AT TIMOT^ LAUT. 477 



having left her in charge of the mate, he and two or three 

 others went ashore at Melville Island. The mate ran her 

 into Timor Laut, and anchored ; he then went ashore with 

 the crew, leaving the steward, Forbes, and another boy, on 

 board. After they had been ashore a short time, Forbes 

 looked through a telescope to see what they were about, 

 when he saw that the whole of the crew were being mas- 

 sacred by the natives. He immediately communicated that 

 fact to the steward, and advised him to unshackle the 

 anchor, and run out to sea, as the wind was from the land. 

 The steward told him to go about his business, and when 

 he got on deck he found the vessel surrounded with canoes. 

 The natives came on board and murdered the steward ; 

 Forbes and the other boy got up the rigging, and in conse- 

 quence of their expertness the natives were unable to catch 

 them, but at last made signs for them to come down, and 

 they would not hurt them. They availed themselves of the 

 only chance left them of saving their lives, and surrendered. 

 They were immediately bound, and taken on shore ; a rope 

 was fastened to the ship, her cable slipped, and the natives 

 hauled her ashore, where she soon became a wreck. Forbes 

 states that several Dutchmen had called at the island, to 

 whom he appealed for rescue, but they all refused to inter- 

 fere ; and latterly, whenever any vessel hove in sight, he 

 was always bound hand and foot, so that he should have no 

 chance of escape. Both himself and the other boy had 

 been made slaves to the tribes; his companion died about 

 three years since. The poor fellow is still in a very bad 

 state of health ; the sinews of his legs are very much con- 

 tracted, and he has a great number of ulcers all over his 

 legs and body. Fortunately for Forbes, Mr. Watson had 

 a surgeon on board the Essington, who immediately put 

 hin under a course of medicine, which, without doubt, 

 VOL. I. 2 I 



