Early in the morning of the day on which Hussey left me, preparations were made for his embarkation with his new master and family. We were allowed a short interview, and after taking an affectionate leave of each other, we parted with heavy hearts. The tender ties which bound me to my companion in misfortune, seemed now about to be forever broken asunder. No features to gaze upon, but those of my savage masters, and no one with whom I could hold converse, my heart seemed bursting with grief at my lonely situation.—On the departure of my companion, the “star of hope” which had often gleamed brightly mid the night of our miseries, seemed now about to set forever! After watching the canoe which bore him from me, until she was hid from my view in the distance, I returned to the hut with my master, and as I had eaten but little during the day, the calls of nature induced me to broil my last morsel of meat, with which, and some bread, I made a tolerable supper. The natives began to be very fond of the bread, and eat of it as long as it lasted, which unfortunately for me, was but a short time.
I informed my master that I should like to have some more of the meat from the place where the ship had lain. On the following morning, my master, mistress, and four or five others embarked in a canoe, to assist me in procuring some provisions. Observing that they carried with them a number of clubs, and each a spear, I was apprehensive of some design upon my own person; but happily, was soon relieved, by seeing them wade round a shoal of fish, and after having frightened them into shoal water, kill a number with their spears. We then proceeded on, and when we arrived at the tent, they cooked them after the following manner. A large fire was kindled, and after the wood was burned to coals, the fish were thrown on, and snatched and eaten as fast as cooked; although they were kind enough to preserve a share for me, yet the scene around me, prevented my enjoying with them, their meal. The tent which had been torn down, had contained about forty barrels of beef and pork, two hogsheads of molasses, barrels of pickles, all the clothing and stores belonging to the ship, in short, every thing valuable, such as charts, nautical instruments, &c. &c. The latter had been broken and destroyed, to make ornaments, while the beef, pork, molasses and small stores lay scattered promiscuously around. They appeared to set no value upon the clothing, except to tear and destroy it. The pieces of beef and pork, from the barrels, (which had been all stove,) were scattered in every direction, and putrifying in the sun. After putting into the canoe some pork and a few articles of clothing, we commenced our return;—but a strong head wind blowing, we had considerable difficulty in getting back.
For some considerable time, nothing material occurred, and I led as monotonous and lonely a life, as could well be imagined. It is true, I was surrounded by fellow beings; and had all hope of ever seeing my country and friends again, been blasted, it is probable I might have become more reconciled to my condition, but I very much doubt if ever perfectly so, as long as reason and reflection held their empire over my mind. My books having been destroyed from a superstitious notion of their possessing some supernatural power, I was left to brood over my situation unpitied and alone.
Sometime in July, as I judged, Luckiair, son-in-law to my master, Ludjuan, came from a distant part of the groupe, on a visit, and during the week he remained with us, we became much attached to each other. When he told me, that on his return he should pass near the place where Hussey lived, my anxiety to accompany him thus far, was so great, that after much persuasion, Ludjuan gave his consent for me to go. On our way we stopped at the tent, and I procured for the last time, a small quantity of the ship’s provisions, although the meat was some of it in a very decayed state.
In consequence of head winds, we were compelled to stop for the night upon a small Island, where we found an uninhabited hut; and after cooking some meat, and baking some wet flour (for it was no other) in the ashes, we took our mats into the hut, and remained until next day. The wind continuing to blow fresh ahead, we gathered some green bread fruit, and cooked some meat, in the same manner as they cook the largest of their fish, which is this.—A hole is dug in the ground, and after it has been filled with wood, it is set on fire, and then covered with stones. As the wood burns away, the heated stones fall to the bottom, which, when the fire is out, are covered with a thick layer of green leaves, and then the meat or fish is placed upon these leaves, and covered again in a careful and ingenious manner, and the whole covered with earth. This preserves the juices of the fish, and in this way do they cook most of their fish, with hot stones.
In the afternoon the weather proving more favourable, we left our encampment, and at sun down arrived at a place called Tuckawoa; at which place we were treated with the greatest hospitality. When we were about to leave, we were presented with bread fruit and cocoanuts in great abundance. As we approached the place of Hussey’s residence, I discovered him standing on the beach. Our joy at meeting, I will not attempt to describe.—We had a short time, however, allowed us, in which to relate our adventures, and condole with each other; for in an hour we were once more separated; and we pursued our course for the residence of Luck-i-a-ir. After encamping another night upon the beach, we at length arrived at the house of my conductor, which was at a place called Dillybun. His family consisted of his wife and one child, whom we found busily engaged in making a fishing net. When near night Luckiair and myself went out and gathered some breadfruit, and after making a hearty meal, slept soundly upon our mats until morning.
A little before noon on the following day, two natives with their wives, arrived from Luj-no-ne-wort, the place where Hussey lived, and brought me some flour, and a piece of meat. The natives would eat of the bread, but would not taste of the meat. I remained here about a week, when Ludjuan came for me. Nothing occurred of note, during our passage back to Milly, (the place of my residence,) where I was welcomed by the natives with every demonstration of joy. I was sent for by one of the chiefs, who asked many questions, and as a mark of his friendship for me, when I was about to return, presented me with a kind of food called cha-kak-a. My present consisted of a piece about two feet long and six inches in diameter. It is made of a kind of fruit common among these Islands, and called by the inhabitants, bup. The fruit is scraped very fine, and then laid in the sun until perfectly dry. Some of the leaves of the tree bearing the fruit, are then wrapped round a piece of wood, which is the mould or former, and when securely tied with strings, the former is withdrawn, and into this cylinder of leaves is put the bup, which is of a sweet and pleasant taste.
At the urgent request of the natives, I now adopted their dress. Having but one pair of trowsers and a shirt left, I laid them by for bad weather, and put on the costume of a Mulgrave Islander. This dress, if it may be so called, consists in a broad belt fastened round the waist, from which is suspended two broad tassels. The belt is made from the leaves of the bup tree, and very ingeniously braided, to which is attached the tassels, which are made of a coarser material, being the bark of a small vine, in their language called aht-aht. When the dress is worn, one of the tassels hangs before and the other behind. The sun, as I expected, burned my skin very much; which the natives could not account for, as nothing of the kind ever happened among themselves.
One day there was seen approaching a number of canoes, which we found were loaded with fish for the chiefs, and to my great joy, Hussey was one of the passengers. My master accompanied me to see him; and we anticipated at least a mental feast in each other’s society. But of this enjoyment we were deprived by the natives, who were always uneasy when we were conversing together.
I learned, however, from Hussey, that the natives had been kind to him; but before we had an opportunity to communicate to each other our hopes and fears, he was hurried away. Having now gained considerable knowledge of their language, I learned that they were afraid that if we were permitted to hold converse, we should be the means of provoking the Supreme God, Anit, to do them some injury.