The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-04-18
CHAPTER TX.

A new trial now awaited us. The
barbarous beings among whom our lot
had been cast deemed it important
that we should be tattooed and we
were compelled to submit to the dis
tressing operation. We expostulated
against tive entreated-we begged to
be spared this additional affliction but
our entreaties were of no use. Those
savages were not to be moved and we
were compelled to submit; and that the
reader may form some idea of the pain
full process I will here give brief ac
count of it.
We were in the first place securely
bound down to the ground and there
held fast by our tormentors. They then
proceeded to draw with a sharp stick
the figures designed to be imprinted on
the skin. This done, the skin was
thickly punctured with a little instru-
ment made of sharpened fish bones and
somewhat resembling a carpenters adj
in miniature, but having teeth instead
of a smooth, sharp edge. This instru-
ment was held within an inch or two
of the flesh and struck into it rapidly
with piece of wood applied to it in
such manner as to cause it to re-
bound at every stroke. In this way our
breasts and arms were prepared, and
subsequently the ink, which was made
of vegetable found on the island called
by them the "savyan," was applied.
The operation caused such an infiam-
nation of our bodies that only por
ton could be done at one time, and as
soon as the Inflammation abated an
other portion was done, as fast as we
could bear it, till our bodies were COW
t. fny- ~
this day the figures remain as distinct
as they were when first imprinted, and
the marks will be carried by us to the
grave. They were exceedingly anxious
to perform the operation upon our
faces, but this we would not submit to,
telling them that sooner than have it
done we would die in resisting them.
Among themselves the Oldest people
had the greatest quantity of tattooing
and the younger class less.
Besides the operation of tattooing
they compelled US to pluck the hair
from different parts of the body and to
pluck our boards about every ten
days. which was extremely painful, and
at every successive operation the beard
grew out harder and SITTER.
About seventeen days after the cap
to the windward. but the natives did
not attempt to visit it. Five months
afterwards another came in sight and
remained for three days near the is
land AT one time we could distinctly
see the men on board; but we were
kept on shore and closely guarded.
Several canoes visited the ship and
brought back few pieces of iron, fish
! hooks, glass bottles, etc. We tried, but
in vain, to escape. It seemed to US
that we were doomed to remain on
that dreary spot, to wear out our re-
manning strength in hopeless bondage
:. and to submit to the control of brutal
masters, whose tender mercies We're
) cruelties. Death in any form would
have been relief, and often did we see
: moments when it would have been well
: coined as the best of friends. To some
r of our companions it did come, though
: dreadful in the manner, yet as moi
: unwelcome alternative.
About a year after we first arrived a
2 the island, William Sedon became Sc
reduced as to deprive US of all hope:
\ of his recovery. He looked like shele-
! ton and at last was so entirely ex'
: hausted by hunger as to be unable t.
, walk or even to rise from the ground
1 He continued, however. to crawl from
: place to place until all his remaining
s strength was nearly gone. when the in
q human monsters placed him in an ole
s canoe and sent him adrift on the ocean
Q Gladly would his unhappy shipmate!
q have EXTENDED to him the last sad Of
. fees of friendship; that poor consola
q ton was denied both him and us! NJ
r heart bleeds at the recollection of oul
h when we saw him anxlously turn HI!
: languid eyes towards those who were
: doomed still to linger on the border.