Page:Twenty years before the mast - Charles Erskine, 1896.djvu/190

 in the bottom of the boat floundered about like two big lamprey eels on dry land. We soon bailed the boat out and proceeded in quest of our ships.

At six bells, eleven o’clock, we made Mbua Bay. In doubling the point we saw our ships lying quietly at  anchor. How our hearts bounded with joy at the sight, and how we cheered the dear old flags floating from the  mizzen peaks! It was the hour of Divine service on board, but this was soon brought to a close. The rigging was soon manned, and we were hailed with cheers, for  all hands had given us up for lost. After "splicing the mainbrace" and eating a hearty dinner of plum duff, we  were given our hammocks, and, turning in, very soon  visited "Beulah Land" (home) in our dreams.

A little past midnight the schooner and eight boats, well manned and armed, set out for Sualib Bay, arriving  early in the morning. After an early breakfast on board the Flying Fish, all hands went ashore, except the boats’  keepers and a dog-watch on board the schooner. Soon after landing we met a small party of the natives, and  among them the chief of Sualib. Through the interpreter, Mr. Whippy, Captain Wilkes demanded of the chief the cutter and everything that was stolen with her. The chief replied that it was a tradition of theirs, handed down from their fathers, that when a ship, boat, or one  of their own canoes was cast away on their islands they  had a right to take possession of both boat and crew in  the name of the Great Spirit to whom they belonged,  and offer up the crew as a sacrifice to him.

Captain Wilkes with great patience explained to him how he should act in such cases. To this parley the