The tragedy of the seas; or, Sorrow on the ocean, lake, and river, from shipwreck, plague, fire and famine .. . , the Pelewprivate — who had also come with us — was detected in thecrime of taking a few cocoa-nuts without leave ; for whichoffence he had his hands tied behind him, and was put intoa canoe and sent adrift; which was their usual method ofpunishment for offences of different kinds. ^ About a year and seven months from the commence-ment of our captivity, Milton Hewlet died, and, like theothers, was, according to the custom of the natives, com-mitted to the ocean. A short time afterwa


The tragedy of the seas; or, Sorrow on the ocean, lake, and river, from shipwreck, plague, fire and famine .. . , the Pelewprivate — who had also come with us — was detected in thecrime of taking a few cocoa-nuts without leave ; for whichoffence he had his hands tied behind him, and was put intoa canoe and sent adrift; which was their usual method ofpunishment for offences of different kinds. ^ About a year and seven months from the commence-ment of our captivity, Milton Hewlet died, and, like theothers, was, according to the custom of the natives, com-mitted to the ocean. A short time afterwards, Charles , having become so reduced, by his sufferings, as tobe unable to help himself, was (horrible to relate!) placedin a canoe, while still ahve, and committed to the mercy ofthe ocean. Thus did one after another of our companionssink under the weight of their sufferings, and perish withoutany alleviation of their wretchedness. Nute and myself,with our friend Kobac, the other Pelew chief, were all thatremained ; and we were constantly expecting that the nexthour would end our A SHIP OFF THE ISLAND. 149 I have already said, that only two of the crew of theMentor, namely, Nute and myself, remained alive, with theexception of Captain Barnard and Rollins, who had for-tunately escaped. The Pelew chief had become stronglyattached to us, and we take pleasure in stating the fact,that his faithfulness and affection had greatly endeared himto us. He seemed more like a brother than a barbarian ;and most gladly would we have saved him from those suffer-ings which, no doubt, before this time, have terminated hislife. Alas! it was not in our power to administer to hisrelief; and when we last saw him he was but just alive. Having thus briefly related the story of our captivityand sufferings, it only remains to give an account of ourescape from this barbarous people. We continued to sur-vive the horrible sufferings to which we were constantlysubjected, and to se


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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1840, bookidtra, booksubjectshipwrecks