Sept.] EXCITEMENT OF THE CREW. 439 



at the conclusion of this chapter. The revolting particulars filled us 

 with horror ; and were almost too distressing for the more sensitive 

 nerves of my wife. 



As soon as the crew's strong suspicions of these islanders being 

 cannibals were thus horribly confirmed by an eyewitness, who had 

 seen the monsters roast and eat the flesh of their shipmates, whose 

 sculls were at that moment hanging up as trophies or ornaments at 

 the doors of the several chiefs, their longing for revenge overleaped 

 all bounds, and became entirely irresistible. They seemed to be roused 

 to a state of desperate phrensy, in the ebullition of which subordination 

 and discipline were in danger of being lost in a momentary forgetful- 

 ness. The unusual cry of " To arms ! to arms !" resounded fore and 

 aft, and was re-echoed from stem to stern. " Let us every man to the 

 island at once, and avenge the cruel fate of our unfortunate shipmates," 

 exclaimed one of the crew. " Spare not a single being that wears the 

 features of that accursed race," cried another. " We will swear to 

 each other," shouted a third, " either to perish to a man, or depopu- 

 late this hellish group of islands." 



Thus whetting the edge of each other's passion, they were soon 

 wrought up to a pitch bordering on phrensy and infuriated madness ; 

 and it was with the greatest difficulty that I could prevent upwards of 

 eighty men taking my boats and landing on the island where their 

 shipmates had been slaughtered, roasted, and eaten. The leading 

 men who urged to this desperate step were the American and English 

 sailors ; and the others were not only ready, but eager to follow them. 

 At length, however, I succeeded in quieting them, by nrld and gentle 

 reasoning ; which I have ever found to be more efficacious with men 

 of true genuine courage, than rash and violent measures. 



The first burst of excitement having now in some measure sub- 

 sided, and the deck of the Antarctic become quiet, all hands were 

 promptly put to their several respective duties : some in tricing up the 

 boarding nettings, others in clearing the decks, and landing the frame 

 of a house on a small uninhabited island about two cables' length from 

 the vessel ; while the remainder were employed in mooring the An- * 

 tarctic, and putting the arms in complete order. 



After getting the boarding-nettings triced up, fifteen feet above the 

 rail, fore and aft, the frame landed, and every thing in order, at five, 

 P. M., the music was got on deck, all hands were piped to mischief, 

 and for five hours, until ten, P. M., there was great rejoicing among 

 the crew, on account of the recovery of their shipmate, Leonard 

 Shaw, from his horrible state of slavery. During the greater part of 

 this time I was on the fore-topmast cross-trees, with my spyglass, 

 watching the movements of the natives. 



September 1 5th. — On the following morning we had several communi- 

 cations with the smarting subjects of our summary chastisement, who 

 appeared to be much humbled and cooled by the lesson they had re- 

 ceived. They pretended to be convinced of their error, and en- 

 deavoured to lull us into a fatal security by professions of future 

 friendship and good behaviour. Their cunning was deep ; but had 



