Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 3.djvu/175

Rh occurred; and much more that is not introduced. All who know Mr. Holden—and he has been well known in Oregon for many years—will testify to the simple, plain honesty, and the unusual intelligence of the man. Among his friends and acquaintance there is no question of the conscientious accuracy of his statements. Also, many years ago, upon his arrival in America from his thralldom in the Ladrones, he published an account of his adventures, which appeared in book form, and which was everywhere accepted as unadorned fact. It was, however, comparatively brief, and written, moreover, in the somewhat, precise style of the time, omitting much of the most startling occurrences. Besides this, if the skeptical were so minded, they would find the body of Mr. Holden tattooed in South Sea Island art—an operation no white man would voluntarily submit to, and which those islanders would not perform except for some extraordinary reason, upon a white man. This fact in itself gives a presumption of adventures as extraordinary even as Mr. Holden narrates.

Mr. Holden was a New Hampshire boy, though of English stock; having been born at Hillsboro, in the Granite State, a little over ninety years ago. While still a boy he went to Boston, where he lived until he was eighteen years old. He was a rather delicate youth, and formed the idea that a sea voyage would be beneficial to his health. Going to New Bedford, the main port of the whaling fleet, then the pride and wealth of New England, he shipped on the old vessel Mentor, Captain Barnard. This was a ship that had seen service in the Pacific already, having made two cruises as far as Nootka Sound, on Vancouver's Island.