Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 3.djvu/225

Rh place much poi in his mouth." But Holden said that he could not return to them; he must now go to his own home; but let them provide for any other sailors that were cast away among them from the sea.

Speaking of this eventful day, Mr. Holden says that it was the hardest of his life, requiring him to oppose, with all his determination, those in whose power he was, first the affrighted natives, and then a very dense and conservative British captain, who cared much more for the safety of his ship than for rescuing Yankee castaways (or perhaps runaways) or in teaching moral lessons. But the day's work, as he designed it, and thought it ought to be accomplished, was done. He was rescued; his mate Knute was also saved, being found in the second canoe, following Parabaway's, though in an almost unconscious condition, and stowed away in the center of the canoe in the sort of box formed by seats and side planks. The promised treasure was given the natives for returning him to the ship, and the lesson taught that human life was of more value than old iron or nails in a castaway boat. Holden bade the islanders goodbye, who went off singing his praises, and he said "Nang England," I go to England.

The breeze was now well up and the Britannia, Captain Short's vessel, set sail and squared away for China. After eighteen days reached Lateen, in the lower harbor below Nankeen, and there met an American, Captain McComber, who was anchored in the roadstead with a receiving ship to collect cargo for other vessels. By McComber, a Boston man, he was told Captain Sommesexcuse for leaving the nine Americans at Tobey; first, that he was on short allowance, and his crew was muti-