San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-12-09

There was fine and favorable breeze,
and the fellows on deck knew how 80 han
die the craft. She was kept going all
night, and so fiustered was ] that my eyes
did not shut for a minute AboutS o'clock
in the morning we ran into harbor on
the south side Of the island of Laut, which
is on the southeast coast of Borneo and
separated from the mainland by narrow
channel. As the anchor went down i was
ordered on deck We were in n land
locked harbor, and not over 100 feet off the
beach. Right opposite was large village,
and several hundred people had rushed
down to the shore 20 yell and cheer. A
dozen SampanT ~0re soon Glongsile, and
into one Of these ] was placed and taken
ashore. \ whlCe man was no great eurios-
ity to the natives even at that day and
was scarcely noticed rs | was conducted
through TIE crowd to a Int in tie center
of the village. There was only mat hang
ing ut the door. but they well knew that
no guard was needed to keep me there
1t WIS noon before they gave me any
thing 10 cot or drink ia. 3r- was told
that | might walk about the village If
desired. didn't care to take advantage
of this offer, but sat in the door of my hut
and saw them haul the schooner ashore
and land her cargo. There were over two
hundred men engaged about her While
some broke out the cargo others went
stripping her of sails and cordage. Before
dark there WAS nothing left but bare
hull and two masts The bowsprit and
topgullant maSts were sent ashore, and
everything was taken out except the bal
last. don't think they left a foot of rope
or chain, and every board or beam they
could get at was taken away The last
thing was cutting away the masts. Soon
after they went overheard the hull floated
off the sand, and they then towed her out
of the bay and scuttled her.
AS fast rs the cargo was landed it was
taken To tw" large storehouses in the CEN
ter of the village, and had our captain ar
rived at shutdown in pursuit of his craft he
would have found nothing whatever on
the beach to tell him what had occurred.
About dark q woman brought me food
and drink, and seeing that was in pain
with my foot, she brought water and
washed il and then bound it up with some
bruised leaves of soothing nature. She
quite won my heart by her kindness, and
was led to hope that my lot might not be
50 wretched after ALL As far as / could
see no guard WAS placed at the door, nor
was any one appointed to watch me. There
were rs many as fifty sampans on the beach
in plain view, and one nights padding to
the south would have brought me to an
island. They reasoned correctly however.
did not have the nerve to risk it, A boy
at sea in n canoe without food, water or
compass would be as badly off as among
the Malays on shore.
Next morning after breakfast the head
man sent for me. He was chap of great
dignity and evil look, but the capture of
the schooner had put him in good humor.
He asked nae where she belonged how long
she had bccII out, and many other ques-
tions. by which he sought TO ascertain
what sort of an investigation might follow.
He examined my foot, which was now al
most well, aud then called in an attendant,
who conducted me to the store houses. The
hoes, axes aud hatchets were without han
dies, and | was now given to understand
that | must go to work and fit them up.
| wasn't much of a mechanic, but was
pleased enough with the job. overhauled
the carpenters chest for tools, and then
started into the forest to search for timber.
A dozen or more half grown boys followed
me, and while some of them were inclined
to play me tricks TO get up a laugh they
offered me no violence. Indeed, at the end
of half an hour we were all on friendly
footing. ! found a tree which is called
black va" in Borneo, but which has the
grain and fiber of English elm. There was
one AK with "a handle, we having used it
on shipboard. This | had brought along,
and now proceeded to fell the tree, which
was about foot thick and very straight
and tall. The boys were astonished beyond
measure at my way of handling the Ak.
The Bornese use Ratchet, and strike
while squatted on the ground. 1t would
have taken man two hours to accomplish
what | did in fifteen minutes.
found the wood easy TO rive, and that
day began n task which occupied me for
the next three months. During this time
was fairly well used, though given none
too much TO eat. The man who had first
planned my work for me continued to be
my boss, aud once a day, at least, came
around to see me. As none of the Bornese
would use a crooked handle in an ak, had
TO make them all straight.
The village was very compact, the houses
almost touching each other, while about
twenty acres of land to the north Of il was
under cultivation. IL was the village gar
den, and one day after | had finished my
Job and was working in this garden the
woman who had exhibited such Kindness
on my first arrival came out TO me and
told me that had been sold TO the ruler
of another island TO the east of us. An
hour before her coming had seen large
native craft put in, aud could not doubt
that she belonged to my new owner. The
womau's object in warning me was that /
might take to the woods but hesitated
to go. knew the forests to abound with