 This is Chapter 3 of George Hamilton's A Voyage Round the World in His Majesty's Frigate Pandora, read here by Roy Schreiber. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. A Voyage Round the World in His Majesty's Frigate Pandora, Chapter 3, Voyage from Anamuka, with an account of the loss of the Pandora. The wind not forbidding us to visit Tangatobu, we proceeded to Katoa and the navigator's aisles, the loss of our tender having prevented us from doing it before and endeavored to fall in with the eastern most of these aisles. On the morning of the 12th of July, we discovered a cluster of islands in the northwest quarter, but the wind being favorable for us left examining of them till our return to the friendly aisles. On the 14th in the forenoon, saw three aisles, supposed to be the cluster of aisles called by Bougainville navigator's aisles. The largest, the navy was called Tumalua. We passed them at a little distance and found much entreaty necessary to bring them on board. On the 15th we saw another island, which proved to be Otu Tu Ilala, which has already been described. Here we found some of the French navigator's clothing and buttons, and there is little doubt that they have murdered them. On the 18th saw the group of islands we discovered on our way here, and on the 19th ran down the north side till we had come to an opening where we saw the sea on the other side. A sound is formed here by some islands to the southeast and northwest, and the interior bays which promise better anchorage than any other place in the friendly aisles. The natives told us that there were extra watering places in several different parts within the sound. The country is well wooded. Several of the inferior chiefs were on board. One of the Tatafei and one of the Tubu family, but the principal chief was not on board. We supposed he was coming off just as we sailed. The natives in general were very fair and honorable in their dealings. They were more inoffensive and better behaved than any we have seen for some time. They have frequent intercourse with Anamuka, and their religion and customs and language are the same. A number of beautiful parakeets were brought off by the natives, all remarkable for the richness and variety of their plumage. The group of islands was called house islands, but were particularly distinguished by the name of Barrington's, Sawyer's, Hotham's, and Jarvis Islands. The sound itself was called Curtis Sound. Under the general denomination of house island were included several islands to southeast, to which we gave no particular name, and two more islands to the westward called Bickerton's islands, including two small islands near the above. There seems to be a tolerable landing place on the northwest side of Gardner's Island. All this part of the islands has the most barren aspect. There were evident marks of volcanic eruptions having happened. A very singular appearance, which this part of the island presented, I cannot omit mentioning. It bore the figure of a piece of flat table land, and without the slightest eminence or indentation, and smoke was issuing from the edges round its whole circumference. On the 23rd we passed an inhabited island, which we supposed to be Pilsart Island. It has two remarkable high peaks upon it. On the 26th we saw Middleburg Island, and run down between It and Iua. Examined it without success, past Tangatobu got some provisions here, but found the water brackish. On the 29th we anchored again in the road of Anamuka. We were sorry to hear the tender had not been there. On the 5th of August we again proceeded on our voyage, as the occurrences at that time bore some semblance to the transactions in our last visit to avoid wounding the delicate or satiating the licentious. We shall conclude in the torpid freziology of the log, with ditto repeated. Everything being ready for sea on the 3rd day of August, we sailed from Anamuka, and on the 5th discovered an island of some considerable extent, called by the natives Unu Afau, which we call Probis Island in honor of Commissioner Probi. We traded with the inhabitants for some hours. The land was hilly, and the houses much larger construction than we had observed before in those seas. We were now convinced that we were further to the westward than we imagined, and therefore shaped a course to fall in to the eastward of Wallace's Island, and the next day fell in with it. We gave presents, as was customary to the first boat, who, from a theft they committed, were afraid to return. Their cheekbones were much bruised and flattened, and some had both their little fingers cut off. We bore away, attending to steer in the track of Carteray and Bly, between Spiritu Sanctu and Santa Cruz, and on the 8th saw land to the westward. We sounded, but found no bottom. We run down the island and saw a vast number of houses amongst the trees. It was very hilly, and from the great height of some of them may be called mountains. They were cultivated to the top, the reason of which, I presume, is from being so full of inhabitants. It is about seven miles long, and being a new discovery, we called it Grenville's Island in honor of Lord Grenville. The name the natives gave it is Rotuma. They came off in a fleet of canoes, rested on their paddles, and gave the war-hoop. At stated periods they were all armed with clubs and meant to attack us, but the magnitude and novelty of such an object as a man of war struck them with a mixture of wonder and fear. They were, however, perfectly ignorant of firearms, and seemed much startled at the report of a musket, who were too shy to stand the experiment of a great gun. As they came off with hostile intentions they brought no women with them. They wore necklaces, bracelets, and girdles of white shells. Their bodies were curiously marked with figures of men, dogs, fishes, and birds upon every part of them, so that every man was a moving landscape. These marks were all raised and done, I suppose, by pinching up the skin. They were great adepts in thieving, and uncommonly athletic and strong. One fellow was making off with some booty, but was detected, and although five of the stoutest men in the ship were hanging upon him, and had hold fast of his long flowing black hair, he overpowered them all and jumped overboard with his prize. There is a high promontory on the island, which we named Mount Temple. On the eleventh, no land being then in sight, we run over a reef of coral at eleven fathom water. We were much alarmed. Past it, in five minutes, and on sounding immediately afterwards, found no bottom. This was called Pandora's Reef. On the twelfth, in the morning, we discovered an island well wooded, but not inhabited. It had two remarkable promontories on it, one resembling a miter, and the other a steeple, from whence we called it Miter Island. We passed it, and stood to the westward. And at ten, the same morning, discovered another island to the northwest. It is entirely cultivated, and has a vast number of inhabitants, though only a mile in length. The beach from the east, round by the south, is a white sand, but too much surf for a boat to attempt to land. In gratitude for the many good things we had on board, and the very high state of preservation in which they kept, we called this Cherry's Island in honor of Mr. Cherry Esquire, commissioner of the Vittling office. On the thirteenth of August, we discovered another island to the northwest. It is mountainous, and covered with wood to the very summit. We saw no inhabitants, but smoke in many different parts of it, from which it may be presumed it is inhabited. This we called Pitz Island. On the seventeenth at midnight, we discovered breakers on each bow. We had just room to wear the ship, and as this merciful escape was from the vigilance of one Welles, who was looking out ahead, it was called Welles' Shoal. Those hair-breath escapes may point out the propriety of a consort. In the morning, at daylight, we put about to examine the danger we were in, and found we had got embayed in a double reef, which will very soon be an island. We run round its northwest end, and on the twenty-third saw land, which we supposed to be Louisiade, a cape bearing northeast and by east. We called it Cape Rodney. Another contiguous to it was called Cape Hood, and a mountain between them we named Mount Clarence. After passing Cape Hood, the land appears lower, and to trench away about northwest, forming a deep bay, and it may be doubted whether it joins Nugidding or not. We pursued our course to the westward, keeping endebours straight open, by which means we hoped to avoid the dangers Captain Cook met with in the higher latitudes. On the twenty-fifth saw breakers hauled up and passed to the westward of them. The sea broke very gently on them. To these we gave the name of Lookout Shoals. Before noon we saw more breakers, the reef of which was composed of very large stones, and called it Stoney Reef Island. On seeing obstructions to the southward stood to the westward, where there appeared to be an opening. We saw an island in that direction, and a reef extending a considerable way to the northwest, hauled up the wind, seeing our passage obstructed, and stood, off and on, under an easy sail, in night till daylight, in the morning borough way, and discovered four islands to which the name of Murray's Islands was given. On top of the largest there was something resembling a fortification. We saw at the same time three two-masted boats. We kept running along the reef, and in the forenoon thought we saw an opening. Lieutenant Corner was immediately ordered to get ready to discover if there was a passage for the ship, and went to the top mast to look round him before he left us. It was judge necessary that he should take with him an axe, some fuel, provisions, a little water, and a compass, previous to his departure. It was now the twenty-eighth of August. It had lately been our custom to lay two in the night, Monsieur Bougainville having represented this part of the ocean as exceedingly dangerous, and it certainly is the boldest piece of navigation that ever has been attempted. We would gladly have continued the same custom, but the great length of the voyage would not permit it, as after we passed to the westward of Bougainville's track the ocean was perfectly unexplored. At five in the afternoon a signal was made from the boat that a passage through the reef was discovered for the ship, but wishing to be well informed and so intricate a business, and the day being far spent, we waited the boats coming on board, made a signal to expedite her, and afterwards repeated it. Night closing fast upon us, and considering our former misfortunes of losing the tender and the jolly boat, rendered it necessary, both for the preservation of the boat and the success of the voyage, to endeavor by every means possible to get hold of her. False fires were burnt, and muskets fired from the ship, and answered by the boat reciprocally. As the flashes from their muskets were distinctly seen by us, she was reasonably soon expected on board. We now sounded, but had no bottom, with a hundred and ten fathom line, till past seven o'clock, when we got ground at fifty fathom. The boat was now seen close under the stern. We were at the same time lying too to prevent the ship from reaching. Immediately on sounding this last time, the topsoils were filled, but before the tacks were hauled on board and the sails trimmed, she struck on a reef of rocks, and at that instant the boat got on board. Every possible effort was attempted to get her off by the sails, but failing they were furled and the boats hoisted out with a view to carry out an anchor. Before that was accomplished, the carpenter reported she made eighteen inches of water in five minutes. In a quarter of an hour more she had nine feet of water in the hold. The hands were immediately turned to the pumps, to bale at different hatchways. Some of the prisoners were led out of irons and turned to the pumps. At this dreadful crisis it blew very violently, and she beat so hard upon the rocks that we expected her every minute to go to pieces. It was an exceedingly dark and stormy night, and the gloomy horrors of death presented all round, being everywhere, encompassed with rocks, shoals, and broken water. About ten she beat over the reef, and we let go the anchor in fifteen fathom water. The guns were ordered to be thrown overboard, and what hands could be spared from the pumps were employed, thrumming a top sail to haul under her bottom to endeavor to fodder her. To add to our distress, at this juncture one of the chain pumps gave way, and she gained fast upon us. The scheme of the top sail was now laid aside, and every soul fell to bailing and pumping. All the boats, excepting one, were obliged to keep a long distance off on account of the broken water, and the very high surf that was running near us. We bailed between life and death, for had she gone down before daylight every soul must have perished. She now took a heel, and some of the guns that were endeavoring to be thrown overboard, run down to Leeward, which crushed one man to death. About the same time, a spare top mast came down from the boom, and killed another man. The people now became faint at the pumps, and it was necessary to give them some refreshment. We had luckily between the decks a cask of exceedingly strong ale, which was brewed at Anamooka. This was tapped and served regularly to all hands, which was much preferable to spirits, as it gave them strength without intoxication. During this trying occasion, the men behaved with the utmost intrepidity and obedience, not a man flinching from his post. We continually cheered them at the pumps, with the delusive hopes of it being daylight soon. About half an hour before a daybreak, a council of war was held among the officers, and she was then settling fast in the water. It was their unanimous opinion that nothing further could be done for the preservation of his majesty's ship, and it was their next care to save the lives of the crew. To effect which spars, booms, hencoops, everything buoyant was cut loose, that when she went down they might chance to get hold of something. The prisoners were ordered lead out of ions. The water was now coming in fast in the gun ports, that the pump could not discharge, and to this minute the men never swerved from their duty. She now took a very heavy heel, so much so that she lay quite on one side. One of the officers now told the captain, who was standing aft, that the anchor on our bow was under water, and that she was then going. And bidding him farewell, jumped over the quarter into the water. The captain then followed his example, and jumped after him. At that instant she took her last heel, and while everyone was scrambling to winward, she sank in an instant. The crew had just time to leap overboard, accompanying it with a most dreadful yell. The cries of men drowning in the water was at first awful in the extreme, but as they sunk and became faint, died away by degrees. The boats, who were at some considerable distance in the drift of the tide, in about a half hour or a little better, picked up the remainder of our wretched crew. The morning now dawned, and the sun shone out. A sandy key, four miles off, and about thirty paces long afforded us a resting place. When all the boats arrived, we mustered our remains, and found that thirty-five men and four prisoners had drowned. After we had a little recovered our strength, the first care was to haul up the boats. A guard was placed over the prisoners. Providentially, a small barrel of water, a keg of wine, some biscuit, and a few muskets and cartridge boxes had been thrown into the boat. The heat of the sun, and the reflection from the sand, was now excruciating, and our stomachs being filled with salt water. From the great length of time we were swimming before we were picked up, rendered our thirst most intolerable, and no water was allowed to be served out the first day. By a calculation which we made, by filling compass boxes in every utensil we had, we could admit of an allowance of two small wine-glasses of water a day to each man for sixteen days. A saw and a hammer had fortunately been in one of the boats which enabled us with the greater expedition to make preparations for our voyage by repairing one of the boats, which was in very bad state, and cutting up the floorboards of all the boats into uprights, round which we stretched canvas to keep the water from breaking into the boats at sea. We made tents of the boat's sails, and when it was dark we set the watch and went to sleep. In the night we were disturbed by the irregular behavior of one canal, which led us to suspect he had stole our wine and got drunk, but on further inquiry we found that the excruciating torture he suffered from thirst had led him to drink salt water by which means he went mad and died in the sequel of the voyage. Next morning Mr. George Passmore, the master, was dispatched in one of the boats to visit the wreck to see if anything floated round her that might be useful to us in our present distressed state. He returned in two hours and brought with him a cat which he found clinging to the top gallant mast head, a piece of top gallant mast, which he cut away, and about fifteen feet of lightning chain which being copper we cut up and converted into nails for fitting out the boats. Some of the gigantic cockle was boiled, and cut into junks lest anyone should be inclined to eat, that our thirst was too excessive to bear anything that would increase it. This evening a glass of water was served to each man, paper parcel of tea having been thrown into the boat, the officers joined all their allowance, and had tea in the captain's tent with him. When it was boiled everyone took a salt cellar spoonful and passed it to his neighbor by which means we moistened our mouths and by slow degrees received very much refreshment from it. THE END OF CHAPTER III Everything being ready on the following day at twelve o'clock we embarked in our little squadron, each boat having been previously supplied with the latitude and longitude of the island of Timor eleven hundred miles from this place. Our order of sailing was as follows, in the pinnance, Captain Edwards, Lieutenant Hayward, Mr. Rickards, Master's mate, Mr. Packer Gunner, Mr. Edmonds, Captain's Clark, three prisoners, sixteen privates, in the red yall, Lieutenant Larkin, Mr. George Hamilton Surgeon, Mr. Reynolds Master's mate, Mr. Madsen Midshipman, two prisoners and eighteen privates, in the launch, Lieutenant Corner, Mr. Gregory Bentham Persner, Mr. Montgomery Carpenter, Mr. Bowling Master's mate, Mr. McKendrick Midshipman, two prisoners and twenty-four privates, in the blue yall, Mr. George Passmore Master, Mr. Cunningham, Bowson, Mr. James Innis, Surgeon's mate, Mr. Fennec Midshipman, Mr. Piecroft Midshipman, three prisoners and fifteen privates. As soon as we embarked, we laid the oars upon the thwarts, which formed a platform by which means we stowed two tier of men. A pair of wooden scales was made in each boat, and a musket-ball weight of bread served to each man. At the meridian we saw a key bounded with large craggy rocks. As the principal part of our sustenance was in the launch, it was necessary to keep together both for our defense and support. We towed each other during the night, and at daybreak cast off the tow-line. At eight in the morning the red and blue yalls were sent ahead to sound and investigate the coast of New South Wales, and to search for a watering-place. The country had been described as very destitute of that article of water, but on entering a very fine bay we found most excellent water rushing from a spring at the very edge of the beach. Here we filled our bellies a teakettle and two-chord bottles. The penance and launch had gone too far ahead to observe any signal of our success, and immediately we made sail after them. The coast has a very barren aspect, and from the appearance of the soil and land looks like a country abounding with minerals. As we passed round the bay, two canoes, with three black men in each, put off and paddled very hard to get near us. They stood up in the canoes, waved, and made many signals for us to come to them. But as they were perfectly naked, had a very savage aspect, and having heard an indifferent account of the natives of that country, we judged it prudent to avoid them. In two hours we joined the penance and the launch. We were lying too for us. At ten at night we were alarmed with the dreadful cry of breakers ahead. We had, got amongst a reef of rocks, and in our present state, being worn out and fatigued, it is difficult to say how we got out of them as the place was fraught with dangers all round. For, in standing clear of sculler, we might fall afoul of corruptist, the horror of which, considering our present situation, they'd be better understood than expressed. After running along, we came to an inhabited island, from which we promised ourselves a supply of water. On our approach the natives flocked to the beach in crowds. They were jet-black, and neither sex had either covering or girdle. We made signals of distress to them for something to drink, which they understood. And on receiving some trifling presence of knives and some buttons cut off our coats, they brought us a keg of good water, which we emptied in a minute, and then sent it back to be filled again. They, however, would not bring it the second time, but put it down on the beach, and made signs to us to come on shore for it. This we declined, as we observed the women and the children running, and supplying the men with bows and arrows. In a few minutes they let fly a shower of arrows amongst the thick of us. Luckily we had not a man wounded, but an arrow fell between the captain and the third lieutenant, and went through the boat's thwart, and stuck in it. It was an oak plank and inch thick. We immediately discharged a volley of muskets at them, which put them to flight. There were, however, none of them killed. We now abandoned all hopes of refreshment here. This island lies contiguous to Mountainous Island. It may be observed that the channel, throughout the reef, is better than any hitherto known. We ascertained the latitudes with the greatest accuracy and exactness, and should government be inclined to plant trees on those sandy keys, particularly the outermost one, it would be a good distinguishing mark. And many difficulties which Captain Cook experienced to southward would also be avoided. The coconut tree, on account of its hardy nature, and the Norfolk and common pines might be preferred for their height, rendering the place more conspicuous. The tides or currents are strong and irregular here, as may be expected from the extending reef, the shoals and the keys, and its vicinity to the Endeavour Straits. We steered from these hostile savages to other islands in sight, and sent some armed men on shore with orders to keep pretty near us, and to run close along the shore in the boats. But they returned without success. This island we called Plum Island, from its bearing and austere astringent kind of fruit resembling plums, but not fit to eat. In the evening we steered for those islands which we supposed were called the Prince of Wales's islands, and about two o'clock in the morning came to an anchor with a grappling, alongside of an island which we called Laforese Island, as the night was very dark, and this was the last land that could afford us relief, all hands went to sleep to refresh our woe-worn spirits. The morning was ushered in with the howling of wolves, who had smelled us in the night, and were prowling for food. Lieutenant Corner and a party were sent at daylight to search again for water, and, as we approached, the wild beasts retired and filled the woods with their hideous growling. As soon as we landed we discovered a footpath which led down to a hollow, where we were led to suspect that water might be found, and on digging four or five feet we had the ecstatic pleasure to see a spring rush out, a glad messenger immediately dispatched to the beach to make signal to the boats of our success. On traversing the shore we discovered a moire, or rather a heap of bones. There amongst them were two human skulls, the bones of some large animals, and some turtle bones. They were heaped together in the form of a grave, and a very long paddle, supported at each end by a bifurcated branch of a tree, was laid horizontally alongst it. Near to this there were marks of a fire having been recently made. The ground, about, was much footed and wore. Once it may be presumed, feasts or sacrifices had frequently been held, as there were several footpaths which led to this spot. After having gorged our parched bodies with water till we were perfectly waterlogged, we began to feel the cravings of hunger, a new sensation of misery we had hitherto been strangers to from the excess of thirst predominating. Some of our stragglers were lucky enough to find a few small oysters on the shore. A harsh, austere, astringent kind of fruit resembling a plum was found in some places. As I discovered some to be pecked at by the birds, they permitted the men to fill their bellies with them. There was a small berry of a similar taste to the plum, which was found by some of the party. On observing dung of some of the large animals, many of them were found in it in an undigested state. We therefore concluded we might venture upon them with safety. We carefully avoided shooting any bird lest the report of our muskets should alarm the natives, whom we had at every reason to suspect were at no great distance from the number of footpaths that led over the hill and the noise we heard at intervals. Sentinels were placed to prevent stragglers of our party from exceeding the proper bounds, and when every other thing was filled with water the carpenter's boots were also filled. The water in them was the first served out on account of the leakage. There is a large sound form here, to which we gave the name Sandwich's sound, and commodious anchorage for shipping in the bay, to which we gave the name Wolf's Bay, in which there is five to seven fathom of water all round. This is extremely well situated for Irondevue in surveying Endeavour Straits, and were a little colony settled here. A contentation of Christian settlements would enchain the world and be useful to any unfortunate ship of whatever nation that might be wrecked in these seas, or, should a rupture take place in South America, a great vein of commerce might find its way through this channel. Hammond's Island lies northwest and by north, Parker's Island from north, and by west to north, and by east, and an island seen to the north entrance northwest. We supposed it to be an island called Mountainous Island by Captain Bly, laid down in latitude ten sixteen minutes south. Sandwich's sound is formed by Hammond's, Parker's, and a cluster of small islands on the starboard hand at the eastern entrance. We also called a backland behind Hammond's Island, and the other islands to the southward of it, Cornwallis's land. The uppermost part of the mountain was separated from the main by a large gap. Under the gap, Lolan was seen, but whether that was a continuation of the main or not we could not determine. Near the center of the sound is a small dark-colored rocky island. This afternoon at three o'clock, being the second of September, our little squadron sailed again, and in the evening saw a high-peaked island lying northwest, which we called Hawksbury's Island. The passage through the north entrance is about two miles wide. After passing through it, saw a reef. As we approached, we shallowed out our water at three fathom, but on hauling up more southwest we deepened it again to six fathom. Saw several very large turtle, but could not catch any of them. After clearing the reef, stood to the westward, Mountainous Island, or North, Half East, Captain Bly's West Island, which appears in the three hummocks, North, Northwest, A rock, northwest, at the southwest extreme of the mainland, south and by east, and on the northernmost cape of New South Wales, south, southeast, and to the extreme of the land, in sight, the eastward, east, half north, a small distance from the entrance to the nearest of Prince of Wales islands. We discovered another island, and which we called Christians Island. Saw two hummocks between Hawksbury's Island and Mountainous Island, but could not be certain whether it was one or two islands. We now entered the great Indian Ocean, and had a voyage of a thousand miles to undertake in our open boats. As soon as we cleared the land, we found a very heavy swell running, which threatened destruction to our little fleet. For should we have separated, we must inevitably perish for want of water, as we had no utensils to divide our slender stock. For our mutual preservation, we took each other in tow again. But the sea was so rough, and the swell running so high, we towed very hard, and broke a new tow line. This put us in the utmost confusion, being afraid of dashing to pieces upon each other, as it was very dark in the night. We again made fast to each other. The tow line breaking a second time, we were obliged to trust ourselves to the mercy of the waves. At five in the morning, the pinnance lay too, as the other boats had passed under a dark cloud. But on the signal being made for the boats to join, we again met at daylight. At the meridian, we passed some remarkable black and yellow striped sea snakes. At the afternoon of the fourth of September, we gave out the exact latitude of our rendezvous in writing, also the longitude by the timekeeper at this present time in case of unavoidable separation. On the night between the fifth and the sixth, the sea running very cross and high, the tow line broke several times, the boats strained, and made much water, and we were obliged to leave off towing the rest of the voyage where it would have dragged the boats asunder. On the seventh, the captain caught a booby. They sucked his blood and divided him into twenty-four shares. The men who were employed steering the boats were often subject to a coup de soleil, as everyone else was continually wetting their shirts overboard and putting it upon their head, which alleviated the scorching heat of the sun to which we were entirely exposed, most of us having lost our hats while swimming at the time the ship was wrecked. It may be observed that this method of wetting our bodies with salt water is not advisable. If the misery is protracted beyond three or four days, as, at that time, the great absorption from the skin that takes place from the increased heat and fever makes the fluids become tainted with the bittern of the salt water, so much so that the saliva became intolerable in the mouth, it may likewise be worthy of remark that those who drank their own urine died in the sequel of the voyage. We now neglected weighing our slender allowance of bread, our mouths becoming so parched that few attempted to eat. And what was not claimed was thrown into the general stock. We found old people suffer much more than those that were young. A particular instance of that we observed in one young boy, a midshipman, who sold his allowance of water two days for one allowance of bread. As their sufferings continued, they became very cross and savage in their temper. In the captain's boat one of the prisoners took to praying, and they gathered round him with much attention and seeming devotion. But the captain, suspecting the purity of his doctrines and unwilling he should make a monopoly of the business, gave prayers himself. On the ninth we passed a great many of the nautilus fish, the shell of which served us, put our glass of water into, by which means we had more time granted to dip our fingers in it, and wet our mouths by slow degrees. There were several flocks of birds seen flying in a direction for land. On the thirteenth in the morning we saw the land, and the discoverer was immediately rewarded with a glass of water. But as our cup of misery was not completely full, it fell a dead calm. The boats now all separated, everyone pushing to make the land. Next day we got pretty near it, but there was a prodigious surf running. Two of our men slung a bottle about their necks, jumped overboard, and swam through the surf. They traversed over a good many miles till a creek intercepted them, when they came down to the beach and made signs to us of their not having succeeded. We then brought the boat as near the surf as we durced venture, and picked them up. In running along the coast, about twelve o'clock, we had the pleasure to see the red y'all get into a creek. She had hoisted the English jack at her mast head that we might observe her in the running down the coast. There was a prodigious surf, and many dangerous shoals between us and the mouth of the creek. We, however, began to share the remains of our water, and about half a bottle came to each man's share, which we dispatched in an instant. We now gained fresh spirits and hazarded everything in gaining our so much wished-for haven. It is but justice here to acknowledge how much we were indebted to the intrepidly courage and semen-like behavior of Mr. Reynolds, the master's mate, who fairly beat her over the reefs and brought us safe on shore. The crew of the blue y'all, who had been two or three hours landed, assisted in landing our party. A fine spring of water near to the creek afforded us immediate relief. As soon as we had filled our belly, a guard was placed over the prisoners, and we went to sleep for a few hours on the grass. In the afternoon a Chinese chief came along the creek in a canoe attended by some of the natives to wait upon us. He was a venerable-looking old man. We endeavored to walk down to the waterside to receive him, and acquaint him with the nature of our distress. We addressed him in French and in English, neither of which he understood. But misery was so strongly depicted in our countenance. The tears trickling down his venerable cheeks convinced us he saw and felt our misfortunes, and silence was eloquence on the subject. He made us understand by signs that without fee or reward we should be supplied with horses, and conducted the coupang, a Dutch East India settlement about seventy miles distant, the place of our rendezvous. This we politely declined, as the nature of our duty in the charge of the prisoners would not admit of it. We took leave of him for the present after receiving promises of refreshment. Soon after crowds of the natives came down with fowls, pigs, milk and bread, Mr. Innis, the surgeon's mate, happened luckily to have some silver in his pocket to which they applied the touchstone, but would not give us anything for the guineas. To the guineas, however, anchor-buttons answered the purpose, as they gave us provisions for a few buttons, which they refused the same number of guineas for. Till a hungry dog, one of the carpenter's crew, happening to pick up an officer's jacket, spoiled the market by giving it buttons and all for a pair of fowls which a few buttons might have purchased. All hands were busyed in roasting the fowls and boiling the pork. In the evening we made a very hearty supper. We were regaling ourselves round a large fire. When some beast gave a roar in the bushes, some who had been in India before declared it was the jackal. We therefore concluded that the lion could not be far off. Some were jocularly observing what a glorious supper the Lord of the forest would make of us, but others were rather troubled with the dismal. This gave a gloomy turn to the conversation, and our minds having been previously much engaged with savages and wild beasts and our bodies worn out through famine and watching, I believe the contiguous effect of fear became pretty general. From Bly's narrative and others we had been warned of the dangers of landing in any other part of the island of Timur Butkoupang, the Dutch settlement, as they were represented, hostile and savage. It is customary with those people, as we afterwards learnt, to do their hard work such as beating of their rice at night, to avoid the scorching heat of the sun, and the whole village, which was about two miles off, joined in the general song which everywhere cheers and accompanies labour. As they had made us great offers for some cartridges of powder, which our duty could not suffer us to part with, we immediately interpreted this song as a war-hoop and concluded that they were going to take by force what they could not gain by entreaty. Nature, however, at last worn out, inclined to rest. The first lieutenant and master went on board the boats, which were anchored in the middle of the river, for the better security of the prisoners, and, ranging ourselves round with our feet to the fire, we went to sleep. At dawn of day the master gave the huntsman's hallow, which some, from being suddenly awakened, thought they were attacked by the Indians. We were all panic-struck, and could not get thoroughly awaked, being so exhausted and overpowered with sleep. Most of us were scrambling upon all fours to the river, and crying for Christ's sake to have mercy upon them till those who were foremost in the scramble in crawling into the creek got recovered from their plight by their hands being immersed in the water. Yet those who were the foremost in running away were not the last in abrading the rest with cowardice, notwithstanding there were pretty evident marks upon some of them, of the cold water having produced its usual effect of urination. Next day we went up the creek in one of the boats about four miles to one of their towns, with the intention of purchasing provisions for our sea-store. As we entered the town the king was riding out, attended by twenty body-guards, well-mounted, and respectively armed. He passed us with all the sang-froid imaginable, scarce dainting to glance at us. In purchasing a pig, the man finding a good prize for it offered to traffic with us for the charms of his daughter, a very pretty young girl. But none of us seemed inclined that way, as there were many good things we stood much more in need of. At one o'clock, being high water, we embarked again in our boats for Compiang. We sailed along coast all day till it was dark, and fearful lest we overshoot our port in the night put into a bay. After lying some time we observed a light, and after hollowing and making a noise the natives came down with torches in their hands, waited up alongside of us and offered their assistance which we accepted of, in the lighting of fires and the dressing of vitals we had brought with us, that no time might be lost in landing or cooking the next day. At daybreak we again proceeded on our voyage, and at five in the afternoon we landed at Compiang. The Governor, Mein Herr Vagnon, received us with the utmost politeness, kindness, and hospitality. The Lieutenant Governor, Mein Herr Frey, was likewise extremely kind and attentive in rendering every assistance possible and in giving the necessary orders for our support and relief in our present distressed state. The next morning being Sunday, as we supposed, the seventeenth of September, we prepared for church to return thanks to Almighty God for his divine interposition in our miraculous preservation, but we were disappointed in our pious intentions. Four we found it was Monday, the eighteenth, having lost the day by performing a circuit of the globe to the westward. The end of Chapter Four of A Voyage Round the World in His Majesty's Frigate Pandora by George Hamilton. This is Chapter Five of George Hamilton's Voyage Round the World in His Majesty's Frigate Pandora, read here by Roy Schreiber. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Chapter Five are currencies at Coupang, Voyage to Batavia, and etc., a rival in England. This is the Montpellier of the east to the Dutch and Portuguese settlements in India, and from the solubility of its air is the favorite resort of valitude narrians and invalids from Batavia and other places. This island is fertile, variegated, with hill and dale, and equally beautiful, as diversified with roti, and its appended islands. It is as large as the island of Great Britain. Its principal trade is wax, honey, and sandalwood, but the whole of its revenues do not fray the expense of the settlement to the company. But from the locality of its situation it is convenient for their other islands. They had the monopoly of sandalwood trade, which is used in all the temples, mosques, and places of worship in the east, every Chinese having a sprig of it burning day and night near their household gods. The exclusive trade of sandalwood was valuable and convenient to the Dutch, but from the vast extent of territory lately acquired in India we have plenty of that commodity without going to the Dutch market. Close to the Dutch town is a Chinese town and temple. They have a governor of their own nation, but pay large tribute to the Dutch. Notwithstanding their trade is under very severe restrictions they soon make rich, and, as soon as they become independent, return to their own country. For European and Indian goods the natives barter their produce and sell their prisoners of war who are carried to Batavia as slaves and the natives of Java sent from Batavia to this place in return. As they hold their tenure more from policy than strength it would be in politic to irritate them by exposing their countrymen subjugated to the lash of slavery and oppression. An instance of the soul-couping business fell under our inspection while here. One of the petty princes, in settling his account with a merchant of this place, was some dollar short of cash. He just stepped to the door and casting his eye on an elderly man who was near him, laid hold of him, and with the assistance of some of his miradons gave him up as a slave and so settled the account. We felt more interested in the fate of this poor wretch on account of his having been a prince himself and never before saw the face of his oppressor. He went passenger in the ship with us to Batavia. It was a pleasing and flattering sight to an Englishman at the remotest corner of the globe to see that Wedgwood Stoneware and Birmingham Goods had found their way into the shops of Coupang. During our five-week stay here, the Governor, Mein Herr Vagnon, by every active politeness and attention endeavored to make us spend our time agreeably. We were sumptuously regaled at his table every day, and the evening was spent with cards and concerts. I could dwell with pleasure for an age in praise of this honest Dutchman. It is the tribute of a grateful heart and his due. This is the third time he has had an opportunity of extending his hop's hospitality to shipwrecked Englishmen. About a fortnight before we arrived, a boat with eight men, a woman, and two children came on shore here, who told him that they were supercargo, part of the crew and the passengers of an English brig wrecked in the seas. His house, which has ever been the asylum, of the distressed, was open for their reception. They drew bills on the British government and were supplied with every necessary they stood in need of. The captain of a Dutch East Indian men who spoke English, hearing of the arrival of Captain Edwards, and our unfortunate boat, run to them with the glad tidings of their captain having arrived, but one of them, starting up in surprise, said, What captain, damn me, we have no captain! For they had reported that the captain and the remainder of the crew had separated from them at sea in another boat. This immediately led to a suspicion of their being in postures, and they were ordered to be apprehended and put into the castle. One of the men and the woman fled into the woods, but were soon taken. They confessed they were English convicts and that they had made their escape from Botany Bay. They had been supplied with a quadrant, a compass, a chart, and some small arms and ammunition from a Dutch ship that lay there. And the expedition was conducted by the governor's fisherman, whose time of transportation was expired. He was a good seaman and a tolerable navigator. They dragged along the coast of New South Wales, and as often as the hostile nature of the savage natives would permit, hauled their boat up at night and slept on shore. They met with several curious and interesting anecdotes in this voyage. In many places of the coast of South Wales they found very good coal, a circumstance that was not before known. Our men were now beginning to regain their strength, and Captain Dottelberg of the Rampang Indianmen was making every possible dispatch with his ship to carry us to Batavia. During this time the internment of Balthazar, King of Coupang, was performed with funeral pomp. The governor, Lieutenant Governor, and all the Europeans were invited. Six months had been spent in preparation for this fet, at which an emperor and twenty-five kings assisted and attended in person with all their bodyguards. Standards and standard bearers were present. When the corpse was deposited in the sepulcher, the company troops fired three volleys, and vittles and drink were immediately served to four thousand people. The Dutch and the English officers were invited to a very sumptuous dinner at a table provided for the emperor and all the kings. The first toast after dinner was the dead king's health. Next they drank minehair company's health, which was accompanied with a volley of small arms and peteros. The singularity of minehair's company's health led us to request an explanation. When we were informed they found it necessary to make them believe that minehair company was a great and powerful king, lest they should not be inclined to pay that submission to a company of merchants. The inaugural ceremony at the installation of the young king was performed by his drinking a bumper of brandy and gunpowder stirred round with the point of his sword. After being invested with the regal dignity, he came down in state to pay his respects to the governor. As he was preceded by music and colors flying, everyone turned out to see him. Amongst the rest was a captive king in chains, who was employed blowing the bellows to our armorer whilst he was forging bolts and fetters for our prisoners and convicts. Here the sunshine of prosperity and the mutability of human greatness were excellently portrayed. By a policy in the Dutch in supplying petty princes with ammunition and war-like stores, feuds and dissensions are kindled amongst them, and they are kept so completely engaged in civil war that they have no time to observe the encroachment of strangers. That domestic strife serves, likewise, amply to supply the slave trade from the prisoners of both parties. They, however, sometimes since, made head against the common enemy and forced the Dutch to retire to their trenches. It is the custom in this climate to bathe morning and evening. A fine river which runs in the center of the town is conveniently situated for that purpose, and we have veiled ourselves of it when our strength would permit. Nature had been profusely lavish in producing, in the neighborhood of this place, all the varied powers of landscape that the most luxuriant fancy can suggest. But, while enjoying the picturesque beauties of the scene, or sheltering in the translucent stream from the fervor of the meridian heat, you are suddenly chilled with fear from the terrific aspect of the alligator, or the crested snake, and a number of venomous reptiles with which this country abounds. There is one in particular called the cock-cock. It is the most disgusting-looking animal that creeps the ground, and its bite is mortal. It is about a foot and a half long, and seems a production between a toad and a lizard. At stated periods it makes a noise exactly like a cuckoo-clock. Even the natives fly from it with the utmost horror. The alligators are daring and numerous. There are instances of their devouring men and children when bathing in the shallow part of the river above the town. The governor, Mein Herr Vanyon, relates a circumstance that happened to him while hunting. In crossing a shallow part of the river, his black boy was snapped up by an alligator, but the governor immediately dismounted, rescued the boy out of his mouth, and slew him. The natives of Timor are subject to a cutaneous disease during their infancy, something similar to the smallpox, but of a longer duration. Its seldom terminates fatally, and only seizes them once in their lives. On the 6th of October we embarked on board the Rembang Dutch Indiumen, taking with us the prisoners and convicts. Our crew became very sickly in passing the Straits of Alas. We had frequent calms and sultry weather until the 12th. In passing the island of Floris, a most tremendous storm arose. In a few minutes every sail of the ship was shivered to pieces, and pumps all choked and useless. The leak gaining fast upon us, and she was diving down, with all the impetuosity imaginable, on a savage shore about seven miles under our lee. The storm was attended with the most dreadful thunder and lightning we had ever experienced. The Dutch seamen were struck with horror, and went below, and the ship was preserved from destruction by the manly exertions of our English Tars, whose souls seemed to catch redoubled ardor from the tempest rage. Indeed, it is only in these trying moments of distress, when the abyss of destruction is yawning to receive them, that the transcendent worth of the British seamen is most conspicuous. Nor would I wish, from what I have observed above, to throw any stigma on the Dutch who I believe would fight the devil should he appear in any other shape but that of thunder and lightning. It may be remarked that the straits of Alas are not so dangerous as those of Sapi, and are for many reasons preferable. But it is so intricate a navigation that a Dutchman bound from Timor to Batavia, after beating about for twelve months, found himself exactly where he started from. On the twenty-first we got through Alas, and saw three prowl vessels, who were a very daring set of pirates that infest those seas. On the twenty-second saw the islands of Kakajong and Ilk, and run through the channel between them. The next day we saw the island of Madura. On the twenty-sixth saw the island of Java, and on the thirtieth anchored at Samarang. Immediately on our coming to anchor we were agreeably surprised to find our tender here, which we had so long given up for lost. Never was social affection more eminently portrayed than in the meeting of these poor fellows. And from excesses of joy, and the recital of their mutual sufferings, from pestilence, famine, and shipwreck, a flood of tears filled every man's breast. They informed us, the night they parted company with us, the savages attacked them in a regular and powerful body in their canoes. And they're never having seen a European ship before, nor being able to conceive any idea of firearms made the conflict last longer than otherwise it would, for seeing no missive weapon used of. When their companions were killed they did not suspect anything to be the matter with them, as they tumbled into the water. Our seven-barreled pieces made great havoc amongst them. One fellow had agility enough to spring over the boarding net, and was leveling a blow of his war-club and Mr. Oliver, the commanding officer, who had the good fortune to shoot him. On not finding the ship the next day they gave up all further hopes of her, and steered for Anamuka, the rendezvous captain Edwards had appointed. Their distress for water, if possible, surpassed that of our own, and had so strong an effect on one of the young gentlemen that the day following he became delirious and continued so for some months after it. They had last made the island of Tafoa near Anamuka, which they mistook for it. After trading with the natives' provisions and water, they made an attempt to take the vessel from them, which they always will to a small vessel when alone, but they were soon overpowered with the firearms. They were, however, obliged to be much on their guard afterwards at those islands which were inhabited. After much diversity of distress and similar encounters, they had last made the reef that runs between New Guinea and New Holland, where the Pandora met her unhappy fate. And after traversing from shore to shore without finding an opening, this intrepid young seamen boldly gave it the stem and beat over the reef. The alternative was dreadful, as famine presented them on the one hand and shipwreck on the other. Soon after they passed Endeavour Straits, they fell in with a small Dutch vessel who showed them every tenderness that the nature of their distress required. They were soon landed at a small Dutch settlement, but the governor, having a description of the bounty pirates from our court, and their vessel being built of foreign timber, served to confirm them in their suspicions, and as no officer in the British navy bears a commission or warrant under the rank of lieutenant, where, by seal of office, their person or quality may be identified. They had only their bare ipsy-dixit to depend on. They, however, behaved to them with the greatest precaution in humanity. Although they kept a strict guard over them, nothing was withheld to render their situation agreeable, and they were sent under proper escort to this place. This settlement is reckoned next to Betavia, and is so lucrative that the governor is changed every five years. The present governor's name is Overstotten, a gentleman of splendid taste and unbounded hospitality, who lives in a princely style, and to the otium dignitate of the Asiatic luxury has the happiness to join the honest party Dutch welcome. A regiment of the Duke of Wurtenburgs is doing duty here, amongst whom were several men of rank and fashion, who showed us very much civility and politeness. The town is regular and beautiful, and the houses are built in a style of architecture which has given lose to the most sportive fancy. Each street is terminated with some public building, such as a great marine school for the education of young officers and seamen, and hospital for the cade officers of the company's service, churches, the governor's palace, etc., etc. Here the utile dulci has not been neglected, and those objects of national importance are placed in the proper point of view as the just pride and ornament of a great commercial people, such as the effect of early prejudices that, under the muzzle of the sun, a Dutchman cannot exist without snuffing the putrid exhalations from stagnant water in which they have been accustomed from their infancy. They are intersecting it so fast with canals that in a year or two this beautiful town will be completely damned. In a few days we arrived in Batavia, the Emporium of the Dutch in the East, and our first care was employed in sending to the hospital the sickly remains of our unfortunate crew. Some dead bodies floating down the canal struck our boat, which had a very disagreeable effect on the minds of our brave fellows whose nerves were reduced to a very weak state from sickness. This was a coup de gras to a sick man on his premier entrée into the painted supplicer, the Golgotha of the Europe, which buries the whole settlement every five years. It is not the climate I am invading against, it is the gothic diabolical ideas of the people I indict. Were they only Dutchmen who supply the ravenous maw of death, it would be impertinence in me to make any comment on it. But when the whole globe lends its aid to supply this destructive settlement and its baneful effects arising from the letch of a Dutchman has for the stagnant mud then from the climate, I hope the indulgent reader will pardon my spleen when I tell them professionally that all the mortality of that place originates from the marsh of Fluvia arising from their stagnant canals and pleasure grounds. The Chinese here are the Jews of the East, and as soon as they make their fortune they go home. Let the amateurs of the Republican system read and learn. Be not surprised when it is observed that these little men, those vile hawkers of spice and nutmegs, exact a submission that the most absolute and tyrannical monarch who has ever swayed a scepter would be ashamed of. The compass of my work will not allow me to be particular, but I must instance one among many others. When an idler or one of the Supreme Council meets a carriage, the gentleman who meets him must alight and make him a perfect bow in spirit, not one of Bunbury's long barrels, but that bow which carries humility and submission in it, that sort of bow which every vertebrae in the English back is anacalyzed against. In our passage from this to the Cape, before we left Java, one of the convicts had jumped overboard in the night and swam to the Dutch arsenal at Horne Roost. In passing Bataan we viewed the relics of Lord Cathcart. We met nothing particular in passing the island of Sumatra, but experienced great death and sickness in going through the Straits of Sunda, and after a tedious passage arrived at the Cape of Good Hope. Here we met with many civilities from Colonel Gordon, a gentleman no less eminent for his private virtues than his extraordinary military and literary accomplishments. From his labours all the host of voyages and historians of that part of the globe have been perloining, but it is to be hoped the world will at some future period be favoured with his works unmutilated. A town is gay, and from length of habit the inhabitants partake much in the manners of bath, and for a short season behave with the utmost attention and tenderness. Their dress and customs are more characteristic of the English than the Dutch. An uncommon rage for building has lately prevailed, and although they cannot boast that chastity of style in which Samarang is built, it is gaudy and calculated to please the generality of observers. Allow me to mention the singular manner in which the monkeys make their deprivations on the gardens here. They place a proper picket, or advanced guard, as sentinels. When a party is drawn up in a line, who hand the fruit from one to the other, and when the alarm is given by the picket guard, they all take flight, making sure by that time the booty is conveyed to a considerable distance. But should the picket be negligent in their duty, and suffer the main body to be surprised, the delinquents are severely punished. The same ill-fated rage for canalling murder prevails here. They have even contrived to carry canals to the top of a mountain. The boors, or country farmers, are a species of the human race so gigantic and superior to the rest of mankind in point of size and constitution that they may be called nondescripts. Their hospital, as to sight, surpasses any in the world. It may be observed, however, that the architect, by the smallness of the windows, which only serves to exclude light and air, seems to have studied with much ingenuity to render it a cadaverous, stinking prison. After being refreshed at the Cape, we passed St. Helena, the island of Ascension, and arrived at Holland, and had there the happiness through the interposition of divine providence to be again landed on our native shore. The end of a voyage round the world in His Majesty's Fricket Pandora by George Hamilton.