Kidnapping in the Pacific; Or, The Adventures of Boas Ringdon / A long four-part Yarn

by William Henry Giles Kingston

”‘These people,’ the captain observed, ‘if we could get hold of them, were likely to prove mild and submissive, and of far more value than the savages we had taken from some of the other islands.’ It was necessary, however, to be cautious, or they might have suspected our intentions.

“We hove-to off the island, and the supercargo going on shore inquired for the English missionary. We found that his residence was on the other side, and we therefore judged that this would be a good place to carry on our operations. The supercargo, pretending that he was a friend of the missionary, invited as many as were inclined to come off to the vessel, saying that he had a present for the missionary and a few trifles for the chiefs, and that he should also be glad to trade with them for any articles they might produce.

“Meantime the other boats were in readiness with arms stowed away out of sight. A large number of canoes at once paddled off to us, some containing ten, others four or five natives each. The people came on board without hesitation, and while the captain kept them amused, showing some cases which he said contained the presents for the missionary and chiefs, bargaining for the few articles they had brought with them, the boats pushed away rapidly for the shore. A large number of people were collected on the beach, but even when they saw the boats coming, not observing any arms in the hands of the men, they were in no way alarmed. Their suspicions did not appear to be aroused, even when our men formed on the shore.

“Keeping our weapons as much as possible concealed, we marched a little way inland, then suddenly wheeling, with a loud shout rushed down upon the natives. They seemed utterly paralysed, and though some few fled, the greater number stared at us as if wondering what we were next going to do. We did not leave them long in doubt, but pressing round them, tripped them over, bound their arms, and in a short time made sixty or more prisoners. They offered little or no resistance, and we soon had all we had caught safely in the boat. As we pulled towards the vessel we saw several canoes making for the shore, but with only two or three people in each, while her guns were playing on a few others which were attempting to escape. We picked up several men who had jumped overboard, and when we got alongside we found that fully a hundred had been secured. Altogether we got a hundred and sixty people from that island alone; some were old men, but most of them were young and active. They were all neatly dressed in shirts and trousers, and looked very intelligent indeed; there was not one among them who could not read in his native tongue, and they all said that they were Christians. Our supercargo told them that so were we, but that we were real ones, while they, having only learned from the missionaries, were heretics.

“As they might have proved troublesome, we clapped them all down below, and kept the hatches on them.

“Wishing to capture more people from the same island, we immediately made sail, and stood along the coast, hoping to entice others on board before the news of what had occurred had spread. We heard our prisoners talking together, and soon they began knocking at the hatches, and under the deck, and on the sides, shrieking to be let out, and entreating us to put them again on shore. Two of our men were stationed at the hatchway ready to shoot any who might break out. Still the people below continued to make so much noise that the captain and mate became enraged, and, with two other men, went below armed with boats’ stretchers, and began to lay about them right and left, to bring the people to order. At last they were quiet, and we hoped that they had learned a lesson they would not forget. In the evening we heard them, instead of shouting and shrieking to be let out, singing hymns and praying. Looking down into the hold, there we saw them all kneeling together as if in prayer; then an old man among them got up, and while they sat round him he began to speak to them, and the supercargo, who understood their language, said he was preaching; and when he had finished he stretched out his hands, and prayed to God to bless them. After that they were quiet enough, and during the night gave us no further trouble.

“The next morning at daylight we stood in to another part of the coast. We saw several canoes quietly engaged in fishing, and so we guessed that the alarm had not spread thus far. We accordingly stood close in, when several canoes came off to us. The captain, as usual, invited the people on board. Some of them spoke English, which the captain did not understand, and I was not inclined to answer them. As they might have been alarmed had they seen armed men at the hatchway, those who had been stationed there were withdrawn. The new arrivals spoke rather loudly to each other; their voices were heard by their countrymen below, who, making a sudden rush at the fore hatch, forced it off and sprang upon deck.

“The alarm was given immediately; those who had last come, as well as our captives, began to leap overboard. We all rushed upon them, knocked those we could catch down, and shut close the hatchway. The captain then ordered us to fire on the people in the water swimming for the shore, while the boats were manned and sent in pursuit of the fugitives. Two or three were hit, some sank, and only a few succeeded in gaining one of the canoes; the rest were all retaken. In the canoe which escaped was one young man who was shot just as he got into it: his companions, however, managed to paddle off. Those who had been retaken were well beaten, and forced down below.

“As there was no use remaining longer at Savage Island, we sailed for Samoa.

“We avoided the principal harbours, and kept cruising along the coast, picking up several canoes which came off to us. Occasionally we went on shore to obtain water and vegetables, always being on our guard lest our business might be suspected, and we ourselves entrapped. At one place where we landed for this purpose, we found the natives under an old warrior chief preparing to attack a neighbouring tribe. ‘This is just the opportunity for us,’ observed our supercargo; ‘if we help the old chief, we may bargain that we are to have all the prisoners.’ The supercargo on this began to talk to the chief about the arms and men we possessed, and to hint that we might possibly be persuaded to assist him in conquering his enemies. The old chief at once took the bait, and promised us anything we might ask if we would assist him. The supercargo replied that our captain would be very moderate in his demands, and that we should be content if we might have all the prisoners. We agreed to come on shore with ten men to help him. The captain, however, had arranged to send all the boats, which were to keep in the rear of the enemy, and, as soon as the battle began, the crews were to land, and carry off as many warriors as they could lay hands on.