[July 1800] As
Captain Nicholl was unacquainted with the navigation of these seas, he
expressed a wish to keep company with the Friendship,
until we came to the Cape of Good Hope in New Guinea; with which Captain R.
concurred. He generally spent the day on board our ship in fine weather.
We had reason to suppose that the New Britons were
cannibals, from the following circumstances.
About a week prior to the Walker’s falling in with us, while she
was off that coast, several of the canoes came from the shore; in one of which
was a lad about sixteen, who was fairer than the rest. He seemed anxious to get
on board the ship, but was restrained by two savages; at length they were
enticed alongside, when this boy sprung up the side in the greatest agitation,
and wished to run below. He spoke a language which the Walker’s company did not understand; but seeing a chart, which
happened to be upon the capstan, he pointed towards Manilla and China. This
convinced Captain Nicholl that the boy had been once in civilized society, and
determined him to retain the youth on board, if to stay were agreeable to
himself. Captain Nicholl then pointed to the canoes, which caused the poor boy
to tremble all over; he then pointed down the hatchway the boy lost not a
moment in descending below, where he remained until the canoes retired to the
shore.
This boy was brought on boar of us one day, when it was discovered that
he understood the Malay language. Three people of that country we had on board,
to whom he gave the following narrative of himself.
He said he was born on the island Mindanio; that when very
little, he was sent on board a small ship with one mast, of which a China man
was captain; that they went to many islands, getting things in exchange for
cloth, long knives, &c. That the ship one night got on rocks, and was soon
full of water; that there were three China men besides the captain; there were
about fifteen persons in all on board. They left the wreck and went in the
boat, and were many days in want of water; they landed at a place which he did
not know, but were quickly set upon by savages. Some of his companions ran into
the woods, and were murdered, and afterwards eaten by these people. Two of the savages quarrelled about him; he
thought one wanted to save, and the other intended to kill him. They struggled
very much, and tore each other on the ground; many of the natives saw this, but
did not meddle with them; he did not know whether one killed the other or not,
for he was hurried on board a canoe, and taken to another place.
After this he
had many changes of masters, and did all they required of him. When he was
asked how long it was since he fell into their hands, he could not tell; but
said, he was so high, putting his hand to his breast; which made us conjecture
that his captivity might begin about five years before he was taken on board
the Walker. He told many strange and
incredible stories, respecting his savage masters. We had no doubt of their
being cannibals, for he affirmed they at times had nothing else to eat but
human flesh, of which hunger made him glad to partake; which was served out in
very small portions.
When the ship was first discerned from the shore, he told
his masters that if they permit him to go on board, he would procured them many
fine things, with which he would return. This induced them to comply with his
request. In coming off in the canoe, he frequently trembled and shook very
much, which was caused by the hope of escaping; they thought it was from fear,
and asked him if the people on board would eat him. He said, “No, no, these
people never eat man’s flesh, and that it was only cold which made him
tremble.” The above heads of the boy’s account were interpreted by our Malay
seamen, one of whom was very intelligent, having been brought up with a
Europe-born Dutchman at Batavia.
On the 14th June [1800, at 4° 31’ south, 152° 33’
east] we cleared St. George’s Channel, and next day passed, on our right, a
large lofty island, named after Lord Sandwich [Lavongai]. We had now frequent
squalls, with rain, thunder, and lightning; a calm succeeded, which made it
very tedious.
We saw some large trees floating in the water, with abundance of
fish about them. One day, it being nearly calm, when Captain Nicholl was on
board wit us, a very strange fish was seen from the forecastle to pass under
the ship’s bottom; it was afterwards perceived astern, having a number of pilot
fish about it, which readily took bait from a small hook. Three of them were
caught, and put into a bucket of water, where they soon died; they were the
most beautiful little fish I had ever seen at sea, being striped round with red
and white, like a zebra: they measured about nine inches in length, and were
delicious when cooked.
They are said to attend only the shark; but I rather
think they hover about any large floating substance, as numbers were seen about
the drift wood and trees. The monster gambolling amongst them was termed the
Devil Fish, by Captain Nicholl’s people; it was not afraid of the ship, and at
times came very close. It appeared to me like a very large overgrown skate,
being nearly square; I reckoned it might occupy a space about the size of our
main hatchway; they threw the fish-gig at it, which bounded off its back,
breaking two of the prongs; it never came so near afterwards, and a breeze
springing up, we saw no more of it.
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