Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1889-06-22
Mr.. HOLDEN'S NARRATIVE.
A Romantic Story of Shipwreck,
Captivity and Suffering.
CAST AMONG BARBAR0uS SAVAGES.
Horace Holden Subjected to Unheard Of
Suferings Among the Barbarous
Pelew islanders.
CAST AMONG BARBAROus sAvAGEs.
CHAPTER V.

CHAPTER V.
By this time the natives had be-
come nearly as anxious to part with
Us as we had ever been to leave
them; and being naturally desirous
10 be rid of each others company,
we lost no time in preparing for our
departure.
Our object now was to get into
the open sea, with the hope of fall
ing in with some vessel on its pas
sage to China or elsewhere, and thus
be able, after awhile, to find a con-
veyance to America.
The natives of this island had fur
nished us with the means of sub
sistencc, and with comfortable lodg-
Ings, and for the purpose Of enabling
US to return home, had been at great
expense in fitting up craft, such as
they thought would answer to con-
vey us wherever we pleased to go.
Situated as we were, we did not feel
ourselves at liberty TO expostulate
against the obvious unreasonable
ness of their demands, We were,
in truth, indebted to them for our
maintenance while among them,
and for the assistance they rendered
us in fitting up our craft; and, as a
suitable requital for these favors,
and to remunerate them for their
hospitality, we solemnly assured
them, that, should fortune 20 far
prosper us, as to enable us once more
to reach our native country, we
would send TO them two hundred
muskets, ten casks Of powder with
corresponding quantity of balls
and nints. Besides this, we gave
them assurances Of having several
articles of ornament, such "a beads,
belts, combs and trinkcts of various
kinds.
On the 9th of October, 1882, we
set sail, having the boat in which
we had escaped from the ship and
which we had repaired as well as
we were able and the canoe which
had been constructed by the natives
especially for our use. 1t was agreed,
that three of our number, viz. Davis,
Meder and Alden, should remain on
the island as hostages, and that
three of the natives two chiefs and
one of the common class should ac-
company us, to see that the agree
ment made with them should be
faithfully executed.
Fearing that the natives residing
on the other part of the island
might come upon us and prev mt
our going, we took our departure in
the night. We soon found that our
boat leaked so badly that it would
be next to madness to proceed, and
we returned in the course of the
night. Our unexpected return
gave great offence; but we insisted
that TO so to sea in that condition
would bc certain destruction. They
at length consented to assist In re-
pairing the canoe and boat, and TO
suffer us TO remain long enough 10
complete our arrangements more to
our mind. We were detained by
these operations about n month,
and then again took our leaye of the
SO long against our will; though we
would not conceal the fact, that the
rude kindness of the natives had so
entirely overhalanced their faults,
that, on parting with them, we eN-
pcrienccd emotions of regret, aud
were quite overpowered wilha Il sense
of our obligations 10 them for the
many favors which they had he.
slowed upon us They had regard
90 and treated us as beings of a
higher order than themselves; and
our conduct had inspired them with
venemtion and confidence almost
unhoundcd, As proof of this,
three Of their number were commit
ted 10 our care, aud were entirely
willing To place themselves at our
disposal
Seven of our number now took the
canoe, VIA, Bouskot, seldom, And
rcws, Hulet and the three natives,
Captain Barnard, Rollins, Mute and
myself prepared the ships boat.
We wcsc accompanied ON our pass
age the first day 10y n large number
of the natives, Al night, as we had
then succeeded in getting beyond
the reef they left US, and We con
tiuued our course.
tro hE CONTINUED MKT SArURpANl
The Name NaQuina.