344 NIMSOD OF THE SEA ; OB, 



SO we had no opportunity to test the new civilization of the 

 islands. Time would have hung heavily enough on our 

 hands, if a boat-steerer and two of the crew of the Washonk, 

 of Falmouth, had not come down on the pier and recounted 

 their terrible experience while cruising off some of the sav- 

 age islands of the Line. The incidents were so remarkable 

 that our officers took pains to verify the account, and the 

 following is, as near as I can remember, the substance : 



On the morning of the 18th proximo the Washonk found 

 herself partially becalmed in the vicinity of the Mulgrave 

 Islands. A large number of the natives came off in canoes, 

 and, pretending to want to trade, were allowed to climb 

 aboard the ship. One of the older seamen had, in a former 

 voyage, suffered from an attack by these treacherous people, 

 and he warned the captain against the danger of allowing 

 so many on board ; but the master felt secure, and paid no 

 attention to the warning. The natives occupied much of 

 the deck, and mixed freely with the men, trading shells and 

 fruit for hoops and other articles of iron. They had, with- 

 out exciting suspicion, gathered at points favorable for their 

 murderous purpose, and the first warning the crew had of 

 their danger was an attack by the natives, armed with the 

 sharp spades they had found in the spade-rack under the 

 spare boats. 



The captain was the first victim. He was beheaded by a 

 blow of the broad-edged spade ; the poor fellow at the helm 

 fell about the same moment. The first mate was killed a^ 

 he leaped down the forehatch ; and several others were killed 

 or grievously wounded as they retreated to the forecastle. 

 The second mate ran out on the jib-boom, where he was 

 struck with a stone or spear, and, falling, was clubbed to 

 death. The natives had now possession of the deck, and 

 they proceeded to fasten the hatches and companion-way, so 

 as to cut off the egress of the crew. One in command now 



