labored under a miscon.
ceptl0n, and neither did the natives wish him
to 90 nor did he himself wish to leave. In fact
ut the time, ne would much rather have re.
turoed to bis tribe, but that both he and the
blacks were afraid Of the guns 10 the boat. BE
says that for long time-a very long time
after bis desertion BY the captain his thoughts
continually reverted to La Belle France, and to
his father, mother and little brothers, but that,
as years rolled on, these faded from bis memo.
~ and he became thoroughly identified with
the blacks. For the first fortnight of bis stay
IN Somerset he is described as restless and un.
easy and IS sitting like bird on rail watch.
ing every one in frightened way
Ihapks, however, to the kindness and perse-
vveranee OF Lieutenant Connor Of the ROYAL
Nssy' ne was rapidly reclaimed to civilization,
reading q French novel, with which his Kind
instructor supplied him when shipping him In
Inc Brisbane steamer. His account Of life
among the blacks is necessarily meager. partly
because he has still! some difficulty 10 express.
ing hls ideas 10 French. and partly, possibly.
because there is not much to tell His life, liks
,u;. OF men OF bis tribe, appears to have been