The Cutting off of the “ Boyd” 
8 5 
This dreadful deed accomplished, the bodies 
of Captain Thompson and his unfortunate men 
were cut up, cooked, and devoured by the 
murderers, who, clothing themselves with their 
victims’ apparel, launched the boats and pro¬ 
ceeded towards the ship, which they determined 
to attack. It being very dark before they reached 
her, and no suspicion being entertained of what 
had happened, the second officer hailed the 
boats, and was answered by the villains who had 
occasioned the disaster, that the captain having 
chosen to remain with his men on shore that 
night for the purpose of viewing the country, 
had ordered them to take on board such spars 
as had already been procured. 
Satisfied with this, the second mate ordered 
the boats to come alongside, and stood in the 
gangway as the first of the natives ascended 
the ship’s side. In an instant his brains were 
dashed out with a mere , or jade club, and then 
all the seamen of the watch on deck were in like 
manner surprised and murdered. Some of the 
assassins then went down to the cabin door, and 
asked the passengers and others to go on deck 
and look at the boat load of spars. An un¬ 
fortunate female passenger was the first to open 
