Wrecked on the Feejees

by William S. Cary

Soon after this kind savage left us, we heard a great shout in the valley below. The captain started to his feet in alarm and hurried out of the house, the rest of us following him. When we got down off the rock all but myself took the path that led to the town. I took a by-path that led across the island, well knowing what was going on in the town. A Sandwich Island boy followed me a short distance, then turned back. When I started I left Capt. Riddell standing at the foot of the rock. Which way he went I never knew. We parted, never to meet again.

Chapter II

THE MASSACRE OF THE CREW—CARY PROTECTED BY CHIEF—A FEEJEE FESTIVAL—CARY MEETS A WHITE MAN.

I continued on this path, sometimes running as fast as I could, then I would stop not knowing where it led, and every moment expecting to encounter a native, until at length I reached the beach on the opposite side of the island. I followed along the shore until I came to a rock upon which I climbed, but could find no place of concealment so got down, and continued on until I came to another. This I climbed and on the top I found an opening leading into a large cave, which I entered and crawled into a crevice, not daring to go far from the mouth of the cave as it was so dark I could not see where it led. I threw down a stone and it sounded as though it fell forty or fifty feet.

The crevice in which I stowed myself was just big enough to admit me, and about ten or twelve feet from the mouth of the cave. During the night I heard the natives talking and heard their spears dragging over the rock. I had no doubt but that they were in search of me, so I kept very quiet, hardly allowing myself to breathe. I scarcely entertained a hope for life, well knowing that if I left the cave the natives would kill me, and if I stayed I should eventually starve.

Here I lay some six or seven hours endeavoring to decide upon some course of action, but without doing so I fell asleep, and slept at intervals until daylight. I then crawled out very cautiously upon the rock, being anxious to ascertain what had become of the crew. I thought it possible that the lives of some of them might be spared. I climbed a tree, to see if I could discover anything of the natives, but there were none in sight, so I ventured to walk along the beach until I came to the landing. The boat was there, but from the appearances I concluded the crew had all been killed, as there were many tracks in the sand and the beach was broken up and had evidently been the scene of a severe scuffle. I searched around until I found a place which had evidently been dug over. I scooped away a few inches of sand with my hand and came to the face of a man. I uncovered one other, but could go no further.

Sick at heart and almost famished, I started back toward my hiding place, scarcely knowing which way I went or what to do. I found a few raisins in the boat, which I ate as I went along. These, with a green coconut which I got in the morning and drank the milk of, was all I had eaten for two days, but was just enough to make me determined to live as long as I could and keep out of sight of the savages. I had now abandoned all hope that there was any of our crew left. Sometimes I would think I might as well give myself up to the natives as to remain in the cave and starve, for there was nothing that I could get to eat or drink, without great risk of being discovered, which I considered certain death.

On the third day I decided that I could stand it no longer and keep strength enough to be able to climb out of my cave, so I crawled out on the rock, took a look around, and as I did not see anything, I thought I would venture down to the shore and bathe. When I reached the shore I saw a party of women off fishing, near the reef. They soon discovered me and immediately started for the town, and I returned to my cave. I had not been there long when I heard voices. I looked out and saw two men evidently in search of me. I felt extremely loath to give myself up to be butchered, but my determination to live had been very much weakened, so intense had become my sufferings from hunger and thirst.

After looking at them awhile I decided to come out and end the suspense, so I crawled out in sight. They immediately started for me, one armed with a boat hatchet, the other with a knife. I sat down in the path with my back towards them, expecting to have the hatchet driven into my head, and not wishing to see the blow. They walked up until within a few feet of me, then stopped and looked at me a moment before they spoke. It seemed an hour. I looked around when one of them, an old man, a resident of the island and one with whom I had previously been on very good terms, addressed me kindly and wished me to go to the town with them. I sprang up and followed with alacrity, almost forgetting my thirst, but after we got off the rock, I made them understand I was very hungry and thirsty. We soon came to a coconut tree, when one of them procured a coconut, broke it, and gave me to drink, which greatly refreshed me. After we got to the town, the old man, who was a chief, carried me to his house and gave me as much fish and vegetables as I wanted. At dark he led me to a small hut in the woods where we spent the night.

The next morning we went back to the town to get some breakfast. We had not been in the house long when about twenty of our visitors came in, seated themselves, and began questioning me by signs to know if there were any axes or tools of any kind on board the ship. I told them I believed there were, thinking it might draw their attention from me. They remained awhile in animated conversation of which I concluded I was the subject, then left me in care of the old chief's wife, and went to the landing, launched their canoes, and started for the ship. They had not been gone long when another gang came toward the house. My old mistress on hearing them, said something, beckoned me to get behind her, which I did. They came up to the house, asked some questions and took their leave, much to my relief. But they had not done with me yet.