The natives compel the Mentor's people to be tattooed.--Description of that painful operation.--They also oblige them to pluck their beards, &c.--Another vessel passes by the island; and, afterwards, a third comes in sight and remains for three days; the Mentor's people are closely guarded at these times.--The melancholy fate of William Sedon; and the barbarous murder of Peter Andrews.--Attack on H. Holden, who is protected by one of the natives, and escapes.--B. Nute and others are protected by the female natives from the fury of the men.--Death of one of the Pelew chiefs.--Another of the Pelew people is detected in stealing, and is punished in their manner.--Death of Milton Hewlet and Charles C. Bouket; leaving now only B. Nute, H. Holden, and the other Pelew chief, named _Kobak_, who all remained in a feeble and helpless condition.--Filthy practices of the natives.--Friendship of the surviving Pelew chief. A new trial now awaited us. The barbarous beings among whom our lot had been cast, deemed it important that we should be _tattooed_, and we were compelled to submit to the distressing operation. We expostulated against it--we entreated--we begged to be spared this additional affliction; but our entreaties were of no use. Those savages were not to be moved, and we were compelled to submit; and that the reader may form some idea of the painful process, I will here give a brief account of it. We were in the first place securely bound down to the ground, and there held fast by our tormentors. They then proceeded to draw with a sharp stick the figures designed to be imprinted on the skin. This done, the skin was thickly punctured with a little instrument made of sharpened fish bones, and somewhat resembling a carpenter's adz in miniature, but having teeth, instead of a smooth, sharp edge. This instrument was held within an inch or two of the flesh, and struck into it rapidly with a piece of wood, applied to it in such a manner as to cause it to rebound at every stroke. In this way our breasts and arms were prepared; and subsequently the ink, which was made of a vegetable found on the island called by them the "_savvan_," was applied. The operation caused such an inflammation of our bodies, that only a portion could be done at one time; and as soon as the inflammation abated another portion was done, as fast as we could bear it, till our bodies were covered. It was effectually done; for to this day the figures remain as distinct as they were when first imprinted, and the marks will be carried by us to the grave. They were exceedingly anxious to perform the operation upon our faces; but this we would not submit to, telling them that sooner than have it done we would die in resisting them. Among themselves, the oldest people had the greatest quantity of tattooing, and the younger class less.