Cary's "log" of his experiences is a most graphic description of life
among the Feejee Islanders. His capture and adoption by the king of the
tribe, the life and customs of the natives, his escape and return home,
are all touched upon in detail, the whole story forming one of the most
thrilling tales of the sea ever printed. And the best part of the story
is that it is true.
HARRY B. TURNER.
Nantucket, Mass., May 1, 1928.
WRECKED ON THE FEEJEES
Chapter I
THE DEPARTURE OF THE "OENO"--WRECKED ON TURTLE
ISLAND--CREW TREATED KINDLY BY THE NATIVES.
The "Oeno" set sail at an early hour on the morning of November 4,
1824. The wind was light but fair and the weather pleasant. At 10
o'clock a. m. we discharged the pilot and got the ship snug for sea.
As we neared the Gulf Stream the wind gradually increased, and on
the afternoon of the 5th blew a gale from the northeast, accompanied
by heavy squalls and rain. The ship was hove to under close-reefed
maintopsail, and our green hands experienced for a season all the
agonies of seasickness. The next day, however, the weather moderated
and we made sail and proceeded with a fair wind.
We crossed the line on the 10th of December, and on the 16th sighted
whales and captured three, which yielded 45 barrels of oil. On the
20th we sighted a large whale about half a mile ahead of the ship,
and immediately lowered and fastened to him. He made 55 barrels. We
proceeded on our course for the Cape of Good Hope, in doubling which
we experienced considerable boisterous weather, and shaped our course
for New Zealand. March 17th, 1825, we raised a school of whales and
succeeded in taking four of them, which stowed down 50 barrels.
On the 20th we arrived at the Bay of Islands, where we found the ship
Ann, of London, and bark Pocklington, of Sydney, N. S. W., the latter
seven months out with 700 barrels of oil, and most of her crew sick
with the scurvy. Nothing of note occurred here except that two of the
crew, Henry Gordon and James Furse, deserted and we shipped two English
sailors in their stead, and a native boy.
Having procured wood, water and vegetables, we set sail on the 7th
of April in company with the ship Ann, bound home with 1800 barrels
of oil. We intended to touch at Wallis' island, then proceed to the
Kingsmill group to cruise for whales. We had strong trade winds, and
on the 13th sighted and passed Pylstaat's island, one of the Friendly
Islands. At sundown we shortened sail, by order of the captain who, on
leaving the deck for the night, gave particular orders to the officers
of the watches to have a good look-out kept and to call him immediately
if anything unusual was seen.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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