Kidnapping in the Pacific Part 2

"`Dollars are pleasant things to pick up, but I must find some pleasanter way for gathering them than this,' I said to myself.

However, for more than two years I hadn't a chance of returning to Callao. When at last the whaler put in there and landed me, I found that an earthquake had occurred, and the ground opened and swallowed up my father-in-law, and my wife with all her family. My wife's uncle, however, had escaped, and he received me very kindly, and more so that, as I had made a good voyage in the whaler, my pockets were full of dollars. They, however, went at last.

"One day I was thinking what I should do next, when he told me that several vessels were fitting out in the harbour, to make a cruise among the islands of the Pacific, just to pick up some labourers for the mines. `It's pretty hard work up in the mountains there, and most of our native Peruvians who used to work in them have died out,' he observed. `There's a merchant in our city who is going to make a grand speculation, and as Englishmen have shares in most of the mines, of course he is a.s.sisted with English capital, which our country could not supply. Now if you like to ship on board one of these vessels, you will find the pay good, the voyage short, and but little risk.'

"I thought to myself that I could not do better. I had served too long on board a slaver to think much of the work proposed. There was no difference that I could see between a black skin and a brown skin, and as I had a.s.sisted to carry some thousands of black men across to the east coast of America, I did not scruple to undertake to carry as many brown men as could be picked up to the west coast. To be sure, the natives of those bright and sunny islands, unaccustomed to work, might not find it very pleasant to be carried away to labour high up among the rocks and snows of the Andes, but that was no business of mine.

"I accordingly shipped on board one of several vessels fitted out by the enterprising merchant I spoke of. The `Andorinha' carried thirty hands besides the captain and mate, and we had four guns and plenty of small arms. Our orders were to proceed direct to the nearest islands, and to carry off as many of the inhabitants as we could get on board, but we were to try stratagem first, and by every means in our power induce them to, visit the ship. As soon as we had collected as many as we were likely to entice on board, we were to put them below and shut down the hatches, and sail away with them.

"The plan was simple, and I thought it would succeed. Should they object to make the voyage and attempt to regain their liberty, we had our arms, and were to use them, but we were advised not to kill more people than we could help, as each was likely to fetch fifty or sixty dollars on sh.o.r.e.

"Before sailing, the merchant who had fitted out our vessel came on board with several friends, and the crew being called on deck, he addressed the captain and us, telling us that we were about to engage in an enterprise likely to prove of great value to Peru, but all was to be done by fair and honourable means. That we were to visit various islands, and to engage the industrious inhabitants to come and labour in our beautiful country for good wages, where they would also have the benefit of being instructed in the Christian faith and become good Catholics, to the great advantage of their souls. We were to treat them kindly and gently, and to give them the best of everything, so that they would not fail, by their grat.i.tude, to show how highly they valued the service we should render them.

"I could not help grinning when I heard this, knowing the way that matters were really to be managed. The speech was made just to hoodwink the authorities, and for the benefit of the merchant's friends, who, if they were not to profit by the adventure, might have found some fault with the way in which it was really to be carried on.

"The `Andorinha' was a large vessel, and we calculated that we could stow away five or six hundred people on board her.

"Seven other vessels being fitted out, we sailed together in company, our first destination being Easter Island, which lies in lat.i.tude 27 degrees South and 109 degrees West, some distance from the coast of Chili.

"Light winds detained us, but at length we made the island, which is high and rocky and about thirty-six miles in circ.u.mference. The inhabitants, of the same race as the rest of the Eastern Pacific, and somewhat less savage than most of them, were living in villages, at peace among themselves.

"As soon as our fleet came to an anchor, the boats were lowered and manned, and a strong party of us landed. The inhabitants, not liking our appearance, hid themselves in their houses. We immediately marched to the nearest village, which we surrounded, and entering house after house, dragged off the people, and sent them, with their hands bound behind their backs, to the boats. They did not attempt to resist, for as we had firearms and they had none, it would have been of no use. As soon as the boats were loaded they took them off to the vessel, and then returned for more. We, meantime, kept watching the village, so that no one could escape. Having carried off all the inhabitants, men, women, and children--for even the youngest children were of some use to us--we proceeded to the next village. These we treated in the same way, leaving a few old men and women who were not worth carrying off.

"Before evening we had shipped nearly every human being we found on the island. None escaped us, for they had no mountains to fly to, and no caves or other places where they could hide themselves. We then collected all the pigs, poultry, and such other provisions as we could find, and sent them on board.

"Before returning to our vessels, we burned down a considerable number of the houses.

"We stowed away all our captives on board two of our larger vessels, which at once returned to land them on the coast of Chili, while we proceeded on our voyage.

"The first land we made was one of the Society Islands, to the north of Tahiti. We could not venture to that island itself, because the French were there, who might have objected to our carrying off the people. For the same reason we avoided the Hervey, and other islands to the south, where we knew a number of English missionaries were stationed, and they might have complained of our proceedings, and taken means to put a stop to them. Here, however, we hoped to make a good haul, and be away before we were discovered.

"The schooner did not bring up, but stood off and on the land under English colours, while a boat was sent on sh.o.r.e to invite the natives on board. I went in her. As soon as we landed, I, with another man, who pretended to be the supercargo, proceeded to the house of the princ.i.p.al chief. It was a large hut, the framework formed of slight poles placed at intervals, bending somewhat inwards, and joined with horizontal poles of the same thickness secured to them, the whole being covered with a neat thatch. We found the chief reclining at his ease on one of several mats which covered the floor, with his wife and other females of the family seated near him. He had thrown aside his robe of native cloth, and was dressed only in his maro or girdle round his waist. We told him that the vessel in the offing was an English trader, and had on board a quant.i.ty of goods which were likely to suit him and his people, and we invited him, and as many as he liked to bring with him, to come and inspect them, hinting that the captain was of a generous disposition, and would be glad, at all events, to make them presents to gain their good will. We were in no hurry, we said, for payment, and would call again for the cocoa-nut oil which he might agree to collect for us. He seemed mightily pleased with the proposal, and promised to come off the next morning. We then went to the house of other chiefs and princ.i.p.al people, telling them the same tale.

"In our rambles we saw a curious spectacle. Having reached another district governed by a different chief, we found him seated on a mat in front of his house, while a number of people were approaching bearing hogs, and fowls, and breadfruit, and other articles of food. Among them were three young women, whose bodies were swathed in a prodigious quant.i.ty of native cloth made out of the paper mulberry tree. This cloth and the food were being brought as presents to the chief, who had had, we understood, a child just born to him by one of his wives. How the girls could ever have got the cloth round them was a puzzle to me, but my companion, who had been on these islands and acted as interpreter, explained the matter. He said that the cloth being made ready, the girl lies down on the ground and rolls herself over and over, till the whole of the cloth is wound round her. She is then put on her feet, and taking the end over her shoulder, is able to proceed on her way.

"The food having been presented, one of the damsels was led forward, when she lay down before the chief, and began to unroll herself, while one of his attendants gathered up the cloth; and thus she kept turning round and round till the whole of the cloth was unwound, and she remained in her own somewhat scanty garments. The next girl went through the same process.

"We pretended to be delighted with the cloth, and told the chief that, if he would bring it on board, we would exchange it for all sorts of articles. The news of the rich cargo the vessel contained spread among the people, and large numbers promised to come off to us the following morning.

"Well content with the way we had managed matters, we returned on board.

"The following day we took care to stand in towards the sh.o.r.e in good time, when a number of canoes full of people were seen coming off to the ship. As they arrived alongside we invited them on board, taking care that they brought no arms with them. We had a few things spread out in the hold, and as the people collected on board, the captain asked them to step down below to see them. When there, the pretended supercargo kept them engaged bargaining for the goods while others were arriving.

Having collected all who could be induced to come on board below, the supercargo slipped up by the fore hatchway, saying that he wished to consult the captain about the price of some of the articles. The vessel, meantime, had been edging off the land. Our guns were loaded, and we had all armed ourselves in case the natives might make any resistance. All being ready, we suddenly clapped the hatches down upon our visitors, and had them prisoners. The people in some of the canoes suspecting that their friends were in danger, attempted to climb up the sides to their a.s.sistance. We had, therefore, to sink the canoes by throwing cold shot into them. As several other large canoes were approaching which might prove troublesome, we fired our guns at them and knocked them to pieces. This done, we made all sail, and stood away from the island. When the natives below found themselves entrapped, they, as may be supposed, created a considerable uproar, shouting and shrieking, and demanding to be set at liberty. The hatches, however, being fast closed down, they could not force their way out, and as they were without food or water, and the air was pretty close, we knew that they must soon come to their senses, and therefore took no heed of their cries, though it was necessary, of course, to keep watch over them, lest by chance they might make their way out.

"When we had run the land out of sight, the fore hatch was partly lifted, and a few at a time were allowed to come on deck. They looked greatly astonished when gazing round to find that their native land was not to be seen. Our interpreter then told them that, if they behaved themselves, things would go well with them; but if not, they must expect rough treatment. The first which had come up had their hands lashed behind them, and were sent aft; and the rest, as they appeared on deck, were treated in the same manner. Two or three, from the hot air and the struggles they had made, had lost their lives; but that mattered little, considering the number we had secured.

"Having cleaned and fumigated the hold, they were again sent below, and we stood for another island.

"Of course the people complained of the way they had been treated; some were weeping, others abusing us, while some refused to take the food we offered them. They were told, however, that if they would not eat they should be flogged, for we were not going to allow them to starve themselves to death. In time we got them into pretty good order. As it would not do for them to give way to despair, they were a.s.sured that, after working two or three years in the country to which we were taking them, if they were industrious and behaved themselves, and consented to become good Catholics, they would be sent back to their native island much the richer and happier for the trip. I don't know if they believed us; they might possibly have had doubts about the matter. These people had had missionaries among them, and most of them were Christians; but the French had sent the missionaries away, and they had become somewhat slack in their religion. Now, however, in their trouble they began to pray again, and it was curious to hear them singing, and praying, and repeating parts of the Bible which they had learned by heart. Our interpreter said it made him somewhat uncomfortable; but the captain laughed at him, and told him that he must not let such notions trouble him, and that at best they were only heretics, and would now have the chance of becoming real Christians.

"We touched at several other islands in the neighbourhood, from which canoes full of natives came off towards us to learn who we were, and what we wanted. One canoe came alongside with an old chief, who inquired eagerly whether we had a missionary on board, as he was anxiously looking out for one who had promised to come and teach him and his people to be Christians. The captain wanted the supercargo to pa.s.s as the expected missionary, but he declined, saying he could not bring his conscience to do it. The captain replied that the missionary was sick below, but that if the chief and his followers would come up the side, they should see him in the cabin.

"The savages looked very much surprised when they came on deck, to find themselves pinioned and handed down below. Two of them before they were secured, attempted to leap overboard. One was caught and the other was shot, their canoe being sunk alongside that she might not drift on sh.o.r.e and tell tales. The people in some of the other canoes which came off further on were more wary, and we had to use a great deal of persuasion to induce them to trust us. At last, we got one canoe full of natives to come near us. As she approached on the port side, we had two of our boats lowered and manned ready on the starboard side. When, after having in vain tried to get the people on deck, the boats pulled round, and though the savages shoved off, we were too quick for them. There was a fierce struggle, two or three men were knocked overboard, but we captured the rest and quickly had them below hatches, while their canoes, as usual, were sent to the bottom.

"We were not always so successful. Three canoes, one day, were coming off to us, and were nearly up to the schooner, when they took alarm. As the captain did not wish to lose them, he ordered the guns to be fired, which sank two of them, when the boats which were ready pulled away and picked up most of the people, excepting two or three who had been killed by the shot. The third canoe escaped, and we knew after this, there was not much chance of getting any more canoes to come off to us from that island.

"From this place we sailed away for several days, till we sighted a large coral island, with a lagoon in the centre, and numerous cocoa-nut trees growing along the sh.o.r.e. We judged from this that it was inhabited. We stood close in on the lee side, till we could distinguish some low huts scattered about under the trees, and a considerable number of natives scampering along the sh.o.r.e. They were a savage-looking people, without a st.i.tch of clothing, except belts round their waists, and bracelets and sh.e.l.ls on their arms and legs, their hair, as they ran, streaming in the wind, while they shook their long thin lances at us. As they had no canoes, we could not get them to come off to the vessel. It was therefore necessary for us to land and try and catch some of them. They looked so fierce and determined that we expected they would give us more trouble than the inhabitants of Easter Island had done. Two boats well armed were, however, sent on sh.o.r.e to make the attempt. We were to proceed by fair means and to offer them trinkets, knives, and gla.s.ses, and handkerchiefs. If they would not be induced to trust us, we were to surround their village, and catch as many alive as we could.

"As we pulled in for the sh.o.r.e, a party of the savages, led by an old chief, came leaping, shouting, and shrieking, and brandishing their spears towards us. The chief was a terrible-looking old fellow, taller than any of the rest, with high cheek bones, his hair and beard of long grey hair plaited and twisted together, hanging from his head and around his mouth like so many rats' tails. His companions imitated his example, and there seemed but little chance of our being able to get hold of any of them by peaceable means. We had our muskets ready to bring them down should they come too near us. We held up the trinkets, and handkerchiefs, and looking-gla.s.ses to try to make them understand that we wished to be friendly, but it was of no use; they only shrieked the louder and leapt the higher, and told us to be off, as they did not want us or our goods. However, we remained steady, and they did not venture nearer.

"As our object was to catch them alive, dead savages being of no use to us, we persevered. Having placed several of the articles on the ground, we quietly retired to a distance, and at last we saw two or three of the younger men approach and take the things up. They seemed well pleased with them, and showed them to the rest. On this, we put some more on the ground and again retired, then three of our men putting their muskets on the ground advanced towards the savages, being well covered by the rest of us, and putting out their hands, we presented at the same time several more articles. By these means we began to gain their confidence. We then made them understand that all we wanted was a few cocoa-nuts, and that every man who brought one should be amply paid. In this way after we had waited quietly on the beach, twenty young fellows were persuaded to put themselves within our reach, and to sit down in a circle near the boats. The old chief all the time kept shouting to them, but they did not appear to heed him. While one party with loaded muskets advanced towards the rest of the natives, we suddenly set upon the lads who had brought us the cocoa-nuts, knocked them over, had their arms pinioned, and they were carried to the boats before even their astonished countrymen could attempt to come to the rescue. At last, led by the old chief, the former made a dash at our men who remained, when several were of necessity shot down, the rest taking to flight, and we shoved off well content with having captured twenty stout young fellows, who were likely to prove serviceable labourers at the mines.

"Having at length got a full cargo, we returned to Easter Island, where we landed our captives. There they were to remain under a strong guard till carried away by smaller vessels and landed on different parts of the coast of Peru. We meantime sailed for the westward.

"During the trip we occasionally fell in with our former consorts, engaged in the same business, and we found that they had succeeded in capturing a number of natives from different islands much in the same way that we had done. Some were enticed on board by stratagem, others taken by force. No one engaged in the business was particular as to what means were employed, provided they could succeed in the enterprise.

One vessel had taken a whole cargo off one single island, known as High Island, the crew having landed and surrounded the villages one after another, shooting down all who resisted.

"The wealthy merchant who had fitted out the vessel must have been highly satisfied, as must also the English shareholders who advanced him the money. Possibly they may or may not have been fully aware of the means employed to ensure success.

"Whether these people, accustomed to an easy and luxurious life on their sunny islands, would ultimately prove useful labourers in the dark mines, and be able to carry loads of ore down the steep, rocky sides of the mountains, I am not prepared to say. Our business was to catch them--that of the merchant to sell them; while the overseers of the mines had to see to the rest. If they died from hard work that was their look out.

"At length we arrived off Niue, or Savage Island, to which Captain Cook gave that name because the inhabitants were then and for many years afterwards fierce and barbarous in the extreme. Missionaries, both native and English, I had heard say, had gone among them, and the people had all become Christians and civilised. We could see that a well-made road ran round the island, and at intervals there were white-washed cottages, with gardens full of flowers, and neat churches peeping out among the trees.

"`These people,' the captain observed, `if we could get hold of them, were likely to prove mild and submissive, and of far more value than the savages we had taken from some of the other islands.' It was necessary, however, to be cautious, or they might have suspected our intentions.

"We hove-to off the island, and the supercargo going on sh.o.r.e inquired for the English missionary. We found that his residence was on the other side, and we therefore judged that this would be a good place to carry on our operations. The supercargo, pretending that he was a friend of the missionary, invited as many as were inclined to come off to the vessel, saying that he had a present for the missionary and a few trifles for the chiefs, and that he should also be glad to trade with them for any articles they might produce.

"Meantime the other boats were in readiness with arms stowed away out of sight. A large number of canoes at once paddled off to us, some containing ten, others four or five natives each. The people came on board without hesitation, and while the captain kept them amused, showing some cases which he said contained the presents for the missionary and chiefs, bargaining for the few articles they had brought with them, the boats pushed away rapidly for the sh.o.r.e. A large number of people were collected on the beach, but even when they saw the boats coming, not observing any arms in the hands of the men, they were in no way alarmed. Their suspicions did not appear to be aroused, even when our men formed on the sh.o.r.e.

"Keeping our weapons as much as possible concealed, we marched a little way inland, then suddenly wheeling, with a loud shout rushed down upon the natives. They seemed utterly paralysed, and though some few fled, the greater number stared at us as if wondering what we were next going to do. We did not leave them long in doubt, but pressing round them, tripped them over, bound their arms, and in a short time made sixty or more prisoners. They offered little or no resistance, and we soon had all we had caught safely in the boat. As we pulled towards the vessel we saw several canoes making for the sh.o.r.e, but with only two or three people in each, while her guns were playing on a few others which were attempting to escape. We picked up several men who had jumped overboard, and when we got alongside we found that fully a hundred had been secured. Altogether we got a hundred and sixty people from that island alone; some were old men, but most of them were young and active.

They were all neatly dressed in shirts and trousers, and looked very intelligent indeed; there was not one among them who could not read in his native tongue, and they all said that they were Christians. Our supercargo told them that so were we, but that we were real ones, while they, having only learned from the missionaries, were heretics.

"As they might have proved troublesome, we clapped them all down below, and kept the hatches on them.

"Wishing to capture more people from the same island, we immediately made sail, and stood along the coast, hoping to entice others on board before the news of what had occurred had spread. We heard our prisoners talking together, and soon they began knocking at the hatches, and under the deck, and on the sides, shrieking to be let out, and entreating us to put them again on sh.o.r.e. Two of our men were stationed at the hatchway ready to shoot any who might break out. Still the people below continued to make so much noise that the captain and mate became enraged, and, with two other men, went below armed with boats'

stretchers, and began to lay about them right and left, to bring the people to order. At last they were quiet, and we hoped that they had learned a lesson they would not forget. In the evening we heard them, instead of shouting and shrieking to be let out, singing hymns and praying. Looking down into the hold, there we saw them all kneeling together as if in prayer; then an old man among them got up, and while they sat round him he began to speak to them, and the supercargo, who understood their language, said he was preaching; and when he had finished he stretched out his hands, and prayed to G.o.d to bless them.

After that they were quiet enough, and during the night gave us no further trouble.

"The next morning at daylight we stood in to another part of the coast.

We saw several canoes quietly engaged in fishing, and so we guessed that the alarm had not spread thus far. We accordingly stood close in, when several canoes came off to us. The captain, as usual, invited the people on board. Some of them spoke English, which the captain did not understand, and I was not inclined to answer them. As they might have been alarmed had they seen armed men at the hatchway, those who had been stationed there were withdrawn. The new arrivals spoke rather loudly to each other; their voices were heard by their countrymen below, who, making a sudden rush at the fore hatch, forced it off and sprang upon deck.

"The alarm was given immediately; those who had last come, as well as our captives, began to leap overboard. We all rushed upon them, knocked those we could catch down, and shut close the hatchway. The captain then ordered us to fire on the people in the water swimming for the sh.o.r.e, while the boats were manned and sent in pursuit of the fugitives.

Two or three were hit, some sank, and only a few succeeded in gaining one of the canoes; the rest were all retaken. In the canoe which escaped was one young man who was shot just as he got into it: his companions, however, managed to paddle off. Those who had been retaken were well beaten, and forced down below.

"As there was no use remaining longer at Savage Island, we sailed for Samoa.

"We avoided the princ.i.p.al harbours, and kept cruising along the coast, picking up several canoes which came off to us. Occasionally we went on sh.o.r.e to obtain water and vegetables, always being on our guard lest our business might be suspected, and we ourselves entrapped. At one place where we landed for this purpose, we found the natives under an old warrior chief preparing to attack a neighbouring tribe. `This is just the opportunity for us,' observed our supercargo; `if we help the old chief, we may bargain that we are to have all the prisoners.' The supercargo on this began to talk to the chief about the arms and men we possessed, and to hint that we might possibly be persuaded to a.s.sist him in conquering his enemies. The old chief at once took the bait, and promised us anything we might ask if we would a.s.sist him. The supercargo replied that our captain would be very moderate in his demands, and that we should be content if we might have all the prisoners. We agreed to come on sh.o.r.e with ten men to help him. The captain, however, had arranged to send all the boats, which were to keep in the rear of the enemy, and, as soon as the battle began, the crews were to land, and carry off as many warriors as they could lay hands on.

"Early the next morning we landed with our muskets, and found the army drawn up for battle. The warriors were armed with spears and short clubs, and their hair dressed up in the strangest fashion, and stuck full of feathers. They were almost naked, with the exception of kilts round their waists. We kept in the rear, ready to advance when called upon to act, and the warriors marched forward, singing songs and shouting their war-cries. In a short time they came in front of the enemy, who were seen drawn up in a wood. Both parties halted and began abusing each other, our friends telling their enemies that they were women, and would soon run away; and warning them that they only came to be killed, if they dared to advance further. After this style of compliment had been exchanged for some time, they rushed towards each other grinning and making faces, when they once more halted, and began throwing their spears. We on this advanced, and fired a volley, which threw them into the greatest confusion. It was evidently totally unexpected, and, before they could recover, our friends rushed in on them, speared some and made others prisoners. We, meantime, were loading, and, having done so, advanced and fired a second volley. The enemy, though brave fellows, began to fly, when our friends dashed in among them, and, with our a.s.sistance, a large number were captured.

Many of those who escaped were seized by the crews of the boats, and at once dragged off. The victory was complete, and the old chief at once handed over to us all the prisoners he had taken. This was an advantage to them, for they would otherwise have been killed.