pairing the damage
done by the storm. We were employed for months in carrying in our arms
and on our shoulders pieces of the coral rock, in order to form a sort
of seawall to prevent the waves from washing away the trees; and this
drudgery, considering that we were naked, under a burning sun, and
reduced to nothing but skin and bones, was too severe to admit of any
thing like an adequate description. Our flesh, or, to speak more
properly, our skin--for flesh we had none--was frequently so torn by the
sharp corners of the rock, and scorched by the sun, as to resemble more
that of the rhinoceros than of human beings.

CHAPTER IX.

The natives compel the Mentor's people to be tattooed.--Description
of that painful operation.--They also oblige them to pluck their
beards, &c.--Another vessel passes by the island; and, afterwards,
a third comes in sight and remains for three days; the Mentor's
people are closely guarded at these times.--The melancholy fate of
William Sedon; and the barbarous murder of Peter Andrews.--Attack
on H. Holden, who is protected by one of the natives, and
escapes.--B. Nute and others are protected by the female natives
from the fury of the men.--Death of one of the Pelew
chiefs.--Another of the Pelew people is detected in stealing, and
is punished in their manner.--Death of Milton Hewlet and Charles C.
Bouket; leaving now only B. Nute, H. Holden, and the other Pelew
chief, named _Kobak_, who all remained in a feeble and helpless
condition.--Filthy practices of the natives.--Friendship of the
surviving Pelew chief.

A new trial now awaited us. The barbarous beings among whom our lot had
been cast, deemed it important that we should be _tattooed_, and we were
compelled to submit to the distressing operation. We expostulated
against it--we entreated--we begged to be spared this additional
affliction; but our entreaties were of no use. Those savages were not
to be moved, and we were compelled to submit; and that the reader may
form some idea of the painful process, I will here give a brief account
of it.

We were in the first place securely bound down to the ground, and there
held fast by our tormentors. They then proceeded to draw with a sharp
stick the figures designed to be imprinted on the skin. This done, the
skin was thickly punctured with a little instrument made of sharpened
fish bones, and somewhat resembling