Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1889-06-15
Mr.. H0LDEN'S NARRATIVE.
A Romantic Story of Shipwreck,
Captivity and Suffering.
CAST AMONG BARBAR0IIS SAYAGES.
Horace Holden Subjected TO Unheard Of
Sufferings Among the Barbarous
Pelew Islanders.
CAST AMONG BARBAROUs sAyAGEs.
CHAPTER ".


Of the prophecies brought out the
materials for our repast, we observed
at a little distance, a singular look
ing being approaching us. His ap
pearanCe was that of a man of sixty
His hair was long and gray, unlike
that of the natives. His legs, arms
and breast were tattooed. His steI
was quick and firm, his motions in
dicating that he felt himself a per.
son of not little Importance. His
teeth were entirely gone, and his
mouth was black from the use OF
"kabooa." Judge of our emotions
on hearing this strange being adj
dress us in broken English. His
first exclamation was-"My God you
are Englishmenv' He Immediately
said: "You are safe now" but he
gave US to understand that it was
next to miracle that we had es-
capped from being killed in the water.
This person was by birth an En-
glishman, and had been on the is
land about twenty-nine years. He
told US that he had been a halter by
trade, and that his name wa, Charles
Washington. Cruising in those
seas, he had, while on duty, been
guilty of some trifling offence; and
apDrehending that he should be sc.
vereIy punished for 1t, had left the
ship, and taken up his residence on
the island. He seemed to be con-
tented with his situation, and had
no desire TO return to his native
country. He had attained to great
celebrity, and was the sixth chief
among them, His authority
seemed great, and he ex-
ercised it with exemplary
discretion. Observing the pro-
visions before us, he told us that
they were for our use, and desired
us to partake of whatever we pre-
ferred. Seeing that we were likely
TO he somewhat annoyed by the
crowd Of young persons who had
collected around us, he swung his
battle-axe over their heads, and Civ
ing them to understand that we be-
longed TO him, Immediately caused
them to disperse.
Arrangements were soon made for
our accommodation. A part of one
of the "pyes" was appropriated to
our use, and We were furnished with !
mats, and other things for our COM
fort and convenience. Here we re-
manned for about month, and were |
regularly supplied by the natives
with n sulliciency of provision of
various kinds, such rs hogs, goats,
fish, yams, cocoanuts, oread-fruit, |
preserved almonds, and occasionally I
with sweet potatoes. \ change
seemed now to have come over us.
We Were ii Is true, among II rude |
and barbarous people, cut off from !
ull intercourse with the rest of the |
world, and deprived of many things
which we had been accustomed to
regard as essential to our happiness;
our actual wants We're supplied; and
the natives soon evinced Il DISPOSE |
tion To consider us friends, and treat |
us as such, To the latest day of our
lives we shall remember some of
them with heartfelt respect and .
affection.
Finding II important TO he able to .
converse with the natives, we im-
proved every opportunity To become
with their language.
Having but little to occupy our at
tention, II was not long before we
had acquired tolerable knowledge I
Of 1t; aud We found our situation
much more pleasant rs we became .
withit,
Our great object was, as the reader
will naturally suppose, to contrive
some way of escape. Our only
means of accomplishing this WAS by
and amicable negotiation,
,nd 10 make them understand our
wishes, aud convince them that IL
would be for their interest To aid us
n returning To our native land,
we're essential 10 our success. We
iad not long been with them before
Ne hccame acquainted with the fact,
hat upon the opposite end of the
sland there was another tribe, aud
hat the two divisions of the IN
laOitants were not ON the most
riendly terms with each other. In-
diligence had in some way been
Ia those who lived
emotc from the spot where fortune
lad thrown Us, that We wee dcsir-
ms of leaving the island; and prohab-
y with view of gaining some AL.
antage, they sent "a us a message,
nformiug us OF their Willingness to
sslst us IN constructing boat SUM.
iently large 10 convey us across the
'ater The persons commissioned To ,
make this PROPOSAL, aud to persuade ,