Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1889-07-06
Mr.. H0LDEN'S NARRATIVE.
A Romantic Story of Shipwreck,
Captivity and Suffering.
CAST AMONG BARBAROUS SAVAGES.
Horace Holden Subjected to Unheard Of
SutferiDgs Among the BaIbarOus
Pelew Islanders.
CHAPTER VII.


provement. We were now upon
the small piece of land called by the
natives Tobee, but known to navi-
gators by the name Of Lord North'E
island, situated between the third
AMI fourth degree of latitude, and
In longitude one hundred and
thirty-one degrees, twenty minutes
east. It Is also known by the name
of Nevil's island and Johnston's
island; and ii has been hitherto
considered by navigators and Others
as uninhabited. This Is not surpris.
ing, as we were told by the NATIVES
| that no white man had ever visited
the place; though il seemed, from
the pieces of iron in heirpossession,
and from other circumstances, that
they had had some communication
with the Spaniards and Portuguese
in that quarter of the world. Like
many other islands In those seas,
this is surrounded by n coral reef,
which Is from an eighth to one-hali
of II mile wide, but outside Of the
reef the water II apparently fathom-
less, the water being as blue as it Is
i'm the middle of the ocean, and the
largest vessels may in many places
approach within "A quarter of amile
of the beach, The whole island
rises so little above the level of the
sea, that the swell often rolls up to
considerable distance inland. 1t
is about three-quarters ofa mile in
length, aud not far from half n mile
In width. There were upon 1t three
- -~----s-si -''1s-'r-7oss- ss--uTrTv-
and four hundred souls, Mt the time
when we were taken there; but the
number was considerably diminish
ed 10y famine and disease before we
left. The inhabitants are In Il state
OF entire barbarism and ignorance.
The men wear n sort of girdle or
belt made of the bark of tree. This
IL girded round the lions so as TO
leave one end to hang loose behind,
the other is brought forward and
fastened to the belt In front. This
is their only clothing.
The females, after arriving at the
age of womanhood, wear an apron
made of the leaves of II plant, by
them called kurremung, split into
fine strips and plated. This ex-
tends from the loins nearly To the
knees. Some few wear rings upon
their wrists made of white shells,
and some had this kind of orna-
ment made of turtle-shcll. In their
,ars, which are always bored, they
wear "A leaf; and round |
heir necks n necklace made of the |
'hcll of the cocoanut, and small |
white shell, called KEEN shell. The
children 60 entirely naked. The
of these islanders is n
light copper color;much lighter than
he MaAys, or the pelow ishndcrs,
which last, however, they resemble
n the breadth of their faces, hiuh
heck bones, and broad flnttened
loses. They do not color their
eth, chewing any thing, as many
{ those islanders do; but their teeth
~ SO strong that they can husk n
pcoanut with them instantly.
heir principal food is the cocoanut.
They occasionally succeed in pro-
lrlng fish, though the supply ]
ptained during our residence I
'en was exceedingly small. .
heir fish hooks are made of I
rtle shells, and not well con '
wed for the purpose; but we .
uld not induce them To use our y
'oks, till they had heated them II
al altered their form So that they @
luld not hold the fish. They did =
Is because they said that larris u
odl would he angry with them, u
hey used our hooks without pre- II
ring them according 10 their fash al
!. Sometimes they are 50 fortun- aS
MS Ia obtain n sea turtle; five only II
n taken during the two years We "a
NJ there, The turtle, may add, n'
something of the Sacrd charac- IN
with them. m
hey also raise small quantities OF an
'eetahle somewhat resembling the ia
n; but while Ne werc with them oa
wem Unsuccessful In culiivat- 'ul
II. These constitute the Slender ~
'ns NJ their snp. .port; aud they an, ln'
> hanoiy kept ioOm actual death a.,
anime, but on the very Verge of ID ,
walton. When any one of ,hen ID
ms Ia lail, for want Of spO,l, - :
his death Is pretty oer,aln, they ca.