138 A V O Y A G E O F D I S C O V E R Y
*793- be taken to his refidence, and gave particular injunctions that he Ihould
■ ■ receive every affiftance in their power to bellow.
From Davis I learned, that he had been treated by Tamaahmaak
and his attendants with a degree of humanity, kindnefs, and careful attention,
that he could not have believed thefe people were capable of
fhewing.
The following is his account of the melancholy fate of the younger
Metcalf and his people, on the capture of the fchooner by Tamaah-
mootoo ; which I have every reafon to believe is a true and fair ftatement
of that unjuftifiable tranfaCtion.
■ “ The fchooner, being clofe in with the land, and nearly or intirely
becalmed, fhe was vifited by Tamaahmootoo, a very powerful chief, who-
was attended by a great number of the inhabitants. Many of thefe, as
well as their chief, made conliderable prefents to the young commander,
and others fold their hogs and vegetables for little or nothing;
and in order to ingratiate themfelves further in the good opinion of
Mr. Metcalf, and to gain his permiflion for their entering his veffefc
they told him that the fnow was but a little way to the- weftward, and;
that he would fee his father before night.
Davis, who was at the helm, reprefented the impropriety of this mea-
fure to Mr. Metcalf, and faid that he thought the behaviour of the natives
had a very fufpicious appearance; but all he could urge was to no
effeCl; the young commander, perfectly fatisfied of their friendly intentions,
replied that they would do them no harm, and allowed as
many as thought proper to come on board his velfel. In a few minutes
he was feized by Tamaahmootoo, thrown overboard, and was no more
feen. Davis having a piftol at hand, fnapped it at the chief on hisfeizing
his commander, but it unfortunately miffed fire. He was then thrown
overboard hirafelf, and moft inhumanly treated whilft in the water;-
the women ftripped him there of his cloaths, and the men endeavoured
to murder him with their paddles, being otherways all totally unarmed.
But Davis being a good fwimmer, and a very llrong athletic man,
efcaped from one canoe to another before his purfuers, in order to pre-
ferve his, life, which he appeared to.be incapable of prolonging but for
a few
R O U N D T H E WO R L D .
a few moments. At length, exhaufted by fatigue, and the lofs of blood,
which had been very conliderable from the wounds he had received, he
was hauled into a large double canoe ; and as they had no weapon or
inftrument with which they could put him to death, he was held with
his throat acrofs the rafter that unites the two canoes, whilft the inhuman
wretches jumped upon his neck and Ihoulders, with the intention
of thus depriving him of life, but Hill without effeCt; till, being tired
with their cruelties, they ceafed to perfecute him.
After a fhort refpite he recovered a little, and looking up to the moft
aClive of the party, faid . “ mytie, mytie,” fignifying “ good the man
inftantly replied “ arrozohah,” meaning, that he pitied him, and inftant-
ly faluted him, by touching nofes, gave him feme cloth, and alfifted him
to wipe and bind up his wounds. After this he had no other injury
offered to him ; on his being taken on Ihore he was kindly treated by
Harafty, brother to Kahowmotoo, who nurfed him, and expreffed great
concern for his deplorable condition ; but Tamaahmootoo, notwithftand-
ing the ftate he was in, took him in triumph through the village, and
made a jeft of him.
Davis further Hated, that Tamaahmootoo took every thing out of the
fchooner that he poffibly could, before the arrival of the king and
Young; that he was rejoiced to fee the latter, and thought he had come
from the fnow to fetch the fchooner; but when they met, and he had
heard the fnow was gone, and that Young had been informed of the
particulars of' the late cruel tranfaCtion, they were both fitting in the
greateft affliction, when the king came to them, caught them in his arms
and comforted them; and faid, that no one Ihould hurt them whilft he
could proteCt them. The king then gave directions that he Ihould be
properly taken care of, and told him he was very forry for what had
happened, but that he, Davis, Ihould live with, and be protected, by
him.
After this, the king reprimanded Tamaahmootoo in fuch terms, that
Davis faw tears in the eyes of the latter. Tamaahmaah then took pof-
feffion of the fchooner for the right owner.”
1 T 2
*39
»793-
February.
Although