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Dana, Richard Henry

"Two Years Before The Mast"

On one of the
latter islands, their schooner was wrecked on a reef, and they were
attacked by the natives, and, after a desperate resistance, in which
all their number except the captain, George, and a boy, were killed or
drowned, they surrendered, and were carried bound, in a canoe, to a
neighboring island. In about a month after this, an opportunity
occurred by which one of their number might get away. I have forgotten
the circumstances, but only one could go, and they yielded to the
captain, upon his promising to send them aid if he escaped. He was
successful in his attempt; got on board an American vessel, went
back to Manilla, and thence to America, without making any effort
for their rescue, or indeed, as George afterwards discovered,
without even mentioning their case to any one in Manilla. The boy that
was with George died, and he being alone, and there being no chance
for his escape, the natives soon treated him with kindness, and even
with attention. They painted him, tattooed his body, (for he would
never consent to be marked in the face or hands,) gave him two or
three wives; and, in fact, made quite a pet of him.


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