Arrangements were soon made for our accommodation. A part of one of the "pyes" was appropriated to our use, and we were furnished with mats, and other things for our comfort and convenience. Here we remained for about a month, and were regularly supplied by the natives with a sufficiency of provisions of various kinds, such as hogs, goats, fish, yams, cocoa-nuts, bread-fruit, preserved almonds, and occasionally with sweet potatoes.
A change seemed now to have come over us. We were, it is true, amongst a rude and barbarous people, cut off from all intercourse with the rest of the world, and deprived of many things which we had been accustomed to regard as essential to our happiness; but even then we found many reasons for being grateful to the Disposer of events. Our actual wants were supplied; and the natives soon evinced a disposition to consider us friends, and treat us as such. To the latest day of our lives we shall remember some of them with heartfelt respect and affection; and, most of all, regret our inability to requite them for the favors which they voluntarily bestowed upon us. Especially should we rejoice to revisit that lonely spot of earth, and carry with us, to those children of nature, the means of civilization, and the blessings of Christian faith and Christian morality. And should the government of enlightened America ever see proper to extend to them some proof of its regard, it would afford us unspeakable pleasure to have it in our power to communicate to them the exalted principles, which might incline this highly favored nation to the performance of so noble a deed.
Finding it important to be able to converse with the natives, we improved every opportunity to become acquainted with their language. Having but little to occupy our attention, it was not long before we had acquired a tolerable knowledge of it; and we found our situation much more pleasant as we became familiar with it. Our great object was, as the reader will naturally suppose, to contrive some way of escape. Our only means of accomplishing this was by friendly and amicable negotiation, and to make them understand our wishes, and convince them that it would be for their interest to aid us in returning to our native land, were essential to our success.
We had not long been with them before we became acquainted with the fact, that upon the opposite end of the island there was another tribe, and that the two divisions of the inhabitants were not on the most friendly terms with each other. Intelligence had in some way been communicated to those who lived remote from the spot where fortune had thrown us, that we were desirous of leaving the island; and, probably with a view of gaining some advantage, they sent to us a message, informing us of their willingness to assist in constructing a boat sufficiently large to convey us across the water. The persons commissioned to make this proposal, and to persuade us to go to them, were two Englishmen, who, as we afterwards learned, had been on the island for several years, and were left there by English vessels. The particulars of their history we were unable to obtain.
An offer of that kind, coming as it did from their enemies, and being in itself calculated to offend the pride of those into whose hands we had fallen, greatly excited their feelings of animosity; and, in consequence of our having manifested some desire to satisfy our own minds on the subject, we were closely watched. On the whole, however, we had no reason to regret this state of things; for on finding that their neighbors were disposed to assist us, a spirit of emulation was aroused among them, and for a time we had some hopes that the excited energies of this tiny nation would lead to the performance of some exploit, which, in the end, might place at our disposal the means of deliverance.
Our maintenance had by this time become so great a tax upon their resources, that it was found expedient to cause some of our number to be removed to a settlement about a mile distant. Mr. Nute, Mr. Rollins, and myself were accordingly selected, and under a strong escort taken to the place. This did not please us, as we preferred remaining with our companions; but either expostulation or resistance would have involved us in worse difficulties, and we submitted. In our new situation we were well supplied with provisions, and kindly treated. We were allowed to visit our friends at the other town, and spent our time as agreeably as could be expected under the circumstances.
Previously to this, some steps had been taken towards constructing a sort of boat or vessel to convey us home. Finding the natives disposed to part with us, for a stipulated consideration, and to render us any assistance in their power, we left no means unemployed to induce them to exert themselves to the utmost; and, to their credit be it said, it was more owing to their inability than to their want of inclination that we were not entirely successful. An account of their proceedings cannot fail of being interesting.
After much deliberation, and many consultations upon the momentous subject, it was agreed to commence operations. Their prophetess had been duly consulted, and the assistance of their divinity had been implored with great formality. Before they ventured upon the undertaking, it was deemed advisable to hold a festival. An event of so much importance could not be suffered to transpire without being duly solemnized. Tradition furnished no account of any thing equal to this attempt! Accordingly large quantities of provisions were brought from various parts of the island, and an immense concourse of men, women, and children, attended the feast. On our part we had little confidence in the success of the plan; but, be that as it might, we were far from being displeased with their efforts to carry it into execution, and shared with them the festivities of the occasion, with not a little pleasure.
This part of the business having been duly attended to, the time had come for united and vigorous action; and accordingly the whole male population of that region repaired to the woods, to procure timber. In the mean time the females, animated by a spirit of emulation, betook themselves to the task of making mats, to serve as sails to our vessel, when it should be completed. In fine, the whole resources of the country, of every kind, were taxed to the last extremity, to accomplish the work.
Considering the means they had for carrying the plan into execution, it is surprising that they accomplished as much as they did. The best tools we had were a few old inch chisels, which served as substitutes for the broad-axe, in manufacturing trees into planks, and afterwards fitting them to their places. There were a few spikes on the island, but we had neither auger nor gimlet.