. Recollections of a sea wanderer's life; an autobiography of an old-time seaman who has sailed in almost every capacity before and abaft the mast, in nearly every quarter of the globe, and under the flags of four of the principal maritime nations. ichwe managed after a fashion. Just as wehad got comfortably settled down, built alittle shelter of stones, fragments from thewreck, and parts of sails, we were attackedagain by a troop of natives on came early one morning while wewere scattered, some getting fresh water,others collecting grass and weeds for fuel,and so we were divid-ed.
. Recollections of a sea wanderer's life; an autobiography of an old-time seaman who has sailed in almost every capacity before and abaft the mast, in nearly every quarter of the globe, and under the flags of four of the principal maritime nations. ichwe managed after a fashion. Just as wehad got comfortably settled down, built alittle shelter of stones, fragments from thewreck, and parts of sails, we were attackedagain by a troop of natives on came early one morning while wewere scattered, some getting fresh water,others collecting grass and weeds for fuel,and so we were divid-ed. But the matespistol did good serv-ice, and brought downtwo of the rascals andwounded others be-fore we were over-powered. But whatcould we do againstfifty or more savages,who were brave ^enough to face a pis-tol ? I was seized andbound to a horse, andso was the mate, as I supposed from his cries of agony, forI could not see him, and we hurried off among the rocksalong the shore. I expected they would take us across theplain to some camp of theirs, but I was mistaken. Theircamp was near the water, and about five miles from ride seemed to be five hundred, for I was hung acrossa bony horse like a bag, and tied by raw hide cords under. LUXURY ASHORE. 358 IN CAPTIVITY. his belly by the wrists and ankles. In that position everyjolt the horse made seemed to threaten to cut me in two atthe waist. I cant tell you all we saw and suffered in the ten dayswe were at that native camp, but some things will surpriseyou; they have two of the vices of civilized life—drunken-ness and gambling. The Indians had seen the wreck, and,among other things, had got one cask of rum. That servedto keep every one, women and all, in a glorious condition,and we hoped to be able to escape by means of this habit,but were not successful at first. After five days two moreof our company were brought in, the steward and a brought us news of the rest. Poor Jim Banks haddied from fever caused b
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, booksubjectseafari, bookyear1887
