58 ADDRESS. 



nave witnessed may yet be turned to joy, and it is to the paternal 

 sympathy and prompt action of the government that we can look 

 for relief. 



three natives, embarked in the canoe and the seamen's boat, and set sail for Amboyna, 

 which lies about one hundred and sixty leagues to the south- west of the Pelew Islands. 

 When they had been five days on their adventurous voyage, the canoe foundered, and 

 the eight seamen and savages were obliged to take to the boat ; their stock of pro- 

 visions consisting of only four cocoa-nuts each, and about twelve quarts of water. In 

 four days afterwards, being the 6th of December, 1831, they arrived within sight of 

 Lord North's Island, which lies in latitude three degrees three minutes north, longitude 

 one hundred and thirty-one degrees twenty minutes east, about ninety leagues from 

 the hospitable island which they had recently left. 



When they had arrived within five or six miles of Lord North's Island, they were 

 soon surrounded by the savages, in about twenty canoes, who instantly commenced 

 an unprovoked attack upon the defenceless Americans, every one of whom they 

 knocked overboard, and then beat their boat to pieces with their war-clubs. In this 

 dilemma, the Americans swam from one canoe to another, entreating to be taken on 

 board, but were obstinately repulsed by the savages, until they had completed their 

 work of destruction. They were then picked up, and conveyed to the island, which 

 is extremely barren and unproductive, forming a striking contrast with the fertile spot 

 they had so recently left. Lizards and mice are the only animal productions which 

 this steril spot produces ; and no vegetables, except the cocoa-nut. The population 

 is between four and five hundred souls, who lead a most miserable and wretched life ; 

 so that it is no uncommon thing for many of them to die of actual starvation ! 



The Americans were no sooner landed, than they were all instantly stripped of the 

 wretched rags which remained among them, and they were then apportioned out as 

 slaves to different masters in the island, by whom they were treated in the most cruel 

 manner, half-starved and almost worked to death. Horace Holden, one of their num- 

 ber, who has published a very interesting narrative of their adventures and sufferings, 

 thinks he was more fortunate than the rest, and had a more lenient master ; but he 

 had nothing to congratulate himself upon. Captain Barnard, being a stout muscular 

 man, was treated with the most kindness. 



The inhabitants of Lord North's Island are in a state of barbarism and ignorance ; 

 their principal, and almost only food, is the cocoa-nut, with which the island is scantily 

 supplied. Occasionally they caught a few fish, or a turtle ; but in general they are too 

 lazy even to take the means of living when they can. Their sick and feeble are turned 

 away to get well alone, or die by themselves, as fate may decide. Religion they have 

 none, unless an indistinct fear of a power they know not what and an occasional 

 worship of images, can be termed such. While Holden was on the island, several 

 earthquakes happened, which terrified the natives much, as also did thunderstorms. 



Their war weapons are wooden spears, pointed with rows of sharks' teeth, and very 

 iieavy. Their canoes are made of logs which accidentally drift to the island, as they 

 cannot raise trees large enough for the purpose among themselves. Their language 

 is peculiar to themselves, and the natives of Bablethoup, who were with our sufferers, 

 could not understand them. They are cowardly and servile, yet barbarous and cruel ; 

 and in their habits, tempers, and dispositions, most disgusting and loathsome. 







