The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-07-21
SEVENTEEN YEARS WITH sAvAGEs


SEVENTEEN YEARS WITH sAvAGES.
NARc1ssE PELLETIER's LIFE AMONG THE
BLAcKs OF THE AUsTRALAsIAN CONTINENT
STRANGE, EVENTUAL HIsToRY-wHAT A
MAN MAY SUFFER AND YET SURVIVE.
SYDNEY N. s. W., June s. 1875
The following sketch OF the history OF Narclsse
Pelleuer, VINO was rescued alter seventeen years.
residence with q savage tribe, was drawn up from
his statements by Lieutenant Ottley, r. f., pas
Ieng + on board the steamer Brisbane, and pub
hsheG in the sydney paDers:-
A FRENCH BOYS FATE.
Narcisse Pierre Peetier Tor Pelter), the son OF
shoemaker OF 81. Giles, near Bordeaux, occu-
Pied In 1858, the post OF cabin boy in the ship
paint Pau, OF Bordeaux, during voyage from
Dnina to Australia, whlther she was conveying
sons $50 Chinese Immigrants. One moon
ess night the ship struck on a reef In
me Lousiade group OF islands, and soon
became total wreck. The captain, crew and
Immigrants however, reached an island in safety
some IN boats and others along the reef One
oil the three boats was damaged on the rocks,
and, the remaining two being quite inadequate 10
convey all hands to any other land, 1t became
evident that the crew, II they wished TO save
themselves, mast leave the Chinese to SHIFT for
AMONG THE BLACKS
Accordingly the Europeans made for the neigh
boring island. whee however, they were att
lacked by tue blacks and forced 10 retire, leaving
Denlnd them, In the handS OF the savages three
men, he second ofilcer a sailor and an appren-
ice. During TINS attack Narclsse receiv ed vio-
ent bow ON the head from stone, but managed
10 Ieacn the boat Much as the crew dreaded
he Chinese, they dreaded the savages more,
ana accordingly returned 10 the Island which had
arsC Afforded them refuge. Once more in COM
they held consultation as TO what should be
done, 1t bein finally decided to embark in silence
At dead OF night wnen all the Cllnese should be
asleep.
AT SEA AGAIN.
Narcisse overheaIing what was said, followed
The sailors down IN the poat and embarked with
Them IN their new venture. lG would seem that
The captain TOLD the men that he s"ould make for
2 country where they would either Iall in with
Englsn settlements or English vessels. The du-
ration OF the voy age ID uncertain, but must have
rannot have been less than 600 miles.
1t seems clear however, that tho crew
40 fire, they lived on hour and suc5
lncooked birds as they could catch or knock
Gown; and lurther that for some three or four
Gays before sighting the Australian coast their
supply Of fresh water ran OUT The point where
they landed is known as First Red Rocky Point"
south OF Cape Dlrecti u. Raging with tnlrst, the
Hew, consisting OF the captain, some seven men,
and Narcsse, drew the boat mp on TO The beach
6as rewarded by finding small waternole, but
the supply proved insufficient for all. and was
little cabin boy, already hall dead from hunger,
thirsd, and exposure, and with leet cut TO pieces
THEIR THIRST AssUAGgp,
the CAPITA and his men peavlng the little cabin
boy to his 1ate) retraced their way to their
boat, ana, 1t Is believed ultimately reached
New Caledonia. The conduct OF these men
scarcely seems to require comment; stIll 1t
must be remembered that the boy was, as be
himself says, "nan dead,n and quite unable to
walk further, whle probably Inc men were them.
selves too weak to carry MIN; ami we may, more
over, imagine that, recollectIng their treatment
oy the Louisiade islanders, they were only too
ANXIOUS to get safely under way again; so that
pered VITA pity. 1t may not De out Of place here
TO remark that II IS reported that the cannibals OF
the Louslade Islands appear TO have eaten most
Di the Cnlnese. Two by Lwu in the most Inc tnodical
manner, some sixteen or seventeen only having
N length been rescued by passing vessel
THE DYING BOY FOUND.
To return, however, 10 Narcisse Peletier, 1t ap-
pears that tue Dlacks on ne mainland, happening
10 cross tue track OF tne boats crew, followed is
up to the waterhole and found the little
lylng boy. They treated him with the great
vat Kindness, led nim. ana finally led him
away to their camp. With this trlbe known In
Inelr own TONGUE as the .Macadamas," he re-
NAMED for seventeen years, until he was dis.
covered and taken away on the 11th Of April last
py the crew OF the John Bell. pearl schooner,
.hen lying at the Night island. When discovered,
farclsse was S ark naked, ike the rest OF the
tribe, MS body burned by the sun TO rich red
breasts were adorned with TWO raised lines OF
lash OF the thickness OF pencil, Wnie the lobe
Df MS right ear was ornamented with piece OF
wood ABOUT half an inch In diameter and four
THE CUTS ON HIS BREAST,
pieces OF broken glass bottles, the lips OF the
;uts being raised by a system OF constant
Dnching curing the healing process. The
Iailors who Drought him OF are under the
impression tnat nc came willingly, and that
The saYageS understood mat ne was being ram
lomed WITH trade. NIrcsse, however states that
Ihe sailors labored under mlsc0nceptlon, and
that neither ala the natives wish nm 10 go nor
SID he himself wish 10 leave. in TACT, at the time,
ne would much rather nave returnso TO his tribe
Sut tnat botn nc anu The blacks were afraid Of tne
runs i'll the boat He says that or a long tme--a
Fery long time-atcr his Insertion by the captain,
ais thoughts continually reverted TO
LA BELLE FRANCE,
md TO his father, mother ana lltue brothers; but
mat, as years rolled on, these faded ron his
memory ana ne became Thoroughly ldentlded win
me blacks. FOR tne nrst fortnight Of bis stay in
Somerset he is described as restless and uneasy
Ind AS Stirling like bird on a rail- watching every
,ne Ia frightened way.
RECLAIMED 10 CIVILIZATION.
Thanks, however, to the kindness and persever-
gnce .. Lieutenant Conner, or tue Royal Navy, he
vas ia. Idly reclaimed 10 civilization, ana now his
lreaJesT pleasure appears 10 be reading French
ioyel with whicA ms KIND Instructor supplied him
when shipping him ia the Brisbane steamer. His
recount OF lie amongs the blacks Is necessarily
neagfe, partly because he mas still some dimculty
expressing MS IDEAS in French, and partly,
posslbiy, because there is not much 10 tell. His
lie, Ike mat OF the men OF his tribe, appears 10
ave been principally passed in fishing aad hunt
ny, the monotony bslng occasionally varied
by battle with neighbOrlng tribe.
One OF the most extraordinary features in
The case Is taat, although q mere boy wnen
be deserted, he has retained mis- knowledge OF
reading ana writ ting, and can count with ease up
10 loo. Not only can he read pint, but he can 10
q great extent make out ordinary handwriting,
Whle during MS stay on board he mas drawn some
Excellent sketches OF the animals be had hunted
ketcho Wnlcn, II not exactly tart treasures
are at any rate very liteilke representations OF
Inc objects tnei are intended to depict. In short
Narclsse Pelletler Is young man Of great lntelli-
yence and promise, ana we may be permitted TO
Iope that no mas many nappy days in store for
aim in his native land To urther THIS END u sub.
icription was set on loot board the Brisbane,
being resolved That the money should be re.
nltted TO France through the French Consul, TO be
mere applied as seemed best for the furtnerancc
u his interests.
POOR CHILDREN'S FREE EXCUR-