Wrecked on the Feejees

by William S. Cary

Late in the afternoon the savages returned from the ship, after an unsuccessful search for tools. They mustered all their party together in the lower town, and sent up one of their number after me. He came to the house and ordered me to follow him. On my showing some reluctance to obey, he seized me in no gentle manner and shoved me out of the house, so I put the best face on and followed him down to the town, or rather he followed me, keeping me ahead of him in the path.

When we came to the town I was horrified to see the savages all painted and armed similar to what they were at their first landing, but looking much more frightful to me. They all stood in a circle, and seated me in the center on the ground. My old friendly chief was sitting a short distance from the circle repairing some of the rigging to his canoe, to all appearances wholly unconcerned as to what was to be done with me. One of them went to him and asked him some questions, which he answered without even raising his eyes from his work. This was repeated several times.

After about an hour spent in consultation, during which the chiefs of the party appeared perfectly cool, but the common people manifested considerable excitement, swinging their clubs and looking as though they would like to have a crack at me, they all left and went to their canoes.

The old chief immediately came to me and spoke kindly, but I could not understand a word he said. He made me understand, however, that I was now his son, and as such he treated me all the time I remained with him.

The next day our visitors left, much to our satisfaction. I say our, as the islanders were no more fond of their company than I was, and I believe as much regretted what had been done as if it had been part of their own tribe that had been killed. I several times endeavored to learn some particulars in regard to the massacre, but they did not wish to talk about it and would only say that they had nothing to do with it. I did not understand their language and could only learn from them what they were disposed to tell me by signs.

I stayed here about a week longer, treated with the greatest kindness, when one day two large canoes were seen coming toward the island, which filled the natives with alarm. They ran to the town, collected all the property which they had gotten out of the ship and buried it in the woods. Seeing I was frightened they told me the canoes were from Lahcameber, and were friendly to white men, and not at all like the Ono men (our other visitors).

They soon landed and came up to the town. One of them seized me by the arm, and directly another came and took me by the other arm. The last one was a native of the Friendly Islands and much lighter than the Feejees. They were both chiefs and after disputing some time as to who had the best right to me, the Friendly Islander relinquished his claim and, to my surprise, addressed me in English, bidding me good morning. I returned his friendly salutation, after which my new master introduced me to their head chief who, I learned, was his brother. This chief was also brother to the head chief of Lahcameber. His name was Toka and he was a very amiable man. He immediately took me with all my possessions under his protection and made me understand that if any of his men offered to molest or rob me, he would correct them.

After Toka had got through with me, the Friendly Islander inquired what ship it was that was lost on the reef, and what had become of the crew. I told him it was the ship Oeno of Nantucket, and that all of the crew but myself had been massacred by a party from Ono. He shook his head, saying they were very bad. He then asked if the islanders had any of the plunder out of the ship and if there were any muskets. I told him they had secreted their plunder on seeing the canoes, and that the chiefs of the island had what muskets the Ono people had not got away from them. He said his party would get the whole or destroy the town, and if the inhabitants offered any resistance they would kill them all.

The next morning they commenced abusing the poor islanders shamefully and made them bring forward all the plunder they had got from the ship. My new master was armed with a four-pronged spear. He gave me a musket and kept me close by his side. I thought at first from their movements that they would destroy the whole town, but after they had secured all the plunder from them they retired to their canoes and did not trouble them more.

My old master was very sorry to lose me but did not dare to say a word. I certainly felt a pang of regret at leaving him, as he had probably saved my life and had always treated me with the greatest kindness. The Tongataboo chief was anxious that I should stop with him and go to Tongataboo with him, telling me that there were many missionaries there and plenty of ships came there, but I preferred continuing with my new master. I found these people were collecting tribute for the chief of Lahcameber from the islands which were tributary.