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largest it was inferred, that his residence there must have exceeded two years: he appears to have forgotten the lapse of time.

Loss of the Sydney.

[From the Asiatic Mirror.]

In one of our late papers, we noticed the loss of the ship Sydney. The particulars of the event, and of the subsequent preservation of the greatest part of the ship's company, are communicated in the following letter from captain Forrest to the editor of The Mirror:

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there was no appearance of any reef or breaker; but as the water subsided, the shoal began to shew itself with a number of small black rocks. The ship had been striking very hard, and began to sue forward. At three A. M. there were six feet water in the hold, and increasing rapidly; at five o'clock the ship was setting aft, her top-sides parting from the floorheads.

"Upon consultation with my officers, it was the unanimous opinion, that the ship was irrecoverably gone, and that no exertions could avail for her safety. We therefore employed all hands in getting the boats ready to receive the crew, one hundred and eight in number. Eight bags of rice,

Calcutta, Oct. 14, 1806. six casks of water, and a small quantity of salted beef and pork, were put in the long boat, as provisions for the whole. We were prevented taking a large stock, as from the number of people, the three boats were barely sufficient to receive the whole with safety.

« Sir, "The Sydney left Port Jackson on the 12th of April, 1806, bound to Bengal. Intending to proceed thro' Dampier's Strails, her course was directed as nearly as possible in the track of captain Hogan, of the Cornwallis, which, as laid down in the charts, appears a clear safe passage. On the 20th of May, at one A. M. in lat. 3. 20. S. long. 146. 50. E. we ran upon a most dangerous rock or shoal; and as this reef is not noticed in any map or chart, it appears that we were its unfortunate disco

verers.

"On Sunday, over the taffrail, we found twenty-five fathoms water; over the larboard gangway, six fathoms; on the starboard side only nine feet; and over the bows, twelve feet. One of the boats was immediately got out, with a bower anchor; but, on sounding ten fathoms distance from the ship, found no ground at sixty fathoms.

"It must have been high water when we struck; for, at that time

"We remained with the Sydney till five P. M. on the 21st of May, when there were three feet water on the orlop-deck; we now thought it full time to leave the ship to her fate, and to seek our safety in the boats. Accordingly I embarked in the long-boat, with Mr. Trounce, second officer, and seventy-four Lascars; Mr. Robson, first officer, and Stalkart, third, with sixteen Lascars, were in the cutter; and the jollyboat was allotted to fifteen Dutch Malays and one Sepoy.

"Being desirous to ascertain the position of the reef, by making the Admiralty Islands, shaped our course accordingly, steering N. by E. half E. During the night it blew fresh, and the long-boat making much water, we were obliged to lighten her,

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by throwing overboard a great deal of lumber, and two casks of water. The three boats kept close in company, the long-boat having the jollyboat in tow. Finding, at day-light, that the cutter sailed considerably better, I directed Mr. Robson to take the jolly-boat in tow. The wind increased as the morning advanced, and a heavy swell rising, at 10 A. M. the jolly-boat sunk, while in tow by the cutter, and all on board, to the number of sixteen, unfortunately perished. It was lamentable to witness the fate of these unhappy men, and the more so, as it was not in our power to render them the smallest assistance.

"At noon on the 22d we saw the Admiralty Islands, bearing N. N. E. distant three or four leagues; and as we had run about fifty-eight miles in the boats, upon a N. by E. half E. course, the situation of the shoal on which the Sydney struck was accurately ascertained, and will be found as above laid down.

"From the Admiralty Islands we continued standing to the westward; and on the 25th made a small island: we stood towards it, and from its appearance' I was induced to land, in the hope of obtaining a supply of water. Mr. Robson, myself, and twenty of the best of our hands, armed with heavy clubs, brought from New Caledonia, our fire-arms being rendered useless from exposure to heavy rains, approached in the cutter, and landed, through a heavy surf, to the utmost astonishment of the inhabitants, who, as far as we could judge from appearance, had certainly never before seen people of our complexion. The men were tall and well made, wearing their hair plaited and raised above the head-they had no appearance of Malays, nor Caffrees; and, ex

cepting their colour, which was of a light copper, they had the form and features of the natives of Europe: they were entirely naked. We saw a number of women, who were wellformed, with mild pleasing features.

"We were received on the beach by about twenty or thirty of the natives, who immediately supplied each of us with a cocoa-nut. We then succeeded in making them understand that we wanted water, upon which they made signs for us to accompany them towards the interior of the island:-we did so; but after walking about a mile, they conducted us into a thick jungle; and as their number was quickly increasing, I judged it imprudent to proceed further, and returned to the beach, where I was alarmed to find the natives had assembled to the number of one hundred and fifty, or upwards, armed with spears, eight or ten feet long. One of them, an old man, of venerable appearance, and who seemed to be their chief, approached, and threw his spear at my feet, expressive, as I understood, that we should part with our clubs in like manner. Perceiving at this time a crowd of women to have got hold of the sternfast of the cutter, and endeavouring to haul her on shore from the grapnel with which we had cometo, we hastily endeavoured to gain the boat; the natives followed us closely, some of them pointed their spears at us, as we retreated to the boat, and some were thrown, though happily without effect; and to us they appeared to be very inexpert in the management of their weapons. On my getting into the water, three or four of the natives followed me, threatening to throw their spears; and when I was in reach of the boat, one of them made a thrust, which was

prevented

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"Having thus escaped from this perilous adventure, we pursued our course, and got as far as Dampier's Straits, as favourably as our situation could well admit. Being now within reach of land, the Lascars became impatient to be put on shore. It was in vain that I endeavoured to persuade them to persevere; they would not listen to argument, and expressed their wish, rather to meet with immediate death on shore, than to be starved to death in the boats. Yielding to their importunity, I at length determined to land them on the N. W. extremity of the island of Ceram, from whence they might travel to Amboyna in two or three days. On the 9th of June, being off that part of the island, Mr. Robson volunteered to land a part of the people in the cutter, to return to the long-boat, and the cutter to be then given to such farther part of the crew as chose to join the party first landed. Mr. Robson accordingly went in shore with the cutter; but, to my great mortification, after waiting two days, there was no appearance of his return or the cutter.

"We concluded that the people had been detained either by the Dutch or the natives; yet as the remaining part of the Lascars were desirous to be landed, we stood in with the long-boat, and put them on shore near the point where we sup

posed the cutter to have landed her people.

"Our number in the long-boat ́ was now reduced to seventeen, viz. myself, Mr. Trounce, Mr. Stalkart, fourteen Lascars and others. Our stock of provisions consisted of two bags of rice, and one gang cask of water; with this stock we conceived we might hold out till we reached Bencoolen, for which port we deter mined to make the best of our way. We fixed the allowance of provision to each man, at one tea-cup full of rice, and a pint of water per diem; but we soon found it necessary to make a considerable deduction in this allowance.

"We proceeded on through the Streights of Bantam, meeting, in our course, several Malay prows, none of which took notice of us, excepting one, which gave chace for a day, and would have come up with us, had we not got off under cover of a very dark night. Continuing our course, passed through the Streight of Saypay, where we caught a large shark. Our spirits were much elated by this valuable prize, which we lost no time in getting on board, and, having kindled a fire in the bottom of the boat, he was roasted with all expedition; and such was the keenness and extent of our appetite, that, although the shark must have weighed 150 or 160lbs. not a vestige of it remained at the close of the day. We suffered most severely from our indulgence; on the following day we were all afflicted with the most violent complaint of the stomach and bowels, which reduced us exceedingly, and left us spiritless and languid, insomuch that we now seriously despaired of our safety.

"On the 2d of July, I lost an old

and

and faithful servant, who died from want of sustenance. On the 4th, we made Java Head; and at the same time caught two large boobies, which afforded all hands a most precious and refreshing meal. On the 9th, at midnight, came-to off Pulo Penang, on the west coast of Sumatra. At day-light we endeavoured to weigh our anchor, and to run close in shore; but we were so much exhausted that our united strength was insufficient to get up the anchor. We made a signal of distress, on which a sandpan, with two Malays, came off. As I was the only person in the long-boat, who had sufficient strength to move, I went on shore with the Malays. On landing, I found myself so weak, that I fell upon the ground, and was obliged to be carried to an adjoining house. Such refreshments as the place afforded were immediately sent off to the long-boat; and we recruited so quickly, that in two days we found ourselves in a condition to proceed on our voyage. On the 12th of July we weighed, and on the 19th anchored off Rat Island, at Bencoolen.

"Here I met with an old friend, captain Chauvet, of the Perseverance, whose kindness and humanity I shall ever remember, and gratefully acknowledge. On the day following my arrival, I waited on the resident, Mr. Parr, from whom I received every kindness and attention.

"I left Bencoolen on the 17th of August, in the Perseverance, for Penang, where I arrived on the 27th, and where I was most agreeably surprised to meet with my late chief mate, Mr. Robson, who, with the lascars landed on Ceram, and had safely reached Amboyna, where they were received by Mr. Cranstoun, the Dutch governor, with a humanity and

benevolence that reflect honour on his character. The governor supplied them with whatever their wants required; he accommodated Mr. Robson at his own table, and, on his leaving Amboyna, furnished him with money for himself and his people, refusing to take any acknowledgment or receipt for the amount. He also gave Mr. Robson letters to the governor-general of Batavia, recommending him to his kind offices. Such honourable conduct from the governor of a foreign country, and with which we are at war, cannot be too widely promulgated.

"From Amboyna, Mr. Robson embarked in the Dutch frigate, Pallas, for Batavia; and on the passage thither, fell in with and was captured by his majesty's ships Greyhound and Harier, and brought to Prince of Wales's Island.

"From Penang, I went to Bengal, with the Varuna, captain Dennison, and arrived safely in Calcutta a few days ago.

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"On the night of the 2d of JaQuary, 1807, we were Suddenly awakened from slumber, by the hideous yells of savages, who before we could put ourselves in a situation to oppose them, succeeded in forcing the doors of the house. They were to the number of forty or fifty, frightfully painted, and armed with tomahawks and scalping knives. My husband met them at the door, and in their own tongue asked them what they wanted?" The scalps of your family!" was their answer. My husband entreated to have compassion on me and his innocent children, but his entreaties availed nothing; we were dragged naked out of the house, and tied severely with cords. By order of one who appeared to be the chief, about twenty of the Indians took charge of us, who were ordered to conduct us with all possible dispatch to their settlement (about 200 miles distant), while the remainder were left to pillage and fire the house. We commenced our journey about midnight, travelling through an uucultivated wilderness, at the rate of near seven miles an hour. If either of us, through fatigue, slackened our pace, we were most inhumanly beaten, and threatened with instant death.

"After a tedious travel of more than forty miles, the savages halted in a swamp-here, for the first time from the time of our departure, we were permitted to lie down; the Indians kindled a fire, on which they broiled some bear's flesh, of which they allowed us but a small portion.

"After they had refreshed themselves and extinguished their fire, we were again compelled to pursue our journey; we travelled until sun-set, when the Indians again halted, and began to prepare a covering for

themselves for the night. My poor. children complained much of their feet being swollen, but I was not permitted to give them any relief, nor was their father allowed to discourse with them. As night approached, we took each other by the hand, expecting never again to witness the rising of the sun. Contrary to our expectations, however, we had a tolerable night's rest, and on the succeeding day, though naked, and half starved, travelled with much more ease than on the preceding one. The Indians occasionally allowed us a little raw food, sufficient only to keep us alive. We this day travelled, according to the reckoning of the Indians, nearly forty miles, and were, about sun-set, joined by the remaining savages who were left behind; they were loaded with the spoils of my husband's property: among other articles, they found a keg of spirits, of which they had drank plentifully

as they became intoxicated, they exercised the more cruelty towards us; they beat my poor children so unmercifully that they were unable to stand on their feet the next morning; the Indians attributed their inability to wilfulness, and again renewed their acts of barbarity, beating them with clubs, cutting and gashing them with knives, and scorching their naked bodies with brands of fire. Finding that their hellish plans had no other effect than to render the poor unhappy sufferers less able to travel, they came to the resolution to butcher them on the spot.

"Six holes were dug in the earth, of about five feet in depth, around each of which some dried branches of trees were placed. My husband at this moment, filled with horror at what he supposed was about to take

place,

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