Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1909-12-01
EVENTFUL VOYAGE
ROUND THE WORLD IN A SAIL
ING SHIP.
WRECKED ON THE CHINESE CoAsT-A
CONTRACT MADE IN WATER
MELON SEEDS.

MELON SEEDS.
[By R. G. F. Candage OF BYookline, Mass.1
Continued from, last tOeek.)
All hands were called at day break. The
wind had changed, rain had ceased and
the sun shone out later, bright and cheer
ing. The marsh here was narrow, and the
waters edge but quarter ofa mile away
Inland short distance the marsh termin-.
ated in ridge on which stood shrubs and
small trees, which was later learned was
dixie thrown up to prevent inundation,
but no man or house was to be seen
Breakfast was eaten and plans for the day
were being discussed when Chinaman
approached us and saluted in . friendly
manner.
l said to him, as had done the previous
day to his countrymen, Shanghai" and
pointed in the direction supposed it to
lie. He said: .Shan-ghai-yah," and
pointed in the opposite direction. Then
pointing downward he said slowly,
'Tsung Ming, Tsung Ming" Then it
dawned upon me that we were on the
island OF Tsung Ming, and not on the
main coast as had been supposed, and the
words and signs Of the men OF
the previous day became Ineligible
to me. We then agreed that before pro-
ceeding further, to ascertain, il possible,
just where we were.
FRIENDLY cKINAMAN.
<cs
ment governor or ruler, so took Mexican
dollar from my pocket held before the
Chinaman and said: "taow-tai." He
caught the meaning and by signs agreed to
guide US to the presence of the governor
for that sum. then arranged with MIR.
Harrington, the third mate, to get the
boat afioat and anchor her clear Of the
shore where she would be out Of reach Of
intruders. In the boat was q valise con-
tanning 5000 in gold belonging to the
ships owners, which Mr.. Harrington was
cautioned not to allow any one but him
self to touch. There had gone down in
the ship 1900 in silver, which the captain
and had agreed could not be taken on
account of weight, and perhaps influence
the crew to evil designs. Fifteen per-
sons were left by the boat-the passenger,
cook, steward and myself started with our
Chinese guide to interview the governor.
He took us to his house beyond the dixie
and RECALLED us with q melon from his
garden, and then began our walk of five
miles across the island. We found the
island thickly populated and highly
cultivated. little more than a century
before it was an alluvial deposit from the
Yellow river; now, by Chinese industry, a
diked island, thirty miles long and five
wide, and containing a population Of
more than 100000.
| We passed through villages, in one Of
which was school. The boys, seeing ut
pass, came out to see the strangers, but
offered no insult nor did any OF the people
as we passed, though curious to see and
to inquire about US from our guide.
1t was August, the sun hot, and we were
foot-sore and thirsty when we reached the
governors house and were ushered into
his presence. The guide made known W by
4 and whence we came, and he courteously
waved US to seat at ia BILE in the middle
Of the room on which were placed watel
and fine large watermelon for us te
partake OF. The room was large, with
doors leading from without and windows
on two sides, and other doors leading te
and from the household apartments. Thi:
soon became filed with curious crowd
and the doors and windows with faces Of
eager lookers-on.
Opposite the passenger and myself sat
the negro cook and steward, and behind
them stood the governor, a stately and
fine looking man, while we were partak-
| ing Of his hospitality. A little to his left
was the door communicating with the
female department, through which peered
several female faces. Cat hing sight OF
the cooks and stewards curly heads, they
seemed amazed, advanced, felt OF the wool,
| peered into the black mems faces in
wonder, evidently never before hav-
| ing seen q negro. The two men were
frightened, and rolled their eyes up to
me in a ludicrously beseeching manner,
but held their peace.
| The melon having been eaten, the governor
wrote few words in Chinese and passed
| the paper to me, but my Chinese had been
neglected. could not read it, and shook
my head. He passed me pen and paper.
scrubbed sentence in English and passed
it back. He looked at it, shook his head,
passed to others near him, who looked and
shook their heads, and that ended our
written correspondence.
A STORY IN MELON SEEDS.
On the table lay the pieces OF rind and
seeds OF the water melon. l took a piece
OF the rind, fashioned it rudely into the
hull OF ship, stuck three pieces OF bam-
boo in it for masts, took smaller pieces
for boats, put them and twenty-four seeds,
placed them on the ship, then moved
the rest of the rind to the left, and
upon them ran the ship and broke it
in halves. Then launched the two boats
from the wreck, into one placing twenty