Wrecked on the Feejees

by William S. Cary

I had several hairbreadth escapes from their missiles, but fortunately they were escapes. Eight or ten of us who had muskets marched up, dodging behind trees and stumps until within easy musket shot. David, dressed like a native, led our party. He got shelter behind a stump, singled out one of their chief warriors, fired and shot him through the head. As soon as their chief fell the enemy fled for the woods and mountains. Then we rushed forward, broke down their bamboo fence and entered the village. We killed all who had not made their escape, plundered the town and set it on fire, then marched back to Navarto, singing songs of victory. Here we were paid for our services with hogs, turtles, fishing nets and whales' teeth.

We remained here several days, then embarked for Labooca, where I stopped some time. I next went to Ambow, and there found some of the Raver chiefs who were bound home. Feeling that I should like to see my old chief I took passage with them. The chief at Raver was delighted to see me. He immediately took me to his house and prepared a hearty meal for me. When I had finished he began to question me, asked what I got out of the ship, and why I had not brought my goods with me. I told him I had not got much except a beautiful musket. He examined it very closely and wanted me to change with him, which I did.

I stayed there about a fortnight and was about to return to Ambow, when a messenger arrived from the big island and informed the chief that the enemy was about to attack their town in great numbers, and that unless they received assistance they would have to desert their village. I was sitting beside the chief, who turned to me and said: "Wilama, you go and defend their village?" Though I felt little inclination to do so, I knew that he would be displeased if I refused, so I consented to go. There was one of the Manila men in the house at the time who was eager to go with us, so we made immediate preparations and embarked that evening. On our passage along the shore in a canoe I suffered intolerably from mosquitoes and sand fleas, having absolutely no protection from them, as I was quite naked.

We arrived at the village just before daylight. The enemy were just discernible on the neighboring hills in great numbers. We beat drums to let them know that they were discovered and that we were prepared for them. They continued hovering round the village during the greater part of the day, but made no attack and towards night marched away. Our party then returned to Ambow, where I remained a few days longer, then went to Labooca.

Here I passed the time very agreeably with David. The head chief of Labooca was a very pleasant, agreeable man, but, like all natives, rather inclined to be jealous. When David and I were talking together he was always very inquisitive to know what we were talking about, but we would tell him some plausible story calculated to allay all uneasiness.

By invitation of the chief, we accompanied him to the island of Engow, and while there some of the natives from the mountains saw a vessel steering for the island of Ovalau. They came and reported to the chief. I was of course very anxious to get to her, feeling very certain that it was the Clay, as it was about the time that Capt. Vandaford had agreed to be back (July, 1828). But the wind was blowing a gale and we were unable to leave for two days. At length it moderated and we got underway for Ovalau. We had not been out long before it blew so hard we had to take in both sails (the large canoes always carry a small sail for stormy weather) and steer for the nearest land, which was Butcheak. We anchored there, went on shore, and got some supper. The following day, the weather having moderated, we again started for Ovalau, where we arrived in the forenoon.

On landing, the natives informed us that a ship was at anchor on the opposite side of the island. We (David and I) got a small canoe and started immediately for the ship, which proved to be the Clay. As we neared the vessel, the captain hailed us to know if it was David, and on being answered in the affirmative, immediately invited us on board, and inquired why we had not visited him before. After telling him all the circumstances, he engaged us to assist him in procuring another cargo. He wanted me as interpreter on board and David to assist Mr. Driver on shore. He had concluded not to go to Ambow with the ship, as there were less natives here and he would not be troubled with so many visitors as at Ambow, the distance being so great they would not come off so often. We were about fifteen miles from Ambow. The old chief visited us once in a while, and the captain always made him presents and told me to tell him if he saw anything he wanted to ask for it, which pleased him very much.

Mr. Driver found his beche de mer house in tolerable good order, so that he was soon ready for business and the natives were as ready for trade as ever, but the beche de mer was not so plentiful as on the former occasion. While lying here the captain had a disturbance with his chief officer, put him in irons and turned him out of the cabin. At one time Capt. Vandaford went on a visit to the trading officer on shore, leaving the ship in charge of the third mate, now acting as second mate. On our return next day we found the utmost confusion had prevailed during our absence. The officer had made too free with the liquor and imagined that the boat was cut off and that the natives were about to attack the ship. He had the guns all loaded and was running about the deck like a madman, cursing and abusing everyone. Though nothing serious happened, the captain was careful how he left him in future.

While here, two Ambow chiefs brought off 30 hogs to sell. Capt. Vandaford bought them on condition that they should take them on shore and keep them until he wanted them, when he would pay them two muskets. To this they assented and took them ashore. A few weeks later they returned with them and demanded payment, which the captain refused as the hogs had grown very poor in the meantime. At this they were highly offended. They told him that if he would not pay them what he had agreed he might keep the hogs, so they left them and were about to leave in their canoes when Capt. Vandaford called them back, thinking they might do him some injury in the beche de mer business, and gave them the two muskets, whereupon they departed, well pleased.

After procuring a cargo we prepared for sea. I had now decided to go to Manila in the ship. A few days before we left the king of Ambow came to make his last visit. He expressed regret upon learning that I was going, and wanted I should wait a while longer, but I told him my friends at home were anxious to see me and I must go, though perhaps I might come back again, and that I should never forget his kindness to me. When the old man left us, we honored him with a salute and three cheers. When we were ready for sea we discharged David and the hired men, got under way and proceeded to Myambooa, where we arrived at sunset and anchored. We were visited by the natives and procured a stock of vegetables, etc. The next morning we made sail and before night were clear of all the Feejee reefs and shaped our course for Manila.