Transcriber's Note
Every effort has been made to replicate this text asfaithfully as possible, including obsolete and variant spellings and otherinconsistencies. Text that has been changed to correct an obvious erroris noted at the end of this ebook.
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.
BY HORACE HOLDEN.
BOSTON:
RUSSELL, SHATTUCK, AND CO.
1836.
entered according to act of congress, in the year 1836,
By HORACE HOLDEN.
in the clerk's office of the district court of massachusetts.
STEREOTYPED BY
SHEPARD, OLIVER, AND CO.
TO
JOHN PICKERING, ESQ.
Of Boston,
AND TO
WILLIAM R. RODMAN, ESQ.
Of New Bedford,
To whom the author is under the greatest
obligations for their countenance and assistance,
this little work is gratefully
INSCRIBED
DESCRIPTION OF THE PROCESS OF TATTOOING.PREFACE.
The islands now known by geographers under the general name ofPolynesia, have for some time past attracted the attention of thescientific and commercial world. Few opportunities, however, occur ofobtaining information respecting any of them except those which areresorted to for commercial purposes. With a view, therefore, to thecollecting of all the necessary materials for the history of their soil,climate, productions, and other particulars, especially of such of themas have not already been visited by the civilized people of Europe andAmerica, it is desirable to preserve all authentic accounts of them,even of those which are of inferior importance.
The following unpretending Narrative contains such an account of one ofthem, commonly called Lord North's Island, but sometimes known by thename of Nevil's Island and Johnston's Island. It is situated inabout lat. 3° 2¾' N., and, according to the most correctcalculations, about long. 131° 4¼' E.
This island has been stated, in geographical works of authority, to beuninhabited; but Horsburg's India Directory (vol. ii. p. 497, edit. of1827) correctly says it is inhabited, and that the natives "willsometimes come off to ships passing near." And it will accordingly befound, by the present Narrative, that it has a population of betweenthree and four hundred inhabitants, as nearly as could be estimated bythe American seamen, whose captivity and sufferings are the subject ofthis work; the island itself being, according to their judgment also,about three quarters of a mile long and half a mile in breadth.
The materials of this Narrative were furnished by Horace Holden, one ofthe seamen above mentioned, who, with his companion, Benjamin Nute, was