Strange as it may appear, it is nevertheless true, that, notwithstanding they are in this miserable condition, with no prospect of its ever being improved, they are of the opinion that they are highly favored. This can be accounted for in no other way than by the fact, that they are entirely ignorant of all that lies beyond the narrow limits of their observation. They know nothing of any other portion of the globe, than the mere speck of barren land upon which by some accident they were thrown, and where they remain, to drag out a wretched existence. Their traditions do not extend further back than to about a hundred years; and, to their simple minds, it seems like a splendid effort of mind to be able to relate, with tolerable accuracy, the time-hallowed stories told them by their parents. Whether they could in any way be improved by instruction, is a question which it would be difficult to answer. They seem to be doomed to remain, as one of the last links in the chain that connects our race with the mere animal part of the creation. FOOTNOTES: [4] They occasionally wore a kind of broad hat, called by them _shappo_, and sometimes _shambararo_; which are evidently derived from the Portuguese _chapeo_ (or possibly the French _chapeau_) and the Spanish _sombrero_.--_Edit._ [5] Some of these remarks are taken from the New York Sun of May 30, 1835; for which paper the substance of them was furnished by Mr. Nute and myself. CHAPTER VIII. A ship discovered at a small distance from the island.--The natives prepare to go on board of her.--Captain Barnard and Bartlet Rollins, after being severely beaten, are allowed to go with the natives in their canoes, and thus effect their escape; the rest of the Mentor's people are still forcibly detained on the island.--Their hopes of being taken on board of the same ship are suddenly blasted.--Their despondency on that disappointment.--Return of the natives from the ship; their rage, and quarrels about the division of the articles procured on board of her.--They threaten to wreak their vengeance on the Mentor's people that remained with them.--Their cruel treatment of them.--A storm destroys the cocoa-nut trees and causes a scarcity of food. We were captured and taken to the island December 6, 1832; and on the third day of February, 1833, two months wanting three days, captain Barnard and Bartlet Rollins effected their escape. Compared with the remainder of our captivity, our privations and sufferings up to that time were less severe. But at no time did we have sufficient food to satisfy the cravings of hunger! The very crumbs that fall from an ordinary table would have been to us a luxury; the swine of America are better fed than we were, on the most fortunate day of our residence upon that island.