Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1876-11-10


the French language, and by the time he
reached Tahiti French possession, he could
converse in it with considerable Huepcy. He
made great many friends among the sailors,
too, and, on the WHOLE when the ship re ached
Tahiti he was rather sorry the voyage was
at an end, and looked with pleasure to the
long journey to France which the frigate
was soon TO make. But this experience
Nick was destined never to enjoy, for when
they reached the shore the captain, who,
like Mrs. John Gilpin, chad frugal mind, A."
gave him over to the care Of French mer-
chant in the town, representing himself to be
the boys guardian, aud pocketing the money
which the trader offered in consideration OF
having Nick bound out 10 him for term of
years.
Thus Nick found himself in reality slave
to this man, who, though calling himself
merchant, was only a little, dried.up old
French store-keeper, who sold rum aud other
such nccessaries Of life to the natives, and
performed notable part in the degradation
and almost complete humiliation of the peo-
pie which these fiery liquors aud their con.
sequent vices have caused. Such man was,
Of course, hard master, and Nick soon
found that his escape from service at home
aud his settlement 10 Tahiti had been merely
a leisurely change from the frying.pan into
the fire. Besides compelling the boy to
wait on customers and do all the drudgery
Of the premises, in process of time his mas.
ter installed him in the cuisine aud initiated
him in all the mysteries of cooking, which,
while they atterward stood him in good stead,
we're irksome enough at the time, princi-
paly on account Of the blows and maledic-
tions which attended the instruction. Now,
among the native patrons Of his masters
GROCERY, there were several white people,
one Of whom, a gray-haired and venerable
looking Frenchman, had apparently taken
quite liking to Nick and used often to con-
verse with him. When drunk, (which was
a frequent occurrence, he was particularly
affable, and it was practice of his TO burst
into tears and, Selling Nick's hand, swear
that he was lad after his own heart, who
reminded him Of a son buried in la belle
France, aud for whom he would shed his
best blood, if need be. The constant re-
currence Of these protestations of regard so
influenced Nick at last, that, upon one oc.
cason, when his master had given him a
tremendous horsing for forgetting to salt
the omelettes prepared for his breakfast. he
fed the house, aud, hunting up his verbose
admirer, besought him to save him from the
rum.seller's brutality. The veteran was
deeply moved, indeed, but in manner Nick
had little counted upon, for after reading
him lecture upon ingratitude in leaving
master who had rescued him from the perils
Of the sea and installed him in the best bar
room in Tahiti-which he seemed to consid-
er the hight Of human felicty-he logged
him with as much vigor as weakness caused
by age aud dissipation would allow, and bore
him to his old quarters, where Nick was
again beaten aud locked in an upper cham
Der in solitary confinement, while the vete-
ran was presented with demijohn Of rum,
and retired into a state of drunken seclusion,
which lasted for over a week. Nick, smart.
ing with wounds and il.treatment, lay upon
the floor Of his prison till nghtfall, and all
the household had gone to sleep, when he
managed to burst open the window, lowered
himself to the ground by rope made from
the coverings Of some goods stored in the
room, and ran out into the night, he knew
not whittier.
While passing through the town he sud.
denly encountered tall and ferce-looking
native whom he recognized as the chief Of
one Of the wild tribes in the interior to whom
he had frequently sold liquor, for which,
like the rest Of his people, the chief had
consuming passion. This native, who was
more intelligent than most Of his race, and
could speak little French, Intercepted
Nick as to his destination, and, upon hear
ing the circumstances, offered to take him
with him to his tribe and train him as his
own son. The natives were cannibals, and
Nick was rather doubtful whether his intro
ducton might not be the signal for grand
feast, at which he should figure as the prin-
cipal baked meat, but he finally reflected
that he might as well die at oucc as perish
by inches with his inhuman master more
over, the chief seemed sincere and friendly,
and, if he fulfilled his promises, career Of
such surprising delights was open before him
that to boy OF Nick's temperament it was
perfectly irresistibe,-so he took the saw
ages hand, and accompanied him to his canoe
outside the town. After padding all night
and part OF the next day, they reached a
large native village nesting in valley
among the hills and fronting upon a beau
tilul land-girt lagoon, where the water was
crystal clear and little troubled by the waves
of the sea. Nick thought he had never seen
a more beautiful spot, and though be was
little alarmed at the actions of some OF the
savagcs, who hourished unpleasant looking
clubs aud spears made Of sharks teeth and
fsh.b bones, in very suggestive manner, he
H.. H. k,nI L. -, c,,y
words apparently explained his position in
the tribe, aud caused the demonstrative ones
to throw aside their weapons and bear him
on their shoulders in triumph to the home
the great man occupied. Here the garb of
civilization was removed from him, aud the
costume Of the country, consisting Of guam
tity OF blue paint and cocoanut oil, with the
minor item Of u narrow strip Of cloth about
his lons, was placed upon him. A native
artist, with fsh.bone needle and a prepara-
ton distilled from the juice of certain plants
then tattooed his shoulder with mark de-
noting that he was Of tho chiefs household,
his ears were pierced and ornamented with
rings, and plentiful repast Of fish and fruit
was set before him. Thus began his life
among tho cannbals-a life lasting for four
years, and made interesting by many scenes
and experiences which, if narrated, would
too far extend the limits of this article. Suf.
fee it to say that he thoroughly enjoyed il
while it lasted, for at that age he was little
troubled with thoughts Of the future, and he
was the leader of all the boys of his years
by virtue of his adoption as the "chieTs boy"
Being endowed by nature with strong con.
stitutiOn and excellent physique, he was soon
able to outstrip all his companions in feats
Of strength and agility, and in time became
the most successful hunter aud fisher 10 tho
tribe. Though tho want of clothing rather
embarrassed him at first, he was not long
in overcoming tho feeling, and became SO
habituated to a state Of nature in this re-