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A Narrative of the Shipwreck, Captivity and Sufferings of Horace Holden and Benj. H. Nute: Who were cast away in the American ship Mentor, on the Pelew Islands, in the year 1832; and for two years afterwards were subjected to unheard of sufferings among the barbarous inhabitants of Lord North's island — John Shaqi

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A Narrative of the Shipwreck, Captivity and Sufferings of Horace Holden and Benj. H. Nute: Who were cast away in the American ship Mentor, on the Pelew Islands, in the year 1832; and for two years afterwards were subjected to unheard of sufferings among the barbarous inhabitants of Lord North's island

Name: A Narrative of the Shipwreck, Captivity and Sufferings of Horace Holden and Benj. H. Nute: Who were cast away in the American ship Mentor, on the Pelew Islands, in the year 1832; and for two years afterwards were subjected to unheard of sufferings among the barbarous inhabitants of Lord North's island
Author: Holden, Horace

Holden, Horace

Holden, Horace, 1810-; Nute, Benjamin H.; Shipwrecks -- Palau; Sonsorol-Tobi language; Tobi (Palau)

The natives become anxious to aid the ship's company in leaving the
     island.--Terms on which they agreed to release them.--Departure
     from the Pelew islands.--Necessity of returning the same
     night.--Detention a month longer; and final departure.


By this time the natives had become nearly as anxious to part with us as
we had ever been to leave them; and being mutually desirous to be rid of
each other's company, we lost no time in preparing for our departure.
Our object now was to get into the open sea, with the hope of falling in
with some vessel on its passage to China or elsewhere, and thus be able,
after a while, to find a conveyance to America. Provisions were
furnished us by the natives; but we greatly needed a compass, and with
much difficulty obtained one. Captain Wilson, who had been shipwrecked
there many years before, left his compass with one of the chiefs, whom
we finally succeeded in inducing to part with it. It had become much
impaired by time and improper usage, but served as a tolerable guide.[3]

It is proper here to state the particulars of our agreement with the
natives of this island. They had, as before related, furnished us with
the means of subsistence, and with comfortable lodgings; and, for the
purpose of enabling us to return home, had been at great expense in
fitting up a craft, such as they thought would answer to convey us
wherever we pleased to go. According to their notions, we were persons
of sufficient consequence in the estimation of our countrymen, to
fulfil any engagement we might make with them, and to the extent to
which, in our necessity, we were compelled to go, in order to obtain the
object which we had in view, should the government consider itself
bound; and it would be no less an act of justice than of humanity, to
secure the friendship and confidence of these islanders; so that, should
others unfortunately fall into their hands, their lives and property
might be respected. It is also important, that those who engage in
commercial pursuits should have every protection extended to them. It
would cost the government but a mere trifle to secure an amicable
understanding with these islanders; and it is but reasonable to hope
that no time will be lost in making the attempt.

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