National Republican., 1875-07-22
sxyExrxrN TEARS WITH sAvAers.

kkVkNIkEN IkAbb Wlf6 bAtAuks'
Nsreisss psllsnsr's Life Among the Blacks
Of the Australasian Continental Strange,
Evsntful History-whst Man Nay Suffer
and Yet Survive.
SYDNEY, N. .. W., June 8, 1875.
The following sketch Of the history Of Narcisse
Pelletier, who was rescued after seventeen years.
residence with Q savage tribe, was drawn up from
his statements BY Lieutenant Ottley, r. E., apas-
senger on board the steamer Brisbane, and pub
nshed in the sydney papers:
AyRExcH BoY's FATE.
.Narcisse Pierre Pelletier, tor Peltier,) the son
pied in 1855 the post Of caSinSoy IN the ship Saint
Paul, OF Bordeaux, during Q voyage from China
70 Australia, whittier she was conveying some $50
ship struck on reef In the Louisiade group Of
Islands, and soon became total wreck. The cap
and i@mg,sSSs: reached a.
rocks, and the remaining two being inadequate 70
ssS al Inc 20 az Ssg 70 ssR:
themselves, must leave the Chinese TO shin for
themselves.
AMONG THE BLACKS.
Accordingly the Europeans made for the neigh
tackled by the blacks and forced 70 retire. leaving
behind them, In the hands Of the sayages, three
cs ,sGpd . 1rS ssPpso y
lent blow on the head from 0 stone, but managed
to reach the boat. Much as the crew dreaded the
cordingIy returned to the island vhlch had arst
afforded them refuge. Once more In comparative
security, their former fears returned, and they
being finally decided to embark In silence ut dead
Of night, when all the Chinese should be asleep.
AT SEA AGAIN. ~
Narcisse, overhearing what was said, followed
the oailois down in the boat and embarked with
III hat
the captain told the men that he should make for
country where they would either fall In with
Duration Of the voyage is uncertain. but must
have been considerable, as the distance traversed
cannot have been less than six hundred miles.
great hardships, for, having no nre, they lived on
Hour and such unoooked birds as they could catch
or knock down; and, further, that for some three
their supply Of fresh water ran out. The point
where they landed Is known as First Red Rocky
sous 81 sSs Kssg Hs
seven men, and Narcisse, drew the boat up on 70
the beach and searched for water. At length
water hole, but the supply proved insufficient for
all, and was consumed by the men, leaving none
for the poor little cabin boy, already half dead
cut to pieces by the sharp coral Of the reef.
THEIR THIRST AssUAeED,
the captain and his men (leaying the little cabin
boy to his fate) retraced their way to their boat,
apd, 1t is believed, ultimately reached New Gale
donia. The conduct of these men scarcely seems
TO require comment; still It 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,
recoilecting their treatment BY the Louislads
islsnaers they were only too anxious to get safely
tion should be largely tempered with pity. It
may not be out OF place here to remark that It is
reported that the cannibals Of the Louisiade
islands appear to have eaten most Of the Chinese,
two by two, in the most methodical manner, sone
sixteen or seventeen only having at length been
rescued by passing vessel
THE DYING BOY POUND.
To return, however TO NarcIsse Pelletier, It
appears that the blacks on the mainland, hap
pening to cross the track of the boats crew. fol-
lowed It up to the water hole, and found the little
dying boy. They treated him with the greatest
kindness, fed him, and finally led him away to
their camp. With this tribe, known n their own
tongue as the "Macadamas," he remained for
seventeen years, until he was discovered and
taken away on the uth of April last by the crew
Of the John Ball. pearl schooner, then lying at
was stark naked, like the rest Of the tribe, his
body burned by the sun to rich red color, aud
having glazed appearance: his breasts were
thickness of pencil, while the lobe Of bis right
ear was ornamented with piece Of wood about
half an inch in diameter and four inches long.
THE CUTS ON HIS BREAST,
Of which he is very proud, were made with pieces
raised by a system of constant pinching during
the healing process. The sailors who brought him
on are under the impression that he came will
ingly, and that the savages understood that he
was being ransomed with trade. Narclsse, how
ever, states that the sailors labored under mis-
him 10 40 nor did be himself wish to leave. In
fact, at the time, he would much rather have re-
turned to his tribe but that both he and the blacks
were afraid OF the guns in the boat. He says that
for long time, very long time, after his deser-
tion BY the captain, his thoughts continually re-
verted to
La BELLE FRANCE,
and to his father, mother and little brothers; but
that as years rolled on these faded from bis men,
ory, and he became thoroughly identified with the
blacks. For the first fortnight Of his stay in SON.
erset he is described as restless and uneasy and
In frightened way.
RECLAIMED TO CIVILIZATION.
Thanks, however, to the kindness and persever-
ance Of Lieutenant Connor, Of the royal navy, he
was rapidly reclaimed to civilization, and now his
greatest pleasure appears to be reading French
novel with which his kind instructor supplied him
when shipping him In the Brisbane steamer. His
account OF LIE amongst the blacks Is necessarily
in expressing his ideas in French, and partly,
possibly, because there Is not much to tell. His
have been @ pas.ed IN hHE ans Sun
ing, the monotony being occasionally varied by
battle with q neigh ring tribe. One Of the most
extraordinary features IN the case is that, al
though q mere boy when he deserted, he has re-
tanned his knowledge Of reading and writing, and
can count with ease up to 100. Not only can he
read print, but he can, to great extent, make
cut ordinary handwriting, while during his stay
on board, he has drawn some excellent. sketches
OF the animals he had hunted-sketehes which, If
not exactly "art treasures" I" are at any rate very
life-like representations Of the objects they are
intended to depict. In short, Narcisse Pelletier
and we may be permitted TO hope that he has
many happy days IN store for him In his native
land. To further this end 0 subscription was set
on foot on board the Brisbane, It being resolved
that the money should be remitted TO France
through the French consul, to be there applied as