In captivity in the Pacific

Front matter

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A.

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Preface

In Captivity in the Pacific/" the third volume of ‘‘ The Pacific Series,” relates the adventures of two boys who were taken prisoners by savages and carried, in war canoes, to one of the Marquesas Islands.

In this volume an account will be found, not only of the great breadfruit tree, which may justly be regarded as the most valuable vegetable product of the tropical islands of the South Pacific, but also of other curious and valuable products.

In addition to the above there is given a description of the daily life of the Polynesians, together with a short account of their customs, religious habits, and occupations.

It is the author’s hope that, carried along by the interesting account of the wonderful experiences of these boys, his readers may learn much of the life, alike vegetable, animal, and human, of this part of the world.

Philadelphia, September, 1908.

E. J H.

Contents

Chapter Page

I. Carried Away by a War Canoe 1 1

II. Mahinee, Chief of the War Party, and King of

Appendix

" The two lads stood almost entranced by the .

beauty of the panorama ” {Frontispiece ) . . 52

' They now began carefully to search the edge of the crater'' 112

' He would be unable to keep up much longer " . . 220^

^ He held the piece of glass between the sun and

the wood which . . . burst into dame " . . . . 315^

''A splendid place where we can make a stand

against our enemies ' " 348 y

CHARACTERS

Captain Arthur Harding, of Harding Island.

Charles Young Pleasanton, taken into captivity from Harding Island.

Harold Arthur Harding, taken into captivity from Harding Island.

Hiram Higgenbotham, left with Captain Harding on Harding Island.

John Parker Jackson, left with Captain Harding on Harding Island.

Captain William M. Parker, former commander of the Ketrel.

Mr. and Mrs. Pleasanton, Charley’s parents.

Mr. and Mrs. Harding, Harold’s parents.

Doctor Charles B. Parsons, or Miconareo.”

Mahinee, king of the Island of Captivity.

Aharo, one of Mahinee’s chiefs.

Kooloo, son of Mahinee.

Marbonna, interpreter of Mahinee.

Kaloro, chief tattooer.

Acharto, chief priest.

Waheatoua, a Polynesian rescued from drowning by boat Number Twenty-three.

Kapiau, a Polynesian, friend of Waheatoua.

Otoa, king of Waheatoua’s island.

Arahu, king of the Western Valley.

CHAPTER I Carried Away by a War Canoe

“ Look back toward the island, Harold, but don’t let the men see you are looking. Our friends are running along the beach toward the southeastern end of the island. Rompey is with them.”

“ I see them, Charley,” was the reply; '' and though they are indistinct, I can recognize Uncle Arthur, Hiram, and Jack, as well as Rompey.”

I’m glad they know in what direction we have been carried off,” continued the first speaker. Rompey has delivered our note all right.”

The speakers were two young boys about fourteen years old. They were seated in a Polynesian war canoe that was being rapidly paddled toward the northeast, through a portion of the South Pacific nearly midway between South America and Australia. Besides the boys, the canoe contained twelve dark-skinned savages, who were nearly nude except for a small breech-cloth that covered their loins.

There were men enough in the canoe to permit their paddling night and day. The twelve men, therefore, made shifts of six paddlers every six hours, the chief not failing to take his turn at the work. On

II the whole, they were good-natured men, and shortly after leaving the island, began singing what was evidently a war song describing some of the things that had happened during the late expedition. As well as Charley could gather from their gestures, it appeared that this canoe was but one of others that had suddenly fallen on an unprotected island, had killed some of its inhabitants, and carried away others captives. On their return home, seeing Harding Island in the distance, the great chief, or the chief who commanded the expedition, had sent this boat to examine the island and, if possible, bring with them a quantity of food and water ; for, their supplies had been rendered insufficient by reason of the number of prisoners they had brought with them.

The song the men were singing, though devoid of either true melody or harmony, appeared to give them no little pleasure.

'' Harold,” said Charley, I wonder if it wouldn’t be a good idea to give the men one of our songs. What do you think ? ”

“ It won’t hurt to try,” said Harold. ‘‘ What shall we sing ? ”

‘'Let’s give them the rollicking boat song that so pleased the captain and Hiram. I mean the one in which the music tries to imitate the strokes of the oars.”

Looking at the chief, and making signs intended to ask whether he would like to hear them sing, the boys gave them the boat song. It was a beautiful 12 song. Savages as they were, they could appreciate the harmony produced by the clear soprano and the alto of the lads. But what was more to the point, they could understand that the music was intended to represent the successive strokes of the paddles as they were dipped into and drawn out of the water; for the boys were clever enough to time the music with their motion.

The savages were so much pleased with the singing, that when the song was completed they indicated that they wished it repeated, and this time they joined in the chorus, much to their satisfaction, if not altogether to the betterment of the singing.

The chief now made signs to the boys to give them another song. This they did, selecting a song in which an attempt is made to imitate an echo. This being something the savages were better able to understand, appeared to please them even more than had the boat song.

When the boys ceased singing the chief, leaning over, tapped them good-naturedly on the shoulders, and turning to the men said something clearly indicating that he was much pleased with his young captives.

There was no doubt that the singing together with the general good nature of the boys, and their apparent freedom from anything resembling fear, had thoroughly won the good-will of the men. The chief was evidently delighted, and tried to make them understand that they would be treated kindly and need have no fear.

Both boys carried silver watches. These naturally attracted considerable attention. Seeing this, Charley opened his watch and showed it to the chief, who was evidently asking him what it was. Charley then pretended that the watch was a species of fetish, pointed to the sky and then to the watch, pretending to look with great fear on it. He then pointed to his lips and, holding his watch to the ear of the chief, intimated to him that the watch spoke to him and told him things.

The chief apparently understood that the watch was a fetish, and was afraid it might work him some damage; he therefore motioned to Charley to put it back in his pocket. He then said something to the men that evidently meant they were not to take the watches from the boys ; for, although before that time there had been some efforts to appropriate them when the chief was not looking, no attempt was made to do this afterward.

The songs completed, the boys sat silently watching the vigorous strokes of the six paddlers for some little time when, looking toward the island, Charley thought he could see the three dim figures he believed he could still recognize as their friends standing together at the edge of the cliffs, pointing as he thought toward the distant boat.

“ They can see us better than we can them,” remarked Charley to his companion ; ‘‘ for the captain of course will have his powerful field-glasses with him.”

“ Yes,” said Harold, ‘‘ and seeing the direction the boat has taken, will be able to know what direction to come in order to reach us.”

The speakers were our old friends, Charles Young Pleasanton and Harold Arthur Harding, whose exciting adventures we have already described in the books called Five Months on a Derelict ” and “ Wrecked on a Coral Island.” It will be remembered, in the last-named book, that one day while the two boys were seated in the cabin of the coral-encrusted wreck of the brigantine, they had been surprised and taken prisoners by the men in the war canoe in which they were then seated.

When first made captives, the arms of both boys had been bound back of them by means of strong ropes formed of the fibers of the cocoanut palm. Charley, who was by far quicker in planning than Harold, determined to try to win the confidence of their captors by pretending to look on the adventure as a joke, and readily persuaded Harold to do the same thing. Seeing that the chief was asking questions, he made signs with his eyes, that if his hands were untied he might be able to show the chief what he wished to know. The savage chief appearing to understand Charley readily, smiled and ordered his men to unbind the hands of both of the boys. He then made signs that he was looking for drinking-water, and wished to know where such could be found. Charley not only showed him where they could get water, but also where they could get ripe cocoanuts. He and Harold even offered to climb the trees and throw the nuts down to them.

The savages spent several hours on the island, but did not wander far from the part on which they had landed. They were, therefore, unaware of the fact that the island was inhabited by any others than the boys they had captured, nor had the friends of the boys . any idea until afterward of the great misfortune that* had befallen them.

Taking the first opportunity that presented itself, the boys had succeeded in sending a note, tied to the neck of their pet collie, Rompey, and had thus acquainted their friends as to their capture by men in a war canoe.

The circumstances referred to in the beginning of this chapter occurred only a comparatively short time after the canoe had left the island with the two boys. In the meanwhile, Rompey had delivered the note to the companions of the boys who, accompanied by the dog, had gone in one of their boats to the extreme southeastern part of the island, only however to see in the dim distance the war canoe moving rapidly toward the northeast. With their field-glasses they could not only see the boat and the people in it, but could even see, as had been suggested in the note, that Charley had evidently determined to gain the confidence of his captors by pretending not to be afraid.

In order to understand thoroughly who these people were, and their relation to the lads in the boat, it will be necessary to give a brief review of the two books already referred to ; i. e., Five Months on a Derelict ” and Wrecked on a Coral Island.’’

i6

In Five Months on a Derelict,” are given the adventures of two men and three boys on an abandoned brig, or derelict, in the great Pacific Ocean. The men were Capt. Arthur Harding and Hiram Higgenbotham. The boys were the two already mentioned, and another slightly older lad named John Parker Jackson. With the exception of Charley, who had afterward been taken on the derelict, these people had left Liverpool on the full-rigged ship, the Ketrel, bound for Yokohama, Japan. While ofY the southwestern coast of Australia, the Ketrel had picked up, adrift at sea, an open boat, without oar-locks or oars, and containing only a full-bred collie dog, named Rompey. This dog had belonged to the boy Charley, who was afterward picked up by the people on the derelict in a nearly dying condition in another open boat containing, besides himself, the dead bodies of four men.

Everything went well with the Ketrel until she reached the China Sea. Here she was completely wrecked by a powerful whirling storm, common in those waters, and known as the typhoon. All her crew were safely transferred to the ship’s boats, one of which, under the command of Harding, who was then her first lieutenant, or first mate, contained, besides the lieutenant, Hiram Higgenbotham, boatswain of the Ketrel, the two boys, Harold and Jack, and two of the ship’s crew.

During a succession of storms that followed in the wake of the great typhoon their boat became separated from the other boats, and two of the crew were swept

B overboard. The two remaining men, the captain and Hiram, were obliged, throughout five days of great suffering, almost continually to keep at the oars, and the two boys to keep at constant work in bailing the water out of the boat. On the night of the fifth day, when the storm had nearly blown itself out, while the boys were taking a brief rest in the bottom of the boat and the men were resting on their oars, they were startled by a sudden blow that nearly sunk their boat. It was a blow from a derelict brig that, owing to its cargo of cork and lumber, had long remained afloat. They found on the brig a good supply of fresh water, canned goods, and other food materials in fairly good condition.

The derelict brig, despite its appearance, afforded them a safe refuge. Either because of the character of its cargo, or its water-tight compartments, it was floating fairly high in the water. A charthouse on deck and a cabin partly below the deck, after being thoroughly cleansed afforded them comfortable quarters. The groceries and other food products that formed a part of the cargo were in fairly good condition, and the water supply, stored in large sheet-iron tanks, was abundant in quantity. So too was a large supply of household goods that had been intended for the use of the mining settlements in Southern Africa.

For five months they lived on that derelict brig. During this time they were carried by the ocean currents and the winds to different parts of the great Pacific Ocean, and were thus able to see much of the

i8 wonders of the deep. At the request of his companions, Lieutenant Harding had taken command of the derelict brig, thus becoming its captain. As the brig was carried to different parts of the ocean by the waves and winds, they were able to get considerable information, and met with many interesting and often exciting adventures.

Although apparently ready to sink at any moment, the derelict brig proved seaworthy, safely weathering many storms while they were on it. During one of these the brig was nearly run down by a huge ocean steamer that, as they learned from one of its passengers, Charley, a lad they had picked up in the open boat already referred to, was afterward completely wrecked.

It curiously happened that Charley was the former master of Rompey, who instantly recognized him as he was taken aboard. Charley thus became one of the party on the derelict brig. A warm friendship sprang up between Charley and Harold, and it was agreed between them that Rompey was to belong equally to both.

But at last the derelict brig was wrecked. One day, toward the end of a severe storm, the little crew of five people, saw breakers ahead, and the brig was shortly afterward wrecked on a coral reef that was high and dry at low tide, but covered with dangerous breakers at high tide. As the brig was about to be dashed on the reef, they saw, fully a mile ahead of them, the dazzling white sands of the beach of a coral island, immediately behind which the green plumes of cocoanut trees were visible.

While it had been a pleasant experience to be carried over the Pacific from place to place, almost as if they were on a pleasure yacht, yet there was this disadvantage: They were unable to guide or steer the vessel ; for not only had the brig’s rudder and rudderpost been swept away, but even a jury mast and jury rudder that they had set up as make-shifts had been lost during the first severe storm which struck the brig after they had been constructed.

When, therefore, they saw the brig drifting toward the breakers, being unable to change its direction, just as it was about being dashed on the reef, they dove from the deck into the deep water on the side farthest from the sunken rocks, and struck out for the distant island. With the exception of Hiram who, like many sailors, was better acquainted with the means of passing over the surface of water in a vessel or boat, than of making his way through it by swimming, they were all good swimmers. Rompey, together with Satan, a pet poll-parrot they had found on the derelict brig, accompanied them.

Finally reaching the distant coral island, as related in the second volume, Wrecked on a Coral Island,” they had many strange and exciting adventures, but on the whole passed a happy life.

But the brig had not been completely wrecked by striking the reef. One half, firmly wedged in between projections in the rocks, had remained in a compara- 20 tively unbroken condition. By means of a rude raft, fashioned from the floating timbers of the rest of the wreck, they were able to reach the remaining half of the derelict brig. In this way they transferred to the island a large portion of her valuable cargo, both in the way of canned and dried goods, as well as in various household furniture, mattresses, hardware, etc.

A part of the brig’s cargo consisted of portable wooden houses, the timbers and joists for the frames, sides, floors, doors, windows, stairs, etc., of which, had been shipped separately. These safely reached the shore, so that they were soon able to erect a comfortable dwelling-house.

They named the coral island Harding Island, and lived on it in comfort for more than half a year.

The lagoon, or body of water surrounded by the coral reef of Harding Island, contained four smaller islands. On one of these they discovered a large clearing that had originally been cultivated as a kitchen garden by a shipwrecked sailor, named John Maddox, who had been cast on the island in 1733. Maddox had lived alone on the island for about fifty years, and at last had died without any one to bury him. They found his skeleton in a wooden hut, with its bony fingers grasping a box containing a description of a valuable treasure, in the shape of pearls, he had collected during his lifetime. By means of this description they afterward recovered the pearls from the cabin of a wrecked brigantine that was found lying in comparatively shallow waters off the eastern coast of the island.

It will not be necessary to describe, except very briefly, the great times the boys had on Harding Island in a wonderful swimming-pool provided with a natural sliding-board formed of polished marble. When wet, this great inclined plane permitted them to slide down into the magnificent waters of the lagoon. Nor will we describe either the great earthquake that broke down a part of the high limestone cliffs that had been honeycombed by the water, thus establishing, probably for the first time for many hundreds of thousands of years, a passageway for vessels between the lagoon and the ocean; or the sudden storm that carried the captain and Hiram out to sea and wrecked them on a tiny islet at a time when Jack was confined to his bed by a sprained ankle, nor how Harold and Charley, after several days’ journey in their boat, rescued the captain and Hiram, and brought them back in triumph to Harding Island.

Such was the condition of affairs when our story opens. The earthquake and a high wave following it had, as already mentioned, washed the wreck of the brigantine on dry land. It was here the boys had been captured by the twelve savages in the war canoe and carried away captives toward the northeast.

Chapter II

Mahinee^ Chief of the War Party and King of THE Island of Captivity

The vigorous strokes of the six paddlers continued to carry the war canoe rapidly toward the northeast, so that the faint streaks on the southwest horizon, that represented Harding Island, became dimmer and dimmer, and finally completely disappeared.

It required no little determination on the part of the boys, who, it must be remembered, were quite young, to refrain from completely breaking down. They were leaving the island on which they had spent many happy days. They had been torn from friends to whom they were bound by affection almost as strong as if they were a single family connected by ties of blood.

It is no wonder that a sad expression came into the face of the boy addressed by his companion as Harold. While they felt sure their companions would make an endeavor to rescue them, yet they noted the speed with which the canoe was moving, a speed that could be kept up day and night, so that the chances of their friends ever being able to overtake them seemed to grow more and more remote.

When the other boy, the one called Charley, saw the sad expression increasing in the face of his companion, he said in a low tone :

‘‘ Try not to look so blue, Harold. If the men notice it they will not continue to be friendly. There is no possibility of our escaping now. It may be different afterward. We must first win the confidence of our captors. So try to smile and look cheerful as I do,” and saying this he put on an assumed look of indifference and cheerfulness, that was so poorly done that Harold was unable to refrain from smiling.

You’re right, Charley,” was the reply, “ I’ll try my best to smile and look cheerful.” A bright smile then broke out over the lad’s face, from which it was evident that his face was more accustomed to assuming a smiling expression than the sad one to which Charley had objected.

This effort was so successful that it not only satisfied Charley, but was also noticed by the men in the boat, who appeared greatly pleased by it.

“ That’s much better,” said Charley. “ Let’s try to keep up at least the appearance of happiness.”

Everything had taken place so quickly that it hardly seemed possible so great a calamity had befallen them. They wondered, every now and then, whether they would not suddenly awake and find it only a horrid dream. But na, there they were in a frail canoe, far out on the great body of water, with twelve savage men as their captors. Where were they being taken ? Could they hope ever to see their friends again ? These were the questions that repeatedly came into their minds. But it would never do to permit the savages to see they were mourning, so again they made a deter- 24 minded effort and put off from their faces all appearances of sorrow.

Harold/’ said Charley in a low tone, “ I know it is sad to be carried off in this manner, but don’t let us play cry-baby. Our friends on the island know we have been carried off. They also know the direction taken by the canoe. They will certainly follow us. Of that I am sure you can have no doubt.' Have you ? ” he said, wishing to force Harold to speak.

“ I have no doubt whatever, Charley,” was the reply. “ I am sure Uncle Arthur, Jack, and Hiram will load up one of the boats with food and water and will come after us. And they’ll bring Rompey with them, and he will help find us. But I don’t see how they can find us, do you, Charley? ” he inquired.

No, I do not,” said Charley. It will be very difficult to know at what island to stop. It will be difficult to find us even if they reach the right island; although, in this case, Rompey will be of great help. But you know the kind of man the captain is. I am sure he will manage somehow or other to find us and, what is more, to take us away from these men and return with us to Harding Island.”

While talking, the boys had been sitting in the stern of the boat and had turned their heads around so as to see the island. Thinking it would be better to face their captors, Charley turned his head in the opposite direction and saw four other war canoes ahead of them. Three of them were of the same size as the one in which they were seated, and contained the same number of men. The other was twice as large, and was manned by a crew of twenty-four men.

Look, Harold,” said Charley in a loud tone. “ There are four other war canoes.”

“ I see them, Charley,” said Harold. I wonder whether they are friends or enemies of these men?” he inquired.

‘‘ I think they belong to the same party,” said Charley. “ The canoes appear to be of the same build and, as far as I can see, the men have the same kind of head ornaments, breech-cloths, and paddles. I’ll ask the chief,” he continued, turning to that individual and looking him straight in the face, thus indicating that he wished to ask a question, he pointed to the distant boats. He then made signs, first of fighting with them and fearing their presence, and then of being pleased to meet them. When he had completed these signs he stopped a moment, and again raising his eyebrows, clearly asked the chief which.

These signs were clearly understood not only by the chief but by the other men in the boat, who set up a loud laughter, and calling out the word “ tayos.”

‘‘ I guess, Charley,” said Harold, the word ' tayos ’ means friends.” And then as if to test it, Charley pointed to Harold and to himself and then to the men, said :

Tayos?”

The chief was much pleased to think that Charley was trying to speak his language, and he cried out :

Aa, Aa,” which Charley understood to mean yes, 26 yes.” And then, pointing successively to Charley and Harold called out: Tayos.”

The chief seems to like my talking to him, Harold,” said Charley. ‘‘ I think I’ll keep it up,” so pointing to himself he said: Charley.”

The chief instantly understood and endeavored to repeat the word, but the nearest he could come to it was Charleyo, Charleyoo, and several similar sounds.

“ Charley,” repeated the lad.

The chief replied, and at last settled down on the word Charleyo, by which name Charley was known during his continuance on the Island of Captivity. This point being settled, the chief, pointing to Harold, made signs to Charley that he wished to know his name also.

“ Harold,” replied Charley.

“ Haraldeo, Haraldo, Harealdo,” replied the chief, and finally settled on the word Harealdo, by which name Harold was afterward known.

“ You’ll have to let it go at that, Harold. I am Charleyo and you are Harealdo. And now,” he continued, I’m going to ask him to give us his name.” So again looking at the chief he pointed to him, and again raised his eyebrows, as if saying : What is; your name ? ”

The chief again laughing, said :

“ Aharo.”

Charley then greatly delighted the chief by repeating his name, Aharo.”

There was nothing very astonishing in what Charley 27 had done. Almost any sensible person, especially of the white race, could have done as much, and would not have thought that what had been done was at all wonderful, but to the savage Aharo and the other dark-skinned men in the boat it seemed very wonderful. They were pleased with what they thought was the astonishing manner in which the white lad was learning to speak their language. The shook their heads as if again saying, “ yes, yes,” and again Charley heard the sounds, “ Aa, Aa.” And then the men commenced talking rapidly with each other, and for some time, and although Charley could not understand what was said, yet he did occasionally hear the words, ‘‘ tayos, miconarie.”

“ Harold,” he said, turning to his friend, ‘‘ I’m going to try to talk to them.” And turning to the chief, he said : “ Aharo tayos Charleyo ? ” Meaning, '' Is Aharo Charley’s friend? ”

That Charley should be able to speak in succession three words of their language, so that they could understand, was to these men a great marvel. They shouted with delight, repeating the ‘‘ Aa, Aa,” and adding: “Charleyo tayos Aharo,” which Charley understood to mean that Charley was Aharo’s friend.

“ This seems to go pretty well, Harold,” said Charley; “ I’ll keep on talking.” So pointing to Harold, Charley again said to the chief: “Aharo tayos Harealdo ? ” And again the men replied : “ Aa, Aa,” and added, “ Harealdo tayos Aharo.”

Aharo then began a long conversation with Charley, 28 of which, of course, Charley could understand little or nothing, but by means of many signs he indicated that they would soon join the other canoes, especially the largest of these canoes. That the man who commanded the large canoe was a much bigger man than Aharo. That he especially wished the boys to gain this man's good-will. He kept on this way fully three minutes, and seemed so anxious that Charley turning to Harold said :