The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1875-07-08
EXPERIENCE OF A CAPTIVE.
A SLAVE OF MALAY sAvAGEs.


A SLAVE OF MALAY SAVAGES.
TAKEN PRIsoNER-IN THE SERVICE OF THE
cHIEF's DAUGHrERs-soLD TO A BoY-IN-
TEREsTING JUVENILE AMUsEMENI-Ih.
BILLS OF sALE-RANSoMED.
The New York Mercury tells the follow
ing experience of captive sailor among the
Malay savages: One of the most remarka-
BILE experiences among savages was that OF
William P. Day, seafaring man, VINO re-
Gently arrived in this city. Mr.. Day mas
been a sailor ever since he was boy, ana
has had some pretty rough times In the
course of his nautical life. The severest OF
his experiences, however, was among the
Malay savages. Mr.. Day is now stopping
with Mr.. David Harrett, at Nos. 2l7 and ZIG
East Twenty-ninth street. He Is the
brother-in-law of Mr.. Harriet, and the
latter vouches fo- his reliability and
general character for trus h-teiling:
The Malay savages are very fierce and
treacherous. They are governed by chiefs
who unite a savageness OF nature with pc
cnliar cunning. The sailing vessel Bona
Juta left New York two years ago Tor
cruise along the Malay coast. While anch-
ored off the littlo natural harbor of Dilesce,
six of the crew went ashore in boat for
the purpose of purchasing fruit and other
food from the natives. The sailors took
with them to exchange for the articles OF
food desired quantity oil cheap and gaudy
trinkets such as usually delight the savage
heart While trying to drive bargain
with Zstzek, one OF the chiefs, Mr.. Day,
who could not speak word OF the Malay
language but who was making his ideas
known by signs and gestures, offended the
chief In loud and angry tones, Zetzek gave
some orders to his people, and forthwith the
fhrOu ms
at the little party OF sailors. Inc
sailors cid not stop to fight, but ran as
fast as thew could towards their boat, which
had been hauled upon the beach. The boat
was somewhat heavy, and it required con-
siderable effort to push it off into the water.
Four of the sailors jumped into the little
craft, and the other two, Mr.. Day ana man
named Jose Mechsrd, remained out TO puSa
the boat of from the shore. Messrs, Day
and Mechard rad just started the poat ana
were about tn jump in themselves when tney
were seized from behind by the savages and
taken prisoners. Their comrades did not re-
turn to tneir assistance, but rowed away to-
ward their ship as rapidly as possible. Some
OF the savageS sprang into the water ana
swan after the boat, but were unable TO
catch il before it reached the ship. Mr.. Day
and his companion were
HURRIED INTO THE INTERIOR
of the country, and although large party
OF sailors from the ship set out to rescue
them, all efforts to find them proved futile.
No sooner did Zetzek, the chief, get the cap
tives safely away from the coast than he
commenced series of eruelties which are
almost beyond belief. Zetzek had two
daughters, maidens who were decidly I'M
prepossessing and repulsive to look upon.
Mr.. Day was given TO one OF the girls and
Mr.. Mechard TO the othSr. The captives
were duly installed as servants and play
things OF these yellow maidens. The con-
QUOT of these maidens was far from amiable.
A favorite amusement of the girls was to
poke sticks into the fire, and. when the ends
were well burning thrust them into the
flesh of the csptives, making horrible burns
and scars. When the captives would
vince and scream at these tor
lures, the maidens would wake the
echoes with loud and merry laughter.
Never were servants worked harder or more
abused than were these two unfortunate
sailors. They were compelled to carry
heavy burdens on long journeys over almost
impossible footpaths. Sometimes, besides
bearing large bundles of articles belonging
TO their mistresses, the poor fellows had TO
carry the girls too. The Malays are not
usually very large in stature, and these
young ladies weighed less than a hundred
pounds piece, a fact which was very unf0r-
tunate for Messrs. Day and Mechard.
When the girls wanted to ride they would
Jump upon the shoulders of the captiVes,
and getting astride of their necks, sit there
gracefully and proceed proudly and tri-
umphantly on their journey. When the
young ladies wished their car
riers to go faster they would forci-
bly, remind them of their desires by
whipping the poor fellows over the face and
ewes with switches of drie1 twigs Gu, from
trees by the wayside. While on their iour-
neys the captives were seldom allowed to
walk, but generally had to proceed on half
run, or jog trot, One of Mr.. Mechard's eyes
was destroyed by blow from switch in the
hands of his mistress. Alter remaining sew
era! months in captivity, Mr.. Mechard was
taken sick with a disease something similar
TO the Asiatic cholera, aud died in a few
hours. Mr.. Day was thus lett alone, with
no civilized companion to cheer his life in
captivity. One of the amiabie sisters be-
ing thus deprived of her servant, the other
lady conclued not to be diffsrenC FROM her
sister, and concluded to sell Mr.. Day to
some one who desired his services more
than she did. So she had
A CONFERENCE WITH HER PAPA,
the noble Zetzek, and he took Mr.. Day to q
neighboring chief and disposed of him, re.
ceiving in payment two spears and a
blanket. AS he had been several months
with the Mslays. Mr.. Day had begun to
speak and understand their language con.
siderably. He gathered from the converse
ton between Zstzsk ard his new master
that some kind OF written deed, or con-
tract, was necessary to bind the bargain
The Malays have sort of hall character
aud half hieroglSphicsl style of written
language. Zetzek proceeded to execute the
required deed, or contract, in a peculiar
manner. Filling sort of stone basin with
liquid resembling tar, he placed it on fir
to heat. When the liquid had
reached boiling point, ht
dipped shsrpened stick into it, ant
began to mark on Mr.. Days left arm, be
ginning near the shoulder, he made serie.
of characters and rude pictures, which signi
fed that he relinquished all right and It'll,
in the captive and transferred the property
TO the second party. 1t required ali til,
space in Mr.. Days arm, from the shoulde
to the wrist, for this singular document O
transfer. As the operation of writing re
quired more than half days time in its &C
omplishlnent. and the ink was hoilinr hot