W., the wind blowing from the northward and westward a fresh top-gallant
breeze, with considerable swell, when a boat was discovered to windward.
The ship was hove to, and presently succeeded in getting on board, the boat
and its contents. When hoisted in and measured, the craft was found to be
twelve feet long, four wide, and seventeen inches deep. On board of the
boat, when the ship thus picked her up, were six males, four of whom were
adults, and two were boys, the one about ten and the other fourteen years
of age. They were all of healthy appearance, of medium stature, of a dark
color, the hair cut close, not tattooed, and did not appear to be much exhausted.
Captain Boyle supposed, from their appearance; that they might
have been adrift some two or three days. They had in the boat about two
or three dozen ears of Indian corn (maize), a few sweet potatoes, some prepared
betel nuts, a cask, two gongs, a fishing net, an axe, a small piece of
grass cloth as a sail, and a colored piece supposed to be a flag. Of water
they had none; but from the frequent showers encountered by the ship,
Captain Boyle concluded they had not suffered much from the want of it;
To what nation or people these poor creatures belonged no one could tell,
as nobody on board could understand their language. I t was observed, however,
that the word most frequently on their lips was Sil-li-ba-boo. The
nearest land to the ship was Cape Engano, the N.E. point of Luconia, distant
about one hundred miles. The Babuan and Bashee group were about
one hundred and eighty miles directly to windward; and the first conjecture
was that possibly they might belong to these. Their dress consisted of
wide-legged trowsers extending a little below the knee, with a dark-colored
gown enveloping the entire person, and secured around the neck by a drawing
string; their heads they would sometimes bind around with a cotton
handkerchief, after a fashion not unlike that used by the blacks of the Southern
States. Though seemingly not much exhausted when they were taken
on board the ship, yet they evidently experienced great difficulty in walking,
from their long confinement in a cramped position. Sleep, with suitable diet,
however, soon restored them to their usual condition.
When the ship came near and passed through the group of islands just
named, the commander watched closely to observe if they showed any mark
of recognition. Their attention was called to them by signs, and they seemed
to understand the pantomimic inquiry, for they invariably shook their heads
as if to imply that their home was not there, and pointing towards the eastward,
said, “ S il- li-b a -b o o Soon after the ship arrived at Com-sing-moon,
in China, and here great pains were taken to discover, if possible, where
these poor adventurers belonged. There were many ships lying there, and
the Commodore directed that diligent search should be made among them
all, in the hope that, perchance, some one,, might be found who could communicate
with them. They were visited by many from the various vessels,
-and, from their timidity, they fell at first under the suspicion that they were