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

object now was to get into the open
sea, with the hope of falling in with
some vessel on its passage to China or
elsewhere, and thus be able, after a
while, to find conveyance to America.
Provisions We're furnished US by the ma
tives, but we greatly needed a compass
and with much difficulty obtained one.
Captain Wilson, who had been ship
wrecked there many years before, left
his compass with one of the chiefs,
whom we finally succeeded in inducing
to part with it. It had become much
impaired by time and improper usage,
but served as tolerable guide.
| It is proper here to state the particu-
liars of our agreement with the natives
of this island. They had, as before
stated, furnished us with the means of
subsistence 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 convey
US wherever we pleased to go. Accord
ing to their notions we were persons
of sufficient consequence in the esti-
nation of our countrymen, to fulfill
any engagement we might make with
them, and to the extent to which, in
our necessity, we were compelled to go
in order to obtain the object which we
had in view, should the Government
consider itself bound; and it would be
no less an act of justice than of hui
mainly to secure the friendship and
confluence of these islanders, so that,
should others unfortunately fall into
their hands, their lives and property
might be respected. 1t is also impor-
tant that those who engage in com
mercial pursuits should have every pro-
lection extended to them. 1t would
cost the Government but a mere trif1e
to secure an amicable understanding
with these islanders. and it is but rea-
sonable to hope that no time will be
lost in making the attempt.
i Situated as we were, we did not feel
ourselves at liberty to expostulate
against the obvious unreasonableness
of their demands. We were, in truth,
indebted to them for our maintenance
while among them and for the assist
ance they rendered us in fitting up our
craft, and, as suitable requital for
these favors and to remunerate them
for their hospitality, we solemnly as
sured them that, should fortune so 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 a corresponding
quantity of balls and f1ints. Besides
this, we gave them assurances of hav-
ing several articles of ornament, sucn
as beads, belts, combs and trinkets 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 con-
structed 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 accompany US to see that the
agreement made with them should be
faithfully executed. Fearing that the
natives residing on the other part OF
the island might come upon US and pre-
, vent our going, we took our departure
in the night. We soon found that oui
boats leaked so badly that it would be
, next to madness to proceed. and we re-
, turned in the course of the night. Oul
, unexpected return gave great offence
, but we insisted that to go to sea in tha
condition would be certain destruction
! They at length consented to assist il
repairing the canoe and boat and t
, suffer us to remain long enough t.
complete our arrangements more to ou
, mind.
, We were detained by these opera
tions about month and then again
took our leave of the spot where w
had
:, though we would not conceal the fac
that the rude kindness of the 1ative
+, had so entirely overbalanced thei
: faults that, on parting with them. w
a experienced emotions of regret and wer
q quite overpowered with a sense of on
obligations to them for the many "a
vors which they had bestowed upon US
They had regarded and treated us a
f beings of a higher order than them
selves, and our conduct had inspires
: them with generation and confidence.
s
n The natives, when they returned fror
I the vessel, brought with them a sma
: quantity of iron hoops ard few ar
e ticles of some little value, but the
: We're highly dissatisfied with tn
q amount received and greatly enraget
o The division of the property cause
n much difficulty and they quarrele
n about it for several days. Those of Il
d who remained, though innocent, ywer
a the greatest sufferers. They held u
n accountable for the conduct of thos
II who had left and ventured the malig
e nifty of their unfeeling hearts upon III
/ We were given to understand that no
II our doom was fixed; that we shout
e remain with them and die the victim
= of our tormentors! Alas! it was br
'e too true that such was to be the fat
d Of all but two of our number We WEI
e destined to see one after another of OF
re fellow sufferers sink under the col
4 stantly increasing severity of the bun
" ders imposed upon them, and peris
re either from actual starvation or by II
Dc blows of the savages.
,s After the departure of the captai
- and Rollins we were treated with muc
=, greater severity than we had been b.
-, fore. Generally we We're aroused fro
a. our broken slumbers about sunrise ar