In the Eastern Seas

by William Henry Giles Kingston

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN.

  CARRIED OFF BY SAVAGES.

  I do not know whether a more than usually substantial supper made ussleep sounder than we were wont to do, but the sun had already risenwhen, the next morning, I started up, hearing as I fancied some strangenoises near us. My two companions were still asleep on their bamboocouches on either side of the hut. The noises seemed to me like humanvoices. Oliver and Macco must have heard them also, for directlyafterwards they also started up, and looked about them with a somewhatstartled expression of countenance.

  We sprang to the door of the hut. On opening it, we saw directly belowit a number of dark-skinned savages, almost destitute of clothing, someof them having huge black mop heads, while others had simply thickwoolly hair. From this I knew them at once, as well as from theirstrongly-marked, ferocious features, to be Papuans, or inhabitants ofNew Guinea. They seemed as much surprised at seeing us as we were atseeing them, and shouted out to us in a language we of course could notunderstand. By their signs, however, we knew that they were telling usto come down to them. This, from their unprepossessing appearance, wewere not well-disposed to do. Probably they supposed we possessedfire-arms, and were therefore unwilling to approach nearer. They hadjust landed, we knew, from seeing two long, low canoes with high stemsand sterns rudely carved and surmounted by plumes of feathers. A row ofmother-of-pearl shells apparently ornamented each side of the gunwale.The men were armed with bows and arrows and huge clubs. Some of themalso had spears in their hands, but we saw no guns among them. This wassatisfactory. However, from their numbers we knew too well that theycould easily overpower us, if they had evil intentions.

  Again they shouted to us, and we shouted in return, putting out ourhands, and making other signs to show that we desired to be friends.They only answered by still louder shouts, some of them apparentlylaughing at our appearance. They now began to approach, one partycoming up on one side, one on another, and a third in the centre. Westill held our post, hoping that they might not come to extremities. Wethought, too, that perhaps, seeing three people at the door, they mightsuppose others were within, and not be aware of how far superior theywere in force to us. As they advanced they discovered our brush-turkeypen, and, greatly to our distress, some of them instantly stooped over,and began to seize the birds, and to fasten them by their legs roundtheir waists. Others rushed at the body of the kangaroo, which hung bythe legs to the branch of a tree, and immediately began cutting it up,each man appropriating a portion.

  "I hope they will be content with robbing us, and go away," said Oliver.

  "I am afraid not," I answered. "They will soon find how few we are tooppose them, and will not be content until they carry off everything wepossess, even if they do not kill us. They mean mischief, depend onthat."

  The savages having searched about, and finding nothing else on which tolay their hands, approached still nearer our hut.

  "If they attack us we will sell our lives dearly," I said to Oliver.

  "I am afraid we must do so," he answered. "I wish to fight for yoursake, though for myself I scarcely think I should do so."

  Thinking that possibly, after all, they might go away without furthermolesting us, we lifted up our ladder and shut the door. Scarcely hadwe done so, than we felt the house violently shaken, and on looking outonce more I found that a number of men had got hold of the posts onwhich it rested, and seemed attempting to shake it down. They shook,and shook, and shook; but it was so strongly secured in the ground, thattheir united strength could not pull it down. All the time they wereshouting and crying to each other, every now and then giving way tohoarse laughter, which occasionally broke into shrieks of merriment."Bery good fun for dem, but bad for us," observed Macco, as the violentshocks made us expect every instant to be hurled to the ground. Atlength they stopped, and there was an ominous silence. We felt aspeople do during the lull of a hurricane, when they know it will comeback with tenfold force. Presently we heard the savages crying outlouder than ever, and directly afterwards thin wreaths of smoke began toascend through the flooring. They were about, we dreaded, to burn usout. Soon the crackling flames ascended. We had no help for it; so,throwing open the door, we sprang to the ground. We were each of usinstantly surrounded by a number of savages. One black fellow, with ahuge head of frizzled-out hair, and a dark heavy club in his hand,seized hold of me, and I thought he was about to dash my brains out withhis weapon. Others, in like manner caught my companions. I thought mylast moment had come, and expected every instant to see my friendsstruck to the ground. No sooner had we jumped down than they began torake out the fire and to pull down the burning portions, though theywere only just in time to save the hut from destruction. Immediately anumber of them rushed up, and began to bring out our stores of sago anddried mollusc, our cocoa-nuts, and other articles of food. They seemedwell pleased with their prize. These they quickly divided amongthemselves.

  The big man with a mop head now gave certain orders to several of hiscompanions, who hurried off into the wood. They soon returned with somefine pieces of ratan, with which they immediately bound our arms behindus, and our legs so close together, that we could with difficulty walk.This being done, they all sat down and began to consume our provisions,a large portion of which they quickly devoured. On seeing water in oneof our shells, they made signs to Macco to ask where we got it from, andordered him to lead a party to the spot. Going to their canoes, theyreturned with a number of long jars and small casks, made of the thickends of large bamboos. The savages had apparently touched at our islandfor the sake of getting food or water. Having supplied themselves withthis necessary article, they unceremoniously dragged us on board theircanoes. Oliver and I were taken to one, and poor Macco to the other.He looked very disconsolate when he saw that he was to be separated fromus. I confess I felt very uncomfortable at the thoughts of being intheir power, for I had heard that they were not only fierce andtreacherous, but addicted to cannibalism, if they were not regularcannibals. Still Oliver and I agreed that we would endeavour to show nosigns of fear. They seemed very well satisfied with the provisions withwhich our stores had supplied them. Before shoving off, however, aparty of them again landed, and went to the cocoa-nut grove, of theproduce of which they brought back a quantity. They now, getting outtheir paddles, began to glide away from the island where we had spent somany weeks. Looking back at it, we admired the numberless beauties itpossessed--beauties which no change of season in that latitude couldpossibly mar. There was one enemy, however, which might quickly scatterdestruction around. It was likely to proceed from the conical mountainin the centre of the island. Already there appeared to be a white smokeascending from the summit.

  "Perhaps, after all," said Oliver, "we are taken away in time to besaved from destruction. See, our captors are watching the top of themountain; they too seem to think that something is likely to happen.Let us be thankful, then, that we have been removed in time; for had themountain burst forth while we were on the island, we could not possiblyhave escaped, if the lava or ashes had come down on our side of it."

  While he was speaking I was looking towards the mountain. Instead ofthe volumes of smoke which had hitherto been issuing forth, therespouted out a bright sheet of flame, which, expanding as it rose towardsthe sky, spread around like a vast fan, arching over and forming acanopy of fire above the island. Thus for an instant it hung suspended,threatening destruction to the smiling landscape below it. At the samemoment sounds like the loudest peals of rolling thunder rent the air,almost deafening us with their roar. Even our captors, not unaccustomedto such a spectacle, stood aghast, clutching each other's arms, andgazing with horror-stricken countenances at the mountain. "See, see!"cried Oliver; "how mercifully we have been preserved!"

  Indeed we had; for down the mountain's side, half covering it, flowed ariver of burning liquid, setting fire to the trees and shrubs, theconflagration spreading far and wide, fanned by the breeze among theeasily ignited
timber, while from the sky above there rained down denseshowers of glowing stones and hot cinders, till the late green islandbecame enveloped in flame, amid which the tall palms waved to and fro,as if struggling to escape from impending destruction. At the sametime, a shower of fine ashes began to fall on our heads. Thicker andthicker they came, obscuring the atmosphere, till we could merelydistinguish the pyramid of fire with its fanlike summit, and the widecircle of leaping flames which raged around it. In a short time thecanoe was thickly covered with ashes, which penetrated also through ourclothes, and filled our ears and nostrils, making even breathingpainful. The savages at length aroused themselves, and seizing theirpaddles, began with desperate strokes to urge their canoe away from theill-fated island.

  "O Walter, let us return thanks to our merciful Father in Heaven, thatwhat we thought so great a misfortune has been the means of ourpreservation," said Oliver; "and never let us mistrust the kindprovidence with which he watches over us."

  We knelt down in the bottom of the canoe, and I joined Oliver in theprayer he offered up, the savages looking at us with surprise, unableprobably to comprehend in the remotest degree what we were about.

  I should say that some time had been spent after the events I havebriefly described had taken place. We had got to a distance from theburning island, and were once more in safety. Having become veryhungry, we made signs to our captors that we should like to have somefood. With a careless air they handed us some lumps of our own sago,and some pieces of cocoa-nut. We were compelled to take it, uncooked asit was; for though we showed by signs that we should like to have somebread made of it, they laughed at our request, and seemed to tell usthat it was good enough for such white-skinned slaves as we were.

  These New Guinea men had apparently been on a voyage to the northward,and were returning to their native land, which lay, we judged, somewhereto the south. We ate our hard sago-cake, which we could scarcely havegot down without the aid of the cocoa-nut. We again made signs that weshould like an entire cocoa-nut, that we might drink the juice. Theypointed in return to the water alongside, and mockingly, by signs,intimated that we might drink that. In vain we entreated that theywould give us some fresh water or a cocoa-nut. Our distress seemed toamuse them amazingly; for both, the chief and his men indulged in mostuproarious shouts of laughter, rolling about as if they were thoroughlytipsy. At length, however, when they had amused themselves sufficientlyat our expense, one of them threw a cocoa-nut, which hit Oliver on thehead. He could not help exhibiting some signs of suffering, which madethem again burst into fits of laughter; indeed, they appeared to be themerriest fellows, though savage in their merriment, that I had ever metwith. The juice, however, which we got from the cocoa-nut, Oliverdeclared, made ample amends for the treatment we had received.

  "I do not think they can intend to kill and eat us," he observed, "orthey would feed us better than they are doing. We must see how we canbest win their good graces. If we could but do something to prove thatwe would be useful to them, we might obtain better treatment."

  "Very true," I answered; "I will do my best to help you, if you canthink of anything."

  We could distinguish Macco sitting near the stern of the other canoe bythe different shape of his head, as well as by the seaman's woollenshirt he wore. He seemed to be sitting quietly, as if listening to theconversation of those around him. However, it was not likely that hecould comprehend anything of their language. Hour after hour thesavages paddled on, till at length we approached some rocky islets,towards which they steered. Here they landed, and lighting a fire,rudely cooked the remainder of our kangaroo. Not till we petitionedvery hard did they condescend to give us any portion of it. At length,however, they made signs that we might cut off what flesh we required,and we eagerly took advantage of the permission they granted. At thesame time, finding a bamboo cask of water at hand, we soon drained itscontents, and afterwards felt very much refreshed. The meal over, theyagain took to their canoes, and continued their voyage. How they couldmanage to cook their food on a long voyage, I could not discover.Oliver suggested that they perhaps lived on those occasions on coldprovisions; indeed, their sago-cakes would provide them with sufficientfood, if they ever did make long voyages, which, however, I suspectedthey did not.

  At length, however, we got close in with the coast, which we took to bethat of New Guinea. On either side, as far as the eye could reach, itwas covered with tall forest trees and dense brushwood. They wereconsiderably taller than those on our island--some of the most loftybeing draped with festoons of the creeping ratans, which gave them apeculiarly graceful appearance. The sands, unlike many of those of thevolcanic islands we had passed, were white and glittering, and the waterof the most transparent nature, so that, looking over the side, we couldsee far down into the depths of the ocean. In the distant interior roseup ranges of lofty mountains, appearing one beyond another, andextending, till lost to view by distance, both to the north and south.Altogether the country appeared magnificent in the extreme. Under othercircumstances I should have been delighted to visit it; but the idea ofhaving to live among such fierce-looking savages was terrible,especially when we could not help thinking that if they did not kill andeat us, they would at all events make us labour as slaves.

  Our captors, instead of landing, continued to proceed towards the south.As night approached, they ran into a little sandy bay, where, haulingup their canoes, which, notwithstanding their large size, were verylight, they all assembled on shore. We were now on that mysteriouscoast of New Guinea. Macco was allowed to come near us. I asked himwhether he thought we could manage to run away while our captors wereasleep.

  "Dey run faster dan we," he answered, "and if dey catchy dey kill, andif dey kill dey eat. No, no, Massa Walter; we stay and try and makefriends. I tell dem big ship come soon and bring cloth, and knives, andhatchets, and all sorts of good t'ings for dem, if dey no hurt us."

  How Macco had contrived to explain this I could not understand, but heseemed very confident that they had comprehended him. Some of theparty, armed with bows and arrows, started away into the woods, whilethe others collected sticks and lighted a fire. The hunters soonreturned, bringing with them a tree kangaroo and a cuscus, with severallarge bats. The latter creatures I had seen before, and heard themcalled flying-foxes. They were very ugly, and one of them; which I tookup had a rank, powerful, foxy odour. One of the natives who saw methought I was going to eat it raw, I suppose, for he shouted out, and Iquickly dropped it. They immediately set to work to skin thesecreatures, and cutting them up, roasted them on sticks before the fire.Some rough sago, which they baked on the embers, was also produced.

  We sat apart from them, and they commenced their feast without intendingapparently to give us any. Macco, however, after waiting a few minutes,observed, "Dis no do;" and getting up, approached the savage-lookinggroup. Pointing to his mouth, he quietly stooped down, and was carryingoff one of the bats.

  "No, no," I shouted; "bring us a piece of kangaroo or the other animal."

  The savages looked somewhat astonished at his audacity, but yet no oneprevented him. Throwing down the half-roasted bat, he placed severalpieces of the other meat on leaves, which served them as plates, andcame back to us with them in triumph. He then returned for some sago.With this food we made a tolerably hearty meal, and certainly felt ourspirits a little the better for it. The savages then, again going intothe thicket, brought out a number of bamboos, with some tall ferns, withwhich they constructed some rude huts, sufficient to hold all the party.We, imitating their example, did the same, and commending ourselves toHim who had hitherto so mercifully watched over us, lay down to sleep.

  By dawn the next morning the savages were on foot, and having consumedthe remains of their supper, began to shove off their boats. Maccomanaged to get hold of a little more sago and meat, with which we made ascanty breakfast. We were in hopes that they were going to leave usbehind, but they had no such intentions; and as soon as the boa
ts werein the water, their mop-headed chief made signs to us to go on board--anorder we obeyed with as good a grace as we could command. The canoespaddled on the whole of the next day, the coast scenery being verysimilar to what we had previously passed. Towards evening we entered alarge bay completely sheltered from the sea. On one side of it, towardswhich they directed their course, we came in sight of what appeared tobe a village built out on the water.

  Their dwellings, if such they were, were curious, dilapidated edifices.They stood on platforms supported by posts, placed apparently withoutany attempt at regularity. Many of the posts were twisted and crooked,and looked as if they were tumbling down. The houses were very low, theroofs being in the shape of boats turned bottom upwards. They wereconnected with the land by long rude bridges, which seemed as if theycould scarcely support the weight of a person going over them. As wedrew nearer, we saw that the fronts of these dwellings were ornamentedwith rude carving, sometimes of the human figure, such as the grossestsavages alone could wish to exhibit. Under the roofs of the houses werehung as decorations rows of human skulls; trophies, we concluded, oftheir combats with neighbouring tribes.

  The canoes were received with loud shouts from the inhabitants of thevillage, who came out on the platforms to welcome them, lowering downsome roughly made ladders to enable them to ascend. Alongside theplatforms were a number of canoes of various sizes, some capable only ofcontaining one person, with outriggers to prevent them going over. Ourcaptors made a sign to us to follow them, and we now had to stand in arow and be inspected by their friends. We were arranged on theplatform, for the houses were far too low to allow of our standingupright in them.

  Fierce as the savages looked, they were most of them remarkably finemen, tall and athletic. The women, however, except a few who appearedto be very young, were most unattractive. Their features werestrongly-marked, and their dress coarse and disgusting. It consisted ofstripes of palm-leaves, worn tightly round the body, and reaching to theknees, and dirty in the extreme. Their hair, frizzled-out, was tied ina huge bunch at the back of the head. We saw them, while they weretalking and looking at us, forking it out with large wooden forks,having four or five prongs: indeed, an ordinary comb would have been oflittle service in such a mass of cranial vegetation. The women woreear-rings and necklaces arranged in a variety of ways. Some of them hadtwo necklaces, made of white beads or kangaroo teeth, which looked wellon their dark glossy skins. The ear-rings were composed of thick silveror copper wire, in hoops, the ends crossing each other. Some of themhad the ends of their necklaces attached to their ear-rings, and thenlooped up to the chignon behind, which had a very elegant appearance, ifanything could look elegant on such unprepossessing dames.

  The men had a far greater number of ornaments than the women, most ofthem composed of the teeth of small animals. They had finger-rings aswell as necklaces and ear-rings, and also bracelets. Some, too, worebands round the arm, just beneath the shoulder, with bunches ofbright-coloured feathers or hair attached to them. Others, also, woreanklets and bands, made of shell or brass-wire, below the knee. All thechiefs, and those who wished to be exquisites, carried a huge forkedcomb, which they continually employed in passing through their hair,much as I have seen people with large whiskers keep pulling at them whenthey had nothing better to do.

  We only hoped that our captors had formed a better opinion of us than wehad of them. They appeared undecided what to do with us. At last,however, the chief, whom we called Frizzlepate, made us a sign to enterone of the houses, and pointed to a little box-like room, into which wecould just manage to creep. The partition walls of the house wereformed of a sort of thatch, and the only articles of furniture we sawwithin were rude wooden plates and basins, with one or two metalcooking-vessels apparently, and a number of baskets and mats. Theirweapons were spears, bows, and clubs. The mats were evidently used forsleeping on. They were made of the broad leaves of the pandanus, sewntogether, with their usual neatness, in three layers. One end issewn-up, so that when used for sleeping it forms a kind of sack, servingat the same time for mattress and coverlid. We saw them also used inrainy weather, worn over the head, the sewn-up end being uppermost,serving thus the purpose of umbrella and greatcoat. Most of the menwore in their belts a chopping-knife and axe. Some of them had besidessmaller knives, and a skin pouch, with a bamboo case, containingbetel-root, tobacco, and lime. The mats, however, were certainly themost useful articles in their possession. They could be folded up in avery small space for travelling, both as a protection from rain and asbedding at night: indeed, they were equal in most respects to theMackintosh rugs used by our officers in campaigning.

  We were expecting to go supperless to our cramped-up bed, when a woman,with a more pleasing expression of countenance than most of those we hadseen, came to our room with a basket containing some plantains and yams,with a few cooked fish. She signed to us to take the contents and giveher back the basket, with which she immediately disappeared. Anxietyfor the future would have kept us awake, had not our ears been assailedby the loud chattering and laughter of the natives in the hut in whichwe were located, as well as in those around us. Even in that small hutthere must have been a dozen or twenty people, which was not surprising,if they were contented with the small space they had awarded us.