Wrecked on the Feejees

by William S. Cary

It was now the 4th of July, which was celebrated on board our brig by firing big guns and small arms, to the great amusement of the king and natives. They were perfectly astonished at the distance the shot went from the big guns, but did not at all like the noise they made. One day the king, seeing some paint about decks, requested me to ask the captain to give him enough to paint his canoe. He said it would make her look like a vessel. I told the captain if he would give him the paint I would go on shore and put it on for him, which I did, much to his satisfaction. When finished I told him to have a fence built around her to keep the hogs and natives from her, and not to touch her for a week by which time she would be fit to use, all which instructions he strictly followed, and was extremely proud of her, saying there was not another canoe among the islands so handsome.

This old chief was very anxious to buy my fowling piece, but as there was no trading allowed except for the brig I put him off from time to time, but he wouldn't give it up. I finally told him he should have it for the shell of three large tortoises. He went off in pursuit of the shells, which he brought in the evening and took the gun highly pleased with his bargain. The gun having four barrels he thought he should be superior to the other chiefs if he had such an uncommon piece of property.

We lay here a long time, but getting ahead very slowly with our cargo, the Captain concluded to get to Myambooa, as the beche de mer had become very scarce at Ambow. About the middle of October we got under way for Myambooa Bay, where we found the ship Glide, of Salem, Capt. Henry Archer. He informed us that in coming in to the bay he had struck a sunken rock and his ship leaked so badly they had all they could do to keep her free with both pumps. He had heard of a vessel being at Ambow and had sent his second mate in pursuit of her and now began to feel anxious for his safety. Mr. Driver was immediately dispatched in pursuit of the missing officer, and next day both returned.

Preparation was now made for heaving down the Glide. Her guns and stores were taken on board the Quill and some of her cargo was taken on shore at the beche de mer house in care of Mr. Driver who had commenced the beche de mer trade. Having discharged the Glide, a raft was constructed from her spare spars and coconut trees, to which she was hove down, her leak stopped and she was righted again and took in her cargo and stores. We continued our business till December when, having procured a sufficient cargo, we got ready to leave for Manila. When we were about ready for sea Capt. Archer wanted I should join his ship, to which I agreed at thirty dollars per month, and after having settled with Capt. Kinsman, joined the Glide. In a day or two the Quill sailed for Manila.

We now commenced procuring a cargo for the Glide. Having got on board about four hundred picul, and the beche de mer getting scarce, the captain thought it better to shift our quarters to the island of Angalore, where we were told by natives it was very plenty. So Capt. Archer made an agreement with a Myambooa chief to go to Angalore and have a house built before we went with the ship. The chief immediately started in his canoe, accompanied by the chief mate with a plan of the house. In a few days they got a house built one hundred feet long by twenty wide. We then proceeded to Angalore, where we anchored about three-quarters of a mile from the shore. Here the natives brought us the beche de mer as fast as we could take care of it, which enabled us to soon secure our cargo.

It was now the latter part of March, 1830. Having nearly finished our cargo, and being out of hogs and none to be got in this neighborhood, the captain told me I must get some hogs somewhere, so I made a bargain with the chief of Bratter to go to his town, which was about sixty miles from the ship, and get a supply, for which he was to have a keg of powder. A canoe was prepared and I took with me a musket, powder and shot and a few articles for small trade, and started. Soon after leaving the ship the weather became squally and rainy, so we landed at a neighboring village and put up for the night. Having much bad weather, it took us six or seven days to get to the island of Ingaun.

From there I saw a ship lying at anchor at Ovalau, about three miles distant. I immediately procured a small canoe and natives to work her, and started for the ship, but before we arrived it grew dark and rainy, so we landed on the shore at a small village, where I spent a sleepless night, having very sore eyes and surrounded by innumerable mosquitoes. In the morning, after eating a breakfast of boiled yams, I pulled off for the ship, which I found to be the Clay, Capt. Mellitt, from Salem. I informed him who I was, where I was from, and my business, and that the Glide would be ready for sea on my return. He wished me to join his ship, offering me the same wages, but I told him I could not agree to it without the consent of Capt. Archer. After stopping an hour or two and learning as much news as I could remember, he gave me letters for the Glide and I took my leave. Among the letters I found several for myself from home. I cannot describe my feelings on reading these epistles from my sisters nor can they be imagined by anyone who has not been in a similar situation. It was nearly six years since I had heard a word from home.

I returned to the village, where the chief was waiting for me. He was very inquisitive to know what ship it was, who was master, what he was after, etc. We immediately got under way for Bratter, which was six or eight miles distant. On our passage we stopped at a small island, uninhabited, to shoot some birds, which were very plentiful around the shore. The natives told me that this island belonged to the Spirits and if I shot the birds they would be angry and cause some accident to befall us. I, however, paid no regard to their superstitious fears, but shot as many as I wanted. In getting under way again the sail caught so that in hoisting it they tore a large hole. This they regarded as punishment for shooting the Great Spirit's birds. We repaired the sail and steered for Bratter. We soon arrived at the entrance of a small crooked river, took in our sail and poled the canoe up to the town. Here I was detained about a week by bad weather. During this time I visited the Clay, which had got under way from Ovalau and anchored near this place. I spent an evening on board the Clay and returned to Bratter, taking with me a man who had been cast away near the island in a Sydney whaler.

Having collected a hundred hogs and the weather being somewhat better, we started with our hogs in eight canoes. After getting out, the weather grew so bad we landed at Ingram, had a hog baked under ground, and with yams and tarrow we lived well for one day. The weather continued boisterous for two days. It then moderated and we made sail for the ship, which was about fifty miles from us. After running about half our distance the wind blew so strong we struck our big mast and sail and set the small one. The wind still increased until it became so rugged that it was with difficulty that our canoes could be kept free of water. We continued on some time in this way, until the natives were quite exhausted with bailing.

Fearing they would give out and our canoe being old and leaky and heavily loaded, I persuaded the chief to throw the big mast and yard overboard, and told him if that was not sufficient we must heave some hogs over, as the canoe was now half full of water, which was all the time gaining, the other canoes nearly out of sight, and the nearest land twenty miles off. After throwing overboard the mast and yard we managed to get the water out and were enabled to keep her free.